Air Wonder Stories, August 1929 — page 49: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT fist clenched. “My only fear is that I shall-be a poor host,” Lord Almeric went on. “My time will be-much occupied, as you will understand, Jimmy—in fact, I must be back in harness at once, I have a conference in the City at three, and other-in Westminster at six. I question if I shall be back until late at night. My people will attend to all your wants, and will. serve your meals here. If you should think of going to a theatre, I’m certain that Milliken would like the pro- duction of ‘Twelfth Night’ at the Haymarket, Bunter, my butler, will get tickets for you. Now I must go. Pray excuse me, I shall hope to see-you to-night.’ He went out, leaving us there. Milliken:and I looked at each other in silence for a-space. “T didn’t want to stop in his lordship’s house, Mr. Boon,” Milliken said slowly. “But when he asks—us to use his dead boy’s rooms, he gives. me the one thing I couldn't refuse. It. must mean a lot to him—this.” “You bet you, Milliken.” “And T thought lords and: such-like all bunk! That one,” he nodded to the closed door— “that one makes me see I’ve been a_fool!” We bathed and changed, and lunch was brought to us in another of the rooms. The butler appeared to = if we were all right, and we let him get tickets or tis. “Can you tell me,” I asked him, “where I might find files ik the London daily papers for a week or two “In the small library downstairs, sir. We keep files ofthe Times, Morning Post, and Telegraph and of a number of the financial. journals. May I show you the room, sir?” “Please.” I found that the London press had treated the New York raids in daily reports that_never got over half a column: ~The Parnassi¢ had the honor ofa full column on the first day, and dwindled to half a column on the next, while the Westbury was squeezed into twelve lines, Lotisville was almost crowded out by two pages of parliamentary crisis, and-a long murder trial. That which had taken all America by the ears, seemed to matter little in England. It was, according to a note in-the Times, purely an American concern. We saw nothing of Lord Almeric until late at night, when ‘we found him waiting for us to arrive from the theatre. We sat for an hour or two round the fire in his sitting-room, yarning, and drinking some of the best whiskey I have ever tasted. It must have been close’ on one o'clock in the morning when we went to bed. CHAPTER VUI A Raid on London OMEWHERE in the house a telephone bell was ringing insistently. It rang in long peals, and just when I would think-it had stopped for good it would begin again, more furiously than ever, I put my hand under my pillow for my watch, then switched on the light over my head. It was half-past three. The bell still shrilled through the house, Then came the sound of a door opening, and the bell was stopped by the murmur of a voice. Presently came the shuffling of feet, and somewhere nearer at hand another voice took up the-murmuring. There was silence again. Firm footsteps now came masterfully to my door, and a knock. “Yes, Come in!” I cried. The handle turned, and Lord Almeric entered, wrapped in a dressing-robe. “Something has happened at the Bank,” he said. “Good Heavens, sir?’ I exclaimed. “You don’t think——?” “Ym inclined to think it is—our friends of the Parnassic—or others of the tribe.” “But—but in London! It’s incredible, sir!” “We live in an incredible age, Jimmy. Would you like to come with me to the City? I’m going there at once,” “Sure, I’ll come,” said I, and jumped out of bed, While I was dressing (Lord Almeric had gone off to give orders for his car, and to dress) Milliken ap- peared in my doorway. “Anything the matter, Mr. Boon?” he asked. T told him. “Jinks?” he said. “Want me with you?” “Not unless you're keen to come——” “I’m not,” said he shortly. _ “Very well, then. If I don't get back by breakfast time, go over to Battersea by yourself. Hire what mechanics you want for the Merlin, and get her over- hauled. Have you any British money?” “Oh, yes. Didcot changed a hundred dollars for me in New York. Is it two and a half of these florin things to the dollar?” “As near as: doesn’t matter. Two florins and eight pennies are more like the sum.” “All right, I'll get back to bed.” And he did, with no further comment. .There_was little stir about the streets as we sped Citywards, except for great trucks of fruit and vegetables, the big horses, pulling them, plodding along sagaciously with little or no guidance from drowsy or even sleeping drivers. The asphalted streets were wet from-recent washing, and here and there we came upon sweeping machines with their wide rotary brushes working anglewise to the gutters, Now and then we would pass a solitary policeman, or a pair of them, their rubber capes glistening under the street lamps. Even this slight activity slackened by the time we teached the Strand. Then we came to Fleet Street, where the newspaper offices were ablaze with light. “They have not received the news yet,” Lord Almeric said softly. “If they had. you would see the reporters streaking towards St. Paul’s like hornets from a nest.” We whizzed-up Ludgate Hill-and passed under the shadow of St. Paul’s, The City was like a place of the dead. “Tt looks ‘like the stillness of an actual raid, Lord Almeric,” I whispered. / “Yes—but the City is always like this at night, Thronged during the day, and a jam of traffic—but like Herculaneum for stillness after eight o’clock.” At the corner of the Mansion House, a policeman stopped the car and peered in at: us, flashing “his torch, When he saw Lord Almeric he saluted and waved us on. Policemen were streaming into the open space in front of the Royal Exchange. We pulled up outside the Bank of England, and a policeman opened the door of the automobile, A white-faced inspector met us inside the building, and he was immediately joined by a subaltern of one of His Majesty’s Footguards—the Coldstream, I think it was. This officer was as white- faced as the policeman, but keeping a stiff upper lip in spite. of his obvious misery. “This is a bad business, my lord,” said the inspector. VWs tetera in 0 betes Lettie eaten on ted. sdd Getta bee = comicbooks:co ee ee —— ere eee, eee Se ee ees