Evening star., 1932-02-19

NJ with his business appointment.
/ Y He was going to remain In
Lockwood over night. Did Judy
want to 60 for ride?
In carefully controlled voice, Judy
answered that she would like to do so.
ready and anX1ouSly awaiting TINS can
all afternoon. He told her to dress
warmly and to meet him down at the
airport when she was ready.
Judy put on warm brown knitted
suit. Low golf shoes. Pulled close
fitting brown felt hat down over her
hair. A seething excitement nad
started in her heart. For a shcrt while
she was to he with Nick. Away from
the watchful eyes Of the Carriers. F0
: short while she would be away and
cree, as Nick was free.
She tried to crush the exultation as
she dressed, tried not to adm1t-even
to herself-all this interval would
mean to her.
Only heightened color and shining
eyes hinted of this excitement when
she drove up to the airport.
She caught sight of the plane being
refueled Nick was standing beside 1t,
ecd there was something about that
tall figure in the coverts and high
boots which made Judys heart glow
with secret pride. A quiet strength
about Nick. Essentially masculine.
Beside his rugged BROWNIES, Stan's
dark good looks would be somehow
weak. For some reason this image
OF Nick remained vividly in her mind
NIX. standing beside the two-seated
plane, his soft shirt open at the throat.
his sunburned brown hair blowing IN
the breeze.
He saw her and waved an arm, and
she saw him grin through the sunlight.
Giving the baby her bottle. We
don't want to get stalled up IN the
mountains and have them sending out
searching parties for u.s." He spoke as
she came up.
The mountains"
Want to take little ride over the
Sierras? I've wanted to have you Win
me. whenever I've flown over them"
So Nick had thought Of her on those
long. solitary fights Rising excite
ment in her heart as he helped her
into the cockpit Nick pulled on his
goggles and climbed into the rear cock
pit. The engine spluttered, roared.
Nick raised his hand in signal and the
next moment they were taxing down
the field at gathering speed, cloud OF
dust rising behind them.
Judy gulped back her excitement.
Her nails were driving into her palms,
but her heart was expanding with joy
GUS ecstasy Glorious, to be here with
Nick like this. soaring up into the sky.
Easily, with no motion to tell when
the wheels had left the ground, the
ship was rising.
Judy thrust her chin over the edge
of the cockpit Wind tore past her,
buffetirg her face. She had never be-
fore realized that wind had such sub
H. oh 14alyc n
the feeling of cold fur.
The earth falling away from them
The airport already clear. fiat space
no larger than Rosamond Curley's
barn back in Summerheld. Now they
were circling higher above it, and Nick
suddenly headed the plane due east.
The country stretched out Ike q
map. Amazingly square yellow grain
fields, slate-colored plowed fields, doll
like farm houses standing IN neat
checkerboards of orchards. Soaring
higher over little town where tall
clock tower of red brick seemed keeping
watch over the rest Of the buildings
like hen brooding, over a flock OF
scared chicks.
Judy felt touch on her shoulder
and locked around to see Nick's eyes
deep and inquiring behind the dis
guising goggles. She could Just make
out his shouted ~.-al rights over the
roar of the engine and the rush OF
wind
She nodded vigorously, and his white
smile broke out In answer. A thrilling
sense of camaraderie being here to-
gether in the wide sky. Delightful
dangerous.
What would it be like to be Nick S
companion on these trips? Just Nick
and she. Nick, with his steady
grey eyes, his warm smile and sure
sympathy. Suppose it had been Nick
who had come to Surmerfield in thet
time which was beginning to seem like
another lifetime. . Nick, instead Of
handsome. petulant Stan.
Judy crushed back the thought.
Fastened her attention again on the
panorama passing below.
They were passing over country Of
dry. yellow. rolling hills. Brackish
rivers wound through it like black water
snakes, and long white stretches Of
concrete highway bisected it. Judy
could see patches of barren ground
looking like scabs on the face of the
earth. but here and there rectangular
farms of varying green's spoke Of the
miracle of irrigation.
So vast was the canvas stretched be-
low that the ship seemed scarcely NOV
ing. Only when she gagged the speed
by the landmark of some farm was she
able to realize their own progress. As
they flow. their own plum-colored
shadow moved over the yellow ground
in company
Judy was becoming accustomed to
the roar of the engine now. She could
even catch Nicks shouted words when
he pointed out some object below and
called her attention to IT,
Freedom . freedom up here with
the wind and the hot sun. moving like
Once again she was living in the pres
ent moment. Tomorrow Nick would
be gone Tomorrow the petty worries.
the loneliness and the unhappiness of
Lockwood would hem her in. But to-
day she was hare in this glorious isola-
ton with Nick. Why think of tomor-
row? 80.
Orchards like tapestry, fields like
petipoint Cool, green stretches of
alfalfa. Little towns-Sometimes she
could see four or five of them at once
dotted about the country. They were
flying over the foothill country now.
Vineyards below, neat rows on sunny
slopes. Small farms hidden in the
rolling swells of the hills. The after
noon sun touching the dried grass to
warm gold
And straight ahead q wall of noun
tains-the Sierras.
IHoxy Modo,.n Wou,ou