Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-07-08
Mistaken in His
Passenger
BY H. LOUIS RAYBoLD
Copyright,

GIN EAR KEN: miss you unbear-
- ably. Aunt Julia is as obstinate |
as ever and bound shall marry Roger
Drake, who showed up here yester-
day, shan't, Of course. There's an Il
aviator here that reminds me OF you,
and Pm taking a flight with him
Wednesday. Wish It were YOU, old
dear PAT.n
Lieut.. Kenneth Barrows returned
the note to Its pale blue envelope and1
sighed deeply. Patricia. adoFnbly SAT
isfying When present was devitishiy
upsatisfylng when absent so casual
about Roger, so tantalizlng about the
aviator fellow. So--so-hang It all,
If only he could once capture her he
could keep her, but uncaught he
would never feel sure of her.
OF course that mercenary old fe-
male relative had keen eye for the
Drake half-millions, and no eye at all
for Ken.
He withdrew the missve and re-
read 1t, searching for those messages
which are popularity supposed TO be
hidden between the lines. Poor sleuth
Yet, as he refolded 1t, an idea from
somewhere smote him. Patty was too
ingenious to have originated 1t, but,
| II he knew her she would fall for It.
At any rate, 1t was worth gamble.
The following day Miss Patricia
Allen sat In her bedroom and pom
dered deeply. II wonder" she ruml-
mated, "if should telegraph Ken to
fly Up here and kidnap me, If he would
do 1t. We could fly to New York
and" her eyes began to sparkle, She
jumped up, TANNED on her yellow
sports hat, and slipped down to send
her impulsive message. You see,
Patty didn't know that at that very
time Ken was working along line
Of his own.
Wednesday afternoon two planes
might have been discovered on the
aviation field In the rear of the Lake
view inn, but one was more or less
concealed behind some trees and low
growing shrubs, having been wheeled
there for that purpose.
"YOu see, old boy" Ken explained
to the lad who was earning fair
amount by taking the inns guests for
short flights, ITS my one chance to
get my girl away from the clutches OF
female dragon. Don't l remember
you in the Argonne reglon2 Thought
80. Now you let me take your place,
at the last moment when the girl Is
seated. She won't recognize this
plane and you can use mine until my
return. Same engine and controls,
luckily. Thanksl"
1t was a perfect afternoon for a
flight, with blue skies and startlingly
clear views. Ken's heart missed
beat or two as, according to precon-
celved plan, he stepped forth at the
last moment and climbed into the
plane beside its solitary passenger,
toward whom he did not dare look.
He was sure of his identity remaining
undsclosed until he was ready to re-
veal It, He was wondering just what
Aunt Julia would say when the plane
failed to return with her niece and
she was handed the note he had left
for her with the other flyer.
For some moments he was occupied
in sklllful manipulation of the plane,
but once It had reached the desired
altitude and was circling evenly, he
spoke as quietly as he could for the
roar Of the engines. "Don't be fright
ened, Patty. It's Ken. Wen be mar
ried In Warrensville. had to get you
away from that old she-dragon some
how"
His companion turned to him and
half lifted the visor of her helmet.
"Meaning--meY
Ken's passenger was Aunt Julia.
|
Spectators who had been watching
the plane saw It dip suddenly and
twirl dlzzlly downward. Ken told
| Patty afterward that he thought for
moment that a crash to earth would
be the best way out of It. Then II
righted suddenly but, to the surprise
of the other aviator, turned back
toward the Inn. And presently II
| glided gracefully down.
Aunt Julia had said nothing further
and climbed out without comment As
she started across the field with her
head held high, a slim figure detached
itself from the crowd and ran over
"Wasnt It wonderful, Auntle2 Like
nothing you ever experienced before2"
Aunt Julia paused and those who
caught her words are still puzzling
over them.
Nothing, Patricia. No one ever
not even your sainted uncle at his
wOrst-eyer called me to my face an
old she-dragon befOrew
"Why-What-" Patty seemed
stunned. Had the high altitude af-
fected her mind?
"rake him II you want him." went
on Aunt Julia. "What do you sup
pose he'll be calling you some day.?
Kenneth stepped forward. Patty
he said In a low voice. "rhls Is too
public a place for explanations. |
don't know how this mlx-up hap
pened-"
"But-how did you get here so
soon. | only Just telegraphed few |
minutes ago. / got Aunt Julia to take |
my place In the plane TO get her out |
Of the wayw Patty's heart was beat
ing wildly although her expression
was most puzzled
81 say, Pat" he said desperately |
my plane Is here. I'll get It and wen |
take Il spin"
And so, far from the curious throng, |
in the perfect Isolation Of space, they |
explained to each other. And they
didn't return to the Inn.