Part 12 (1/2)

”You can skip that, both of you,” Major Parker spoke up instantly

”After all, maybe it's a break in a way The rat is dead, and that makes one less of his breed to bother us Ten to one he killed that field laborer and searched my office If so--”

The major let the rest slide, for at thataircraft It was co in fast froht sight of the winking green and red running lights A couple of ht the long runway Shortly after that an A over toward the Ad at his watch, saw that it was exactly ht

CHAPTER TEN

_Invisible Eyes_

No sooner had the North American B-25 bomber braked to a full stop in front of the Ad open and Colonel Welsh diseence officer's thin face was deeply lined from worry and loss of sleep, but his eyes were sharp and clear as he swept the to attention When his eyes caht of relief seeped into thenition, and perhaps approval

”Get inside, you two, at once!” the colonel ordered And then, as his eyes picked out Major Parker, he added, ”You, too, Parker Everybody else, back to your posts!”

With aabout inside their heads, Dawson and Farmer climbed up into the bomber, with Major Parker at their heels Once inside, they saw that the bomb compartment had been fitted out as an aerial office Instinctively they headed that way By the time they reached that comparted a finger to check any questions that ht be asked and waved the three of thee He seated himself behind a s and stared into space as the B-25's engines were revved up a little, and the bomber started to trundle forward

Automatically, Dawson braced hiround The pilot trundled the boars, braked it to a stop, and cut his engines Athe aircraft's tanks Still Colonel Welsh sat staring into space without speaking a word The suspense, and the mystery of it all, were like butterflies in Dawson's chest Again and again he glanced at the colonel, hoping to catch the senior officer's eyes, believing that if he did so the colonel n that would at least relieve the tension

He had no luck, though The colonel sat like afilled to the briines were started, and the bomber was trundled out to the take-off end of the runway

”A take-off sure, this tiht to hi a whole lot of things right now

So has certainly happened, because the colonel looks in a bad way He looks about as bad as I felt a few hours ago”

But there was no take-off When the boines were throttled to idling speed Then and then only did Colonel Welsh come out of his trance He looked at Dawson and Farmer, and reached out his hand

”Give me the rest of those envelopes,” he said

Dawson shook his head and spoke quickly as a look of utter horror spread over Colonel Welsh's face

”We haven't got thee, we decided it was best to destroy theence Chief's face and thankful relief took its place

”Good lads!” he said ”Now give ton”

Dave Dawson glanced ilish-born air ace shook his head andDave turned to Colonel Welsh and began to relate everything that had happened froton take-off to theHowever, in the event helook at Freddy Far to add,” the English youth said ”You've covered everything, I', Colonel Welsh sat leaning forward slightly and listening as though his life depended upon every word Eventually he straightened up and looked at Major Parker

”Have you anything to add?” he asked

”Nothing, sir,” the major replied ”Dawson covered my end of it all in complete detail”

”You had never seen the dead man before, Parker?” the colonel then asked

”No, sir,” Major Parker replied Then, with a faint gesture, he added, ”I may have seen him, sir, in the course of my work, but the natives here all look runted, scowled down at the little table in front of him, and suddenly shot a sharp look at Dawson