Evening star., 1939-06-18

padded by the leather flying coat, and the clean
lines of her profile as she peered over the SIDE
He recognized their goal ten minutes later.
The growing light revealed the tracks of fat
tires scoring the sandy floor of the valley. He
shouted to the girl to sit down, and killed two
thousand feet in diving turn. He could see the
cabin now - a squat heap of rock and 'dobe
almost invisible against the drab hillside. Hat
roared above it, turned in swift split-air. and
dove closer Looks like nobody's home
mo" Disappointment was in her tone
then she gasped suddenly Dick! 1t means
they're in the air - on the way back from the
Gulf. Can't we 60 and meet them and -
Nix! I'm not crossing the Mexican bound
ary = not with an army ship and wearing
army uniform, sidearms included"
'Oh - p" Her voice died in the ear phones
as he nosed the ship upward, thousand feet
in each sweeping spiral. Since he was here. he
thought, he. might as we'll make general
reconnaissance Ten thousand feet -. eleven
. twelve - and Kay McHale's voice rang
in his ear.
Dick. There they are!' She was standing
in the cockpit braced against the propeller
blast, and pointing to the south. "An airplane
Just crossed that alkali flat down there. l saw
the sun flashing on the propeller blades and it
couldn't be anything else. Oh, Dick, can't
sit down." He dropped the scouts nose
and banked steeply Seconds passed, then a
tiny shadow moved across the gray-green OF
mesquite and Palo Verde and he recognized the
6 foot v>1o~o h1v1ono The wind
screamed on a new note as he pushed the scout
into sleeper dive.
1t was hawk against crow, peregrlne falcon
against numbering heron. He dove out OF the
sun on the other ship, fired burst OF tracer bull
lets across its bows, and pointed to the ground.
The other ship held its course as the goggled
faces of the pilot and the two passengers turned
toward the unexpected apparition, but the
srnugglers had no desire for closer acquaintance
with the guns that could rip them to sfreds.
The pilot raised his hand in a gesture OF sur
render and pointed toward the landing field.
Dick circled until the Varetta landed, then
brought the scout to the ground.
"Stay where you are and keep your head
down." he told Kay McHale as he TAXED to-
ward the Varetta.
Right, and - Dick, I've just begun to
realize what chances you're taking. dong all
this for me- There's something very splendid
about you Dick, and think you should know
it,"
Forget it, He swung over the side aid
walked toward the other plane. His open coat
revealed his military uniform and the .4o
automatic on the Sam Brown belt.
Loosen your belts and let your guns drop!
he ordered. "You two fellows walk toward the
house till tell you to halt. Pilot, you 60 to my
ship. Keep him covered, sergeant
He snapped the last sentence to Kay Nc
Hale. The bluff might have worked had she not
replied, Yes, sir" in the gruf1est tones she
could command "a oontralto parody on
masculine voice. The two smugglers stopped
in their tracks
That's the woman!' one shouted What
sort of game is this2 Come on, Nick!
This way, Dick" roared Larry McHa!s
mo shooting!''
He disappeared into the front cockpit as the
gangsters ran for their guns and Dick Burton
raced toward the military plane.
Hop in there with Kay" McHale shouted.
''Ill run this show!'
Dick scrambled into the rear cockpit as the
scout TAXED jerkily across the field. The motor
suffered and missed black smoke pulled from
the exhausts.
."Tho ,;r 7 ,rrv the DilOt screamed 'ODen