Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-09-09

the body and swung her into the seat
he had just left with a strength and
speed that belied his years.
You are young child" he told her
! gently as he snapped the safety belt
around her. BE quiet for a little"
/ The planes sudden steep banking
strained the belt against her and tore
her angry fingers from the straps.
Whatever happens, I love you,
Macei" Barbara Leachs firm clear
voice rang out as the plane dived into
an iced darkness which scraped against
Into Thy hands, o Lord, I commend
our spirits" Father Willard prayed
through the shrin, horror-l q d n
screams of the financier and the killer
"Oh Lord, Jesus Christ, preserve our
spirits"
A terrific impact hurled the priest
against the back of a seat and thence
to the floor and the darkness of OBJ
livion.
For an instant. Father Willard thot
he was merely awaking from a deep
and troubled dream, but as his senses
steadied, he saw he was lying on his
own oVercoat in a wide ice-laden space
The taste of whisky was on his lips.
Martha's hand pressed against his
forehead.
rdtneI MlllaIu, She SAID
Yes child"
Are you all right9 Have you any
pain?"
NO" he told her after an explana-
tory pause. My head is clearing. Where
are the others? Is anybody"
mo-" she smiled. You were the only
one scratched. You bumped your head
against the seat as we dived. Mr. Will
son made beautiful landing We're on
an emergency field not far from Stock
ton"
His head throbbed as he climbed to
his feet and saw the plane Its shadow
was dark blur in a dim and SWirling
world Of driving snow. The other pas
SengerS were huddled near. it. It was
bitter cold He walked to the group
and came within the sound of Lee
Wilson's voice.
There is no shelter here" the pilot
was saying, so we may as we'll get
back into the plane and wait. There is |
no danger. We had a hard landing, but |
the plane and engines are all right |
Wen get out of here as soon as there !
IS any visibility, possibly about day |
light"
you shouldn't have taken off at
albuquerque in the first place" Paul |
Stoddard declared His massive Jaws |
were locked. His keen eyes were again |
lntolerant and hard. There was no give |
to his face. He had, it was evident |
his courage you should be |
punished for wilfully endangering the |
lives of IL people, Is, including your
self. I am going to see that there is an
But our weather report was all
right" the pilot protested This is
Just one of those sudden storms that |
strike at this season of the year"
Nevertheless" Stoddard coldly in
sisted, something should be done about
/ thing like this. Another pilot, per-
1aps, put in charge of this plane"
"Why?" Mace Wallaces cutting
yoice sliced through the snow BE
'ause you, and we found out you were
1ellow? Or did you know it before?
You haven't any kick coming, Stod-
lard. People like you shouldn't get in
o a plane. If it weren't for Wilson's
miraculous flying neither you nor the
est of us would be here now. We'd be
catered over about five miles and
he plane would be hanging on some
rec. But you go ahead and make your
complaint and I'll write the story of
low the great Paul Stoddard acted
When we thought we were crashing"
"Oh, Mace" Barbara Leach MUIR
nured you're wonderful"
II think we should all have a drink"
ethel Bourne insisted. Especially Mr.
;toddard. I never saw so big a man
o frightened. I'll be glad to describe
us actions to any investigating COM I
nittee." {
perhaps I spoke hastily" Stoddard !
fastened to say, his massive features
gain yeasty. Il really have no inten- {