The Phantom Airman

er of the British Aerial Police, sat before a pile of papers in his office at Scotland Yard lat

en appointed by the Government to the command of the British Aerial Police, whose functions included the patrolling of the routes of the great aerial liners through

ane and Sharpe, were detailed to assist him in this important and ever-increasing task, for

nders to justice, but at the present moment he had to confess himself baffled--utterly ba

ing to pace the room, much in the same way that he used to pace his squadron office, in the old days, when, as c

" and Colonel Tempest suddenly halted, and placed his left hand to his

ed light which illuminated a large map of Germany, showing t

ce of this extraordinary flying machine." Then he switched off the light, and returned to the sheaf of papers and documents on his desk. He sor

nals disregarded. No navigation lights showing. Our fast scouts gave chase but left hopelessly behind. Came from di

CONSTANT

s from other sources showing quite plainly the route taken. Great Heavens! if I were not tied to my desk

ree days he had become highly nervous; this affair was getting on his mi

me

his confidential secretar

s and a wireles

ne or Sharpe yet?"

ing,

e these confo

that aerial

nd Jones handed the

both visible on the face of

ted." (Delayed in transit.) "Wireless station at Karachi utterly destroyed, after brief visit by strange airmen." The third was a wireless message which proved most disconcerting of all to the

l police leaned back i

ine. It must either have been too high up for the good people of Delhi to hear it, or its engines must have been shut off, or well throttled dow

nd message go

s,

still no re

whateve

by wireless telephone; he may be on his way ba

at moment the telephone bell on the Commissioner's desk rang. It was the Home Secretary ask

mpest; is

who is

speaking from

es, my

troying wireless stations, and burning out the big oil tanks along the All-Red Route? I thought you had all these

with it, sir, but it will take time to

ot the matt

s,

Colonial Secretary's here now. He's complaining that the routes are not suffi

t scouts out all along the line at once to look for these bandit

ery serious. You have full powers to deal effectively with these crimina

r tap was heard at the door, and the impertu

e came in whilst you were spe

n from his brow, for he had expected something much wor

on their way home by the fastest aeroplane. T

hat time is i

nt out the fastest car to meet them and bring them st

old them at

eady got out the coloured li

y sorry, but I may want you. This is urgent business; we're up against something this

your third night-sitting, and you've had noth

offee and a sandwich, and get something for yourself. You're g

ly disturbed by some untoward event during the watch of the second officer. Every other minute he consulted his watch, and wondered why the ti

liners followed, linking up the empire and half the world. Now and again he would glance shrewdly at the large map

an hour. Gee whiz! but they have beaten u

eat building. The soft purr of an approaching Rolls-Roy

e cried. "He