Page:Flying Death.pdf/86

 found such difficulty in defending itself from the popping pistols of men scurrying through the streets in automobiles—can not possibly defend itself against men armed with ton bombs of TNT and flying in the sky.

"Society, as we know it, doomed itself when it invented the airplane—and made a man like me. Society can not possibly survive the airplane—and me.

"I am about to alter the order of things, gentlemen; I am about to take over power and authority in a new way. I am going to show the world something new in domination.

"Of course, I need a few assistants; not many, but a few. I may offer you the opportunity to assist me."

He held his cigarette stub and studied it, critically, not looking at either of us. Suddenly he snapped it away, glanced quickly at Pete and me, turned and left us.

Pete and I stared at each other, in more deadly seriousness than ever before in our lives.

"Ton bombs of TNT he mentioned," Pete