Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1938-05-10
: A. |
CHAPTER 1

Daniel Baron was having his trou-
bles, and they were greater than
his passenger realized. At least
she seemed to be unduly calm
much calmer than he felt.
"You know what we're up
against 2" he shouted.
"A storm. isn't it ?" she shrieked
back. 1t wasn't a very bright an
swer; they had been in a storm
since midnight, two hours before,
the plane bucking and twisting.
First there had been sand, terrific
sand, but Bill had climbed over
that. Back of this dust blow, how
ever, was nature in black stam-
pede from earth to sky. Lightning
and rain and hail and even Sleet,
up there. He mad been fighting
the controls of his little cabin ship
rs if he were trying to conquer a
wild bronco down on some ranch
beneath them.
"Sure!" he yelled, grimacing,
but unconsciously maintaining the
drawl so characteristic of him.
"But mean, do you know how bad
a storm? Do you know just how
tight a spot we really are in?"
She turned violet eyes on him,
wide eyes.
"Will we crash? I'm frightened!
Awfully!"
YOU'D better be! Wen crash
you'll crash if you don't get out.
Here, I'm sitting on it-take this
parachute and strap it on. Jump
out and pull this ring, hard. Hur-
ry!"
The girl didn't move. She looked
straight at him.
where's the other parachute s"
she demanded, loudly.
mot but one! Take it. Do as
1 tell you, quick! Put it on.
Throw that door latch, force it.
open and let go. Quit stalling"
"But what will you do?"
"I'll land. Hurry, I tell you;
we're out of fuel!'
"Then how can you land ?" she
shrieked it.
He growled to himself for that
error. But he was struggling with
the controls every second, too.
The motor was sputtering. He
was scared and admitted it 20 him.
self. He felt they were bound to
be over mountains = mountains
somewhere along the Mexican
American frontier. Maybe over
New Mexico, maybe Arizona.
"It's got to be done NOW" he
yelled in desperation. ''This things
gone loco! It's life and death,
woman! Tighten this strap under
your arms and JUMP"
IT can risk landing if you CAMP
she yelled back.
Bill Baron took time out, even
with death riding the clouds
around him, to humble a phrase
In evaporation. But he knew the
instant to act had indeed come.
He didn't expect much now.
Life had been good; much luck had
ridden with him. But this situa-
ton looked tough. Then a clap Of
thunder was so loud it might have
been doom itself striking. Light
ming of course added it's fantastic
play. The little plane leaped, but
Bill knew it was sinking.
Quickly he himself picked up
the leather strap of the parachute.
He buckled it around his chest.
The folded chute had been a cush-
ion on which he sat, and adjusting
it was but moment.
He said no more to her. He let
go the ship controls and, working
with great speed, stepped across
the girl and opened her door. The
black gale and fog snorted in.
What are you doing?" she
screamed, terrified.
He didn't answer. He was won
dering how any parachute could
possibly go safely through that
icy. boiling, billowy cauldron. But
there was no alternative. He
turned quickly, his back to the
door and half his body, including
the parachute pack, outside.
Then he picked her up bodily,
squeezed her to his chest with one
powerful arm. He took desperate
grip of her shoulder clothing with
his teeth. She was too benumbed
with fear to struggle, Straining
awkwardly, he pushed out, literally
fell backward into the high night
terror around them.
S<Neitf1er the man nor the girl
ever had any memory of the ensu-
ing quarter hour or so. Natures
plan frequently grants blessed