Air Wonder Stories, August 1929 — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

po = s « Pa Sy Se re ¢ THE ARK OF THE COVENANT 153 raids. They are a matter of grave concern to me, Sit down—and. shoot !” Luckily, I had all the facts arranged in my head, ready for stich a request, and I was able to give him a pretty concise summary of all that lay within my knowledge, While I was telling him, I had the oppor- tunity of taking in something of his personality. judged him to be hot-tempered, generous, and yet obstinate. A difficult man to drive. “Fm!” said Mr. Whitcomb, when I had finished. “You seem to have kept track of all the evidence there is, and to have been untiring. “T am glad to have from you the opinion of Sir Thomas Basildon and of Lord Almeric. It is better than any cabled account. This is a very serious busi- ness, and the effects are already disastrous——” He rose to pace the room in impatient short steps. “There is a financial panic in London, Paris, and Berlin—business is being brought to a standstill in all those capitals, and the chaos is likely to- spread. The cables this morning give catise for the deepest appre- hension. Where it will all end I cannot foresee, The country has been swept from North to South without any trace being revealed of these marauders, and the Canadian authorities report no favorable outcome of ‘the search of their territory. But we must keep on, cost the country what it may, I can see no other help for it. I agree that our only chance of running the raiders to earth is to be fully prepared for every emer- gency, to. be certain that no means of following the slightest clue shall be neglected.” He turned.to me witha keen look, that yet passed over me as if to some greater audience. “Tn the deciding of what the country must do to over- come such a terrible and bewildering menace,” he said, “T cannot see that anything is to be gained by sticking close to rule and regulation. On the contrary, [believe that the enterprise you offer is better untrammelled. Therefore, you shall have every permit that is neces- sary, James Boon. I do not know from what point you will make a start, but you may have the luck—and I will venture that you have the intuition and skill—to light upon some clue which will lead to the clearing up of this mystery.” “Thank you, sir!” His regard of me lost that absent air. “No,” he said, with a smile, “don’t thank me. Thank rather your own proved value as a citizen. Or if you will have it that that is to be deprecated, thank two excellent advocates in your cause.” “Two advocates, sit?” “Why, yes. My old friend, your father—and my secretary.” “Your secretary, Mr, President?”. “Would you like to meet my secretary? Very well, then—you shall.” He went to a side door and called. “Kirsteen!” And in answer, Miss Torrarice appeared at the door. “This is your advocate, Mr. Boon,” said the Presi- dent, “She has been pleading your cause ever since she opened Jout father’s letter to me.” “Ym: awfully grateful to you, Miss Torrance,” I mumbled, as we shook hands. “Uncle exaggerates,” Miss Torrance declared. “I only pointed out that it would be foolish of the gov- ernment to lose the help of one of dts best airmen by sticking to silly rules. How was my Uncle Almeric when you left him, Mr. Boon?” “He was wonderfully well, Miss Torrance. He sent every kind message to you.” “Dear Uncle Almeric! And how is my friend, Mr. Milliken?” “Fine, He’s in Washington with me,” “T must see him presently. And the Merlin?” “Great!” I said. “She has three sisters now——” “That reminds me of duty,” said the President, open- ing his watch. “We must see this wonderful Merlin, Ah! “Half-past eleven. The Air Secretary and his myrmidons should have arrived: Get your wraps, Kirsteen, if you are:coming. We must not keep them waiting.” “Is the Merlin to be inspected at once—to-day?” I asked in surprise at this hustle. -“There will be some trouble if she isn’t,” said the President grimly, CHAPTER X A Secret Commission N the new Merlin I took up two crack pilots and a designer, while Milliken in the original machine. carried the President, Miss Torrance, and a bunch of Delaware Bay, and there I fooled with the new bus, doing all the maddest stunts conceivable, until even the pilots with me were, I believe, a bit scared. The speed of the machine had:amazed the experts, but her quick climb, that hovering flight of hers, and her astonishing qualities in manceuvre astonished them still more. Long before we were back on the banks of the Potomac and heard the enthusiastic verdict of the authorities, it was fairly evident that.the Merlin design would pass to the government at my own price. I spent the afternoon in the offices-of the Air Board, going over the drawings of the machine and into costs with the designers there, Meantime, Milliken and two mechanics had gone by rail to Gardiner Bay to bring back the other two new machines, which were to: be purchased by the government. When I rejoined the President and Miss’ Torrance that evening for dinner at the White House, I-had in my pocket a bank draft for the handsome price which was paid for the Merlin design and the three new buses. The quick settling of the deal was: due to the President, and when he and Miss Torrance and myself were alone after dinner, I tried to thank him, He put a hand on my shoulder in a kindly way, shaking me, and tried to stop me saying anything. “Why, son,” he said, “there no need for thanks. You brought along your design just when it was most needed, and we’d have been fools to let what Kirsteen calls ted-tape hinder the concluding of the bargain. We otight to thank you-publicly for giving us such a wonderful plane. But I have something for you——” He produced an envelope and handed it to me. In it was a letter appointing me for special service with the air police, and mentioning Dan Lamont and Milli- ken as my assistants, “Turn back-the front of your jacket,” said Mr, Whit- comb, and when I did so:he pinned a little silver badge to the lining, It was the badge of the Secret Service. “There!” said he. “Now, in the morning at ten o’clock you will go to this address.” He handed mea card on which:a direction was pencilled. “You have only to give your name to the doorman, and he will take you right to the man who nominally will be your chief. Don’t bother to ask his name. It is seldom:the same two days running. I want you to see him because there may arise an occasion when it will be impossible for you to report direct to me, and in that case you