The Ghost of Mystery Airport

Example in this ebook. CHAPTER I A PILOT WHO LIKED SPOOKS. “Scared?�“Not a bit!�Garry Duncan just behind the pilot who had asked the question answered it in his usual cool manner.Behind him in the three-place open cockpit biplane his thirteen-year-old chum displayed none of his calm.“I’m scared!� Chick cried as the pilot cut down his throttle. Chick raised his voice to a tremulous shout “Scott—turn back.�The man at the controls laughed.“Don’t be a baby!� he counseled. “Just because you see a cloud begin to look shimmery—the first sign of the ghost according to all the pilots who have seen it—don’t lose your nerve.�“But—this ghost hunt might be dangerous� Chick began to plead. “C-can’t you—Scott can’t you t-turn and go out on the bay?�“No. I cut the gun too much and the engine died. We have to glide in dead-stick to the best landing we can.� There was no regret in the pilot’s voice. He proposed to carry through his purposes.“But—� Chick was hopeful as he offered an argument “in the dark here the swamp is dangerous—you might miss water and you’d get the wings torn in the grass.� He added quickly “or you may get our pontoons bogged—� As the airport searchlight made a cloud glow he cried “Yes—bogged down in the ooze.� He expected to see the ship bank indicating that his hint was being acted on.Instead the ship’s nose went down. Scott with a little laugh of amusement at Chickering Brown’s fears found additional terrors for the youngest of the pair with them.“Yes� he agreed “and then the spectre that always appears in the clouds might fly down on us and say ‘boo!’�He turned as they glided high above the swamp.“How about it Garry? Wouldn’t that be awful?� Garfield Duncan fifteen-year-old student-pilot and assistant to an airport manager’s nephew answered seriously.“Terrible!� he agreed “but it would be Chick’s own fault. He was so interested in the mystery that he vowed he wouldn’t be scared.�“Well!� Chick hoped for one means of allaying his fears—light. “Why don’t you throw over a landing flare Scott! It’s pitchy-black down in the marsh.�“Scott will get us down even without power.� Garry voiced his confidence in the test pilot who knew the channels and open water spaces like a book. “Great Scott� as they had nicknamed him made many test flights for the American branch of a foreign seaplane manufacturer; of late since an airport had been inaugurated in connection with the seaplane “base� Scott had flown over the marsh at night conducting tests of new lighting equipment spotlight searchlight and beacon.“If you’re afraid� he added “try whistling Chick my boy! I’ve heard that ghosts won’t come around if you whistle.�Usually Garry did not tease his younger chum; but Chick had been so confident of his own bravery had so insistently begged to be one of the “spook trappers� that Chick’s terror in the face of darkness—and of nothing worse so far—prompted him to be a little sarcastic.“It’s all very well to sneer� said Chick. “I wasn’t scared back in the design room—but here—� he stopped. They had been filing blue-prints in the plant of an Italian aircraft building company when Scott its test pilot had come quietly into the blue-print room where Garry made the multitudes of blue-prints from pen drawings for the many detailed parts of the company’s product.The secrecy of his entrance had fascinated Garry’s more youthful companion who filed the blue-prints and sketches. Chick had caught a hint of something secretive about Scott; it had fired his ready imagination and he had been so eager to hover close that Scott after a moment of hesitation had included him in the proposal he had made.. To be continue in this ebook..................................................................................