“Yeah, he’s the one. I heard Rascomb talking about it.”
“I see!” said the Major explosively. “Rascomb figured that if Brooks were killed in the test, the parachute would be discredited, and the army would lose all interest. Then, with the plans in his possession, he would quietly transfer them to his own government. But we’ll stop that test!”
Flash pressed his foot harder on the accelerator. He was afraid to look at his watch again. The speedometer warned him that they were not making good time.
Soon they came to a small town which Flash recognized. A narrow country road bisected the one they were following.
“Major, this would be a short-cut to Clear Lake! How about taking it?”
Major Hartgrove glanced at his prisoner. Flash read the thought.
“This town must have a constable and a jail,” he said. “We could drop him here and go on.”
“Yes, that will be wiser than trying to take the longer route,” agreed Major Hartgrove.
They aroused a sleepy official from his bed, and turned the chauffeur over to him. Explanations were necessary. The constable was slow to understand.
“We’re losing entirely too much time!” the Major fumed.
“You stay here and enter a charge against this man,” Flash proposed. “Doyle and I will go on to Clear Lake. Unless we move fast, Rascomb is certain to get away.”
The Major considered briefly and consented.
“I’ll telephone to Excelsior City for a police squad,” he promised. “By the time you reach Clear Lake help should be there. I’ll follow as quickly as I can.”
Armed with the Major’s revolver, Flash and Doyle raced on toward Clear Lake. The road they had chosen was bedded with loose gravel. Small stones were thrown against the windshield and fenders as the car skidded around corners.
Doyle snapped on a light and looked at his watch.
“Twenty after four,” he announced. “We’ll never make it.”
“We will unless Rascomb takes off ahead of time!” Flash answered grimly.
Dawn was beginning to color the eastern sky. Trees and houses along the road gradually assumed definite shape. The air was heavy with smoke from the forest fire which still raged miles away.
Flash and Doyle drove through Clear Lake at ten minutes of five. Houses were dark, the streets deserted. There was no police delegation to meet them.