The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-08-11
Bills Mistake
By LOUISE LANCDALE
C. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNII Service.

- met and flung 1t into the air.
"Heighol" he exclaimed. recapturina
It. zone more flight under instruction
and ri he allowed to solo. Wonder
who'll take me tomorrow-nor that II
makes much difference" ne aided. III
tie knowing just how much difference
II was going to make.
The next morning when he reported
at the Middlesex airport, run by a
retired major from Washington. Bill
found marked absence of activity.
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. 2 hangar"
Bill did not know Ida Wilmott, but
he had heard of her as an extremely
capable, fearless pilot. In spite of her
reputation. however. Bill wasn't keen
about taking his last bit of instruction
from a woman.
Strolling down to No. hangar. he
found slim, knickered. helmetted fig
ure adjusting goggles. drawing on
gloves. There was little of her face to
be seen beyond a slightly tip-tilted
nose and a rather fetching. firm little
chin.
81 presume you are waiting for me-"
said Bill
~ presume am" remarked the slim
figure. gravely impersonally.
He took off gracefully. So far, so
good. His able companion he felt
could have done no better.
Little by little, Bill, who was born
flyer. began-absurdly, of course-to
resent the presence of one who was
undoubtedly. so he felt. criticising
his technique, and that one a woman.
An obsession seized him to show of
before her. Later. he might recognize
this desire as the primitive urge of
the male to strut before the female
and be properly ashamed. But. for the
moment. he allowed himself to be car
ried away by 1t.
Higher and higher he mounted,
turned and came up into the wind.
dipped earthward and recovered.
pulled a side-slipping stunt his instruc-
tor had showed him yesterday.
Suddenly, he felt touch on his
shoulder. His companion was handing
him a tiny folded note.
"Can you loop the loops"
So she was trying him out, was
she? Bill looped the loop for her. not
once but several times. All, how he
loved it-this fyingl The great earth
spread out below In queer patches
that were sometimes cities. sometimes
country. sometimes ocean. The feel
ing that he was at one with the
birds, the winds, the stars, with any
thing not earthbound. If ever he met
a girl who felt about flying as he
did.
He remembered that another task
was still before him, that Of making
graceful landing. Nothing more
marked the tyro than to come In on
one wheel or trailing wing.
Spiralling above the field, he saw
several black specks moving about
with an activity similar to that
ascribed to molecules. The specks re-
solved themselves into human beings
and an automobile very much like the
one belonging to the major who. Bill
fervently trusted, was attending the
air meet.
The major was a conservative old
cuss, all for safety first and no stunt
flying.
Bills Joy in perfect three-point
landing was spoiled by the fact that
the major was not at the air meet but
beside the hangar, Enthusiastically wait
ing for Bill as he TAXED to a stand
still.
Bill read in the majors face that
he was in for no ordinary reprimand.
What mistake he had made, showing
off before q woman he had never seen
before.
He stepped out and turned to assist
his companion. The major grabbed
his arm.
"What in-in Heavens name do you
mean"
His words were choked by the
startling action of Bills recent flying
partner who flung her arms about the
majors neck Don't scold him. You
promised me-"
Il promised you I'd send somebody
competent to take you up. not young
whipper snapper without any license.
What do you mean. young man, by
nearly killing my niece?"
your niece% Bill looked blank. II
didn't know Miss Wilmott was your
niecel"
The major became, if possible, more
apoplectic In countenance "Who said
Miss Wilmott was my niece? Who
said anything about Miss Wilmott? My
niece comes on here from Washington
crazy to fly. bring her out here and
tell her to wait until / get somebody
to take her up. Come back to find her
gone with a young fool trying to break
her neck"
Bill stood abjectedly twirling his
helmet. Suddenly, he felt the pressure
of q slender hand on his arm. Hell
get over it !" soft voice whispered.
"And-oh, II was wonderful Next
time" she smiled and said no more.
Bill thrilled. She would go again
with him. She loved it as he did. And
now he saw that besides a slightly tip
tilted nose and fetching, firm little