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5 

"Has he arrived yet?" panted Neverre.

The radio operator [[strikethrough]] could give him no answer. [[/strikethrough]] ^[[shook his head.]] All this time the tardy pilot was getting more and more lost, if lost he were; or getting more and more dead, if dead he were.

"Then we must hold a conference," [[strikethrough]] he [[/strikethrough]] decided. [[/strikethrough]] ^[[Neverre.]] "Call Major Moser and the board of directors."

From all parts of Hollywood, officials began to arrive. The secretary came in his town car; a motor bus rolled up and belched forth a load of vice-presidents; the treasurer arrived in his armored car; and President Neverre stopped tearing [[strikethrough]] his [[/strikethrough]] what little hair was left on his much-abused head and marshalled the directors around a table improvised from a wing section and two boxes.

Then, in the eery light of lanterns,, the perspiring president [[strikethrough]] unfolded [[/strikethrough]] ^[[told]] a tale of terrible turmoil. Briefly he outlined the advance of the NAEC to its present pinnacle, where it had won the confidence of the public by its record of 99.999 percent of dependability. And now that long advance had culminated in [[strikethrough]] on [[/strikethrough]] ^[[a]] supreme climax. The best beloved, the widest known, the most benevolent, the kindliest, but, withal, the most exacting man in the world, had at last favored the NAEC with his patronage. None other than Harold Dare, famous motion picture star and producer, had decided to trust the distribution of the latest Dare super-special to the NAEC. The fact had been exploited to its utmost by nationwide advertising. Every one of the many millions of film fans [[strikethrough]] were [[/strikethrough]] ^[[was]] breathlessly awaiting the arrival of this latest picture. The whole world was watching. Success [[strikethrough]] would [[/strikethrough]] meant the fortune and future of the NAEC; failure