Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-16

into the wind. rolled down the field for 200
yards and took of perfectly
Harry gazed down as the field slipped farther
and farther away, and then turned his eyes
ahead as the plane headed toward the purple
mountains lying sharply outlined in the early
morning sunshine. He settled down with his
head protected from the rush Of the wind and
prepared to enjoy the fight to the full
Climbing high. they passed far above the FIRST
low ranges Of the mountain, and for more than
an hour new steadily eastward. Harry had
made this much Of the flight before, so he was
able to pick out the railroad line below. He
was watching for Skeleton Valley, that desolate
waste Of desert sand. once hive Of busy gold
mining activities, but now completely deserted,
even to its towns which stood just rs they had
been left when vacated years before The old
mining towns. where life had been cheap and
death sudden in the old days, always appealed
to the boys Imagination. He hoped that some
day he would get q chance to explore the old
buildings Of one Of them.
Straining to watch the ground below, Harry
suddenly uttered an exclamation which was lost
a the roar Of the motor. Then he caught
Uncle Georges attention and painted down.
Train wreck" he screamed
Gazing down they could barely make out the
tracks Of the railroad passing through q rugged
gap in the mountain. but even from this height
they could see that train was stopped on the
track, its engine overturned. Uncle George
dived as low as safety would permit, and they
made out excited figures running along the
cars. Then the plane climbed again and they
continued on their way. Harry did not need
to be told that q landing here was impossible
even If they thought that might be of any help
o. kIaA
many hours later he was to remember that
wreck wildly, and it was to have a new and
sinister meaning for him.
BY the middle of the morning they had
reached their destination, and Uncle George
brought the plane to earth on smooth stretch
OF firm ground on the outskirts Of the little
town OF Calpass. Harry saw what had been a
desert village now poisoning out into q real
town under the magic OF real estate develop
ment. Because Of the irrigation dam that was
to be built, property values were rising and
CalpaSs was a place of busting activity
They hired car and drove out to the land
that Harry's father and uncle had inherited
and spent some time going over it carefully.
Il wouldn't be ct all surprised If this would
be worth real money some day." said Uncle
George. But We may have to wait q long
time"
They returned to Calpass and Uncle George
spent the early hours of the afternoon talking
to various real estate men. Then, satisfied they
returned to the plane and prepared for the re-
turn journey Uncle George examined the
tank, decided that he would put In more gas
for safety and arranged to have it hauled from
nearby filling station. Then, while they watt
cd, they drank lemonade mad munched sand
wiches. They had eaten lunch in a restaurant
in the town.
When the tank had been filled Uncle George
looked the plane over carefully and warmed
the motor. A few moments later they were In
the air again, headed for ome.
An hour out, Harry noticed that Uncle
George was studying the horizon carefully Fol-
lowing his eyes. the boy saw ominous-looking
clouds pilng up there. Uncle George gave the
motor all the gas it would take, and they few
at tremendous speed over the mountains.
around which the shadows had already started
to gather.
S,