Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-05-09
CHAPTER ONE

CHATTER ONE
The plane circled low, it's single en-
CINE roaring and sputtering uneasily
The struts and fast turning propeller
cut the air with sound, half whistle
half hiss. It seemed to be in trouble
but the pilot manuevered to a three
point landing and cut the contact
Quickly he jumped to the wing, then
to the ground, and began examining
his motor.
"Wizard!" he exclaimed, after q
moment. absolutely wizard!" While
the Royal Air Force expression, mean
ing that everything was fine, seemed
familiar on his lips, there was the
shadow of a southern drawl and a
softness of voice that suggested Vir-
ginia rather than England as his
home.
One side of his face was spatter-
ed with oil, as was his flying suit and
the leather helmet which he mad
thrown to the ground nearby. The
reason for his enthusiasm was the
leek, shiny Spitfire pursuit plane
which he had brought down in a
forced landing on the fairway of a
convenient golf links. He had feared
that the oil leak might be serious, but
careful examination showed that it
was not. "I1l fix you in half a
shake" he said, addressing the plane.
where's my"
The sentence remained unfinished.
From a zipper-fastened pocket he
drew a small wrench. "There you
are, little fellow. Now"
AS he worked, dark, slightly curled
hair dropped over his forehead and in
to his eyes. Now and again he stop
ped to push it into place with the
back of his hand, and once or twice
he swore at it mildly. He spoke a
loud to both the plane and to the
wrench, quite as though they under
stood and might answer back. There,
little fellow :. tighter, please
between US we'll get the old tin can
rolling. Eth, old tin can? Now, one
more turn here :"
His tall, slender body was bent
over and his head was practically in
the motor. "There 4. hum ;. al
most got it, little fellow" So intent
was he on the job that he did not see
a golf ball roll directly under the
right wing Nor did he see the girl,
carrying only midiron, follow the
ball and stop beside him.
There was a smile on her face as
she stood feet slightly apart and hold
ing her club firmly in both hands,
watching him. Finally she spoke.
"Would you mind moving your
Plane" she said, $50 that I can play
my shot?"
"What shot?" he asked, without
looking up.
"This is golf course, you know"
"There's war on" he said, still
deep in his work. Then the beauti-
full quality of the half serious, half
bantering voice, deep and musical,
struck him and he looked up. ooh,
Pm so sorry. didn't know" He
was about to say that he did not
know she was so beautiful and caught
himself.
"You didn't know what?" the girl
pursued, seeing that he was fluster-
ed, and enjoying what she under
stood was compliment to her looks.
Didn't know that your BALL
mean, that you were under my wing
Il mean"
Her laughter was so catching that
they were soon laughing together,
and he had regained his usual COM
posure.
"Just a second" he said. I'll push
it out of the way"
'Never mind. Pm really in no
hurry, and your jobs more important
than mine." Then, when she saw his
gaze go up and down her we'll cut
khaki uniform, she added, "Just an
ambulance driver with day off to
visit her family"
ooh! That's great. I think you
English girls are great"
"No compliments, Mr.. American.
You are one, aren't you?" He nod
ded. go back to your work and I'll
watch you, if may. Pm passionate
ly fond of motors"
He made no objection. In point of
fact he was always delighted to find
someone who shared his enthusiasm
for mechanical things, and when that
someone happened to be lovely girl
he would probably have said that it
was wizard"
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