The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-08-31
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 RN NARD JONES . uss NsEA ss~aAh
CHAPTER XLVITT


 1mpulsively 10 put her hands against Todd Barston's cheeks, stood on tiptoe and kissed him. Then she hurried to her room to obey his orders. The aviator, his mouth half open, watched her 70.
 He turned suddenly to Peyton behind the desk Don't stand there grinning! Call the Crest. mont airport!" Barston started for his own room, fiinging further in- structions over his shoulder. Well have to borrow the Inns car."
 Five minutes later, her heart singing, 10 Darien was in the car beside Todd Barston. They hurtled toward the airport at such reckless speed that conversation was al. most impossible. But Jo did man. age one question while she held with both hands to the door.
 "D-do you think we'll find him?"
 Eyes straight ahead, Barston hunched his shoulders. 'If we catch him at the yacht club we're lucky. But if he's already sailed. ." His ensuing silence was dis couragingly expressive.
 Soon they were in sight of the air field. Barston's plane had been wheeled from the hangar. It was tiny, snub-nosed, almost like a child's toy. Jo remembered that this was Barston's special ship, de- signed by him to create a new speed record as an advertising stunt for public utilities com pany. Although he did not need it's speed for ordinary flying he had kept the plane for his private use.
 As they walked across the field, Barston said, This job has plenty of what 1t takes to get there, Jo. I'm going to give her whatever you can stand. If the speed gets too much for you just signal and I'll throttle down."
 Jo nodded. II hope I can take it, Todd"
 In another moment she was in head was about even with the edge. Ahead she coudl glimpse the helmet of the taller Barston, and without a reassuring lance he be- gan taxiing across the field. Sud- denly the plane plunged into the air so swiftly that Jos head shot back against the cushion. She had never dreamed of such breathless speed. It was almost as if the law of gravity had been reversed and the plane was diving instead of climbing. They had hardly cleared the tops of the trees when Barston levA'~1 cut, increasing his speed. Jos Heart was pounding fiercely, and despite the cowling she seemed to have difficulty breath ing. Was she imagining this, or was she really going to be unable l to stand the terrific speed of this | ship? In sudden panic i she wonderde how she might sig nal Barston, as he had suggested. | she couldn't make her. self heard above the wind and the | roar of the motor. And, peering through her goggles about the cockpit, she saw no speaking tube or other device by | which she could get his attention.
 Then, raising her head, she saw Barston turning to see how she | was getting along. He nodded his | head questioningly-and Jo, talk ins heart, smiled and nodded in retprn.
 The snub-nosed plane plunged
 It seemed to Jo that they had been in the air not more than a couple of hours when Barston throttled down, began circling as if to land. For a moment she thought something must have gone wrong. but when she peered over the cockpit she was astonished to see the city spread out before her.
 Barston's landing was swift and perfect. Jo hardly realized the plane had stopped before she saw him standing on the ground with his arms outstretched to help her down.
 "Ill telephone the yacht club, he told her. There may not be moment to lose"
 Still breathless, Jo ran after him into the long, low building. Nerv- ously she smoked a cigaret while Barston disappeared into one of the booths to telephone. It seemed to her that he would never emerge-but when at last he faced her she knew before he spoke that they were too late.
 "He-he's gone, Todd?"
 Barston nodded quickly. "The yacht sailed last night"
 Wordless, Jo sank on one of the benches. She pulled her helmet from her tousled golden head, and