Evening star., 1933-10-15


''Hiya!" He got in beside her and fished out
cigaret did you pass?" He noticed for the
hundredth time the clear beauty Of her profile,
and for the fiftieth, conservatively made a
mental note that he would say some
thing to her about it as soon as Packer Air.
ways put on little weight
She nodded I'm transport pilot
That's a good girl He squeezed her hand.
"Smoke?"
mo, thanks How was the trip
same old trip. No business to speak OF.
Bills leaving tomorrow. Got job with one
of the big companies" Bill was the other
pilot.
How about giving me his job?" She looked
at him eXcitedy.
you've got only 800 hours Wait till you
get 10OG. Or 1000"
In other words, never" she said kicking
at the brake pedal
Well, it's crazy notion. anyhow. You think
it would be romantic. It isn't. It's just job.
Besides there isn't enough business for another
pilot. I'll have to do Bills work for while"
She shrugged her slender shoulders. abar-
doning the discussion. and looked upward
"There's plane coming in"
Yeah, see him. Some gypsy. guess. He
saw the ship turn into bank and the sun
flashed en- the wings as it fell into spin.
The plane was under q thousand now and
still spinning Pull out. you darn fool!' Andy
He can't get out! Frances took Andys
nearest arm in both hands while they waited
for the crash
NDY narrowed his eyes and said nothing
At the last possible moment. the gypsy
pulled out of the spin and roared across the
field with a scant 10 feet to spare. 1t was too
good to be accidental.
ANDY knit his brows ''Wait till he lanoS.
he thought Nobody can come on my airdrome
and pull that circus stuff"
Instead of landing the stranger used his
speed to 60 into . loop. On its back. tne
ancient ship wavered dismany. AHe 0eAe
popped quit, popped again.
The nose fell and the loop was completed
after an agonizing moment of DOUBT Inc
plane SKINNED to . ragged landing In tne iai
reaches of the field, swung abruptly and raced
toward the single hangar.
Andy was grnning now. "1n be darneo'
he said softly. 81 bet I know that bird. inere
Ca.% Ae two fools like him."
The pilot was out of the plane and walking
toward them He was tall and loose -]ointeo.
with a shock of intensely black halr he
waved one arm careleSsiy
"Sure" Andy said. "its Tacks Urquhart.
you never told me you knew lacks
II fnart," she said to Andy the next day.
She was sitting on an empty oil drum. kliiing
time while the mechanics fiddled with her sport
monOplane. You never toio me you ~eie ."
ace either
well the wars over. Everybodys an ace
now. All you have TO do is take nonstop
trolley ride to Boston. What else did Tacks
tell YOU? You must have stayed up all night
talking"
"only till o'clock. He's awfully interesting
isn't he?"
Andy drew at a cigaret and looked at her
eager face "Yeah, but he better get out here
on time for this morning run or I'll fire him
before he starts work. He's due to leave IN
minutes
Her face lighted up suddenly. There's Tacks
now"
Andy, watching the smile she gave Tacks.
felt sore. man went along mind1ng his own
business, doing his job. and women treated him
as though he were slightly absurd. But at the
first sight of an Urquhart, their faces were
flushed and they produced the smiles reserved
for heroes reserved in this case for the ex-ace.
for the ex-captain in the Polish air force, for
the ex-colonel in the Latvian army, for the
ex-brigadier in the service Of q Chinese war
lord, for the daring aviator given up for dead
and found after eight days playing pinochle
in the cabin of q German tramp steamer.
Mice layout you got here" Tacks said. look
ing around. do much business?"
air" Andy lied.
fought to have more planes. Andy" Tacks
decided. "Put up front. Maybe sell stock"
He laughed. ever been president OF q COM
pany, Frances?"
She shook her head
sT was" he informed her. "I was just let out
last week. Urquhart Aviation, Inc. Ltd, and
SO forth"
ra-oo,.. o.Lod