The Washington times., 1937-10-07


and restive. yeah" he said, this
rod is the real stuff all right,
buddy. It's going into my pocket,
now, but one zip out of you and
I'll drill you so fast you'll think
you're an oil we'll. Now call that
mechanic Of yours. I want to set
out of here quick, See?"
To the youngster pilots grouped
at the distant hangar, the man
was another bystander talking to
Larry Winther about his plane.
Luck" snorted one in good.
natured grumble. Here's you and
me, Scotty, with ton of brains
and no ship, and there's Larry
with a ton of ship and no brain"
Don't know about that. 1t
takes something to handle that
special job of Larry's."
Winther signaled distantly and
his mechanic went trotting toward
him across the field.
Another rangy spectator com.
mented, "Shucks, if Larry's bright,
we're geniuses. Asked me yeSter-
day how to spell leader Poor
gaWk was going to put a double
e. in it. Don't you get me wrong.
I like the kid, but he's no con-
test winner"
NEW ANGLE
The distant propeller whipped
into action and its eager flight
song reached the hangar group.
There's new angle" said the
pilot called Biff. "Larry's sending
his mechanic back. He's going
to take the fan-guy up, instead"
In the open cockpit, Winther
and the stranger sat side by side,
cozily, safety belts buckled.
Whats your racket" asked
Winther.
whats it to you?"
Nothing. Only making conver-
Sation."
Skip it. Just make time"
Winther's lopsided grin ap-
peared. II could do better if you'd
take that gun out of my ribs. 1t
tickles."
The man eased back a little.
Nov listen, bright boy; how far
can you hit on this load of GASP"
-Four hundred miles, if the ship
behaves itself. This is trial run
after repairs"
BY God, you'd better see that
it behaves. Do you have to go so
high?"
Thought you might like to
meet heaven = all right, take
that gun away. This ship travels
better at 10000 feet than any,
where else. She's a high-ceiling
job"
The airport below was a brown
square in a patchwork quilt OF
green.
You look like some newspaper
pictures I've seen lately" said
Winther. Something about a
kidnapping a couple of hundred
miles from here. The ransom was
paid and the kid returned, but
there's a reward out"
You may wish you'd never
learned to read"
II don't think so. Well have
to come down at an airport, you
know. You can't do much to me
in front of people,"
The man permitted himself a
tight smile. That's right" he
said. Not in front of people. I"
DIRTY RACKET
ITO my mind, the snatch racket
is about the dirtiest :"
Your mind don't count. Shut
up and keep your eyes on the
road" The witticism pleased
him and he repeated it. Keep
your eyes on the road. This is
pretty swell. Didn't know as I'd
like flying much"
Never been up before?"
mot up in the air. Just up
at the pen, but that's none of
your :" He broke off.
The motor had begun to sput-
ter. What the ?" The man
stared at Winther. IF you're try
ing anything " Then his face
contorted in a paroXysm of
nervous terror. Great God, the
damn thing is on fire"
Winther jerked about to look.
Smoke was streaming in white
billows from the tail of the
fuselage. Right. the first guess. "
There was a grim tension about
his mouth. He grunted, 1--WE can
shake the fire-maybe. Duck your
head below the level of the
board"
God, no! What about para
chutes?"
Aren't any. Get your head
down, say! There'll be flames
licking when we turn, you fool"
The stranger covered below the
instrument board, the gun shaking
in his hand. If we crash, you get
it too, buddy. Don't forget that"
What do you think I want to
do" snarled Winther catch fire
for your special benefit? I'm try
ing to whip the flames away from
the cockpit"
"Ain't that an extinguisher?
You'd have to go out on the
wings to use it."
SHIP WHIRLS