Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-10-30

friends. AS it was, she had indepen-
dence and just enough money tc
reasonably indulge her passion fol-
flying.
She looked at her watch. 1t was halt
past 10 o'clock. Most of the passengers
had turned off their light. The ship
was flying high and at great speed
trying, Hope decided, to rise above the
increasing fog.
The only wide-awake persons on the
plane were the pilots, the stewardeSs,
Hope herself, and the young man who
was making his first flight. His suit
case rested beside his chair, with a
leathered end facing Hope. The letter.
ing was definite-John Allen Carey.
Hope closed her eyes, but her mind
was busy. This was the time she liked
best when darkness had come and
the passengers had quoted down, and
turned off their reading lights and
she could lend herself to the exhilira-
ton Of flying toward the stars. at a
speed of a hundred and eighty miles an
hour. She did not like the fog, but she
was not afraid of it. She had flown
through fog before.
But the drowsiness of her neighbors
seemed contagious. Hope herself
dropped into a doZe. She was conscious
of a routine stop-at Omaha, no doubt.
That should be between midnight and
l o'clock, she reflected droWsily, and
sank into deeper slumber.
How long she slept she did not know.
She awakened suddenly. Perhaps she
had heard a new sound. Perhaps, from
deep within her subconsciousness, some
instinct had sent her warning. She
sat up and looked around. They were
all asleep now, even the young man,
but they awoke as she looked at them.
Something was wrong-very wrong.
They all read it in the action of the
plane, in the controlled but frantic
efforts Of the pilots. Whatever it was,
its climax was mercifully swift.
The eight persons who died in that
crash had little time to consider their
fate. Hope had one glimpse Of the face
OF the young man. Its expression was
one of utter amazement and incredul-
ity. During those instants there was not
a sound in the cabin but that of the
engine. The cries she heard we're sinful
taneous with the crash, the rending
and the tearing She heard nothing
more.
She was brought back to conscious !
ness by the shrieks of a child. It must
have been child In another world,
for they came to her family and from
very lar away. They grew louder. They
were the shrieks Of a frantic child
q child in terror or pain or both. Very
slowly Hope Mayo. who loved children, /
took in the idea that something must
be done about this A moment later (
she knew that this something must |
be done BY her. Then she remembered, I
and cried out sharply.
The child" she called. I'VE must /
find the chiIdl"
A light flashed into her eyes. A hand
grasped her arm and a voice spoke /
urgently.
Thank God you've come toll Are
you all right2"
'I-dont-imow. Where's the child?"
Shes all right, but frightened out (
d her wits. got her out first. Now let (
me help you. Can you move2"
I-don't-l1nOw
i. Try to get up. III pun. Tel me If
9 hurts. God. this Is an awful mess.
aurTyi Nov together. Here we are.
mats right II you can stand Up, look
after the child while I help the rest.
lnang God for that flashlight I
brought with me. How do you feel7"
he had sos her out Of what was left !