The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-10-08

y
You don't suppose we'll pass up the
chance to record that placer, do
your"
mo, Garth replied. you've shown
your colors--hoisted the black flag.
Only thing, a woman is woman.
Let me suggest that you try your
self-starter before l let 60 this line.
I've heard that airplanes sometimes
balk. If you cant get yours into the
air in time, the wind and current
will drift you down-lake to those
falls"
''How sad! You dumb dupe, if you
think T."
wait" cut in Mr.. Ramill ''Hand
me your pistol, Vivian. and try. the
motor. The fellow gave up his rifle q
bit too readily"
Though far from pleased, Huxby
passed over the automatic. Mr.. Ram
i'll had recovered from his exhals-
ton, and the way he handled the
pistol showed that he knew how 10
1uSe it. :.
Hubby swung into the cockpit and
threw on the self-starter. 1t buzzed
but the propeller did not turn
over. The motor failed to 60. Anoth-
er try brought the same barren re-
suit. The engineer pilot made a has
ty examination of the magnetic. He
sprang out on the wing, in cold
fury.
"The id sneak has crippled the
motor. Give me the pistol"
Mr.. Ramill held up, a restraining
hand. Zone moment, Vivian.-Now
Garth, what have you done?"
Garth smiled. Merely removed
one of the breaker points, Mr.. Ram
ill. It's platinum, you know, and
that's what we're bargaining over.
The point is quite safe here, inside
my shirt" 80
"Shoot him." said Hubby. Were
not going to be done by fool trick
like this. Shoot the idiot. Go on
chief. He's only lousy woods bum.
It's a matter of million at the
least.
The older man leveled the pistol.
"Garth, YOU heard him. You've play
ed a silly trick. We have the drop
on YOU. If you value your life, bring
that stolen breaker point here, and
be quick about it." ;,
"How about the line, sir?" Gartn
INQUIRED. eff I let go, the plane Will
be swept out into the lake.
''Tie it again"
sWhat if I'd rather not?"
For the second time Miss Ramill
chimed in on the talk: "It would be
lust too bad for you, woodsy boy.
Dad is better shot even than
Vivian"
"a better shot and no less cool
thinker" Garth relied. "How can l
hold this rope if I'm shot? Those
falls and the rapids below Hold on
there. Huxby! Not so fast. You can
come ashore; but Miss Ramlu and
her father will come with you.
Therell be no rush to catch the line
until all three of you are OFF the
wing" =,
Mr.. Ramill started with Huxby
out along the wing. His daughter did
not move.
IF YOU fancy I'll leave the plane,
you can guess again.
Her father spoke in her ear None
too graciously, she took the offered
arm of her fiance. Side by side, the
three came out to the end OF the
wing. Mr.. Ramill handed the pistol
to Hubby, and knelt, ready to slide
over the front edge. The girl jump
ed down lightly, without waiting ior
assistance. Huxby handed her the
rifle, laid the pistol on the wing
edge, and grasped MIR. Ramllls
hands.
AS the portly millionaire slid over,
off the wing, Garth let go OF the
rope end and sprang forward. Inc
loop whipped from around the
spruce trunk. He grapsed the slack
ened line and Tipped it out into the
swift rush of the milky stream.
The head of the released plane at
once started to swing offshore. Hux-
bv grabbed his pistol and leaped
down to grasp the wing edge. He
shouted for the others to catch hold.
But the unexpected bump of the
edge against their heads had made
both father and daughter crouch
down. a.
Hubby stepped back to brace him
self for a shove against the rotary
outthrust of the wing. His rear foot
went over the round Of the water
polished ledge. The wing thrust him
on outwards. Before he could let 60,
both of his feet were off the ledge
top. He slid down with splash into
the swirling water.
The engineer plunged upstream
three of four steps to split IN the
glassy-faced ledge. He clawed up the
crevice and sprang to his feet on the
rock shelf, drench to the armpits by
the milky water But his right hand
still grasped his automatic pistol.
Once more Garth seemed to have
acted the part of a fool. For a few
moments Miss Ramill and her father
had crouched motionless, dumfound-
ed by the letting loose Of the mono
plane and its shove of Huxby off the
ledge.