Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 12, 1927 — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

KERRY OF THE AIR MAIL. needs a business combination of some such sort. If he doesn’t win this race his. goose is cooked.” For more reasons than one, Glenn Kerry then and there made the resolution that the goose referred to would not be cooked; that he would change the goose into a crow, and make Hatton eat it raw, feathers and all. For he still held an intuitive distrust of Hatton. A few days later his distrust became more definite. The Sheldon outfit had hired a new pilot named Carson, a young man of pleasing personality and unimpeachable ref- erences who was something of a dare-devil. often thrilling even hardened pilots and me- chanics with his loops and spins and reverse- ments above the testing field. It was understood that Carson was am- bitious to be the pilot of the one plane that Sheldon would enter in the race, and it was agreed that he had a good chance if Sheldon entered two planes. Glenn had discovered Carson in low conversation with a stoutish man named Weimar, whom he had seen in the company of Hatton more than once. Carson had looked up guiltily, and Weimar had guffawed and raised-his voice obviously in the recital of a crude funny story. Kerry had conferred with Dick Sheldon, and had been the cause of Carson’s dis- missal. He could not as yet come out boldly against Hatton on~ such flimsy evidence, nor could he discuss the mat- ter as he~wished without being thought simply jealous of Hatton. He believed that in Dick Sheldon, though, he had a real friend, and Sheldon agreed that the new pilot must go, to make assurance doubly sure. A few days later, Dick Sheldon tele- phoned him, inviting him to the Sheldon house for tea. Dick was sitting in his wheel chair in a little patiolike court at the side of the house while Betty prepared the tea inside. ““T wanted to confess to you that I broke my word,” he told Glenn. “I told Betty about your suspicions.” Kerry flushed in embarrassment. “ I’m sorry I said anything,” he stammered. He 515 feared that the girl would interpret it as a bit of tale-bearing against a rival. “ Oh, don’t worry about that,” said Dick. ““T’ve practically convinced Betty. I like you, Kerry, all aside of what you did for me that night at Heathdown Field. You like my sister, too, don’t you, Jot. old son- of-a-gun?” he asked frankly, “T’m one of many men who scesiie her very much,” Glenn replied. “Well, Vil tip you off to something. Betty’s an old-fashioned girl. It’s true that she admired Hatton once. I don’t blame her. But I waited until the other night to tip her off, because she’s loyal and she’s set in her ways. You'd be surprised. She would never have believed anything against Hatton on a mere suspicion. But the other day I learned something on good authority. Three Trica planes have been entered in the transcontinental race.” ‘Then my suspicions were verified,” said Glenn. ‘“‘ How does Hatton explain such a development after his claim not to have been interested?”’ “ Well, I called him up about it and he stalled. He said the firm had been. going in for some of the speed planes lately, but not for this race; that they had thought of trying for the bigger standing prize for the New York to Honolulu flight. He said that, at the last minute, they found they couldn’t operate with enough gasoline space for the longer flight, and so he’d en- tered them in the transcontinental race. Sounds fishy to me. Anyhow, he’s in the race. He’s a rival now, and he won’t be welcome at our plant any more. And now V’lL wheel myself to the back lawn. Betty wants to have a private talk with you. She has an idea. ‘“ Betty!” he called. “ I’m taking off for the back lawn again. Come on out and talk with Glenn Kerry, and tell him about that idea.”’ Betty appeared in the door, clad in a simple gown of white georgette that set off her brunette beauty and slight form to advantage. “T have a real idea,” she said. “I’ve let Dick in—Dick’s always safe with a secret. But no one else knows. Listen!” COMIC OOOKS He’s good looking, and he’s smooth. - (E@)