Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-12-23
CONTINENT OF THE pAhlNED'
=" BY EXW MASON -

skyward. "Get back to your seat
hold tight"
But" insisted the girl, for Struth
ers now kept his eyes desperately riv-
eted on the quivering instrument
board. Nevertheless, I must get to
Havana-there's dance in my honor.
Are you afraid to go on?"
Struthers shook his head, marveling
that such a person could exist-to
think Of dancing in the face of a hur-
ricane! He knew it would be quite
useless to explain to this imperious
young person that he must not risk
the mail sacks in the flying boats
baggage compartment. Far from con-
sidering her wishes, his first duty was
to land that mail safely, and besides
he did not enjoy her patronizing tone.
She misunderstood his silence dur
ing brief lull in the screaming wind
storm. "Then it's money you want?"
Struthers detected a new, contemptu-
GUS and strident note in the passen-
gers voice, and. at the sound of it
Struthers siffened. GAIL right, I un-
derstand you now" she continued, her
smooth black hair brushing his cheek
with tiny perfumed fingers. give got
to get to Havana, do you see? I'll
give you five thousand dollars to keep
on"
Five thousand dollars! Was there
that much money? Struthers doubted
it, but at the sheer insolence of her
manner, he rebelled. "Get back to
your seat!" he commanded gruffly,
and jerked his thumb to the rear.
"Don't stand there making a fool Of
yourself. We've already taken a lot
of risks for your sake, but no amount
of money would make me keep on to
Havana-well be very lucky to pull
out of this mess alive"
Carnforth had evidently overheard
the girl offer, for when she silently
retreated a step, he lurched across
the cockpit to lay a pleading hand on
Struthers' leather covered arm. Be-
hind his goggles the mans pale yellow
eyes were eager and his flat red face
was taut with greed.
keep on!" he cried, "well never
have chance to make so much jack
again. It amt much farther to Ha-
vana. Why not take Miss Lincoln
on?"
Pity filled Struthers' being that the
mechanics judgment could be so hope
lessly warped by money, and he flush
ed angrily as Liette Lincoln spoke
once more with tinge of malice in
her tones. "You'd better do as I say,
pilot-you see, the mechanic thinks
it's SAFE"
Then Huge Struthers became really
annoyed. "You heard what I said"
he shouted. go back to your seat
and hold on as hard as you can. Well
be very lucky to get out of this with
our lives"
For moment longer while the lull
continued Liette Lincoln stood unde-
cided, fabulously expensive pearly
earrings glinting palely in the dying
light; then with a baleful glance at
the pilot, she retreated down the mar
row aisle to her seat. While she was
yet in the act of seating herself, the
hurricane with the breathless shrek
of thousand meteoric demons, pounc-
ed down on the white flying boat and
bore her like a dead leaf far out over
windlashed seas.
In an instant Struthers felt the full
force of the wind become effective.
1t seemed that his ship was caught in
invisible titantic hands that spun her
dizzily around-like beetle fixed on
a pin. He dimly realized he was fight
ing to bring his ship back on an even
keel but then a blackness like only
the blackness of subterranean vault
filled the sky. plotting out the last
remnant of light, ushering in a wholly
chaotic, indescribable period of half
conscious existence.
At the first real blow Struthers had
automatically fastened the safety
strap about his body and from the
Observation-Disclosures a:a:3a3alal:8:8:HH:RH1