Evening star., 1923-08-12

west trail out OF Chicago,
where trucks and motor cars rushed by.
Fly" invited Paul's big placard
beside the concrete. Drive in and
hy." But no one drove in; so Paul
wiped his hands and sat down in the
shade OF a wing and snapped the
string around the brown paper con-
tanning his lunch
He ate the fruit first and was con-
sidering whether he would eat any
thing more. when he noticed that a
new roadster had turned from the
road and was approaching over the
dry grass OF his field.
He saw that the driver was a girl
and that she was alone: so, as he
arose, he diagnosed her monotonously
10 himself. another thrill chaser
They kept him in business-the thrill
chasers; but he was growing weary
of them. They flew. not so much for
the glory of the flight as to brag
about il atterward.
Good morning.: where's the pilot?"
this girl greeted him.
II am the pilot" Paul replied.
Where's Paul Cranston. l mean"
she corrected, with plain indication
that Paul Cranston would not be this
oil and sweat stained man in Khaki.
II am Paul Cranston."
"Oh" she took his word for it, then
apologized. I'm sure beg your par
don. I'd read about you. you see; and
Just now driving in with the sun In
my eyes"
"of course, 7 see." Paul put in, and
he did, for he knew what she had
read about him.
1t was q decidedly hattering write
up Of the Cranstons in general, which
had appeared in the Chicago papers
when he started his flying field
Icouple OF months ago. Not having
great deal to say for Paul himself,
except that he had been trained dur
ing the war and had flown in France.
the newspapers naturally made much
of the fact that he was of the ProVi-
dence Cranstons. and so this girl had
natural expectations of far more
impressive person than Paul
However, since you are Mr.. Gran
ston." she went on practically, shall
we get down to business?"
That's what I'm here for" Paul
admitted.
"AIl right then; do you take on
special commissioner"
For hight?"
"Of course; but to special places
and under special conditions?"
Yes: I can"
And you can keep it quiet? Not
say a word about it?"
Certainly I can, IL you wish" Paul
agreed.
You'll fly me to Detroit before 4
o'clock. then? I simply have to be
there by 4 or there's no use trying
at all. And-well, simply have 10
make il. So if you can get me there.
and keep il absolutely quiet. name
your own figure"
Step down" Paul invited.
You mean you'll do it,
Nonstop to Detroit is a fairly
large order" Paul admitted. but for
an adequate reason l can do IT
Believe me, the reasons adequate"
the girl said, and stepped down.
CHE was perhaps twenty-five,
~ dark haired, dark-eyed girl of an
interesting type which Paul had been
noticing frequently since he came TO
Chicago.
She was garbed entirely in white.
Her slim, well-shaped hands wore
white kid gauntlets-a rank extraya-
gance when driving. He could not
see her hands, therefore, but he had
no fear that they were worn from
work. Her small feet were in white
buckskin oxfords of special hand
made last and her white silk hat was
g. particularly smart, small creation.
Glancing from her to the car, Paul
observed that it had a custom built
body on the most notoriously expen-
sived OF chassis. Beyond any doubt,
and assuming that her start was on
some polyglot tenement street, some
body close to her had prospered
Papa probably, Paul thought. He put
:. the beginning Of her epoch of pros
perity before her marriageable age
about the time she was fourteen.
That would have given papa oppor-
'tunjty TO enter her at some extrava-
CANT finishing school
The distance to Detroit" said
Paul. lis not only a matter OF addi-
tional oil and gas. 1t is so risky, in
deed. that il you came to me to hop
you to Detroit, on q nonstop flight,
for the fun of II. I would not be
justified. IL anything happened. On
the other hand, If IL was to save a
life or some ones happiness, there
would be Justification"
I'm other words, you want to know
why I've got TO get to Detroit so
quickly" she said. well. il l tell you,
how about the professional secrecy?'
"W-hat?' said Paul
Like a LAWYER. Papa can go to his
lawyer wlth any old thing. no matter
!how raw II is. AS understand II. and
tell II. and that lawyer simply can't
repeat a word. Can II pilot be like
that?"
Oh" said Paul. We'll, this one
can try"
You won't even tell your wite?"
II have no wife
"All right have to be in Detroit
by to rob the mails. That's all"
WHAT" said Paul, slightly stag
gered, for he realized she wasn't
joking.
"Oh, I just have to get back pack
age | mailed from here special de-
livery first thing this morning to a
party who will call for it at a hotel
at O'Clock this afternoon. I can't
assure you that you're running the
risk to save a life; but since you've
also dragged in happiness" She
stopped and looked away.
Thank YOU" said Paul. "Shail we
hop straight across the lake or go
around. Hopping across. carrying