Free Captain Future 06 - Star Trail to Glory (Spring 1941) by Edmond Hamilton

not just dressed as Captain Future," Curt told him evenly. "I am Captain Future. I'm here to investigate these space ship thefts. I want to see you and the other manufacturers in private, at once."
    Lan Tark looked unbelieving at first.
    Then his eyes fastened on Curt's emblem ring, whose "planet" jewels slowly circled the "sun" jewel.
    "That ring isn't a fake, as I thought," he muttered. "You are Future!"
    "What other space ship magnates are here tonight?" Curt pursued.
    "Christian Rissman is here," Tark answered, "and Durl Cruh and his partner, Rin Cholo, Zamor, Gray Garson and Ak Kalber."
    "Please have them all quietly summoned to your study," Curt requested. "We'll meet there."
    Driven by the force of Captain Future's personality, Lan Tark gave a whispered order to an attentive Mercurian servant. Then he led the way out of the noisy ballroom and into a wing of the Palace. The study of the Martian magnate was a sound-proofed, small, square room, its walls covered by fine mural paintings of Martian desert and oasis scenes. Behind a massive desk, a broad window looked out across the dark gardens of the Space Palace and through the glassite dome into the sheer immensity of starry space.
     
    CURT took off his black mask. As he did so, the space ship magnates began to appear. None was in costume, apparently considering themselves too old for such nonsense. Lan Tark named them to Curt as they entered the study. Christian Rissman was a square, solidly built Earthman with a hard, blocky face. His penetrating blue eyes showed the energy which had made the Rissman Space Ship Company the biggest in the business.
    "What is it, Tark?" he asked crisply. "Have you fellows decided finally to get wise and sell out your factories to me?"
    "Not at all," Lan Tark stated. "We rejected your last offer only six weeks ago, if you remember."
    Durl Cruh, senior member, of the Cruh-Cholo space ship firm, was an aging, worried-looking green Jovian who was chewing narcotic rial leaves. Rin Cholo, his partner, was younger, fatter and carefree-looking. They stared at Captain Future curiously. So did Ak Kalber, the plump, yellow-skinned, beady-eyed Uranian manufacturer who entered after them.
    "What's up, Tark?" Kalber asked in his soft, slurring voice.
    "Yes, why drag us away from the party?" demanded Gray Garson. "I was just beginning to forget my troubles for once."
    Garson, a homely, rugged Earthman with lines of worry in his pleasant countenance, had entered with Zamor, last of the magnates. Apparently these two, who owned the smallest of the space ship companies, felt slightly ill at ease among the more important magnates. Zamor, a wiry, compact Mercurian whose swarthy face and tawny eyes had a look of belligerent suspicion, looked at Curt Newton.
    "Who's this fellow dressed up as Captain Future?" he snapped. "Did you haul us all in here just to admire his clever costume?"
    "Gentlemen, this is Captain Future," Lan Tark stated calmly. "He's here on Mercury investigating these space ship thefts that are disorganizing our businesses. He has some questions to ask."
     
    CURT was keenly watching their faces. He saw the amazement on them change swiftly. Ak Kalber looked secretive. Durl Cruh seemed more uneasy, while Cholo stared in open curiosity at the tall, famous young planeteer.
    "Well, it's about time someone did something to break up these thefts!" Zamor said testily. "I'm glad there'll be action at last."
    "I am, too," Gray Garson declared. "Captain Future, your coming in on this mystery is the first good news I've had for weeks. My little company is about ready to go bankrupt, from the losses of new ships we've sustained."
    "Have any of you an idea who is behind this ring of space ship hijackers?" Curt asked directly.
    "No," Christian Rissman answered. "There hasn't been a single clue. It's a complete mystery."
    "You would say that, Rissman," Zamor, the Mercurian, sneered. "A lot of difference it makes to you whether or not this thieving's