The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-03
CHAPTER II

VhAf1Eh III
 I'm afraid I can't come out to the field today" Jackie said regret fully, when Roger Breckner tele- phoned that next morning. Her fore boding had proved correct so far. Evelyn had taken to her bed with one of her sick headaches! She seemed really so ill, however, that Jackie felt she ought not leave her. One never knew into what Evelyn's headaches might develop.
 But it's such swell day!" Rogers voice betrayed disap- pointlnent even over the wire. Unlimited ceiling, visibility per feet, only a two-mile S.. w. wind. thought you might try your first solo, if you wished"
 If she Wished Jackie's heart gave a leap, then bounded flat like a tennis ball with no bounce. Maybe I can come out later" she suggested but her voice did not sound very hopeful. "Or tomor- row ."
 I'm taking off for Washington tomorrow" Roger interrupted. He was a free lance pilot; occasion ally he did some test flying, be- sides instructing. If you can't take your lesson today, couldn't you run out long enough to grab bite with me at the Airport Inn? Maybe we could manage to get aired out, too, afterwards"
 Jackie never turned down a chance to get aired out" as Roger called it if she possibly could help 1 herself. "1ll do my best" she promised. Maybe can leave Mo- ther that long, If Roger was going away she would just have to man. age. Not because she had to see Roger, but because she might not get upstairs" until he returned, and besides she was so eager to hear all about the tests he was going to make in Washington.
 When Evelyn learned her daugh- ter had an invitation to have din her with her young man she got surprisingly better. of course you must go, darling" she insisted sweetly. And do wear something especially nice." She meant some thing feminine and frilly, if such a garment could be found in Jackie's wardrobe.
 The slate-blue tailored suit, with its silk blouse, that Jackie dipped into after nasty shower, was not as beguiling as it might have been, but it was decidedly smart and the golden flecks in Jackie's eyes were so dancing and eager that most any young man, with the aid of the moon, would want to talk about something besides flying.
 Evelyn would not have considered the Airport Inn a very romantic setting. Its tables were covered with red and white checkered cloths booths lined the sides; there were and game machines and always great deal of chatter and laughter. What appealed to Jackie were the autographed photos of | aviatorS, many of them "old-timers" that hung proudly on the walls, the hum of airplanes overhead, the press of excitement and activity.
 Isn't it terribly dangerous?" Jackie asked, after Roger had fin lshed telling her about the tests he would make. So far they had talk ed of nothing but flying.
 "Dangerous?" Rogers fine even white teeth were exceptionally white In contrast to his weathered skin; his eyes crinkled at their corners when he smiled. His riugh tweeds were always casual, but he wore them with an air of distinction. His thick hair was wavy, bronzed from sun and wind; his shoulders broad and strong.
 He would never admit any dan- ger connected with his beloved fly ng. Now he shrugged even the sug- sestion away. At worst I might break an eardrum, or get bit grog- 3y from lack of oXygen," he said. You've got to climb about 15,00O feet to do straight drop in order 70 see if the ship will hang together
 T hope it's a good ship" Jackie said. She shivered apprehenSively. No matter what Roger said, she lneW test diving was the most dan- 5erous thing any pilot could do. It lidn't seem right to ask a man to do t. Roger had told her how the blood trained from ones head. rendering one almost blind, how centrifugal orce pushed the head down to the shoulders and caused the back to ache, how the ship became a roar ng monster under stress of so much peed, its whistling wires screaming ,razily while life was held on a breath and death crouched a dark ;hadoW.
 T hope so. too," Roger returned He looked as though le liked to pull the whiskers of ate. A man had to be mixture 'f fool and poet to be born 1yer like Roger. T guess it's a pretty swell bird. It's no experiment al job. A bomber, with 700-horse powered engine. sturdy and squat md bulldogish."
 Jackie heaved a big sigh of re- ief. That's good" she said. How ong will you be gone, Roger?" Even when she started soloing she would nave to do 50 hours to get her pilots icense. She supposed she would be 'ld, before she got to do something with her life.
 "A week - ten days, maybe" Roger seemed to be taken, up with thoughts of the future, too. He wore his dream-drunk look, chew Ing on the end of toothpick, which he substituted for cigaretS, all ways having one dangling from the corner of his humorous mouth. What hope to do some day." he said, "are few stratosphere tests. Think of the speed that could be developed up there! Why, you could get from coast to coast in few hours! If ever get lucky break or meet Santa Claus who'll stake