Flash was somewhat taken aback by this strange response.
“Didn’t you wish to see me, sir?” he inquired.
Mr. Clausson shook his head. “What gave you that idea?”
“I was told by Luke Frowein that you were looking for me.”
“Luke Frowein?” the airline official repeated. “Never heard of him.”
Flash’s lips tightened into a grim line. “I guess I’ve been made the butt of a joke,” he said. “Sorry to have bothered you.”
Turning, he started back toward the station, angry thoughts racing through his mind. Luke Frowein had played a shabby trick upon him! He had been stupid to trust the fellow.
The loud drone of an airplane motor caused Flash to glance overhead. A silver-winged monoplane was gliding down over the telephone wires for a fast landing. He knew that it must be the specially chartered Ledger plane.
Flash hurried faster. He lost sight of the plane as it dropped below the level of the station building. But upon reaching the runway a minute or two later, he saw that the ship had taxied up to one of the gasoline pumps. He ran toward the pilot who had climbed out of the cockpit.
“Is this the Ledger plane?” questioned Flash tersely.