by Jay Clarke
contrarywinds, starved and bitterly cold. Several times, I tried to steermyself--but to no avail. I was powerless to control my flight. My senseof direction left me and I had no idea where I was. Sometimes, I wouldlook down through a rift in the clouds and see farmland, or perhapscities. Once I glimpsed the sea--and shut my eyes.
It was not until the sixth day of my flight that I noticed a change. Iwas sinking. Slowly but steadily, I was losing altitude. I was at a lossto explain this phenomenon at first, but then I remembered that theProfessor had said the belt was powered by batteries. Obviously, thebatteries were weakening.
A few hours later, I landed gently, only a few blocks from where I hadstarted my unwilling flight. During those six frightful days, I musthave been blown around in circles. Weak, starved, shaken, sick, I wastaken to a hospital, from which I have just been released. Needless tosay, I immediately tried to locate Professor Burdinghaugh, but have beenunable to find a trace of him. You might say he has disappeared intothin air.
You must be wondering, of course, what this singular adventure has to dowith my not writing you earlier. However, I feel certain you understandnow that writing was impossible under the circumstances.
All the ink in my fountain pen leaked out when I reached the altitude of10,000 feet--I have the kind of pen that writes under water--and I hadto put my pencil between my teeth to keep them from chattering andknocking out my inlays. During my stay at the hospital, of course, Icouldn't write, as I was too weak even to flirt with the nurses--which,as you know, is very weak indeed.
So, please forgive my unfortunate lapse in correspondence. Truly, Iwould have written, had it been possible.
Devotedly,Roger
P.S. I resent your implication that I am engaged to you only because ofyour money. The fact that you are extremely wealthy and that I havevirtually nothing, as I have told you many times before, never has andnever will have anything to do with my love for you. I'm particularlyhurt by your suspicion that I'd spend your money on other women. Really,I'm shocked that such a thing could even occur to you. And, now that youknow why I haven't written before, I trust you'll restore my draw onyour account at the bank. My funds are rather low.
Roger
* * * * *
London, W. 1May 1
Dear Roger,
I always sensed you were a despicable, smooth-talking gold-digger--but Ididn't really convince myself of it until I read your letter. Do youreally expect me to believe that story? An anti-gravity belt! What doyou take me for--one of your silly impressionable American women?
Besides, I happen to have met your Professor Phelps-Smythe Burdinghaughin London, only a few days ago, and he assured me that, while he _had_met you in New York, it was under very different circumstances fromthose you described. He said you were with two women and that all threeof you were quite drunk. He also said he had never invented ananti-gravity belt and seemed rather amused at the idea.
Needless to say, he was surprised to learn that I was your fiancee. Hewas under the impression that you were engaged to some American girl, hesaid, but he couldn't tell _which_ one. That was the last straw.
This is the end, Roger. Our engagement is broken. I bear you no illwill--indeed, I'm glad it's all over. The one thing I'm furious about isthe way you maligned the Professor, trying to make me think _he_ wasresponsible for your not writing. How perfectly ridiculous!
Really, Roger, you would do well to model yourself after the Professor.He is so charming, so cultured, so thoughtful! I'll never forgive youfor trying to blame him for your own shortcomings.
Anne
P.S. For obvious reasons, I shan't restore your draw on my account atthe bank. And that's another thing. I thought you were awfully vagueabout what "business" you had in New York, and now I know. The Professorsaid you told him you were on vacation. Business trip indeed! _Cad!_
Anne
* * * * *
London, W. 1May 3
My dear boy,
Ever since I watched you disappear into that cloud, I have been tryingto think of some way to make up to you the beastly suffering you musthave experienced at my behest. At long last, I have discovered a way.
Immediately after the experiment, I found it necessary to return toLondon. While there, seeking funds to continue my researches, I happenedto meet your fiancee. It was at this moment that I conceived the planfor which I know you will be eternally thankful.
I had been troubled by the fact that the world was being deprived ofyour obvious natural brilliance in applied science--who else would havethought of needing a button to _turn off_ the anti-gravitybelt?--because of your ties to more material things. Namely, yourfiancee. I therefore resolved to free you from your bonds--and hers--andgive the world the benefit of your genius.
Carrying out this plan was no easy task, however, and I am sure you willappreciate the problems involved. I first had to convince Anne that yourstory was pure rot, or else she would have hung on to you like a leechfor the rest of your life. This I did by denying all particulars of yourstory--or, rather, by telling the truth about your activities in NewYork--and adding a few embellishments of my own.
Of course, this was only temporary relief. I knew something morepermanent had to be done to keep her from ruining your bright future. Itwas clear there was only one solution--I had to woo her myself. I mayadd that she has found me not unattractive and so I have every reason tobelieve we shall be married within the fortnight.
Thus, I have rid you of all entanglements and freed you to use your vasttalents to advance the cause of science. At the same time, if I mayreturn to a more materialistic plane, I have provided myself withsufficient funds to carry on my researches, since Anne will gladlysupply same.
But please--do not feel in debt to me. I consider it a privilege tosacrifice myself to Anne for such a glorious cause. Then too, ladies ofsuch obvious refinement--and means--always have appealed to me.
I hope that in this small way I have in part repaid you for yourinvaluable contribution to my work.
Sincerely,Phelps-Smythe Burdinghaugh
P.S. Since, by marrying Anne, I shall become your creditor, I suggestyou make arrangements with utmost despatch to repay the monies youborrowed from her. Shall we say thirty days, dear boy?
My researches are quite expensive. I do, you know, still have a quitegenuine fondness for good food and drink.
PSB
* * * * *
Brisby Enterprises, Inc., N. Y.June 5
My dear Burdinghaugh,
You win. Anne is yours, for which I am glad. I may have forgotten totell you that nearly all of her funds are in untouchable trusts--not inbonds.
In regard to the monies due you, my cheque will be in the mails thisweek. Such trifling amounts now mean nothing to me.
As for your methods in usurping my relationship with Anne, I have onlyadmiration--speaking as one professional to another, of course.Unfortunately, however, in your eagerness to get your hands on Anne'sfortune, you quite overlooked one very important item--the key item, infact--the anti-gravity belt.
It may be of interest to you that I have taken out a patent on the beltand am manufacturing small units for toy spaceships. The "gimmick," asthese American subjects put it, is "hot" and the turnover is fantastic.The toy ships rise and rise into the sky and never come down and, assoon as they disappear, the junior rocketmen immediately start bawlingfor another one. It isn't quite the Era of Space, but it's considerablymore profitable.
Pity you hadn't thought about patenting the belt--these Americans are sofree with their dollars.
But then, you have Anne. What could be fairer?
Gratefully yours,Roger
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