Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-09-11

any way" was Hazeldeanes COM
mcnt.
Sure" agreed Trent. And she
can be as sinister as she LOOKS let
me tell you. She mounts four very
up-to-date machine guns, win CT
cetcras" His tone seemed 10 nave
a meaning-a yelled threat, Gun
wondered . :?
They looked her over, while
Trent got into his flying XII once
more. Gun sensed that he had only
removed it in order to display MS
Air Force uniform! -,
Now, if you don't mind, we'll
take off first. You follow lmmedl-
ately."
VERY we'll" responded Tommy
in his sullly tone.
The crew of three climbed into
the big plane, and took Oft IN neat
worknanlike manner. One of the
other men was acting as pilot;
Trent sat in the observers seat.
THAT chap can ny, all right"
Gun commented.
"And he's got something to fly
there, too" said Tommy. "A Dig
dangerous brute. Fast as the devil,
too! Say, Gun" his tone changed
to one of excitement. Were on
our own here now. What about try
ing to break into those dugouts
and have a look around? Or we
might fir the gasoline store!"
Gun grinned.
IT love enthusiasm, flying fool,
but don't overdo it! What d'you
think they'd be doing all the time!
They've got machine guns" .
"Oh, hell" moaned Tommy, ard
quoted: How can man die bet
ter than facing fearful odds!
"By getting a piece of useful i'll
formation in the process, that's
howl" said Gun. Better get going,
Tommy"
They climbed in, the engine of
the little scout roared, and then
they TAXED forward and took the
air, clearing the lip sof the pocket
comfortably. The big plane was
circling overhead, waiting for
them. Gun spoke into the radio
phone:
Follow at about the same dis
lance, Tommy-and watch the
course carefully. Let me know the
course, and I'll report to x. Over"
With a final circle around the
black plane started off, and Tom
my fell in behind. Gun waited for
report as to the course. Instead,
there suddenly blared at him such
stream of blasphemy that he
jumped in his straps. And then, at
last, something coherent:
by God, those perishing baskets
have done half the instruments in.
The compass and speedometer are
both out of action, and for all 1
know we may be flying straight
into heaven-or the other place"
In Whitehall x and the wireless
operator held the fort. War Office
and Air Force had alike gone home
to sleep.
There was a bed in an adjoin-
ing room, used for emergencies,
such as these (and in the last year
or two there had been many of
them) upon which x could have
slept had he wished. Or could he?
The fact was that, dog-tired and
worn out as he felt, it was doubt
full if he could have slept at that
iuncture. File had an uneasy feeling
that he had sent Gun Cotton to his
death-and, apart from their Off
cial relations, he had very strong
regard for Gun. Very strong, in
deed. And for Toni.
x swore beneath his breath, lit
another cigaret. and poured him.
self out some more steaming cof-
| fee.
He glanced at the last message
from Gun, decided a half-hour
previously onto a slip of paper be-
fore him.
&c. calling x. Have just had or
ders to descend. Only vague notion
that we are somewhere over Ger
many. Ground invisible because of
clouds. G.1313 has just gone down
we follow now. Will report first
opportunity. Tony. Tony"
Damn it, What was happening
out there, wherever it was? Gun
could look after himself, all right.
but if he had come down into a
nest of enemies. A shot or
knock on he head!
"a Devil take it, why had he sent
Gun on this assignment? The job
had to be done, but there were
others who could have done it. :.
But possibly not so well, and eff
cheney was everything on a job like
this ono M if had TO be Gun