The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-25
Chapter 81
Dangerous Mission
DETREL leant forward.

"Where did it come DOWN."
"Over there" Said the driver.
sin a moment we shall see the Ian
terms. There are two sentries
guarding it. In case thieves take
the instruments" Her eyes
strained across the hillocks of sand.
They went in waves. almost white
silver, in the moonlight. black in
the shadows. The wind had shifted
and fashioned the sand into the
lines of its own movement. as it
passed.
..'Is-it high, or in holloW?" q.
'They told me in Cairo, that he
hit the bank of a rise. We should
see the lanterns any time now"
Suddenly her hands gripped the
back of the drivers seat. II can
see the plane, but there are no Ian
terms" she told him, hoarsely.
Against the sand, she saw the
silver of a wing, and a darkness
which must be the wreckage of
Rene's machine. HaSsan stopped
'"Turn off the engine, and wait
here. l will walk" Had the police
or military guard not arrived yet?
They stood still for moment, lis
tening, staring at the distant plane.
There were two dark blots moving
near it.
There are two camels there.
But the police would have Ian
terms. 1t is signal that all is WE'LL"
insisted Hassan. "You must 60 in
the car. Perhaps there are Bedou-
ms, or thieves. Who can tell? It is
not too rough. / think can drive
there"
mo, they will see the car COM
ing. Perhaps they have seen us al
ready. I'm going to find out if there
is anyone there or not. If there
is" But her question stood an
Swered. She gave gasp of fear.
She had distinctly seen the figure
OF a man detach itself from the
plane, and stand. looking towards
them, listening. Now a second
figure Joined him. They were COM
ferring together. The guards? Was
her fear absurd? Had they, for
some reason. decided against
showing any lights. 1t was possible.
But, since she came without escort,
were not guards or thieves equally
inconvenient? Why hadn't she
thought of that before? They
would never allow her to take
papers found near the plane, with
out proper authority.
She turned to her driver. Re
member how re drove this eve
ming, over the desert? Turn on
your lights, and go towards the
plane. Seem to see the guards,
suddenly, and bear away in
circle, fast, back to the road. They
will probably chase you. Will you
do that? 1t will give me a chance
to get what l want. I'll reach you
farther down the road Drive right
away, with headlights. Creep back
as near as you dare, without Them"
II understand, Mademoiselle."
'Tll stand on the step, and lump
off" She opened the door, stood on
the running board. The headlights
snapped full on. The engine start
ed. Clinging to the door, as the
car rocked, and plunged across the
uneven ground, PetronelIa rode.
till they were within a hundred
yards of the aeroplane. Then she
dropped off, fell into soft sand. Her
heart was hammering. She picked
herself up, and ran. crouched and
flounderingly towards the plane.
As she had hoped, the guards
looked only at the car, approach
ing at the direct angle. They stood.
blinded by the headlights, waiting
for it. They were Egyptians, she
noticed vaguely.
MurdererS
As THE car swerved and bore
"A away, they raised their arms,
yelled, and ran after it. Petrol
stopped abruptly. within a few
yards of the tragically smashed
machine, which she had seen in
the sky such short time ago. She
stared. Lying on the ground. near
the stolidly munching camels,
were two figures in uniform. One
was gagged, and tied with rope.
His dark eyes rolling sideways at
her, caught the light of the moon.
The other was neither bound, nor
gagged. He lay. with knife buried
to its hilt in the stained Jacket
covering his back. 1t was a sight
which terrified all thought of he:
task from her mind. She almost
turned and ran for the road. But
anger preserved her purpose for
her. This was what Tony had sent
Peter to findl
She looked after the murderers.
They were still pursuing HaSsan,
who was driving slower than she
liked, to encourage them. Even as
she realized it. she heard two shots
crack through the night.
She turned. There were only
three boulders, thank heaven. any
where near the plane. Instinct
guided her. There could be no
other explanation, she thought,
with that part of her mind which
was sick and hysterical with ter
ror, for the cool, matter Of fact way
the other part of her brain was
functiOning. The plane had buried