Air Wonder Stories, December 1929 — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

AIR WONDER STORIES “They're all up. in the ait,” he said smiling, “and if they knew of the-existence of Marino there'd be a _ sudden war. I hear that Blaine and his ship disappeared between here and Honolulu, without a word or even an ‘SOS.’ The officials don’t know what to make of it, and they’re naturally disappointed in me for having lost my ship. I'll have a hard time sticking to my story.” “You'd better stick to it, though!” snapped the Grand Master’s ‘henchman: “It is useless. to fight Marino, even if you were yellow enough to desert your girl and ‘tell the truth, You'd never see her again—and, believe me, you yourself wouldn’t live longer than twenty-four hours!” . Brettner shuddered. “I suppose you have the best of me!” he said: “Well, Skipper, if we're to be friendly enemies, Iet’s-get down to: brass tacks. Are-your men going to make life miserable for me by shadowing me?” The pilot from Marino nodded. “Well, will there be any objections to my going to my gitl’s apartment and getting her some of her clothes?” “None.” Brettner thanked him: “I'll go to the office first, and arrange to leave, if they'll trust me with another plane, tomorrow morning. South to Guayaquil on the same route, I'll meet you two hours out.” “Don’t bother about the time,” said his companion, a rather good-natured fellow who had seemed: pleased with Brettner’s nickname of: “Skipper”: “Til follow you out.” : “But don’t you: think headquarters will want to see you-and thank you for having saved the life of their valuable pilot-captain?” Brettner said satirically. “Yes! I brought you here only so that our agent would know ahead- of time about your arrival. Your offices are buzzing with excitement-by now. Our-man is one of your employees, and will be watching you when you arrive. Let's go.” They got into-the plane again and, after skimming over the residential section of the city, landed at-the Grand Central Terminal. As they did-so, the chief: dis- patcher came out to meet the plane. He was, by name, Gastro—a short, fat: man with a-heavy shock of grey hair.. His peculiar appearance had made him an out- standing character -in the minds of the patrons of the International. No one who had ever seen: him could forget his oily face and his great ‘hair. And, strangely, he was stniling ;when-he shook Fred’s hand in-greeting. “The loss of those three planes has certainly aroused the officials,” he said: “But I’m: glad you're safe.” The acute Brettner could not:help noting, when he introduced his ‘rescuer,’ that the eyes of the two met in a manner that told that they were already friends. They exchanged ostentatiously formal: greetings and talked as. Strangers. But, as Fred Brettner looked from one man to the-other and reviewed the events of the day, he was-awestruck by the:possibilities inherent in Gastro’s association with Marino. : ~ CHAPTER IV Gastro ASTRO accompanied Brettner through the throng of planes. and into the field office, leaving the pilot with his plane. Fred took a seat across from the dispatcher, who had relighted his inevitable cigar and. was regarding him blandly. "The officials are deeply concerned about so many mishaps, Captain,” he began. Fred: felt that: strange shudder run through his body. “We have lost: three planes today,” continued the dispatcher, “and you are the only pilot who has been lucky enough to return. It is reported that'a number of privately-owned. planes-have disappeared suddenly while on cruises, I-do not: know to what we may attribute these strange disappearances. But we've got to go on, commerce of the world must: not be delayed by the loss of a few ships.” He chewed the ropey cigar for awhile and studied the floor: “I’m giving you another ship, Captain. I suppose I’d give you any number of ships before losing faith in you.” Brettner gasped, it was all working so smoothly. “Oh, I—” His voice:fell: “Thank you, Gastro.” The dispatcher rose and walked up and down the room. He had fost his: blandness and: was now visibly nervous. “Good Heavens, Captain,” he said finally, “we mustn't lose all our ships !.-We’ve got to have men who will exert every effort to save their commands, even at the expense of their own lives. You asked for a cargo plane this morning—were you afraid to take passengers out on ‘your first trip?” “No,” said Brettner: “I wanted to be alone—I had some trouble.” His: voice fell: “My fiancée suddenly disappeared, leaving me-only-a line or two. I suppose that’s my own affair, though!” “Of course,” said Gastro: “Of course—Of course.” He said-tt the third time, as though the words fascinated him: Come around tomorrow and I'll give you another cargo plane—with an important load for Buenos Aires. You must get it through. Good night!” “Good night!” said Captain Brettner, in a mechanical voice. On the street again he was suddenly conscious of being in the hands of so powerful an Order, with agents in such unexpected: places that he did not know whom to trust. His best friend might have belonged to it, “Conquerors of the World,” eh? ‘Well, they -had him. Nothing short of death:could now. relieve him of his: responsibilities to them, responsibilities which he must fulfill if he was to save Nadia from death or worse. He’ had the consolation, at least, that he would never have stolen-a penny for his own gain. But to saye the life of Nadia, what might he not do? “Con- querors of the World?” And wrecking the happiness of youth in-order to fulfill a-:mad dream. Of course that would be their method, Entrap young men into their Order, to get them to deliver their stolen planes, Planes cost thousands of dollars. A big cargo ship such as the one Fred had landed upon the deck of Marino had cost two hundred thousand, to say. nothing of its costly freight. “Whew !” he breathed. “This Order has the system. Their planes cheaply. obtained—stolen. Ready to rob government stores of explosives. Using the sun’s energy to give them power, Gee, if I could only induce the-government to raid Marino!” But he knew he dared not make a false move. He was certain to be observed, and the result would be the sudden:death of Nadia. No, there must bea more subtle way. Schemes ran through his mind; but none of them seemed practicable. Men were watching him; perhaps the very policemen in the-streets belonged to the.Order. An attempt to converse with a policeman might bring about his death. How many people were in the hands of this. fanatical Grand Master? So many planes had-disappeared that day as to alarm the govern- ment- officials, The. news_bulletins- carried shouting headlines ‘of great losses all over the land, sudden dis- appearances for which there were no clues. While pass-