Adventure Magazine Cover — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

168 “Just about fifty-fifty,” was Hinkley’s reply. “Of course I don’t know a great deal about Martin bombers—I’m a pursuit man and Jim here is the big-ship expert. It'll be a hair-raiser, with everything to lose and pretty nearly everything to gain. Inasmuch as these yeggs are so suspicious, I don’t be- believe we’d have a Chinaman’s chance to get Hayden and get out of here——” “Except by strategy they won’t under- stand,” Broughton cut in. “You see, Mr. Graves, I figure it this way. If you tell them we’re going, they’ll lose some of their suspicion. Probably half the reason for kill- ing us would be to prevent our telling any- body about their funny rendezvous up here, plus the plausible reason for our death if anybody gets nosing around. The ship gives them that & “And any of them who are afraid of the police through their past reputations could disappear while someunknown tells the army all about the wreck,’ Graves sug- gested. | “Exactly,” agreed Broughton. ‘They'll lose their suspicion, and will think that we see nothing unusual in this place. When the motors start they’ll all be out for the take-off. By some hook or crook we ought to be able to get Hayden near enough the ship and a little away from the others so that we can knock him on the head, chuck him in the back cockpit, and give the old ship the gun.” “Tf they’re all too near, one of us can get in the back, fiddle with the machine gun, and then suddenly announce that we'll mow down the crowd unless Hayden gives him- self up,” said Hinkley amiably. GRAVES was almost excited at the ie hopeful vista suggested by the flyers. His pace was a little faster than usual as he covered a path twenty feet long over and over again. A fresh, unlighted cigar was clamped in the extreme corner of his well-chiseled mouth. “Of course [ am in your hands as far as flying is concerned,” he said as though talk- ing to himself. ‘I don’t know how many of them will be armed, but the chances are that in the excitement the shooting will not be very accurate.” Every one was silent for a moment. Then Broughton made another suggestion. “They will be back of us, sir, and if we can get in the front cockpit fast the bomb Adventure compartment, which is as high as our heads, will protect us from shots while we are tak- ing off. They’ll ricochet off the steel run- way, I believe, at the angle of fire they’ll shoot at. Besides, they’ll hold their fire at first for fear of hitting Hayden.” Graves threw his untasted cigar away. “We'll do it,” he said calmly. ‘There are men with field-glasses over on that moun- tain there keeping watch. If we fail, all hope of getting Hayden alive and without publicity will be gone, but no man up here will get out. All the routes are blocked, if they only knew it. It will mean a lot of men killed capturing this party, and our swoop on Hayden’s gang all over the coun- try will be incomplete, but we’ll have done our best.”’ “Let’s get the motor started then, right away,” said Broughton. “It’s getting dark already.” The western sky was red as fire still, but the sun itself had dipped behind the moun- tains and the valleys were filling with purple shadow. The motors were started without trouble. The roar of them brought every one out of the shack. Luck was with the flyers, for only three men came close to the ship— Hayden, Somers, and little Meyer. All the rest of the men stayed near the shack, fifty yards away from the Martin. The machine- gun holdup appeared to be unnecessary. The three men stopped about ten yards away. Graves walked up to them. “We have the ship fixed, and have de- cided to try a take-off,” he said. The comfort this brought to the three agitators was obvious. Graves looked around and beckoned to Hinkley, who strolled up casually. Broughton was idling the motors, now, and preparing to climb out. Graves went a few steps to.meet the flyer. ““Get close to Meyer and disarm him when I give the signal. Tell Broughton to do the same to Somers—knock him on the head if necessary. Ill get Hayden, and then the three of us can heave him in the back cock- pit and get in before that gang up there can get their guns. I don’t believe any of them carry revolvers.” ; Hinkley grinned delightedly. “Fast work, partner,’’ he breathed. The three were standing quietly, talking in low tones, when Hinkley and Broughton came up. Gomicbook (S@)