Evening star., 1932-02-15

llSJcIlCo OC1uc
Over the music and the mufded
voices behind her, another sound. A
faint drumming which came out Of the
heart of the sky. Louder-nearer-a
muff1ed roar which crept into the
pounding of her own heartSseething
through her body with her blood. An
airplane up there In the dark sky.
She was straining her eyes. search
ing the sky. Then for moment she
yellow moon-an unforgettable sight.
A change In the sound. The plane
was almost directly overhead and the
pilot was zooming the ship.
Z-Z-O-O-O-M-M. Z-Z-O-O-O-M-M.
The color had flown into Judy's
cheeks. Her blood tingled. She was
standing on tiptoe, as though she
would reach the dark plane up there.
Her hands were clenched, the nails
driving into her palms.
Nick up there! Nick, zooming to
signal Nine. Carter that he was COM
ing home. Nick, dropping from the
heavens, unannounced as usual!
Then, without stopping to plan
acting on her first mad impulse, Judy
was running to the garage beside the
house Stan had left his car out on
the driveway, intending to run some
of the guests home.
Judy flung herself behind the wheel
and stepped on the starter. The noise
of the engine was lost in burst of
jazz music from the house.
She was driving down the dark street
under the arching tunnel Of the trees,
her heart hammering with excitement.
The plane had flown on but she could
hear the diminishing roar Of the en-
gine.
Cutting across the business section
Of the town, past the Spanish railway
station with its flaming red flowers.
Across fiat open country, half field.
nalf salt marsh. And now she could
see the landing flares of the airport in
the distance The beacons turned on
for a night landing plane.
Judy stepped harder on the throttle.
For the first time in many weeks she
was happy-forgetting her own sorrow,
lost in the heady excitement of the
moment. Fields reeling by. dark and
fragrant. Wind rushing against her
! face, COOL heady.
The landing field coming nearer. A
ship had just landed, she could see II
taxi-ing in. yellow dust rising behind
/ 1t in the strong light of the arcs.
| A moment more and she was swing
ing the car in at the gate. She was
running from it to meet the astonished
stare of the man who climbed out of
the cockpit.
Nick! Nick, I came for you in the
carl"
! Stupefied mechanics stared at this
| girl in evening dress who SO amazing
| ly appeared out of the night. Judys
cheeks were burning, her eyes like
stars. Nicks eyes took in the satin
gown. the slender bare arms and shoul-
! L. Il It, l. -l,- H.
dust of his face.
| Judy! Well. this is a surprise!" He
stepped forward to meet her. For a
moment she thought he was about to
take her in his arms. Judy! I can't
get over it. What welcome home!"
Il heard the motor when you
zoomed I knew it was you! And the
| car was there-and-well 1 guess
was started before stopped to think" ="
She was laughing, clutching his hand
in both of her own, breathless and
feeling a little foolish now that she
was here.
MY luck that you didn't think then!"
Nick grinned. Get in the car like a
good girl and wait until I've put this
baby to bed"
His ship was always Nick's first
thought. When it was safely locked
away he turned to the machine again.
How tall and dependable he looked.
thought the girl, watching him swing
face. steady gray eyes Shoulders broad
under the brown leather jacket.
There's dance up at the house.
Amy'S engagement party. did you know
that? Oh, Of course. madame would
write you Every one up there is
feeling pretty gay by now. was mis-
| fit-I'd stepped outside for moment
just to get some air, you know, and I
was standing in the garden by myself
and I heard your motor"
Judy was chattering gayly as she
started the car down the long, straight
road leading across the salt marsh. For
some unaccountable reason her heart
was pounding and she was blazing with
excitement. Good to see Nick again.
She hadn't seen him since that Christ
mas he had spent in the old shore
| house.
He had been home to see Madame,
but he had stayed only few minutes
each time and Judy had not been home.
She could feel him watching her now.
as she drove the car. His arm in its
leather sleeve lay along the top of the
front seat behind her. There was Gu
rious comfort in the effect of shelter
which it gave her.
This magic night and she and
Nick driving together into the darkness.
Nick . never had she been so glad
to see him. A strange little bubbling
joy at her heart now that he was home
again Odd, that she should be so
agitated about Nick's home coming.
Perhaps the loneliness and sorrow Of
the past months threw his friendliness
more into relief The night was not
lonely any more: Nick was here.
She told him of the black plane
against the yellow moon. Just as
though you flew out of the heart Of the
moon. There was touch Of awe about
it, Nick I felt like an African savage
magic carpet you have, Nick? If 1t is,
you're selfish not to take me to the
moon with you on your next trip"
She took her eyes from the road for
| moment to flash a merry glance at
him and her heart leaped.
Nick was staring at her with such q
queer intent expression. Nick's eyes.
| deep. Notwithstanding. seen like this in
, the shadow.
That's where I'd like to take you.
! Judy" he said And, although the tone
was quiet. it made her heart leap. In
that breath of time while their eyes
clung, a sudden, strange force leaped
! from one to the other. Beautiful :.
| Terrifying An though a gust Of
mighty music swept through them, vi
brating their hearts md souls.
| A sweet and heady change over every
thing. This night-magic. Sweet and
heady, because Nick was here. And
| Nick-touched with the same subtle
magic Nick. somehow thrilling, and
! dangerous. and precious Touched
with a glamour almost terrifying.
| She wrenched her eyes back to the
| road, All this in a space Of time the
breadth Of moths wing.
| And she knew that he found this
same dangerous glamour in her ..
Tomorrow-"Blue Is the NightD
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