Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-06-03
CHAPTER ONE

Vial III O1NE
WHEN Sarah Anne Melton
stopped to buy oranges at the fruit
counter in the market house, she
had no premonition that before the
yellow fruit would be placed in a
paper sack and deposited in the
basket that swung on her arm, her
heart would tumble over, rockets
would break, and it would be
Christmas eve, Fourth of July and
Bank Night all at once.
Sarah Anne wasn't even thinking
of Jack Courtney at the moment.
otherwise his name wouldn't have
burst across her mind like a shin
ing, shattering meteor. Meteor
that was the word which described
him best, she was to think long
time later.
A newsboy flung a paper in front
of her while his hoarse young voice
took on the dimensions of a town
crier:
Jack Courtney cuts time in two
on Pacific hop! Courtney. safe in
San Francisco! Hometown boy
makes good"
Sarah Anne smiled at the young
sters tribute even while she
reached for the paper. All, there
was Jack! Blue eyes, steady, brave,
cav, as she remembered. Hair tou-
Sled by a wind. There was always
a wind blowing where Jack was.
Long legs, broad shoulders, rangy
body, chin on the stubborn side.
The eyes were smiling into Sarah
Anne's. They were the same and
yet they were different-they had
looked above the clouds across the
sea, down the stars. They had seen
wonders of which she could only
dream. She must ask him how he
felt up there in that immensity of
sky and water with nowhere a
light.
Then the knowledge Of what the
boy had done swept over her. Jack,
whose fraternity pin was fastened
under the wide sash of her ratified
pink gingham frock - fastened
there because it really didn't mean
anything and this way she could
wear it without explaining to peo-
ple-Jack had fulfilled his dream
and flown across the widest ocean
on a nonstop flight. 1t was like
him to fly the eastern way, back
into his own continent, whereas
most men went to Japan.
Sarah Anne did not read the
story at the moment. Later, at
home alone, in her low room with
its white ruffied curtains and the
chintz-covered chairs and drap-
cries, she would follow the flight.
Just now she wanted to shout the
news to the world. She laughed
softly at the absurdity of such a
task. AS if the world didn't know
it! All the world from Hong Kong
to Alberta, Canada, and San Fran
cisco to .Berryviller Indiana!
Always afterWard she was to re-
member that it was Judith Drake
who spoke to her first that day.
Judy came running, waving her
own paper in a strong, Drowned
hand, her tawny head flung high.
Sarah Anne, isn't it glorious!"
she exclaimed. Cup there with
Lindbergn and Post and Hughesw
tits so glorious it frightens me-"
Sarah Anne answered solemnly,
voice not quite steady.
Judith's hair was orange or am
ber, depending on the sun. And
her eyes matched it's tones. There
were times when Sarah Anne
thought of Vikings and ships, when
they were together. This was one
of them.
Sarah Anne had prayed at night
to be more like Judy, before she
learned even prayer must have a
possible basis. Once, when Judith
received the coveted lead in a class
play, Sarah Anne had expressed
dissatisfaction with herself to
Jack.
She had been envious Of Judith.
She adored her. But there had been
other parts and, though Sarah
Anne's voice was music and laugh
ter and pathos when she read her
lines, the class preferred stature.
This morning, standing in the
market place with the record of
Jacks triumph in her slim hands,;
Sarah Anne recalled his words:
Don't you dare go changing
yourself, Sarah Anne Melton. /
like girls with dark brown eyes and
blue-black curls and I don't want
there to be too much to a girl.
Just enough to stock her away in
the cockpit comfortably. Coming