Air Wonder Stories, December 1929 — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

526 As Brettner moved along behind the other plane, his thought returned to Metter and his tremendous inven- tion, Then he thought of another resource which might, possibly, save the situation. The psychological experts of his day, exponents of the development of the human mind, had so nearly reached perfection in their science that the long scoffed-at feat of mental telepathy had come to be realized ‘among them. If he could only “tune in’”’ on one of them and tell his great secret, the re- ceiver of it might be able to awaken the nations to their danger. He would try it, not knowing whether or not he was succeeding in the least. He would endeavor to communicate with one of them in patticular—Profes-- sor Ray, whom he had met months before, on a Vladivostok-bound air-liner. The professor had then mentioned, and had demonstrated, some of the: funda- mental principles of mental telepathy, which Brettner had ‘absorbed: with the. greatest interest. But he did not know where the professor might then be. However, he took. from his pocket a small ball, a common steel ball which had come from a bearing, and used this tiny convex mitror as a concentration point; thus making use of the principles which had set forth by the professor, he looked into the glistening object for a moment and focussed his mind upon a mental picture of Professor Ray. The image did not appear for some five minutes, by which time the plane hit a rough spot in the air and required his undivided attention. Fred looked up to see the pursuit-plane above him. He then reverted to a crudity of several decades before and swore aloud. He was angry; his anger served him well. For, when he again looked into the ball, with fierce determination in his soul, the image of the professor stood out better than he could have expected. He believed that he now had mental access°to Professor Ray. But he kept his mind off Marino. He made a mental picture of his toom at the hotel, with the professor entering, He mentally told the professor to wait therein for him, three days hence, at two in the afternoon when-he ex- pected to arrive. Perhaps futile, perhaps dangerous. He was a drowning man grasping a straw. Would Ray tecognize him and conceive what urgent need might lie behind this unusual request? Presently Brettner straightened his plane again and looked about him. He was flying straight. He looked into the ball again, hoping the professor would respond. He closed his mind to everything save the supreme effort, desperately concentrating on Professor Ray’s image and the message. Finally he relaxed, as he found the mental picture of the professor nodding at him. He relaxed. and wiped the sweat from his forehead: He hoped that his conversation with the professor had been real; that it was not a product simply of his fervid imagination. What Nadia Revealed OME time later, Fred Brettner looked out to see the pursuit-plane hovering near, nosing down for a landing. He saw the little plane slip several thousand feet, circle and then slide down to the ocean surface. Tt must be Marino. It was! He saw the plane taxi up to the elevator and disappear. He circled the great deck, put the great freighter “on her ear,” and slipped for a landing. He came in slowly, with the old “Lindbergh skill,” as. Blaine had called it. He had often thought how skillful the Lone Eagle must have been, to fly such a contraption as The Spirit of, St. Louts across AIR WONDER STORIES the Atlantic with a. low-powered motor of his times. Blaine had:commented that Brettner could have done it before breakfast with a modern plane. The guards met him.as he descended to the deck: Not a word was spoken. He was ushered below into a room where there was-a table, with food and plates for two, and was instructed to wait for five minutes, At the end of that time Nadia came through a door opposite. They embraced, It all seemed too good to be true. This was a trap, he was certain, and he wondered how he could tell her. As he gazed at her, her eyes showed a glint of understanding. They talked of trivial things and avoided the topic which most concerned them. There must be eavesdroppers about. He could see that she wanted to scream in the tension she was under, but she was bearing up like a good soldier. Nothing weak or petty in Nadia! “I brought your things,” he said: “Left them in the plane. If they permit you to:have them, I am sure they will be delivered safely to you.” “Was there a letter for me?” she asked, munching a sandwich. “No, darling, nor does the landlord seem worried about your sudden disappearance. I suppose he knows all about it. Marino is all-powerful. I must do all I can to serve her.” He saw a sudden look of pain come into her eyes. So she didn’t understand. Her look showed that she now believed that he had deliberately trapped her, that he himself was a member of the Order. She didn’t know he was lying for her sake, But there were prob- ably cunningly-concealed microphones in the room-and, perhaps, telephoto instruments which showed every facial expression. His own countenance, he felt pain- fully sure, seemed unconcerned. She saw it, perhaps, as a deceitful face covering the subtle actions of the man whom she had loved. He dared not tell her that he was not a member, not even a sympathizer of the Order. Yet he could not continue the meal in painful silence. He had to talk. “Marino has. great possibilities,” he went on reck- lessly: “It is governed by the greatest mind the world has ever known. I now believe he should be the dictator of it all. He is a conqueror, but he does not wish to destroy, He wants only to rule wisely. I am his ser- vant. Perhaps, after all he has accomplished his purpose —and I am going to exert every effort in his behalf— he will be kind enough to give me a place of trust and importance. Who knows?” He breathed a sigh and avoided her look. A door opetied ; a guard entered, stood silently for a moment, and then motioned for Brettner to follow, Then-terror filled Fred’s soul. Nadia had risen from her chair, screaming: “Take me out there—out there to that horrible room —For God’s sake take me out and let me die! He—he is the greatest traitor in the world—a' traitor to his country and to me!” “Tt is best that you know,” Fred lied again: “I carr do more for you as one of Marino's subjects and make you far happier than otherwise. You must understand,” he pleaded: “Have faith in me and in Marino,” “No!” she shrieked: “I'll die first! You didn’t tell me—you took my life in your hands, so that you could have me with you in your association with these pirates! I hate you with all the bitterness of one who has loved you and discovered what a criminal you are. You used my love to steal my freedom! Love! I would rather die than. marry you.” comicbooks.com Os nes —— Oe eee“ ee 3