Air Wonder Stories, December 1929 — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

ing a newspaper office on his way to Nadia’s apartment, ie he heard ‘the radio-announcement fromthe governor's office, of an additional reward of twenty thousand dollars for information leading to the discovery of the Missing passenger plane. Breéttner shrugged his li shoulders, The world was totally unaware of what: it was facing. : At Nadia’s apartment, he procured her key from the landlord? who knew him well. In her living room, he | stood motionless for a moment. The atmosphere brought back so-many memories, and struck so much terror to his heart when he thought of what. she-might suffer, that he sank into-a chair-and-covered his head: with:his hands. Is life like this? One tries his best to live honorably, by the law of his being, and a great, crushing | force arises to. smash his life to ‘bits: Within his mind was the consciousness of having a | great battle to fight. He must not give way to weakness. | * He must be strong and clever, Were the battle for-him- self only, he might have taken a great chance, a long shot. But, with Nadia’s life hanging in the balance, with their Jove restrained, their entire: futures threatened with ftuin, only the subtlest moves could save them. He knew what he meant to her and what’ she expected from him. He must not disappoint her. But this was 5S not a question of pride—it was a fight for her life. The flyers who had first hopped-across the ocean: had only their own lives at stake and could take chances ; he could take none. He must save Nadia and, in doing = so, he would save the world. | So-Captain Brettner took a small traveling: bag and filled it with Nadia’s belongings; after which he hur- | ried back to his hotel.. Ceaselessly his mind reviewed the possibilities of combatting the forces of Marino. No possible way of:telling the governor. ‘They would lall Nadia and himself, even though he succeeded. The slightest move toward giving away the secret might result in his death. The only means by which he could act through his employers would be: discovered by Gastro who, he:-was sure, was a traitor in the employ of Marino: And yet he could prove nothing when called upon to do.so. He decided to attempt a few hours of needed sleep, which-might:help to unravel the tangle of thoughts which ran through his mind. Just before he reached the entrance of his hotel a passer-by came.close to him as they-approached, speak- ing low’ and quickly “Remember, Mario watches you. Go to your room. You will be watched from the-room . adjoining yours.” The man went on. with unchanged pace, leaving Brettner on the curb staring backward.at him in amazement. 2 Two Conspirators Meet HE Buenos: Aires freight plane was loaded and . waiting the next morning when Captain Brettner ; walked nonchalantly into the office and saluted: Gastro, with a forced smile upon his face. Gastro seemed sur- prised; and, when he -had handed Fred his orders and the young man had gone out again whistling cheerfully, the es shook his: head-and whispered, “Game | boy ry A stranger who:-had landed his plane on the field hurried into the office. Gastro appeared not to observe him until four skylarking pilots had passed on through the gate nearby; after which he nodded to. the new- comer. There was. a whispered conversation. between them. “Better keep Brettner-aboard.after this,” said Gastro: ‘He's the only new man you've risked sending ashore— Se ee Oe ee FREEDOM OF THE SKIES ee ee ee ee ee ee rn dangerous. business.” The strange pilot* nodded slightly: “True, but we have his sweetheart; He’s a valuable man. The Grand Master needs him for the dangerous-work.” “Qh, I see. He wanted to see if-Brettner could be trusted, eh?” “That’s.it,” said the pilot: “His hands are-tied. Your tip about placing his young woman in our power was a good one, I have been told while aboard that, if he shows any hesitation hereafter, he will get what all traitors get—the extermination room,” “The what?” -Gastro’s face paled as he leaned toward the stranger, The latter looked at him intently: “The extermination room. A bare-room with: vents in the walls to admit a gas that disintegrates whoever is inside,” “My God” thought the dispatcher. The pilot continued proudly : “It was I who suggested tothe Grand Master that this room be put to use in the case: of all prisoners we cannot use, as well as for traitors. We-are holding the threat of it over the young woman, to ensure her lover carrying out the great mission.” Gastro shuddered’ inwardly at this man’s words, “Yes, the-great-mission?” he said absently. The pilot nodded: “The thing-that only the Grand Master knows. However, he is now sorry that he permitted this young man to lose a plane and thus lose favor in the eyes of the officials. It would have been better-to allow him to gain-more of their confidence, and. then turn everything over to us. It seems that Marino’s.success lies in the hands of Captain Brettner.” The pilot smiled again. “Fhe Grand Masteris very astute,” breathed Gastro. The pilot’s eyes narrowed: “No one dares to think him unwise!” he. said. “Tf I had done so, I would never have accepted your proposition,” said the dispatcher: “But I want to be the-ruler of one of those South American Jands.” “Your. wish will be gratified when we have suc- ceeded,” said the Pilot. : Captain Brettner lifted his plane above the fog, south of Los Angeles, and set his-course indicator for Buenos Aires. He must fly along it for a few hours to avert suspicion, before turning toward Marino, His great problem kept revolving through his mind, in the depths of which: he felt-there must be a solution. He would cheerfully have -given his own life, if that. would help. But there:was Nadia; what was happening to her now? Would they ever be free to: love each other again, to go their own way as free.men and women do? He writhed inwardly, Then he straightened and began coolly to consider:matters. He was in a most.singular position.. There was one-possibility by which, if-nothing interfered, he could save the world from Marino, The solution-to his problem he saw lay in Nadia’s ability, to send a-amessage to-Metter, the greatest chemist: of that day, whom he knew. Metter had finally proved: that he could place, in the bulk of a bomb.a man could carry, an explosive powerful enough to destroy everything within a mile; the discovery had just been reported briefly in the radio. news bulletin, which he had: tuned in, while in his room the night before. Two hours out—five hundred miles from Los Angeles —there drew alongside the pursuit-plane which had taken him ashore the evening before. The-pilot did not even look his way, but turned towards the west; and Brettner followed. 525 comicbooks.co