DAVE DAWSON AT TRUK _by_ R. SIDNEY BOWEN [Transcriber's Note: Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] THE WAR ADVENTURE SERIES CROWN PUBLISHERS NEW YORK COPYRIGHT, 1946, BY CROWN PUBLISHERS PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO JOHNNY GILBERT CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I ON AGAIN, OFF AGAIN 13 II STRANGE BUSINESS 23 III THE TALKING SHACK 31 IV VANISHING DEATH 42 V WESTWARD HO! 58 VI INVISIBLE KILLER 68 VII SPY TRAP 86 VIII BLACK LIGHTNING 106 IX ROOM OF DEATH 118 X UNLUCKY DAY 134 XI FATE LAUGHS 148 XII FLASHING FINISH 161 XIII ALL OR NOTHING 175 XIV SATAN STRIKES 189 XV AVENGING EAGLES 204 XVI KISMET 220 XVII THE DEAD RETURN 234 CHAPTER ONE _On Again, Off Again_ Freddy Farmer shifted his position in the huge leather upholstered chair, decided that it wasn't comfortable enough, and shifted again. He still wasn't satisfied, but he was too bored and too lazy to exert any further effort. He stared gloomily at the torrents of rain slashing against the windows of the Officers' Club lounge, at the San Diego Naval Air Base, and sighed heavily. "I fancy I'll never learn not to believe a word you say, not ever!" he groaned. Hunched down in the next chair, Dave Dawson marked with his finger tip the place where he had stopped reading, and turned his head. "Speaking to me, little man?" he murmured. "Only because you happen to be the only one present," young Farmer snapped. Then, with a wave toward the rain-swept window panes, he said, "I was remarking that I should know better than ever to believe a word you say. Beautiful California? Good grief! Just look at it!" "Look at what?" Dawson chuckled. "That slight dew that's falling? Think nothing of it. Good for the crops." "Dew, he says!" Freddy snorted. And then as a vivid flash of lightning blinded them both for a split second, to be followed by a bellow of thunder that seemed to lift the whole building right up off its foundations, he added quickly, "And that, I suppose, was just some chap out there striking a match?"