Produced by Al Haines. [Illustration: "It was as though the mighty concussion had blown a hole in the universe."--_Page_ 245.] THE PHANTOM AIRMAN BY ROWLAND WALKER AUTHOR OF "DASTRAL OF THE FLYING CORPS," "DEVILLE McKEENE, THE BRITISH ACE," ETC, ETC. S. W. PARTRIDGE & Co. 4, 5 & 6, SOHO SQUARE, LONDON, W.1 MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN _First Published_ 1920 _Frequently reprinted This Impression issued_ 1931 *CONTENTS* CHAPTER I. The Secret of the Schwarzwald II. The Wonder ’Plane III. "Tempest" of the Aerial Police IV. A Midnight Consultation V. The Aerial Liner VI. An Up-to-Date Cabin Boy VII. A Duel with Words VIII. Sons of the Desert IX. The Phantom Bird X. The Brigand of the Eastern Skies XI. The Air-King’s Tribute XII. The Maharajah’s Choice XIII. The Missing Airship XIV. Betrayed by the Camera XV. Diamond cut Diamond XVI. The Ghostly Visitant XVII. The Watchers XVIII. "Live Wires" XIX. The Devil’s Workshop XX. "Hands Up!" XXI. The Coming Fight XXII. An Aerial Duel *THE PHANTOM AIRMAN* *CHAPTER I* *THE SECRET OF THE SCHWARZWALD* Rittmeister Heinrich von Spitzer, late flight-commander in the German Air Service, was one of the Prussian irreconcilables, who, rather than submit to the peace terms enforced by the Allies after the defeat of Germany, resolved to become an aerial brigand, an outlaw of the nations, and to wage a bitter warfare of violence and plunder against his late enemies. His proud spirit refused to bend before the conquerors, for the iron shaft of defeat had embittered his soul, particularly against Britain, whom he had ever regarded as the evil genius of the Entente. One day, when his plans were well matured, he unburdened his spirit to a couple of his friends, kindred souls, men after his own heart, both of them apt pupils of the great Richthofen, who was still referred to by his disciples as "the red airman." They had been engaged that day in dismantling an aerodrome on the edge of the Schwarzwald; to them, at least, a hateful job. "Comrades," he said, "this peace has ruined us. _Germania delenda est_, but I will not sit still amid the ruins of the Fatherland. Glorious we have lived, like kings of the air; let us not inglorious die." "I am with you, Rittmeister. I will follow you to the gulfs," exclaimed one of his companions, named Carl, who had been a famous scout pilot in the Richthofen "circus," and the lightning flashed from the young airman’s eyes as he spoke.