Bill Barnes Air Adventurer, July 1935 — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

AIR ADVENTURER 69 “They have threatened time and again to kill me. Only the intervention of Cistra, Boettner’s niece has kept them from it. I’ve been a captive here for three months. Lying here rotting. Only Cistra’s spirit and courage has kept me alive: They are madmen, Shorty.” The guard at the door got to his feet quickly and came to attention. The questions that were racing through Shorty’s mind were entirely forgotten as the form of a man in glittering uni- torm loomed in the doorway, crossed the room and stood above him, a soft, sneering laugh on his hideous face. Across his chest were pinned a half dozen medals. His massive shoulders seemed to droop beneath the weight of braid and gold buttons on his uniform. “Well, you Yankee pig,” the man snarled, “we have the great mutual pleasure of meeting again. And in the company of the brother of the man with whom we last met.” Shorty’s eyes widened and his mouth came open as he stared up into that cruelly scarred face above him. His voice was only a whisper when he spoke. stieilner! he said, “Cantar rie Heilner!’ He blinked as though he couldn’t believe what his eyes saw. “Yes, Heilner. But General Heilner now !”’ Shorty laughed. He couldn’t have helped laughing if his very life had de- pended on his not laughing. Heilner’s face went. purple with rage and his hand went to the automatic strapped around his waist. Then he got control of himself. “We've searched you and we searched your room before you awoke,” he said. “But we didn’t find what we want. You have one chance of living, Hassfurther. Just one. Tell us where that deed can be found and join us as commander of our air force and you live. You will become wealthy. You have everything to live for You = Shorty threw back his head and laughed until he had to stop because of the pains in his bruised body. The man was a maniac. “When the French come up here with a few 75s and a regiment of legion- naires,’ he snapped, “‘your natives will run themselves to death.” It was Heilner’s turn to laugh now. “What are a few thousand French swine compared to a million natives?” he asked. ‘‘We’re here to take the gold out of this place. When we are through the natives can have the island. I am not going to beg you for that deed. I will give you an opportunity to think over my suggestion. Until noon. If you won't talk then, both you and young Wyndam die!” XII—GRAY FIGHTERS THE ATTITUDE of Bill Barnes and his men was changed from that of the day before when they climbed out of the cab beside their planes. Bill’s face was grim and unsmiling as he went over the monster transport, carefully checking and rechecking the engines, ammunition and guns. “You'll probably need your bombs to- day, Bailey,” he said to the grim-lipped, young gunner in the forward cockpit. “They're ready, sir,” Batley replied. After Bill had carefully checked all of the planes he called his pilots and gunners into the transport. He stood before them on the steps leading to the bridge. His bronzed face was lined and white underneath his tan. His eyes and lips were hard and unsmiling. He raised one hand for silence. “We're going after Shorty, men,” he said. “And we're going to get him. This is the third time they’ve tried to get him and this time they’ve succeeded. We’re up against a band of dangerous killers. I want you all to shoot straight. Make every shot tell. COmiclboook CO