Evening star., 1935-09-20
INSTALLMENT XI.
EE MONDAY had encountered
tricky weather on many occa-
sions, but not in all his pre-

LrlCRY WedIIl6E OH HldUy OcCd-
sions, but not in all his pre-
- vious flying experience had he
known storm to come up with such
incredible suddenness. Sensitive to
every atmospheric change, he had
noted, at Elmville, a stubborn breeze
and blue -blackness in the north
west; but in neither had he sensed
the violence of this lashing demon
that had come upon them.
With the lights of New York City
6imly seen, far to the left, through
the beating rain, Lee had been half
decided to seek out the nearest emer-
gency field. Twenty minutes later he
regretted that he had not obeyed this
impulse.
What do you say We get out of
this, Ann?" 1t was the first admiS-
sion of uneasiness and he expected
her to assent without question. 1T
might blow over in half an hour, and
it might not. If it gets any rougher
than this, we may find ourselves in
trouble"
Ann, to whom the storm was a
thrilling climax to an unforgettable
adventure, half suspected he was
teasing; but her smile faded when he
looked at her and she saw the un-
mistakable signs of strain in his face.
But suppose it doesn't blow over?"
she asked, troubled Rita and
start to work at the Census Bureau
tomorrow morning. I can't afford to
be late, Lee"
Lee was silent. If necessary he
could put her on train. But he was
conscious now of an obligation. He
had brought Ann off on gay little
excursion and until this moment
there had been not one untoward in
cident to mar what was obviously to
her a perfect and immeasurably de-
lightful experience. And, after all,
he had been in worse storms than
this a dozen times.
"All right" he said at last. We'll
60 through Don't lose your
nerve"
Ann laughed. Lose her nerve with
Lee Monday at the controls. But
she started a little when Lee sud-
denly pulled the stick back and she
felt her entire weight thrown against
the back of the snug little seat. He
said nothing, but she guessed, rightly,
he hoped to climb to the compare
tive calm above the storm.
Minutes later Lee glanced back
"Keep that strap fastened he yelled
"Were going into the middle OF it!'
The next moment the plane quivered
as If some giant hand had suddenly
snatched it up and tried to shake 1t to
pieces, and the roar of the storm beat
at her ears until they hurt. Lee was
slumped down in his seat now, his legs
braced against the rudder bar. His
Jaw was set and the tense muscles OF
his face bulged.
The great Lee Monday was in
trouble in the air. He knew all the
dangers, all the tricks to outwit the
elements-but now he was up against
something that shook his confidence
AS Ann watched him. something
whipped back against the glass on
her side with a metallic click, and
she saw him swing around and stare
at the window with that in his wide
eyes that was little less than horror.
Again and again she heard that
sharp click against the window, with
in a few inches of her face. Lee did
not look back again, but with every
metallic click his muscles visibly
jerked. To Ann this reflex action was
like the finch of flesh gashed by a
knife Later she was to recall
this simile as the last thought that
flashed through her mind before the
broken section of aileron crashed
through the glass and knocked her
senSeleSS.
Grace, troubled faces saw each other
only dimly through the blue haze in
the airport managers Office. At mid
night the assistant manager had
sent out for coffee and sandwiches.
Bills cup was still on the desk. 1t
was half filled with coffee, hours cold.
A man who had introduced himself
60 Bill as Overton-"just one of the
help"-broke the half-hour's silence:
It don't care where he landed, he's
had time to get to a phone before
now"
The chief mechanic looked at his
watch. Yeah" he said. Its 4
o'clock" He continued to stare at his
watch. rubbing the crystal with a
gnarled finger.
The telephone tangled; it was Rita.
"Bill-Ive been trying to get you
everywhere. Ann hasn't come in. Are
they there? Is that why you're there
at the airport?"
Bill explained. They've probably
landed in some out of the way town
and can't get hold of a phone. Go to
sleep and I'll call you when they
come in"
mo, no-wait" She was appar-
emily afraid he would hang up. 1--WE
just got wire from Mr.. Rogers
AIMS father-Lee and Ann went to
Elmville. III read it:
Ann and Lee Monday left here 8
o'clock stop Ann promised to tele-
graph mother on arrival at Wash
ington stop no wire yet and reporter
from Simsbury Press says plane re-
ported lost stop please telephone i'm
mediately if Ann shows up"
Rita paused. Haven't you heard
anything there, Bill?"
Bill said they had not but expected
to hear something any minute. GO
back to bed, Rita. I'll call you"
The assistant manager came in with
three press service reports. A plane
had been reported flying very high
over Troy, N. Y, at about midnight.
policeman in Montreal, Canada, was