Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-09-06
BEFORE THE9HREHz X! k!Fi!E:
|49 - RUPERT GRAYS0N
RUPERT GRAYSON
RELEASED BY
CENTRAL PRESS ASSOCIATION

CHANGING over the cockpit. Gun
failed to see anything very unusual
about it. He wondered where the
secret lay.
Tommy adjusted helmet, para
chute and the other paraphernalia
of the pilot. Then he gave Gun a
quizzical glance and said:
well, I suppose this is where
we say goodby, old MANI"
Gun was quick to take his cue.
II hate the idea. Tommy, I'd love
to go up with you tonight"
You would?" was the immedi-
ate reply. IT daren't ask permits
sion, but if you'd like to take a
chance-well, there's a kit"
Gun grinned.
Like Jurgen, I'll try anything
once!" he said, and went to the
locker.
The plane had her nose swung to
the open door, and now mechanic
"a middle-aged man with a seri-
Gus face and intellectual forehead
came in and started to look over
the engine.
Gun was slipping into overalls,
helmet, ETC., and adjusting his par
achute. Tommy Hazeldeane looked
on with approval.
Anyone could see you've done
that before, Gum" he commented.
And glad to do it again! I've
never made any secret of it."
Properly equipped, he turned
back to the plane and watched the
mechanic for moment, then made
a little optic examination on his
own. He noted a number, newly
painted on the tail finn in large,
black splashes: "X. o. O."
Something struck him, and he
said to Tommy, in a low voice.
There seems to be lot of
hush-hush talk about this plane.
I've even seen paragraphs in the
newspapers. But, barring a few pc
cUliarities about the shape of her,
I'm hanged if I can spot anything
very new about her!"
And Tommy answered, in a SINH
lar tone:
That's just the joke-there
isn't"
"Then-why all the secrecy?"
"Just for that reason, I guess!"
what reason? ?"
"Just because there really ISN'T
anything new about herr"
This gave Gun food for thought,
and he chewed it, carefully. Pres
emily he began to recognize the
taste of it.
Got any notion what the stunt
really is, Tommy"
"Just a glimmering."
Something to do with the miss
ing bomber?"
II shouldn't be surprised"
Gun suddenly grinned.
well, we shall see what we
shall see. I say, have you tumbled
to the biggest joke of all-or, at
any rate, the most subtle piece of
humor?"
mo ="
THAT number"
What X-O-O? Don't
see it, old man"
mo? Well, read it this way
'EX-Ought--Ought.' Or, if you
prefer it, tX-nothing-nothing,'
Now do you get it,"
Tommy looked beWildered.
Hanged if I do"
"Well, there's nothing to it."
Sounds weak. Where does the
X come in %
You'll probably learn that lat
er!" said Gun, with a touch of
grimness.
The mechanic had finished his
final inspection. Four men came in
and started to push the plane
through the doors and On to the
runway.
What are your instructions, /
anyway" Gun asked, in a low
voice.
Tommy stared at him. /
You should know all about |
those, ] don't! All the instruction |
I've got Is that when we get into
the air you're in command. I'm the
pilot, and I've got to do what you
say"
THE devil you have!" This was
? new one on Gun. "I'r, beginning
10 see ."
Tommy glanced at his watch.
Time we were up. Come on"
They went out of the hangar and
found the plane all ready. three
mechanics standing by. They
climbed in. Tommy In the pilots
seat, Gun in the observers.
Contact u"
The engine roared, and the
plane rocked, then began to taxi
forward. A perfect take-off. and
thew started to climb. 4 light
sprang up in Guns cockpit, and al