Evening star., 1941-01-08


take her to the airport. 1t had only
the ticket window to realize that Jo
her when she arrived in San Francis
she wanted to happen.
She was just in time TO buy the
remaining vacancy and catch the
northbound plane. She had never
been in the air before, but such a
minor detail did not bother her
now. She was willing and glad to
fly at the moment. Not until the
twin motors roared and the ship
moved swiftly from the ground, did
she relax and take good breath.
Honey smiled at her fellow-pas-
sengers before settling herself COM
fortably to do a bit of thinking.
She leaned back and closed her
lids over tired and sleepy eyes.
Honey Monroe" she told herself
with firm conviction, you almost
grabbed of too much when you
took over the Sylvester diamond.
After all, life is worth more than
any Jewel in the world-even that
one. But a promise is a promise"
she argued with herself and sighed
wearily. Il wonder what happened
in Dams department? If Joe gets
arrested, I will be safe-I hope l
will be safe" she altered, remem-
bering that Dan had said something
about arresting her for stealing the
diamond.
Still Iao
But if Joe gets away" she
thought, and her heat froze at the
possibility, my life won't be worth
2 cents. He will hunt me down.
Nothing will stop him until he finds
me. But if ! make San Francisco
in safety, he won't get the diamond
ever" There was consolation in
that knowledge and it brought a
smile to her face that had been so
pale and drawn when she boarded
the plane.
However, destiny ruled that Hon
ey should not arrive at her port
of haven SO soon-so easily. The
air liner started bucking strong head
winds soon after taking off and the
fog was unusually heavy along the
coast. 1t was a fight every mile
Of the way for the pilots, and then
they lost the radio beam they were
travelling on, AS if that were not
enough trouble in itself, something
went wrong with the motors, max
ing forced landing imperative
Buckle your safety belts" in
struCted the pretty hostess on the
ship, hurrying from one passenger
TO the next and waiting to make
sure that the order was carried out.
Emergency landing"
You mean-landing right now?'
gasped the sour-faced man behind
Honey as he peered over the top OF
his nose glasses.
Right now" smiled the girl IN
the uniform. I'm sorry
Being sorry won't help me catch
the boat if we are delayed" he
grunted, and Honey had to smile
even though 1t was not a smiling
situation.
She fastened her belt and waited,
heart pounding in her throat. 1t
seemed that she was jumping from
one danger to another as fast as
she could and she couldn't help but
wonder what would happen next.
Can't See Through Fog.
Seconds licked by while the pas
sengers looked at each other, trying
to smile, yet with fear lurking in
their eyes. One woman was crying
pitifully while someone near by
tried to offer comforting words.
Otherwise, there was no commotion
aboard the plane. They just waited.
Then the lights went out and some
one screamed.
Honey looked out the window and
realized that if it had not been for
the terrible fog she could have
seen what lay below for dawn was
on them. But that cold, damp thick
ness hid everything from view.
Suddenly, Honey's heart stood
still as though shot through her
mind. The diamond. She had for
gotten it in the excitement of fasten-
ing ner safety Dell. quickly, Sne
grabbed the small parcel from her
purse and dropped the precious box
into her coat pocket. With fingers
that flew like lightning, she pinned
the opening of the pocket with her
emerald bar pin to insure the safety
of the velvet case. She buttoned the
coat collar around her throat tightly
so that the wrap would not come of
her should there be a mishap Of any
kind in the landing.
Perhaps I should have faced
Joe" she though grimly as new
fear of disaster enveloped her. IT
the ship cracks up. will die any,
way She shuddered at her
thoughts.
At that moment there was ter
rife splash of water as the big liner