The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-01-18
GODDESS

its warm-np when the man came
back. He said. "Jeff says IT'S all
right. But he says don't wreck the
ship unless you can kill each other
doing it,
Winslow chuckled. The attendant
said sThat prop don't balance right.
We only been using her for short
pay hops"
Thanks for the tip. grandma.
Climb up. Frank. You want to pee
LOTT"
Grahame shook his head. He adj
justed his 'chute-pack and got In
the forward cockpit. He noticed
that the plane was equipped with
dual controls Swapping on the
safety belt, he folded his arms.
The motor roared. Behind him
Winslow yelled. "The airman's day
on :. he goes f1ying-"
Frank did not smile. He expert.
enced fash of envy for Winslow
who could joke in any situation.
once-long ago-he was that way
too. Hunor was simple to under.
stand IN those days: you laughed
because you felt like itsor to keep
up your courage.
The motor Numbered. the plane
lurched. Grahame strained against
bis belt as the wheels left the ground
and Winslow arched in steep bank
out OF the field.
San .edto below and to the right;
Long Beach to the left and ahead.
They. were over the water; the air
was less buupy. Curious how at
night the long line Of surf stood ont
like broken white ribbons floating
in an abyss OF darkness.
Frank glanced at the Illuminated
instrument board. Although the
plane vibrated excessiyeiy-the I'M
balanced prop-he estimated that
they were doing considerably bet
ter than hundred: they should be
at CaIiente field within the hour.
Refiectively he stared at the town
lights that swung behind them on
the left. Hereconstructed the events
that had eliminated with Winslow
and him IN q plane headed for the
Mexican border. He calculated the
chances for and against their find.
ing Janice Kent at the end Of their
journey. He discovered that his mind
could not definitely arrange and
clarity the facts that he knew. They
did not make exact sense.
An automobile accident had been
arranged. he was convinced, by the
man Ortega The fact that be had
arrived at the scene OF this accident
almost simultaneously with its oc-
currence doubtlessly had prevented
Ortega from bringing his plan to
completion.
UUT what was that plan? Janice
- Kent's subsequent disappearance
from her home threw no light on the
matter. Her maid. Paula. had told
them that It was because Ortega
loved her mistress. conniving the
present situation with q romantic
objective. Miss Kent. she had said.
had promised to marry Ortega. her
contract would be broken II she
married. therefore 0rtega had ac-
colnpllshed an abduction
Frank was assured that the maid
believed this. but he was equally
sure that Ortega-although he did
not know the man-would have
taken no such bold steps to accom-.
pllsh his end. It was possible. Of
course. but rather incredible.
In the first place. 0rtega was re.
putedly wealthy. Would he. then.
take snch elaborate. and melodra-
matte measures to engineer an
elopement which when consum-
mated would relieve Janice Kent
permanently OF the necessity of
making her own livingY Why then.
should there be any pretense Of max
Ing It appear that Janice broke her
contract with the Consolidated not
OF her own free VIII Considering
his own regard for her. this method
OF reasoning gave Frank q glow OF
satisfaction.
Il brought him moreover. with
equal logic. TO the conclusion that
she had been taken against her will.
But for what purpose2 There could
be but three reasons why q girl
would be abducted who was beantf
fui. rich. and q public parsonage. A
man might love her insanely; be
greedy for ransom. or be could
hate her savagely. The last motive
seemed remote. and the second IL
logical: the first as be had proved
to himself was impractical. These
we're not medieval days, when abb
ductlous were fashionable.
Frank mutlered impatiently. II
was q foreground Of reasoning
that brought him nowhere. There
was but one fact glarlngly imporS
tant. Janice must be found.
They roared over . crescent Of
light that was San Diego. Tia Juana
appeared below whereupon the en-.
gine's crescendo broke into q sta.
cato of haekflres and tempered
explosions that told Frank that they
we're gliding to Z landing.
fcsfvsfAa 1879. y E9Asrs ls.se.l