Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-08-17


Published b. speeial ArEanssnenss win IN
chieaSe 1rihune-New xcEk News Syndicate
Incorporated
loopyEisht: 1883: ~ Dsioses colfusD
TWO PARTS PART ONE
THESE STORIES BY gKRmMY
COLLINS. TEX CELEBRATED
FLYER WHO DIED WHILE
MAKING ONE OF a SERIES or
4 TEST DIVES FOB TEE NAVY
i ON MARCH "a, ARE HTs FIRST
AND LAST SHORT STORIES.
THEY ARK EXCITING AND
P0RTKNTOUs. HE WAS A
/ WRITER OF GREAT PROMISE.
When the three army hawks thumb
cred poundingAy across the blurred
green surface Of Selfxidge field and beat
their powerful way into the clear blue
sky, Saunders knew that johnny. n.y.
ing abreast OF him out there on his left,
was young pilot apt to take chances.
] He knew that Joe, leading the forma-
: ton, was an old pilot, seasoned and
/ capable. He knew, also, that Joe had
been the envied winner Of the import
ant Huriitzer trophy race for the army
few months before, but he didn't
think Of that at the moment.
He saw the shore line OF Lake st.
! Clair slide IN under the still climbing
formation q few seconds after the take
off. He waited for Joe to bank 20 the
right and lead the formation down the
shore line Of the lake to Detroit and
across the Detroit river there into
Windsor, Canada. But Joe headed
straight across the lake toward Wind
sor.
saThat's funny" Saunders thought.
Saunders had always thought Of Joe
as conservative.
Saunders noted, when the Windsor
shore line came In under them, that It
had taken only five minutes to cross
the little lake and that there had been
boats under them all the time He
thought that after all it had not been
so rash Of Joe.
The fiat windsor fields drifted past
under the formation. The white north
ern shore line of Lake Erie appeared |
dimly In the blue distance ahead. It Il
came closer and closer until It was al /
most underneath. Saunders noted that |
Joe had led them up to five Thousand 4
feet But he noticed also that Joe was
striking straight out across the lake
toward Cleveland.
saTshis isn't like Joe even at this al 4
t4bMAEf GnUAQE4G AA0tgGACA W AAAAAcA[44s
why the hell doesn't he swing out 1
around by Pelee island as he usually
does2"
The blue water moved In under the
formation The shore line receded into
the hazy distance behind and soon dis
appeared. Saunders looked around and
couldn't see even boat.
Nothing within gliding distance but
q long SWIM" he told himself
He looked over to his left at Johnny's
ship which crtlised silently along
abreast Of him out there on his left.
He wondered IL even Johnny didn't OBJ
iect q little. He looked ahead and
down to his left at Joe's ship. The back
Of Joe's head looked quite unconcerned.
He sat tense in his cockpit for long
time, peerfng and peering ahead for
The other shore line. Finally he made
e out very di1nIy. When 1t came with
ID gliding distance he sighed and re-
axed.
ing at Cleveland airport fifty minutes
after it had taken off from Selfridge.
That was record time.
Newspaper reporters and photog- ;
aphers rushed Joe for interviews and
seizures when he climbed out Of his !
hip. Joe had faced rushes like that
wherever he had landed ever since he :
lad won the Hurlitzer trophy race. :
Saunders and Johnny walked over tOl !
he hot dog stand, Saunders nibbled at :
lis sandwich and slipped his coffee, :
rooding. Johnny took huge bites and 1
.ulped.
Saunders, staring down at his shoes
aid: Funny thing for Joe to do. !
Tut across the lakes like that. Not
Ike him" 4
Johnny turned his head toward I
saunders, swallowed large nouthful +
4 hot dog, and said: What the he'll. +
haven't YOU ever cut across before2" q
'sNo. And didn't like It," i
Forget It. Engines don't quit every i
Ime you take off" b
aNo. But they do quit" ti
Not often. Percentage is damned s
Eyes. save that line to comfort !
lyself when have to take a chance on
s'Weii. what the he'll" Johnny said :
18th an airy wave Of his cofeee cup, y
you'll worry along about this flying 4
Ilsiness until you step on q banana a
ceiling some day and break your neck. =
'sThatu be something can't help,
1yway," Saunders retorted-
aOh, / don't know" Johnny said. his
res lighting up with amusement, Aun-
IS you walk along always looking for
anana Feelings and miss all the good
oking women"
Saunders laughed a little. He could
t get sore at Johnny. Crazy, hkable,
ahmed fool That was just like
yhuny to take that attitude. But
aunders couldn't get it out Of his head