The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-07
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
THE prisoners we're suffering not
l. only from the cramped posi-
tons induced by their bonds. but
also from hunger and thirst. In
vain the men had pulled at the
ropes and straps which held them
until their skin was bruised and
torn. If they could have turned on
the lights, it wouldn't have been
quite so terrifying, but to be unable
to move throughout the lonely
darkness of a mountain night. .
Some one said feariully, Suppose
the plane should catch on fire"
mo. danger Of that" Bruce
snapped.
But a mental picture of the
plane in flames. with its load Of
passengers trapped, had flashed
across the minds of all present.
How soon will they start look
ing for us?" Irene asked.
They're looking now, I imagine.
Planes are probably securing the
country between San Francisco and
Seattle, but naturally they will have
no reason to suspect that we were
forced off our course"
"Scme one is bound to come down
that road" Robert Steel said more
hopefully than he felt. If we hear
a car. we must all yell for help"
How about a little song just to
cheer us up?" suggested the con-
versational one.
With great enthusiasm he began
to sing, Its a long, long trail
awinding," until some one shouted,
oh, for Gods sake. shut up~
Excuse mel" the singer said,
offended.
Irene was sorry for him, but the
plaintive strains of the song in the
midst of the overwhelming solitude
about them had been more than
any one else could bear. If only a
car would stopl Or plane would
come. Surely the night couldn't go
by without some ones finding them!
But another hour dragged to a close
and nothing had happened.
All attempts at nonchalance had
been abandoned. Irene felt as if
red-hot knives were piercing her
back. There were pins and needles
sticking in her legs and arms. Then
her straining ears fancied they
caught faint, far-d distant hum
ming. Afraid lest she might be i'm
agining it, she listened without
speaking, until others began to hear
it, too.
Isn't that plane?"
Heaven be praised!" cried the
fragile little old lady.
But will they sec us? Can they
in the dark? They may not be look
ing for us. you know"
They couldn't see it, but the hum
gradually became roar which
seemed to be directly over them
only to lessen and fade away. Strong
men in the plane felt tears on their
cheeks as they realized that it had
passed them by. Then far away
they heard it. Again it approached,
lowered about them and receded.
They must be looking for us"
Bruce cried eXcitedly when this had
happened for the third time. They
have us spotted. They're probably
circling around us trying to find
place to land"
He was right. The plane, buzz
ing reassuringly closer, finally swept
down to the ground. Every one be-
gan to talk at once as two figures
jumped from the cockpit and ran
across the intervening space. Then
the door was thrown open and
f1ashlight illuminated the darkness.
Irene, darling!"
"Oh, Barney" she sobbed.
She was in his arms crying like
a child, feeling his kisses upon her
wet cheeks.
The co-pilot was questioning
Bruce.
What happened?"
Escaping convicts," the pilot ex-
planned tersely. You'll have to cut
these ropes"
IRENE was released first, then the
4 two pilots, after which the five