The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-08-24

CHAPTER xIII-Continued


without a sound" said Sonya, and
bent forward to unlace her boots.
Swiftly she took them off.
Concha rose like puff Of smoke,
so still she was and graceful In the
dark.
With her heart racing to suffocation
Sonya rose too.
The Mexican girl reached out and
took her by the sleeve. That hatred
in her would not let her touch her
flesh. Softly, step by step, the two
young things crossed the silent room,
listened at the partly opened door, slid
through it. In the long dark passage
they listened again, then went south
along the wall toward a door which
also stood ajar.
Through this-and the night sky was
above them, the tall cottonwoods
outlined against the stars. Like
wraiths of the gloom they entered the
grove, passed through 1t, came out on
the open landing field
Before the little hangar Sonya saw
in the starlight the ghostly shape of
a little gray ship. They made toward
it swiftly, and as they reached its
protecting wings man stepped out
from the hangar behind: tall man,
naked to the waist, his head bare, his
feet also, man who was prepared for
spreading up" on the morrow. Starr
Stone drew them both against the
gray ships side.
"Sonya" he whispered. "Oh, Sonya"
Then, Listen. We have one chance In
a million. This plane is still warm
from trip Manuel took this afternoon.
I heard it come in about dark"
"Yes," said Sonya, $50 did l."
at is fueled. They are always so.
Thank God-and Concha-we are
here. l have just disabled the other
one, think, though not as permanent
ly as l could wish. We've got to take
that one chance, Sonya. It's our only
chance, Sonya. It's our only one. Get
in, quick"
With his hands under her elbows
Sonya went up along the side, dropped
into the little seat, felt swiftly for the
safety belt.
''Safe?" the man whispered tensely.
"Safe," she answered pulling the
buckle tight.
Then she saw Starr Stone turn to
Concha and take her in his arms.
"Conchita," he said softly but loud
enough for Sonya to hear the whis-
pered words, 81 leave thee. 1t Is fate.
But never will forget thee, nor this
thing which you have done. Always
while live will remember. Adios,
little one"
And, bending his tall head, he kissed
her on the lips.
Ready" he said, and, pushing the
girl beyond the plaNe's wing tip, he
caught the propeller's blade.
Up and down he swung it-one, two,
three, then a fourth vehement time,
and came ithely up and over into the
pilots seat as the roar of the catching
engine Numbered into the night.
The moments that followed were
ages long to Sonya, desperate moments
Of allowing the ship what Of its warm
ing time was possible.
Terrible moments, fraught with
drama, with heart-breaking suspense.
Starr Stone, watching the dark house
and the poplar grove, gave what he
could to safety, and then, as dim lights
flashed in the house, among the trees,
he gave her the gun little-a little
more-more yet.
There came the little surge forward,
the heavier one, the lifting of the tail
as they rocked away along the field.
the gathering Of speed, and then the
soft wave of stiffness as they lost con-
tact with the earth and sailed away
into the starry heavens.
And Sonya Savarin, looking down
with wide drawn eyes, had seen, just
as they surged for the start, a long
red squirt Of flame where Concha stood
In the shadows, heard, above the roar
of the motor, the faint, sharp crack Of
o shot.
"Oh, God" she cried, sob in her
throat. "Oh, God! Conchita"
Conchita, who, saving her love yet
could not save him apart from his,
had made the last great sacrifice for
love itself.
The pouring crowd that flowed along
the field, lighted now, could wreak no
vengeance on her, for Concha, too, was
gone among the stars.