Evening star., 1926-06-20

Aiiegbrrias Apparently beaten, Jimmy
hears o. plane approaching ana rushes
AS tl- ~.range aiTplane neared,
Jimmy nsl,t cd it carefully from be
low. speculatirg %>sarfully as to what
it's intentions were He had decided
in a very few SeconC% that 1t was not.
as he had at first tho ght ship from
the air mail service Instead, the
tenacious powerful rt~'r of the tull-
throated engines in b trained ears
had denoted 10 him tie approaching
presence of one of the powerful CN9
pursuit planes, one = the speedlest
ships ever developed and capable OF
doing in excess of ! '5 miles an hour:
"Oh. if he'll OBS stop" groaned
Jimmy
that the flyer lad seen him Inc
plane began to .oSe altitude steadily
while it circled twice overhead, in
specting the field and the accident 1t
was coming down. Jimmy gave a
CRY of ioy and then fell to considering
who the mysterious pilot could be-
He decided instantly to prevent. If
nossible, a repetition OF what nap
nened TO him. He had landed into the
wind and crashed: the pilot of the ap-
proaching CN9 would be running the
same danger. There was only one
way of avoiding it, but the utmost
skill would be required, and he was
p.lad when he saw the circling bird
switch .,n powerful landing lights.
The pilot must land in cross WIND, or
AT right angles to Jimmy'S course.
He rushed into the field, waving his
arms to indicate the method OF land
ing.
Again the plane circled overhead,
cautiously. Then it banked and
slipped in toward the field slowly,
while Jimmy held his breath. 1t be-
gan to settle rapidly. while Jimmy ran
forward. Then suddenly the pilot
turned slightly and with one OF tne
most brilliant exhibitions OF landlng
Jimmy had ever seen. placed the
wheels on the ground.
In a few seconds the mysterious
plane had stopped at the fartner emu
of the field, its motor ldllng, "nlie
Jimmy. as a gloved hand beckoned 10
him imperiously. tore after IT, ms
small bag in his hand.
He reached the side of the pursull
ship breathing his thanks, which nc
knew wera unheard~abOve the souHQ
of the mt.s,r. But he was received
,,-ttb scant CEREMONY. With gesture,
tba nilot who was in the forward
coclxnit motioned him to enter the
Jimmy obeyed without hesitation.
Whoever this strange lndlVldudl "d9'
he was most opportune, he thoushL.
In the next second. Jimmy naI
found his place in the rear, auJustsa 1;. tta
ha1r,at and goggles and he 1elt the
hic- chin nosing down the field Tor a
taSe.off A moment later, the wheeis
had laft the ground and with tne
sn,.ocioIIs roar of the deep-throaleu
motor. they were pointed to"aro iiie
sky. o,,o,sion was al
most instantly dispelieo. d itrluuS
angling for height, his pllol tui u,
neatly. cleared the hump ol em lI,,nr.
iegbanies into which they were piuns
ing. without dlftlcultS anu
straight westward. r;,,,r,x
what was their destination! Jimmy
Wirht had fallen now. He reflected
- I,a had exnected to drop GOWN az
Cleyeland for refueling. TO carry mn
on TO Chicago. If this CA.' WeIe -
ing in that direction. with Ils
dous speed, there was no neeu ol So
Ming But where were they heauths
BENDING down to aNold the u7li ~
vivid in his face. Jimmy found scrap
NJ
his nocket He Scrlbbled liolo
laconic and to the point;
Where to?' ,,,
Tben he leaned forward, and touch,
ing the driver on the shoulder, pdsseu
II when the latter turned. It "as
dark. and although he stared ne
couId make out nothing familiar ABOUT
the blurred features behind the mask
like helmet and goggles. ~.
His pilot read the note uhoeI en
small light ahead. Then, without
turning. Jimmy saw ms manu- if'A'ou
II pointed directly west:
SRather like following our nose, !
sunpose." Jimmy grunted; ana ne
sat hack content. In any event. nc
was safe enough for the present;
They were still flying in the genera
direction Of Chicago, and at Ter
yiffc speed which was carrying theiil
through the night like the wlno II
sell. Cleveland they had aifeaoS
nassed. though they had cut across 10
the south and not seen IT. Chlcdso
and haywood were ahead.
Jimmy lost himself for long tltne
in tho wonderful speed of the ship he
was in. He forgot even TO WoIlueI
.hout the identity of his rescuer; at
Navwood. he told himself, he Woulu
discover it, and make him proper
thanks. He'd have time there.
He awakened from a contemplation
of the ground unrolling underneath
tbem when in the distance the lights
Of Chicago appeared like an aurora
against the velvet skies. He sat for-
ward intently. Chicago and May
wood! And ahead of schedule, oue
10 his accident and this strange air
plane. ~
destination. he asked himself, as the
C,Y-o veered south of the city and
made for the airmail field. They
reached the field, hovered overhead
and then circled slowly. Below
them at the field, landing nghts
were thrown on as quickly as tie Dig
cearchlights under the wings mao
picked up the place. e,,,
There followed an easy, Gfacelui
landing which brought grin OF ao
noiration TO Jimmy's lips. Tney
bumped to stop and he leaned tor-
ward. while the motors were tnrot-
tled down and mechanics ran from.
the small houses.
Jimmy was surprised When MS res
cuer did not stop the motors. ne
was surprised, too, when the cap anu
goggles of his companion remained
on Next. he saw hand thrust to-
ward him and he accepted grlmy
note, which he read as he leaped
from the cockpit:
SYot.Ve made it. Good luck-anu
watch, A friend"
He looked up with surprise. But
already his pilot had turned away.
Then, as a mechanic touched him on
the arm, he swung about.
"Mr. Rogers-or Mr.. Brandon