The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-06-30
ST RAIT GATE
By RUTH COMFORT MITCHELL
wNU SERVICE

a head in a sternly classic helmet.
Sarah Lynn heard her own voice
in a strangled whisper
cam I even pretending-him?"
Gunnar Thorwald, Norwegian ace,
was flying in a cold rage. He was
hurt, disappointed, deeply disgust
ed. Jim Allison had failed him ut
terly, and it was blow, because
he was young enough, in spite of
his astonishing exploits, to take
himself and his career with great
seriousness.
He had come to America very
earnestly, pledged to study and
learn, to take home all he could
gather from the nation awning, and
he had counted confidently on Jim
Allison.
81 wouldn't think of asking you to
break your rule about never taking
women up" the American flier had
explained, under ordinary circum-
stances, but in this case, if you
could possibly make an exception
I'd appreciate it no end. You see,
the fact is, Ardine-and of course
her husband, too - awfully decent
chap, Keaton Dana, rather heavy,
perhaps, but a prince"-he added
hastily under the bleak young gaze
-"are very special friends of
mine, and she's set her heart on
going up for a spin with you."
81 am sorry" the yellow-haired
youth said civilly.
makes it pretty awkward for me.
I dare say well, I strutted bit
about what pals we are, and I'm
afraid 1 let Ardine infer that I could
fix it up for her."
81 am sorry" Gunnar said again.
''I take no women in my ship"
He might well have expanded his
announcement to say that he took
no women anywhere. Sisterless,
cousinless, girl-friendless, rigidly
reared by a stern grandmother, he
had pledged her and himself to keep
his mind wholly upon his work until
his career was well established.
The night was clear and calm
with excellent visibility his hop to
Los Angeles would be without ex-
element.
He came swiftly out of his mus
ings as the nose of the plane
dropped, the whir of the motor in
creased and they leaned toward a
downward pitch. He pulled on the
stick to regain normal position, won
dering what freak of air currents
, caused the small disturbance. He
was aware of slight jar. Had he,
perhaps, struck a high-dying night
bird?
He was Immediately in level flight
again, eased off on the joy stick and
began to re-establish the course
which had been briefly abandoned,
but directly he released his pres
sure the nose dropped second
time.
There was a jar again, more per-
ceptible this time, and he turned
his head to look back through his
ship, and found his vision blocked.
Incredibly, out of all reason, some
one was standing behind him.
His mind refused to accept it. The
thing was impossible. It was the
figure of a woman!
Then young Gunnar Thorwald,
Norwegian ace, experienced an an
ger the like of which he had never
known in all his years of living. It
was the sort of berserk rage his
ancestors knew, tricked by a willy
foe, and which they eased with sud-
den blood. Jim Allison had made
mockery of his rule. Jim Allison
had fouted him - his friend to
please the whim of his lght-o'-love
made a fool of him in the eyes of
the tipsy MASTERS at tawdry road
house. His teeth ground together
and his breath came quickly.
The woman lurched forward and
caught at his shoulder to steady
herself, bent closer to speak above
the roar. Their cold cheeks touched.
ITO BE CONTINUED