The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-14
CHAPTER XII

Roger and Beryl took off so early that next morning that Jackie did not go out to the field. Roger did not intend to make time, going west He would be flying low, so that with his supercharged motor it would be impossible to open it up. He expect ed to make the coast in about 12 hours, with a stopover at halfway point.
 Jackie received a wire around noon from Kansas City. Smooth sailing so far" it read. Keep your fingers crossed and stand by stop Beryl enjoying trip stop Both send love"
 Jackie wondered why Beryl had sent her her love. Of course she was enjoying herself. If Roger had not been so wrapped up in his flying he would have known by this time that Beryl Melrose's love was all for him.
 Well, she was welcome to him after Jackie had the last laugh.
 Another wire that same evening informed Jackie that the silver ship had landed at Burbank. The next, she knew, would be the i'm portant message. Roger expected to lay over only a day or two be- fore starting his trial flight.
 "I'll certainly be glad when this is over," Evelyn said. You haven't eaten for days and you're getting dark circles, if you don't a sorry-looking bride, If you don't take care, darling!" Evelyn was concerned with little more than her plans for the approaching wedding. She was so pleased it was to be June wedding, after all. There was nothing so roman tic as June wedding.
 She had had several wedding dresses, with their misty long veils, sent out for Jackie's approval and had finally succeeded in persuading her to slip in and out of few, in spite of Jackie's protests that she had no time for such "goings-on on" now.
 I'd like to know when you will have time!" her mother walled. She never had seen such child. You would think she was prepar- ing for a funeral, rather than a wedding. There's so much to do for a big church wedding. And you know Paul is so anxious to go abroad and I've told him l can't make my plans until my little girl is settled first"
 Please, Mother!" Jackie said She had schooled herself not to listen to half that Evelyn said, but sometimes even half was too much. Let her go ahead and plan big show, there was no stopping her, anyway. Until the time came. When Jackie practically tilted Roger at the altar and told the whole truth about this crazy en- gagement, that would stop things fast enough.
 The important wire arrived a few days later. It was from Beryl apparently Roger had not had time to send it. It said Roger would take off at a. m. the next morning.
 Jackie did not sleep a wink that night. She was up and dressed by 4 o'clock. Roger had arranged, as he had promised, for her to listen in at the radio tower. Of course they could not get in direct con- tact with him until he got within pickup range, probably around Cleveland, O.. But the newspapers would receive word reporting the planes progress up until then.
 It was luck for Jackie that there was little traffic on the road to the field at this early hour or she would have been arrested for speeding. As 1t was it took nearly 50 minutes to make the drive.
 She climbed the steep ladder that led to the little glass tower, Mac, the operator on duty, greeted her with wide grin, motioning her into the one chair in the com pact space, surrounded on three sides by receiving sets, each tuned to the frequency of an air. liner.
 There was something eerie and ave- e-inspiring about the atmos- phere of the tower at this hour just before daybreak. It was shrouded in darkness, save fol the faces of the dials. Outside the beacon swept majestically back and forth, lighting it's path in the sky. Tiny strings of light bound the field, with red ones for ob- struction lines. The green code beacon blinken on and off like a huge eye.
 Over the hook-ups a voice would boom forth suddenly, louc and somewhat distorted, often in coherent when blare of static interferred. After a while, though ones ears accustomed themselve! so that words and call-letters formed.
 Anything yet?" Jackie asked, as Mac swung on his high stool dur ing a few moments silence. Roger