Part 4 (2/2)

'What do you mean?'

'I imagine we have our own agents behind the Curtain. I also imagine that they have means of getting in touch with home, or they would serve no useful purpose.'

'And I also imagine that the Intelligence Service will think twice before they give us such an address,' said the Air Commodore grimly.

'It's asking a lot, I know. But I think the occasion warrants it. If they refuse a” well, we shall have to manage on our own. But such an address would make all the difference to our chances.'

The Air Commodore rolled breadcrumbs into little b.a.l.l.s. 'Another trouble is, there is so much territory behind the Iron Curtain. This International Unit might be anywhere between Poland and Bulgaria.'

'True enough. But I have a feeling that we shall find it in Czechoslovakia.'

'Why there?'

'All the evidence we have points to it. Ross had a letter from Prague a” I saw the postmark. Von Stalhein has a Czech pa.s.sport, which presumably he uses. When I go I shall, with your a.s.sistance, carry a Czech pa.s.sport for the same reason. We have people who could provide that I suppose?'

The Air Commodore gave ground reluctantly. 'Even if you found these fellows, how could you get them out of the country?' he argued.

'We should have to fly them out. There could be no other way.' 'That would be a nice job to undertake.'

'We've tackled worse.'

The Air Commodore drew a deep breath. 'All right,' he said wearily. 'Have it your own way. Even if you don't bring these men back, it will be something if you can find out what they're doing. Tell me exactly what you think you'll require and I'll do my best to procure it.'

The discussion was continued until the small hours. When Biggles finally reached home he found the others still up, waiting for him.

'Well, what's the verdict?' asked Algy.

Biggles sank into a chair and reached for a cigarette. 'I'm going to ask Ross to go.'

'The Chief has agreed to that?'

'Yes. He wasn't happy about it. Neither am I, for that matter. He could see the difficulties of trying to keep Ross in sight.'

'So can I,' murmured Ginger.

'If we can get a line on the general direction, or on the country to which von Stalhein's recruits are being sent, it will be something to go on with,' a.s.serted Biggles. 'Anyway, in the morning I shall tell Ross to accept. From what has been said, he will probably start his journey on Sat.u.r.day afternoon.'

'But how can you possibly keep an eye on him, old boy, without being spotted by that wily old fox, von Stalhein?' inquired Bertie, rubbing his eyegla.s.s.

'I've been turning that over in my mind all day,' Biggles told him.

'Gaskin will have to help us for the first part of the business. I shall ask him to shadow von Stalhein from the time Ross says he's willing to go. The first thing von Stalhein will have to do is to book a pa.s.sage. If he is watched, we should learn the time and place of Ross's departure. It seems certain he will go by air. I shall arrange for Ginger to be inside the machine, possibly in the radio cabin, until it is airborne. I'm a.s.suming that von Stalhein won't travel with Ross. I shall be sitting on the tarmac in the Proctor when Ross's machine takes off. I shall follow it a” or, rather, head for the same destination. You, Algy and Bertie, will stand by for radio signals from me, ready to act as I direct. That's only a rough outline of the general idea. We'll work out the details tomorrow. We mustn't forget to change our registration letters. Now let's see about getting some sleep.'

CHAPTER IV.

By Air a” to Where?

ABt a quarter to three on the following Sat.u.r.day afternoon iggles sat in the c.o.c.kpit of a police Proctor aircraft that had been put in a place convenient for the observation of pa.s.sengers who had booked for the three o'clock British European Airways service to Paris.

The big machine was already drawn up to receive its freight, human and otherwise. Inside, by arrangement with the Traffic Manager, was Ginger, in a position from which he could not be seen from outside.

These arrangements were not guesswork. They were based on definite information, the result of a good deal of trouble on the part of more than one department at Scotland Yard.

So far, everything had gone smoothly. Indeed, as far as Biggles knew, they had gone without a hitch, and he was actually in possession of more information than he expected to get. This was brought about largely by the close and efficient co-operation of Inspector Gaskin and his highly-trained staff.

Guardsman Ross, who had thrown himself wholeheartedly into the undertaking regardless of its perilous nature, had told von Stalhein that he had decided to accept his invitation to join the International Corps; whereupon von Stalhein, watched by Gaskin's men, had lost no time in making the necessary arrangements.

These need not be dwelt upon in detail, but they exposed two more members of the spy organisation, one a photographer and the other a small printer, in the East End of London. They were left alone for the time being. What was of greater importance to Biggles was the booking by von Stalhein of a single pa.s.sage to Paris, by British European Airways, on the three o'clock Sat.u.r.day plane. The seat had been taken in the name of Ross. From the fact that von Stalhein had not troubled to change the name of his recruit, Biggles could only suppose that he felt he was on safe ground.

Nothing of importance had transpired at the final interview between Ross and the German. Ross told his adjutant, who pa.s.sed the information on to Biggles, that they were to meet at the 'Stand Easy' caf at a quarter-past one; and in due course this appointment was kept. From that moment Ross and von Stalhein were under surveillance.

They had gone together to von Stalhein's suite at the Grosvenor Hotel.

When they emerged, and went into the dining-room for a meal, Ross was apparently ready for the journey, for he was now dressed in a dark suit and soft hat, and carried a suitcase. An interesting detail was, he wore a red-spotted black tie. Biggles, who was waiting at the airport with Ginger, had received this information direct from Inspector Gaskin.

'What do you make of this spotted tie business?' Ginger had asked Biggles.

'I can only think that it's for purposes of identification,' replied Biggles. 'We'll put ours on. They can do us no harm even if they do no good.'

Ginger, following Biggles' instructions to procure the ties, had found them in a shop in Piccadilly. This was only one of several minor preparations that had been put in hand as soon as it had been decided that Ross should accept von Stalhein's invitation.

Doc.u.ments, which included pa.s.sports, were prepared. Sums of money, in several foreign currencies, were procured. Into the linings of jackets had been inserted 'escape'

equipment designed to aid prisoners of war a” tiny steel files, miniature compa.s.ses, and maps which, folded, were no larger than a postage stamp.

In providing these Biggles was thinking not so much of himself as of Ross, and the men he hoped to release. As he remarked with a smile: 'It's often little things like this that count.'

At the last minute he had rung up Marcel Brissac, his opposite number of the International Police Commission in Paris, and asked him to meet him off the plane at Le Bourget, the Paris airport which it seemed was to be the first stop. He had no particular reason for doing this. It struck him that it might be useful to have official a.s.sistance at the airport should there be trouble of any sort. 'There's a chance that there may be a man waiting for the London plane who wears a black tie with red spots,' he told Marcel. 'If so, check up on him and see if he books a pa.s.sage for anywhere.' Marcel agreed to do this.

For luggage, Biggles and Ginger each carried only a small handbag containing nothing more questionable than small-kittoilet things, pyjamas, and a spare s.h.i.+rt and socks.

Air Commodore Raymond had done all that Biggles had required of him. This was not much, but it was of paramount importance. He had obtained a name and address in Prague, which those engaged in the case, including Ross, could use as a hide-out, and from where, in dire emergency, a message could be got home. This address had of course been committed to memory.

So the stage was set for what Biggles knew was likely to prove one of the most hazardous operations he had ever undertaken.

The motor-coach bringing the pa.s.sengers from London now arrived, and very soon the travellers were making their way towards the aircraft. Biggles saw von Stalhein talking earnestly to Ross, presumably giving him final instructions. For a moment a smile softened Biggles' expression as he saw Inspector Gaskin in the background, also watching.

Ross took his place in the machine. Von Stalhein retired.

Biggles waited for no more, for there was no likelihood of any change of plan on either side. He asked Control for permission to take off, and having received it, he taxied out.

In a minute or two he was in the air, heading for Paris. By arriving first he would be able to watch the pa.s.senger plane come in, and have time to look over the people waiting for it. With von Stalhein out of the way there would be no danger in this. He hoped also to have a chat with Marcel.

He found Marcel waiting, and having put the Proctor out of the way he lost no time in coming to the point. 'Any clients wearing spotted ties?'

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