Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-09-04
tCopyright: 1890. BY T T Flynn
IN Two PARIS=PAEI ONE

IN TWO PARTS-PART ONE
JIMMY HARDNESS landed on the
flying field at Tulsa with two gal
y Ions of gas in the tank OF ms
Whirlwind Special" end fifty cents
in his pocket. A few pay hops from
the field would bring III enough money
for another jump toward the Paclhc
The men at the Tulsa field dldn
know the state of his bank account.
The Special received as much attention
as though Jimmy's pockets were fat
with bills. After it was gaSSed and
oiled, creased and put in the hangar,
Jimmy bumped into a ride into town
and spent twenty-five of the fifty cents
for a double order of beans and bread.
The remaining twenty-five cents went
for two packages OF clgarets.
There was the problem of sleeping
for the night. He solved that by re-
turning TO the field and b%roaching the
matter of a bed to the night mechanic.
Red headed, short. good natured, he
stood there under the Office lights
waiting for the verdict.
After a moment the mechanic
grinned, too. Guess you can bunk
on the bench over there. You'll be
looking for some pay hops tomorrow,
l guess?"
Il WILL" Jimmy agreed.
Luck was with him the next morning.
Ten dollars worth. III the shape OF
two young ladies who had been taken
with a desire to fly for the first time.
The second day was barren OF re-
ct,l4r Tho MORNING nt the third
showed no better promise. The ten
dollars was shot full of holes, the
hangar bill was no smaller. Jimmy
bummed a ride into town about noon.
He was getting tired of Tulsa, impa-
tent to be on his way to the coast.
After eating real stew and pie for
lunch he stopped in at the telegraph
office to send a wire to Bill Gaspar in
Los Angeles. Bill was a good scout.
If he had any extra money he'd wire
it pronto.
Jimmy was standing at the counter
writing out the message on a pad of
blanks when a man stopped beside him
and asked the clerk if there was a
wire for Major Brawner. Subcon-
sciously Jimmy noted that there was
a wire. He heard the rasp Of tearing
paper as the envelope was opened.
And a moment later he heard Major
BraWner utter an exclamation, and
then ask the clerk excitedly:
Il wonder if there's any chance of
getting an airplane out at the flying
field?"
Jimmy looked up then, to see a tall,
spare, elderly man whose features were
all but hidden behind a white beard.
The clerk answered doubtfully: Il
don't know. Guess you can, though
Jimmy tore the sheet off the pad,
stuffed it in his pocket, and spoke to
Major Brawner. I've got a plane out
there. She's a fine one, too. Take
you anywhere you want to go. Right
A keen pair OF cold blue eyes sur
veyed him. 1t was an anxious moment
But when the major spoke he said a
queer thing.
Are you a gambler?' he asked
quietly.
Sure I am" Jimmy answered cool
ly. I'll sit in the first game that
comes along if I've got the money tc
do it,"
The blue eyes probed keenly. "You'c
gamble your last dollar?" Major
BraWner queried sharply.
Certainly. My last dollar wouldn't
do me much good. But l might rur
it up into real money"
I'm sure glad to meet you, son." he
said heartily. Providence has brought
us together"
Jimmy shook hands rather weakly
Il want to get to Astoria, Texas,
Brawner said, shifting the Ions
thin stogy to the other side of hi
mouth. And I'm in a big hurry"
Jimmy was feeling better. my shiI
can do a hundred and twenty an hour,
he said, confidently. How far is Thu
Astoria? Don't think I ever heard O
it,
Il should say it's about five hundred
miles. Over in west Texas"
TAKE you there for'-Jimmy sizet
up his man ~again-"two hundred dol
lars"
The major Gid not bargain. That
fair enough" he conceded. 1.-TWO hun
dred dollars, eh? And I suppose yol
won't have any hesitation abou
gambling for it? Say fifty dollars ]
you lose and five hundred if you win
I'll be frank with you, my boy. / hav
just fifty dollars to my name: Nv
been validating for oil over there i
west Texas. Had a couple of dry hole
and used up all my money. But thl
last hole looked better every foot
went down. 1 came here to borrO'
some none a week or so ago and
couldn't get it. I have just receive
a telegram stating that the hole seem
about to come in. I must get bac
at once. Take me there as fast q
you can, and if the oil makes tn
money I'll pay you five hundred. J
it fails, you keep the fifty and no har
feelings
Lets have the fifty" Jimmy SAT-
I'll need it to get the plane off til
field. I'm down to three and a quar-
ter myself
Son." said Major Brawner, I'D lk
to shake your hand again. This near
a lot to me-"
Jimmy shook, willingly.
! They took a taxi out to the fiel
stopping at the majors hotel on tt
way for his travelling bag. The fit