Air Wonder Stories, August 1929 — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

AIR WONDER STORIES you've reckoned it out?” “Why not?” I grinned at him. “When I started flying, ninety miles an hour was thought good going— that’s a hundred and forty-four kilometres. My Mer- lin does three and a half times that speed, five hundred odd—which is more than a third of sun speed.” “Jimmy,” said his lordship, “I give you up. You are too much for me. Tell Sir Thomas Basildon that when you see him to-day, will you?” “All right, sir.” He made for the door, where he turned. “Good morning, Jimmy,” said he. Then, “Do you think it will ever be done?” ; “Why not? Shells do it, We might find a new principle of flight.” He went out, shaking his head. _I finished breakfast and went down to Battersea, where I found Milliken with half a dozen mechanics busy over the Merlin, "Hullo, Milliken!” I said. “Where did you get to this morning ?” “Here,” said he. “Knew that the sooner I got on the job, the better, seeing that we'll be going back to-morrow. She’s in fine trim, though—and as sound as a bell.” “Good. Did you-have any brealcfast ?” “There’s a quick-breakfast counter and hot-dog cabin in the street on the other side of the bridge,” said Milliken, “but they don’t sell any fruit.” “FE means a cawrfee stall, sir,” one of the mechanics explained. “T get that.” “We're goin’ to take ’im round the corner presently w’en we knocks off, to a chop-’ouse. ’E’ll get areal breakfis’ there, But ’e won't get no dog or fruit— ‘cept the sossidges might be dog—and a banana.” When the mechanics had gone, taking Milliken with them to the “chop-’ouse,” I got off my. coat and jacket and went over the bus. As Milliken had said, she was as sound as a bell. I worked with the men until mid- day, when I walked to Scotland Yard. T told ‘all I knew to half a dozen detectives, and stood the fire of questions they shot at me, until at last they all got up and trooped ont, solemnly shaking hands with me, each one-of them. Then Sir Thomas came along and inspected the Merlin. He expressed a high opinion of it and offered to use his influence if I wantedto dispose of it to the British Air Board. I told him that would depend on what the American authorities thought of it, and if they’d approve of Britain having it, my own county naturally coming first with me. He patted me on the shoulder at that, and said I was quite right. Then we had lunch to- gether at his club, and after that I collected Milliken and pulled him around the town. Crowds. were collected) here and there about the streets, and you’d come on small knots of people, Jaughing like mad over the papers. It did seem as if nobody cared a red cent about the raid on the banks, but that everybody thought a great deal of the joke played on the British ministers. I knew that many a minister and public servant had been sent into retire- ment through ridicule in France, and that the trait was peculiar to the French, bat if the Cabinet of the British government could stand the guffaws that went up that afternoon, they were gummed to their seats with Herctles cement. y collected a few of the journals for future reference, and took Milliken to a picture theatre, Tt was late again when we got back to Lord Al- meric’s, and we found his lordship waiting for us, with the whiskey decanter all ready. When at last we did go up to bed, he came into our rooms and pushed a tissue-wrapped package into my hand, and another into Milliken’s. Then he went away before either of us could say -anything. I must say that Lord Almeric had speed in. doing kindnesses. Milliken’s package contained a tobacco box of silver, inside the lid of which was engraved: To W. M. In remembrance of an enjoyable Atlantic flight with “As proper a agree ever trod neat’s leather,” ‘om Mine was a gold cigarette-case, and in it was in- scribed: To J. V. B. ; In remembrance of an Atlantic flight at Onesies of the see speed, om A, ©. CHAPTER IX Berlin and Paris N the Sunday morning, Milliken went off early O to the Merlin, taking his own luggage and mine. Lord Almeric and myself were having breakfast together, and had barely started when a servant came_in with word that Sir Thomas Basildon wished to speak to his lordship on the phone. Lord Almeric came back with ever so slight a ruffle of excitement on his habitual calm. “Basildon was tight,” he said. “He has just told me that the raiders visited both Berlin and Paris this morning.” “Tn one night!” I exclaimed. “Then it looks as if they have more than one airship in Europe, Lord Al- meric. From Berlin to Paris is well over seven hun- dred kilometres, and the voyage would take the aver- age airship more than four hours. Did he say at what time the raids took place?” “No. He is on his way here now to say good-bye to you, Jimmy, and he will have breakfast with us. We shall have full details then.” He turned to the butler. “Sir Thomas Basildon will have breakfast, Bunter.” “Very good, my lord.” “We are beginning to find the amazing measure of our mysterious enemy,” Lord Almeric went:on. “It must be a huge organization. Think of the quantities of ore which must have been reduced to result in all that radium—and the expense of the operation! Why, the amount left: in New York, Louisville, and London here, represents as much money as has been taken in the various raids. That. alone is a staggering fact. The preparations for these raids must have occupied a number of years.” “T'm with you there, Lord Almeric,” said I, “and the secret has been astonishingly well kept. It beats me to know-how the airships could have been built and their docking sheds erected without the connivance, or at least the hoodwinking, of the government in which- ever country the bases of the raiders are situated. I said bases—because the thing gets bigger every bit of news, How can we be certain that there aren’t a num- ber of bases both in Europe and in America? I’m begin- ning to get fogged, Lord Almeric. When the thing first started, I thought we were up against an ordinary gang of crooks using new methods, and that one en- comiebo ¥,