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

these days. 1t was even worth taking
the chance of being picked up In Texas
for killing Detective George MichaelS
who had been too hot on the tral
of Johnny CasSo. Johnny was drug
runner. When do I startP"
to catch the L. A. plane. This guy will
be called to testify the day after to-
/ morrow and if he starts Singin', it'll
/ be just too bad for Johnny"
4 So here he was in this lousy kite,
/ this flynn coffin. He hated it. And
he smelled a cop somewhere. He
couldn't place him but a sixth sense
near. He'd pick that Tolliver guy only
he was too much of a rube. He was
too dumb and there was no gun bulge
on the left side of his coat. He was
no dick.
Tony was wrong. Tolliver was
Texas Ranger and he was on that
plane to pick up Tony, dead or alive
for the murder of Detective MichaelS
in San Antonio nine months ago. And
he was also wrong about the gun. A
regulation six-gun was resting between
his pants and his shirt in front and
well covered by his vest. Ranger Tolli-
ver's eyes were dumb but very cold
In the cockpit, Lee Wilson and Ed
Driscoll sat tense at their posts fight
ing a storm Of snow and sleet. A
heavy sheet of ice had formed on the
wings which the de-icers could not
move. The ship lost altitude but so
imperceptibly that it could not have
been noticed in the cabin
Yet everyone in the cabin seemed
to sense the crisis before it rose. The
passengers sat stiffly in their seats.
ignoring the studied confidence of
Martha Graves the. stewardess, who
moved quietly about her duties. Father
Willard began to pray silently, even as
he realized that Martha had exceeded
his doubtful expectations. Her metal
was stronger than iron. It was steel
In the cockpit, Ed Driscol, sitting
beside Lee Wilson, waiting to take
over, heard Lee say quietly.
Il guess this is it, Ed. I'm trying for
landing. If you come out and don't,
take care of Martha. Tell her now"
"Blind?" Driscoll asked
Just about" Wilson admitted. But
I'm hoping we're over the emergency
field seven miles outside of Stockton.
We've got to be. It's a Zero-zero cell
ing and the ice is pulling us down.
Tell Martha"
From his vantage point in the rear
of the plane, Father Willard sensed |
the situation Immediately as DriScoll |
came from the cockpit into the cabin |
and spoke pleasantly to the steward |
esS. He saw the girl tense and then |
smile stiffly. Years Of objective thought |
had brought to him a selflessnesS that |
was almost complete. so the idea of |
danger never occurred to him /
as he hitched forward in his seat to
watch.
A quick glance through the window
at the swirling ice-filled darkness told
him the message must be that the
pilot was preparing for a forced land
ing. When the passengers were In
formed Of 1t, they would have entered
he crucible. What metal would each
'eveal2
The co-pilot disappeared into the
cockpit and Martha, her smile now
more natural, snapped the startled
Hiss Leach's. safety belt about her.
Us 1t clicked, the eyes OF the heiress
lew to the reporter and he grinned
IS Martha did the same for him.
Maybe I'm cockeyed," he admitted.
but / think it's silly to lock us IA
he barn after the horse has Owed
THE horse isn't diving" Martha
miIinRly corrected him We're land
az on an emergency field"
wallace started 70 argue but the