Air Wonder Stories, August 1929 — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

pn eee 180 AIR WONDER STORIES the hox, that a few hours ago had been taken from the cruiser. With trembling fingers he tore off the cover, and began removing the papers on top. The box still contained much material for he had picked the drawing off the very top and soon a square package was uncov- ered. As he drew it out-and began to carefully unwrap it, a look of suspicion came into his eyes. Quickly he went to the experimental. bench and came: back with a square cabinet with two meters on the top. Carefully placing the cabinet on the table, he turned a knob and looked at the meters. Both remained still but as he turned the knob further one moved over the scale te the right. His face turned white with anger, as he saw the needle move. “They shall pay for this,” he stormed, and springing to. the vision ray, quickly adjusted his head set and swinging the beam across the sky soon spotted the British police planes, “Oh, my hearty friends,” he exclaimed, swinging the ray around. “Tt was clever of you to hide the radio set in the box of plans, but now that you have located me, you shall have another demonstration of my power.” He soon found the American fleet that were steadily approaching in ithe same order. The other odd planes now formed almost a complete circle around them. “We shall. witness another aerial combat,” he said in_a lower voice throtgh the system, addressing Frank. “We shall pitch the British fleet against the American planes. They are well armed and we will-be furnished with real amusement.” Escaped! RANK was frozen with horror. He made up his mind that he would not stand by and see the devil repeat the massacre. He would wait unti? the wizard was ready to throw the ray on and he would hurl him- self on him in one desperate chance to save the fleet or keep the ray off them until they’ were overhead. He thought little of his own danger, his maim pur- pose was to prevent the deadly ray from being used. Quietly }he disconnected his head’ set from the system, but stilt kept the mask on and watched the scene closely. The planes came closer and the wizard reached for the switch. He would wait until the old man threw in the switch as there would be time then to potnce on him and throw off the switch before the planes would meet. The switch moved under the finger of the gloatmg maniac, and with a twist was thrown in. “Now watch them make a left turn,” he chuckled. Frank was posed in his chair ready to tear off the head mask. He relaxed a bit and stared into the scene, the planes were still coming ahead. The scientist opened and closed the switch again. The planes still came on, straight towards the ray. With an oath he swung the beam around to the American fteet and the telepathy ray was again switched on. Frank, with face set and heart pounding, watched. Would they defy it? Were both fleets protected from the ray? Snap, the switch sprung into place, and two faces seemed glued to the vision reflectors. Frank’s heart missed a beat, he breathed a silent prayer of thanks— the planes were coming on. With face white, and hands shaking old Jolsen threw off his mask and grabbing a tester from the bench sprang to the board, testing dif- ferent wires and coils, and after making a couple of adjustments, returned to his chair. The ray was again trained on the British fleet with no effect. Like a group of merciless avengers they approached, defying anything to stop them. A close-up of one of the planes was. quickly pro- duced by the now nervous scientist, and again the ray was turned on against them, but not even a wink of an eye caught the glance of the old: man. He was beaten, his most powerful weapon was useless, and his aveng- ing foés were tightening the circle around him. Carry- ing full bomb racks, they would soon be swarming over the laboratory with him at their mercy. He pushed a button and rising from his chair, hastily gathered up the Light Wave drawings as the butler entered. “Quick,” screeched the old man. “Get the submarine for instant departure.” The servant, with a startled look on his face, quickly disappeared. The now thoroughly alarmed criminal took time enough to smash some of his most important secrets, and turned to Frank. “Come on, hurry up out of this door, you’re coming with me, you know too much to be let loose.” Frank was about to resist when two seamen entered the room. “Hurry, professor, for they will soon be over us,” one spoke to the old man, ; Realizing the folly of resisting such a cold-blooded man, with two allies, Frank followed the two men out of the door with the scientist behind. Leaving the house, they started down a path between some’ tall trees, the two men in front broke into a run and were soon on the edge of the island where a small boat was beached. The submarine could be seen farther out in the water. Frank saw his chance, with a sudden twist he turned and before the surprised criminal had time to offer resistance, he was on him and they went down to the: ground with a thump. Frank heard the shouts of the two men and the pounding of their feet up the path. Desperately fight- ing himself free of the old man’s clutches he sprang into the forest and raced for his. life across the island. He knew that his foe’s time was too precious to spend it-in chasing him. Looking around he saw the two sailors struggling with the man down the path to the boat. He saw the boat put. out and reach the sub- marine which, without a moment’s delay, submerged. He scanned the sky and detected the small specks of the American fleet approaching from the west and. for- getful of his own danger, leaped around waving his hands and shouting for joy. With a deep hum, the planes a aon overhead and commenced circling the island. A small dark object dropped from one. Frank saw it, and crouched at the base of a tree with his head in his arms. B-o-o-tn; the island shook from the impact. B-o-o-m, a second one burst close to the building with a blinding flash, tearing. one side away. Another one came, a closer hit, and fragments of the building in which he had spent so many hours of mental torture, were hurled in all directions, the buildmg became a complete wreck. Another blinding flash, a deafening, stunning roar, and Frank suddenly became dizzy. He groped for the tree, missed-it and fell to the ground. How Riel Did It ALLACE’S return to consciousness was accom- panied by a headache. He felt his head, there was a bandage around it. Lying still with his eyes closed, he soon recalled the events of the bombing. He listened, but all was quiet. Then the bombing must have ceased, he thought, wearily opening his eyes for a Comichooks.cor