The Sky Detectives; Or, How Jack Ralston Got His Man

e course. This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible trag

ch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthward

the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames. Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further m

e big idea

r grip on his own nerves, since they had been dread

," came the illuminating reply; "though I reckon it's no

ily; "but there's a fair chance neither o' th

e foundation for saying that?

d all right, bos

t then, did you, b

the first flash came-went down like plummets in the barg

they had been compelled to ruthlessly take human life. He was much younger than Perk, veteran of the World War, who

at they were still swinging around in a wide circle, that burning pyre fa

dy answer, showing that Jack

strike it's apt to be some hard sleddin' for the boys. Say, 'taint possible now you're fixin' to try an' lend 'em a helpin' hand? I'd hate to know

ing that his companion was almost ready to mutiny if any such mad proceeding were contemplated. "I'd just feel better

thing, 'cause they're sure hot stuff all right; but I'm a bit slow to accept that forgiv

s we'll not be able to learn a single thing; you know how it often is when you've finally struck ground after quitting the ship by the chute route-all out o

w swings around these diggin's 'fore we put out for Orleans. That fire keeps burnin' like things they got sprinkled right well with the

e a little glide, so we can pick up anything l

rily relieved himself of his ear-phones in order to ca

sfully, and when once again they leveled ou

ything,

r, who had hurriedly held his earphones

ff," suggested Jack, who could be more or less persistent when the occasio

t that they meant to take any chances by getting too close to the unknown terrain lying in the pitch blackness under

, above, below, as though never a solitary living human being existed within

try," was Jack's announced

r way I'm satisfied we've done the right thing, old hoss. Suit yourself when you see fit to coast," whereupon he once more denuded his ear

t, Perk?-get

se of the ship a bit heavenward; since neither of them knew what the nature of the ground below m

nd were tryin' to communicate, so's to get together again. Guess things ain't so bad after all with them guys, an' we c'n be movin' on our way without b

oubtedly he was feeling greatly relieved because of their having escaped so miraculously from the hovering peril; and best of all managed to turn the table

he started to speak; and as usual his line of chatter told that he was seeking information, trying to find a

if so be you feel so bent. First place I guess it goes without questionin' that t

ave any reason for waylaying us in Atlanta, a

t the Secret Service aims to do; an' so has been able to play the boys for

xperience proves they haven't discovered it so far. I'm making up my mind that the closer we draw to the headquarters of this rotten clique o

Slim; and now we're on to the job I'll never be happy 'till he's on his way to that big Gov

when they started a shooter of your calibre on the trail. First you smashed their searchlight, and then sent a chuck of lead into the gas tank

hunch a bear gun mightn't be such a bad thing to tote along on a trip that's goin' to carry us across the border, an' into Old Mex, like as no

they've got plenty of ready cash along; and after having been so cleverly upset in their calculations, due to your beating them silly with a barrage o