Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-30
0ontinu - f"on, Yesterdays starr


expected aIYoU& 0cceeded in lower
| ing himself - - wing beneath. A,
| the thought shed across her mind
Janet fairly hurled her body upos
| him. seeking to seize the revolver a
| all costs. He could not fend her off
he dared not for an instant lose con
troll and if he did. better. that all three
should crash than to see her ally
murdered before her eyes!
For an instant, however, he did lift
! his hand from the stick to thrust he,
/ back but the plane dived almost nose
! down and he was forced to seize il
| again, holding the hand with the re
volver as far as possible from hei
reach. In spite of the straininl
straps, she launched herself desperate
~ forward and up. tearing it from his
grasp just as form swung perilously
downward from the upper plane and
| clinging to the stanchions, made his
| way toward her.
Janet caught a glimpse Of a brown
| face and flashing white teeth in an
aperture of the helmet: it was Nat
She trained the revolver on her pilot
and her voice rang out determinedly
III you move. I'll fire.
Before Marriott could stir or take
his hands from wheel and stick, Nat
flung himself across her body, seized
the weapon from her and brought the
butt of it down with a hideous crash
on the head of the Cadadian. lifting
1t for a second blow, even as the body
slumped down in its straps, but Janet
dragged at his arm.
II: is enough" she shrielSed
Cant you see he's unconscious? We
shall AL he killed.
The plane had dived once NOR"
earthward with sickening velocity and
the hunchhack crowded himself down
cruShingly over the inert form, grasp
ing the control The speed of then
fall decreased. the nose Of the plane
came up and they appeared to he
! settling slowly in wide curves. as
though the new pilot We're seeking d
safe landing place.
Two narrow crimson threads were
stealing from beneath Mariott's he'll
met and without realizing the impulse
which guided her. Janet thrust her
hand between the dropped head and
Mats bumped shoulders and wiped
them away with her wisp of hand
kerchief tucking it beneath the tish.
band of the headpiece.
The gray dawn was Frightening an0
shot with bars of rose which cleaned
angrily through the mists. as the gir'
turned to look for the other plane. Ii
was far above them, mere spec!i
that diminished even as she watched
it, and vanished in the distance. II
had gone back. The unknown pilot
did not mean to land, then, and help
them.
She glanced at Nat, but he was
staring fixedly downward and her
gaze followed his. The masSed, wav'
ing foliage of trees was rushing up
ward to meet them, and between them
she saw patches of newly turned
brown earth alternating with Others
of a delicate silvery green, intersected
by narrow lines of roadway and clus
tiers of tiny houses like toy villages
while in the distance, the smoke of a
city lay like fallen cloud.
AS they dropped lower, trucks and
laden wagons crawled along the
roads all converging toward that
blanket of smoke, and at last, with a
swoop that made the blood roar in
Janet's ears. they sank like a plum
met! She closed her eyes, awaiting
with bated breath the crash of i'm
pact. but none came, such as her
frightened imagination pictured. In
stead, the motor was silenced with
the abruptness of blow and they
glided smoothly down until a swish
ing. rending sound came, and with the
shrieking roar of canvas she opened
her eyes.
They were caught in grove OF
trees, the spreading wings of the
plane battling like those of a wounded
| bird in a net, but even as growl of
disgust issued from Mats lips they
were free. settling on the ground with
only a light jar. and taxying out over
a. smooth, unplowed pasture tc
| come to a quivering stop against
| rail fence.
Quick now, Miss JANET Nat
spoke for the first time as he deftly
unbuckled her straps. Just you take
and run for cover: They's a broke
down, deserted looking barn behind
them trees, and I'll follow fast as
| can. Folks natchully going to come
a-running after the noise we made
and we got to take up our feet and
| travel"'
.'But-Mr. Marriott" She climbed
out stifiy and stood grasping a
stanchion for support as her trem
bling limbs threatened to give way
| "WilI they come quick enough to help
him?"
Help him. Miss" Nat darted q
significant glance at her. I'm tend
to him mahself! You just go long
Nat, you don't mean that If he
| isn't dead already you'll
Oh, you shan't. Tit wouldn't be
human. Give him a chance"
Chance to maybe grab you again
and ruin US all?" Nat caught her ur
almost. savagely. Don't you bother
your haid about him, Miss Janet, but
go on. Heah that?'
Distant shouts had arisen and the
| rumble Of an approaching truck on
the highway grew ominously near.
II won't move a step, and IL you
hurt him I'll--"' Janet swooped
suddenly into the body of the plane
and drew back once more with Mari
otis revolver which had lain forgot
ten on the floor. II saved you from
him, Nat, and now, il it isn't too late,
I'm going to save him from you
There's been enough blood shed on
my account. II you don't come with
me I'll wait here till they reach us
Would MFR. Afford want you to let me
| be taken?"
"Lordy. They done coming" Nat
gave up the argument with shrug
and took hold Of her arm respectfully
They'll find him, sure enough, nc
stopping 'em now! / got to get you
| oven that fence"
He urged her forward and she will
| ingly broken into a staggering run
for the shouts were nearer and the
truck almost in sight along the road
As Nat lifted her over the low fence
and leaped after her. Janet turned
one glance backward toward the un
conscious man in the plane and al
she did so, she observed one obJec
that had escaped her attention he
fore On the body and torn wing