Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-01


roofs toward the bay. Leaning far
over the cowl. he strained his eyes
to see. He knew about where the
ship should be, but the Faustania
was not among the ships behind the
breakwater. Broadmoor catching his
idea. Unanswered the Bleriot out to-
ward the harbor.
Suddenly Jimmy gave an exclama-
ton OF chagrin. He knew the Faus.
tania. He knew 1t too we'll to be mis-
| taken. And there was its graceful
lines, riding the waves like the mis-.
tress Of them, out into the English
Jimmy groaned. He had missed
the only boat which would give him
an even chance with his enemy and
rival!
He threw himself forward and
touched his friends shoulder. signal.
ing the latter to turn back. Broad.
moor nodded: he needed no further
instructions to make him head for the
| nearest possible landing field, circle
without loss Of time and finally come
to smooth landing. Jimmy had
leaped from the cockpit before the
Bleriot came to a stop and was hurry
ing across the field toward where a
taxicab- stood.
He thrust several bills into the
mans hands. shouting rapid and volu.
BILE instructions in French. The man
got away as though dynamite had
exploded under him and hurried to.
ward an automobile. which tore off.
Jimmy hurried back to Broadmoor.
for the next move. He knew Jimmy
we'll enough to know that the race
was not yet over.
I've just sent that fellow into town
to buy me a jecket life preserve"
Jimmy announced. and Broadmoor
cooked one eyebrow in surprise; he
waited. "A little sea flying" Jimmy
added. Get enough petrol into your
tank to carry you and then trust
to luck. I'm going to do what's
known in America as a Brodie"
Broadmoor nodded. I've heard Of
the gentleman who made it famous"
he acknowledged. Lets get one of
those mechanics to fill up nv tank
I'D hate to have to do one myself.
Wen pick up the Faustania we'll into
the channel
1t took only a few minutes to re.
f1ll the Bleriot with petrol. Broad.
moor returned to his place in the
cockpit. The propellers were turning
over idly, ready for the start. Jimmy
waited in fretful impatience for the
return of the mechanic. who soon
came hurrying onto the field in a
cloud OF dust.
A package was thrust into the
Americans hands. With a laugh for
the curious crowd Of mechanics and
lookers-on. he dashed back to where
Broadmoor waited and threw himself
into the cockpit Of the Bleriot. A
minute later the graceful machine was
roaring down the smooth field on its
take.off.
The city of Cherbourg passed under
meath them, a realing succession of
roofs. spires and dark caverns; then
II was behind. and the plane was
hur7ying with all its motive power
out to sea In the wake Of the speed
ship OF the Atlantic. Broadmoor
leaned over his controls his face
tense. Jimmy was jockeying himself
into the clumsy life jacket.
twenty minutes later they were
catching up with the great liner.
Rroadmoor looked back, grinned
cheer1ully. and circled about it's tall
masts twice. People on the deck
were cheering. Jimmy strained his
eyes as Broadmoor passed low over
the deck before he headed out again
into. the channel
He. found that every muscle was
ure spelled life or death: he had known
from the beginning and was prepared
to risk everything in a last great at.
tempt for superiority.
Obeytng his companions instruc-
tons, Broadmoor waited until he was
no more than two ships lengths ahead
Of the Faustania before he cut his mo-
tor and commenced to STALL The
Bleriot hesitated. lost speed; looking
back over his shoulder. Jimmy saw
that the rails Of the ship were crowd
ed with interested spectators marvel
ing at the strange maneuvers.
The speed Of the plane slackened
still more perceptibly, barely able to
keep in the air now at it's SO miles an
hour. Jimmy stood up working along
the footgrips until he was on a level
with his friend. He put out his hand
and felt Broadmoor wiring 1t hard.
Good luck, old man." shouted the
Englishman.
Jimmy nodded, turning away from
the look Of concern his friend had
tried in vain to hide, and worked out
on the right wing, facing forward
The ship was settling rapidly now.
There was scarcely a 100 feet now be-
tween its wheels and the licking,
greedy waves.
Jimmy hesitated for fractional
second. recalling that II was an i'm
mutable law Of physics that an object
cast from a moving body achieves the
speed Of the body. Which meant that
he would strike the waters of the
channel at something in excess of
40 miles an hour.
He grinned Without turning
again, but only raising his hand in a
final salute to Cecil Broadmoor, he
took a deep breath, leaned forward
slightly and then jumped Off back
ward. The choppy waves arose to
meet him and he heard the Bleriot's
motor roar past overhead.
Copyright. 1929. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance,)