Air Wonder Stories, December 1929 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

a le ele ee dal 4 522 AIR WONDER STORIES 4: tunity to state my side of the case.” “May I ask why?” demanded Brettner. 3 The Grand M “T thought it was obvious,” smiled the Grand Master : > e Grand Master “T shall make it clear, however. You are to return to : | ae orderly turned and walked away without reply. the mainland in a ship piloted by one of our men. You ’ He went to the door and opened it, motioning for are to tell the officials of your company that you lost the k Fred and the girl to follow. ship by accident and that you were rescued by this man. *) “Be careful what you say, Fred,” cautioned Nadia. Meanwhile, Miss Deneeen remains with us as security \ “T want’ to know why. you're here,” Brettner said for your loyalty to us. : decisively: “That's my first question to fire at this “One of my pilots with a light amphibian monoplane | Grand Master. I’ll bet he’s one of those Napoleonic will take you. Upon your arrival in Los Angeles, you 4 eccentrics, like certain capitalists of post-war days who are to make only the necessary explanations ; and when + are said to have possessed such a complex for power.” you get command of another plane —a cargo carrier— Nalia laughed, even her eyes twinkled: “If you didn’t you will fly her here.” ? ; have a sense of humor I'd feel blue,” she said. “And if I refuse?” At his words Brettner felt Nadia ] “But it’s true,” muttered Brettner. “Think of it— start. Before the Grand Master could reply, she spoke: kidnapping you!” “You mustn’t give yourself to dishonor for such as The two young people were ushered into an immense this, Fred—I’lI—I’ll do anything before you shall!” room which was lined with blue and golden tapestries, “You will be wiser not to refuse,” said the Grand with elaborate furniture everywhere, about a large desk Master: “If you agree, and then betray us, our detec- : in the center. There were multi-colored lights spaced tive force, which covers the movements of every one | upon the walls, and their reflection gave the place a connected with the International, will discover it. Our weird atmosphere. At the desk sat a young man, agents are everywhere. You must consider. Why, if apparently no-more than thirty, with keen blue eyes, this young lady consents you may even be married | blonde hair and the form of a Greek athlete. He was aboard—we have a chaplain—and live in luxury with dressed, as were the guards, in a one-piece suit of us indefinitely. We can always use you, captain. Your velvet; but he wore a silver crest, the top of which knowledge of air craft will enable you to bring a great nw consisted of an eagle with wings spread to the winds, number of planes to our decks. And, after we have The orderly silently placed two chairs before the accumulated ‘enough additional supplies from cargo desk and motioned them to be seated; then he dis- planes, we shall put our forces in motion for a conquest wa appeared through the door and it closed. When Fred of the world.” } and Nadia had seated themselves, the man at the desk “Why didn’t you buy the planes at first, and save spoke in a rich, deep voice: “You are before the yourself the expense of building this great ship?” asked j Grand Master of The Conquerots of the Skies,” he SBrettner, intrigued by curiosity, } began: “When I say the ‘Conquerors of the Skies,’ I The Grand Master still smiled: ; refer to the most powerful organization in the world. “We had to have headquarters, captain! We knew Our aim is to control the air; suffice to say that we are that, in order to maintain an immense number of air- j assured of success. You are now within our citadel, planes, we would need a hiding place. The land portion f which is the largest submarine structure ever built. of the world—that which is comfortable—is now It can be submerged ineight minutes. Our methods of entirely within the scrutiny of adventurous airmen. : action, at present, are confined to the demoralization of I know of no place outside the frigid zones where one the pilots and crews of the International Airliners.” could be so secure as we are here in Marino, You must : The Grand Master paused and smiled: “My men have remember we are a nation; and, as a nation, we are disabled the radio instruments on all liners passing going to conquer the world. This meager start of ours within five hundred miles of our position. This vessel is only to secure airplanes and supplies. is a floating nation—we call it Marino. Marino shall “We have ten thousand pilots, all belonging to the conquer the world. Order—all ready upon_an hour’s notice to come aboard. “Now, Captain Brettner, our reason for abducting As fast as we capture the ships of the International, i your sweetheart, was to ensure the presence here of this we have men ready to assume command of them. We young lady while we are gaining possession of anadded have marked out immense stores of explosives in the number of ships.” different parts of the world, which will be picked up : The Grand Master paused. Brettner’s face was sud- by our planes, swarms of them, when we are ready. | « denly a livid white; he understood that Nadia was to “No, we are not cutthroats, Captain; but we are’ de- be held as hostage for some infamous purpose. The termined. We need more than the hundred ships words of the Grand Master ate into his soul. And he which we have aboard. We want ten thousand—enough must see her suffer for the greed of sucha man as the to cover all the cities of the world—and all the high one sitting before him! He wanted to fly at the throat explosives available. We must work fast, yet with care. of the pirate, but instead he turned suddenly in his Therefore, my final word to you is: If you wish to see chair and hoarsely whispered her name, “Nadia—Nadia Miss Deneen live happily—or live at all—follow my —My God—you!” Their eyes met, two pairs of richly- instructions tothe letter !’” tinted pools with everything that they held worth while reflected in them. They could not speak. Only the CHAPTER III fortitude of the girl whose eyes met his gave Brettner Brettner Meditates courage to look again at the Grand Master. The latter smiled, HE two young people gasped. The Grand Master ! “Tt isn’t such a tragedy, Captain Brettner. You shall | nodded and pointed to the door: “Go,” he said, not be deprived of the society of this young lady. I still smiling to himself. give you my word of honor that Miss Deneen shall At the last word of the Grand Master, a guard entered remain unharmed, with the freedom of the decks, as the room and guided the two captives through another long as you obey orders. I don’t want her; I want you!” door into the great aisle. There they met another mem- 7 a comicbooks.com | “oe a ia aie Pn ss SO el ee ee a Se