Evening star., 1924-12-17
The Ark of the Covenant
~
Story of Mystery and Adventure
rag BY VICTOR MCCLURE.
< by Harper d Brother
Continued from Yesterdays star.)
By VICTOR MacCLUR
1874, by Harper d Brct

The feeling had not worn off when
Dan Lamont came back with a small
kit-bag in his hand.
What's the SNUG contentment for,
1immy?" he asked. Have you just
heard that the President has resigned
and you've been offered the job?"
I told. him, and his eyes lightened
UP. a-
'Say. Jimmy" he pleaded, like any
kid, I'm coming with you, old man
you're taking me with you, aren't
you?"
1T means starting about in the
morning, Dan"
THAT doesn't matter. Jimmy. I'd
like to come along"
l said he could, and he danced a
little breakdown to show how pleased
he was. Dan f+amont's an awful
kid in some ways, for all his high
position in the scientific world.
We drove down to the Battery in
good time, and waited to see the Mer-
lin come In. Dams man drove the
roadster away, and presently my
father arrived. Dick Schuyler had
his seaplane moored a little way
along, and he waved his hand.
In q little time l spotted my bus
like a dot in the clouds, as Milliken
came speeding across Brooklyn. be-
fore turning north into the Upper
Bay. He was flying good and high,
and to an outsider seemed to be over
shooting the point for making safe
angle. l took a look out of the cor
ner of my eye at Dickie Schuyler. and
h g was standing up in the cockpit of
his boat, yelling TO attract my atten-
tion.
What's the matter, Dickie?" 1
yelled.
That's your boat"
THAT fellows going to-erash her
too steep. an anglei" .s.y.-
! waved my hand serenely. and he
dropped back into his seat to watch,
open-mouthed. ! fancy he expected
TO see Milliken turn back or spiral to
the right height for planning into the
landing place, but he stood, up to
watch again when the Merlin began
her lowering fight down. &
My father touched my arm
That's something new. Jimmy?"
he asked.
1.-TWO years work in that, dad" 7
said.
He just patted me on the shocIder
The Merlin touched the water about
30 yards out. and TAXED slowly up to
the jetty. The landing-stage crew
turned her, and We all got aboard,
~1illlheu SlNln5 up tne pllOt seat 10
me. waved my hand to Dickie
Schuyler to show that / was ready,
and we both took Off together. In
that particular fight we didn't go
much above 400 l1ilometers per, but
we left the police boat we'll behind
In fact, the Merlin was berthed and
we were all on the jetty waiting
when Dickie landed.
you've got some bus, Jimmy" was
a inn NJ ha had
loC to say later on.
This projected trip out TO the Par
nassic knocked my idea OF making
Nilliken one of the council of war
clean on the head. ! might have
trusted another Of my fellows 10 go
over the Merlin preparatory to the
flight, but 1 knew that Milliken
would not let any one else do it. An
extra gasoline tank had to be shipped
and fixed with new connections, and
the job wanted sure hand.
Milliken promised that everything
would be ready by 8 O'Clock, and
picked out squad Of the more skill
ed mechanics to do the work. He
took il for. granted that he would
come with me on. the flight. and
knew that il would be useless to ar
que with him, but he agreed to take
bit of sleep when the job of fix
ing the extra tank was well in hand
So l had to leave 1t at that.
We had to let Dick Schuyler get off
his opinions Of the Merlin at dinner
before we could fall to discussing the
robberies seriously. And 1 am afraid
that the dinner was unduly prolong-
ed before / satisfied his curiosity by
the aid OF a whole thick pad Of scrib-
bling paper. The funny thing was
that neither the banker nor the man
or science seemed to be bored by the
arguments. Dan and my father were
as keen as mustard box.
When at length we had the Merlin