Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1935-04-17


Next morning the factory superin
tendent greeted Ben as he entered
the locker room at the field. "NC
planes to test today, Bashful. The
old man wants you to go over t.
the school and check out a limited
commercial candidate"
Ben's usually pleasant disposition
seemed to vanish. whats Maiden
getting by with?" he growled. I'm
supposed to be a test pilot, not a
students nursemaid." Beneath Ben'S
irritation lay terrifying fear. Will
ma was limited candidate in the
Arcway Flying school.
"Who's the stGdent?" Ben tried to
keep his voice firm.
Some debutante. Maybe you
know her, but remember, no favor
itism," the factory superintendent
warned.
what plane?" Ben growled.
"Check plane two. The low wing"
In Ben's mind there formed des,
perate plan. He had to incapacitate
check plane two till Maiden finished
checking those transport candidates.
Then he could get Maiden to check
Wilma. Some cotton in the carbure-
tor jets would keep the plane on the
ground long enough" Ben decided.
He entered the hangar and ap
preached check plane two. His heart
did a power dive as he saw a me
chanic bob up from the motor cowl-
ing. "Mornin', Mr.. Mayfeld. had
to come out early to check up Oh
this timer. She was missin' a little
when they brought her in yester
day. Everything will be o. K. by
the time the students get here"
There was nothing to do except
wait.
Finally Wilma drove up. He was
right, he thought bitterly, watching
her putting a gosport helmet over
her golden hair. But he was puz
Zled by the gosport. He hadn't
known that the school used them on
advance check hops.
Suddenly the full one way speak
ing tube possibilities Of the gOsport
occurred to him. A chance to
talk to Wilma without running into
her confidence-destroying jests, with.
out even looking at her demoraliz-
ing beauty!
Ben pulled his tinted goggles over
his eyes and his parachute-silk neck
erchief up over his mouth.
While the mechanics were un-
checking wheels. Ben, pitched his
voice as low as he could, said
through the tube: Take off and
climb to three thousand. Fly to Dur
berry, doing S-turns on the way.
Bank 'em up steep. When you get
to burberry, land at the airport"
Wilma's take-off was good and
her air work smoother than that of
many veterans. After a few turns
Ben shook the controls. Wilma re,
leased them. Ben wanted her to
concentrate on what he was going
to say.
This time he. didn't disguise his
voice. "Your work is very smooth.
Smooth as you are, Wilma" There
was no retort, of course. He gath
cred courage. There's something
I've been trying to tell you for a
long time, but you always got me
off on Junior Leagues or something.
Now I'm going to tell you and you're
not going to interrupt; love you. -
The world didn't fall apart, sU
Ben continued. "I'm going to be
manager of the Notion branch, and
l want you to marry me. promise
to"
Wilma shook the controls vigor-
ously. The world was falling apart
after all. Ben's hand fell Imply
from the stick. Wilma couldn't talk
back and she couldn't walk home
but she could land at any suburban
field and call a taxi.
She might even report him fol
getting so fresh. thought Ben, as
Wilma cut the gun and lost altitude
rapidly in spiral. She landed
beautifully and TAXED onto the
apron in front of the hangar.
Ben removed the gosport mouth
piece with shaking hands. Will
great effort he steeled himself tt
resume the role of fight instructor
"That landing was all right, but this
isn't burberry" he said looking a
a propeller tip.
"No, this is Lakeside" came the
soft reply, "the elopement towr
where they larry people, on a mo
ment's notice. After waiting two
years for this, you don't think Tn
going. to give you a chance to change
your mind, do your" f.