The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-01-11

Whats honestly,
now?"
Pretty good, but don't tell Jake
I said so. I'll take you around to
Jake-Mr. Lee, to you. remember.
Ever been up?"
Three times"
Like it?"
"Oh, Mr.. Lawson, L"
"Tay! II you hope to be an
air line hostess you have to re-
member things. told you my
name was Tay."
"Oh, Tay. I'm crazy about fly.
ing!"
mo good, you have to be abso-
lutely sane about flying. Come
on"
He led her out of the little shop,
carefully locked the door and
started to pilot her through q
hangar, as a short cut to the ad.
ministration offices.
Many tools and considerable
grease was about. Mechanics had
been going over some Of the land
ing gear. Tommy stepped on a
wrench and tripped. Tay caught
her in time.
Take it easy, this is skiddy,"
he said, holding on to her.
Badly Higgins, one Of the old.
time mechanics, nudged Doc
Smith. his chief.
For Pete's sake, Doc, pipe Tay
lawson" he Missed, land him
always scared of dames-I've seen
him run from 'em, and he's al
ways scared of dames-I've seen
him run from 'em, and he's hug.
gin this one like nobody'S bust
ness"
AS they and Tommy stepped
out of the hangar and SQuinted
in the bright sunlight, one Of the
hosteSseS was hurrying toward q
passenger plane with 1irst-ald
kits. Tommy saw her and stopped,
clutching at Tay'S arm.
"Look-who is She?" Tommy
asked.
"One of our F. A. L. gals"
"What?"
zone of our Federal Air Line
hostesses."
Can you imagine me in one
of those uniforms-and flying"
why not?"
"Is this Mr.. Lee a crouch?
Give me a tip, Tay. like a good
boy. Ought 1 to be buSiness-like
or ought I to sink him with a
battery of smileS?"
"Fluster Jake Lee with come-on
eyes? Nix. Don't try it. Jake is an
old-timer; he was shooting down
Boches over Verdun and ArraS
when we were falling off kiddie
cars"
"Oh, an ex-aviator."
Eek nothing! Jake Lee can shove
through where these new guys like
me wouldn't leave the ground.
The older they are, the easier
they fall"
you know a lot that isn't so,
Tommy. Jake has wife and he's
crazy about her. All you want Is
job as hostess, isn't it,"
That's all, thank you"
Then tell him So"
He took her into the adminiStra-
ton building. Through the wide
doorway to the general office
could be seen a rather grim ap-
pearing man, a little under 40. He
was studying some papers on his
desk. A teletype was clicking, and
now and then a voice came clearly
through the loud speaker near the
great panel board at one end OF
the room, where the operator was
constantly at work.
That's Jake Lee" Tay told
Tommy.
"Oh my goodness =" she
counted up to eight. softly
What do those eight stars mean
on his coat, right under those
wings?"
Tay spoke almost reverently.
Eight thousand hours flying.
for Federal" he told her.
She repeated this, under her
breath, and regarded Jake Lee
with awe.
Jake was looking at an old re-
port on Payson which checked up
well, with one exception. PaySon
was taking out mail plane No. 3
at this time. The one exception
was the line, Reaction to Elmer
gencieS." After this was a ques-
ton mark. 1t agreed with Jake's
opinion of PaySon, and he
scowled as he stared at it.
Tommy saw this scowl and be-
came uneasy.
"Oh, goodness, but he's awful
cross" she whispered to Tay.
you have to have nerve to fly"
Tommy nodded. She under
stood. and she began to admire
this Tay Lawson because he could
joke, and when he was serious he
didn't waste words. She rather
liked his looks, although she told
herself that he would never win
any male beauty contests.
Jake caught sight of Tay at the
door but didn't see Tommy.
Just going to send for you,
Lawson" Jake Std, motioning for
him to come in.
Come on" Tay said, taking
Tommy by the arm and steering
her up to Jake's desk.
"Mr. Lee, this is Miss Thomas.
She wants :"
"How'do, Miss Thomas. See |
you in a minute" Jake inter
rllnfed Then To Tav hA said