Evening star., 1924-12-29
CONTINUED from Yesterdays star.)

He and Lord 'Almeric talked ear
nestly enough as We made our way to
the West End, but though they did
not exclude me from the conyersa-
tion, 1t WAS of stuff that was Greek
to me, and ] was more interested in
the wakening streets. ] should like
to have seen how Fleet street was
taking the event, but we went down
a street which brought us out on the
cmbankment by Blackfriars Bridge,
passing the building that during the
war was known as Adastral House,
where I had tried to get into the
British Flying Corps by swearing |
was a British citizen. They wouldn't
have me because of my age. | was
only a kid then. The building now
seemed to be the offices of some COM
mercial firm. l emembered my cha
grin at being turned down by the
British authorities, though they were
extraordinarily kind to me, and look
ing back at that time l got a-tingle
ali over to think that I was taking
a lively part In an affair pretty nigh
as exciting as the war ] had wanted
so much to get into.
1t made me smile to think of the
intense awe l should have had for the
general In those days, or even for
Lord Almeric, kind as he was. \
mighty queer set of happenings,
i,
ting in a limousine with the chief OF
the British G. /. D. and the deputy
governor of the Bank of England!
We dropped Sir Thomas Basildon at
New Scotland Yard, passing through
the courtyard into Whitehall.
You must permit me to worry you
a trif1e more, Mr.. Boon" said Sir
Thomas, as he stepped from the auto
mibole. II want you to recount your
Df
I ring you up at Lord Almeric's s?-or.
no-let us fix the time at 1880 today.
And perhaps / may be able to snatch
a minute or two to see your new
plane-what dye call 1.-THE Mer-
lin--if / may be allowed"
Delighted, sir said I. Twelve
thirty, then. Here?'
Here" he replied Ask for me at
this door They'll bring you traight
up"
AS we turned into Whitehall
caught a glimpse Of crowds in Par
lament Square.
Surely the Senate-the Parliament
isn't still sitting?" 1 asked Lord AL
meric.
no" he smiled. Il expect they've
gone home by now. But you know
what crowds are. They will hang
around Parliament Square for hours
somebody who has had his face black
ened, and they will give a circum-
stanltal account of how nearly they
accomplished it, years after
".
We reached Lord Almerics house,
in Knightsbridge, about half-past g.
Milliken was nowhere to be seen. |
looked about for servant and found
the one who had opened the door
yawning on the landing.
DO you know where Mr.. Mflliken
has gomez" ] asked.
No, sir He must have slipped out
early, before the 'ouse was properly
astir, sir-if he has gone" said the
man, with an air of suspicion.
Very WE'LL" said /.
guessed that my mechanic had
gone down to begin work on the Mer
lin, SO 1 had bath and presently
Joined Lord Almeric at breakfast.
What plans have you for today,
jimmy" asked his lordship.
First, l shall cable my father and
get him to begin the campaign
against the raiders, so that a Gordon
Of scouts can be drawn round the
coast tonight. Then I will have to
attend to the Merlin. 1 propose start
ing for America at 10 tomorrow, so
as 10 arrive before dark.
Bless me! How on earth can you
do that?"
II leave at 10 from here and take
13 hours to make Long Island, nomi-
nally IL o'clock at night-but as a
matter of fact it will be o'clock,
American time, when I arrive. l get
back the five hours we lost coming
here"
Il had forgotten that" said Lord
Almeric, with a smile. "One of these
days you young men will be beating
time itself"
"Ah," said ]. We've got to fly at
1,45o kilometers per hour to beat time
across the Atlantic from east to
west"
Good Cod" he cried. You don't
mean to say you've reckoned it out?'
why not?" 1 grinned at him.
When I started flying 80 miles an
hour was thought good going-that's
144 kilometers. My Merlin does three
and a half times that speed-50O odd
which is more than a third of the
sun speed"
Jimmy said his lordship, II give
YOU up. You are too much for me-
Tell Sir Thomas Basildon that when
you see him today, will you?"
All right, SIR
He made for the door, where he
turned
Good morning, Jimmy" said he.
Then, DO oyu think it will ever be
done?"
why not? Shells do it. We might
find new principle of flight"
He went out, shaking his head
L finished breakfast and went down
to Battersea, where I found Milliken
with half a dozen mechanics busy
over the Merlin
"Hullo, Millikenn' I said Where
did you get to this morning?"
Here said he. Knew that the
sooner / got on the job the better,
seeing that we'll be going back to-
morrow. She's in fine trim, though
and as sound as bell"
Good. Did you have any break
fast?"
There's n qiuck breakfast counter
and hot-dog ca bin in the street on the
other side Of the bridge" said Milli-
ken, but they don't sell any fruit"
e means cawrfee stall, sir" one
or the mechanics explained.
Il get that"
We're goin' to take i'm round the
corner presently wen we knocks off.
to a chop'ouse. Ell get a real break
f1s' there. But e won't get no dog or
fruit-'cept the sossidges might be
dog-and q banana"
Wheh the mechanlcS mad gone, TAX
ing Milliken with them to the chop
'ouse." ] got off my coat and jack ct
and went over the bus. AS Milliken
had said, she was as sound as a bell.
L worked with the men until midday,
when / walked to Scotland Yard.
told all I knew to half dozen
detectives and stood the fire of ques-
tions they shot at me until at last
they all got up and trooped out, SOL
emnly shaking hands with me, each
one of them. Then Sir Thomas came
~s1g and inspected the Merlin. He
expressed a high opinion Of it and