The Coolidge examiner., 1933-08-11

''HeighoW he exclaimed, recaptur-
ing it, ''one more flight under in
structiUD and I'll be allowed to solo.
Wonder who'll take me tomorrow
not thai 1t makes much differ
ence," he added, little knowing just
how much difference it was going to
make.
The next morning when he report
ed at the Middlesex airport, run by
a retired major from Washington,
Bin found a marked absence of ac-
tivity.
Where is everybody" he asked
Air meet, sir, in NOrthport. The
boss left word you were to go up
with Miss Wilmott. Said she'd be
waiting at No. hangar"
Bill did not know Ida Wilmott,
but he had heard of her as an ex-
tTemely capable, fearless pilot. In
spite of her reputation, however,
Bill wasn't keen about taking his
last bit of instruction from woman
Strolling down to No 2 hangar
be found a slim, knickered, he'll
melted figure adjusting goggles,
drawing on gloves. There was lit
tie of her face to be seen beyond
a slightly tip-tilted nose and a rath-
er fetching, firm little chin.
Il presume you are waiting for
me-" said Bill.
Il presume | am" remarked the
slim figure, gravely impersonally.
de took off gracefully. SO far,
SO good. His able companion he felt
could have done no better.
Little by little, Bill. who was a
born flyer. began-absurdly, Of
course-to resent the presence of
one who was undoubtedly, so he felt,
criticizing his technique, and that
one a woman. An obsession seized
him to show off before her. Later,
he might recognize this desire as
the primitive urge of the male to
strut before the female and be prop
erly ashamed But. for the moment,
he allowed himself to be carried
away by it.
Higher and higher he mounted,
turned and came up into the wind,
dipped earthward and recovered.
pulled slde-slipplng stunt his In
Of gh 10
Suddenly, he felt touch on his
shoulder. His companion was hand
ing linn a tiny folded note.
Can you loop the loop"
o she was trying him out, was
she? Bill Iooped the loop for her.
not once. but several times. All,
how he loved It-thls flying The
great earth spread out below in
queer patches that were sometimes
cities. sometimes country, sometime
ocean. The feeling that he was at
one with the birds. the winds. the
stars, with everything not earth
bound. If ever he met a girl who
felt about dying as he did. =.
He remembered that another task
was still before him, that of max
ing graceful landing. Nothing
more marked the tyro than to come
in on one wheel or trailing a wing
Spiralling above the field, he saw
several black specks moving about
with an activity similar to that
ascribed to molecules. The specks
resolved themselves into human be
lngs and an automobile very much
like the one belonging to the major
who, Bill fervently trusted, va2 at
tending the air meet.
The major was a conservative old
cuss, all for safety and no stunt
flying.
Bill's Joy In a perfect three-point
landing was spoiled by the fact that
the major was not at the air meet
but beside the hangar. Enthusiastically
waiting for Bill as he TAXED to a
standstill.
Bill read in the majors face that
he was in for no ordinary repri-
mand. What a mistake he had
made, showing off before a woman
he had never seen before.
He stepped out and turned to as
sist his companion. The major
grabbed his arm.
what in-in Heavens name do
you mean"
His words were choked by the
startling action of Bits recent fly
ing partne- who flung her arms
about the majors neck. Don't scold
him. You promised me"
81 promised you I'd send some
body competent to take you up
not a young whipper snapper with
out any license. What do you meal
young man, by nearly silling my
niece?"
"YOur liece?" Bill looked blank
Il didn't know Miss WilmOtt was
your niece!''
The major became, if possible,
more a 'oplectic in countenance
"Who said Miss Wilmott was my
niece? Who said anything about
Miss WiImott? My niece comes on
here from Washington crazy to fly.
| bring her out here and tell her to
wait until I Opt somebody tO take