Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-29

ODian said above the roar of the
cylinders. I've even thought of the
ropes that bind you. They're f1axen,
so they will melt easily"
If he lived to remember this mo-
ment Kelly would never erase the
memory of the Sardonic, satisfied
expression on John O'Dian's face.
The motor sound thinned out into
scream, the tail went up and then
they were in the air, climbing.
Kelly could see the black shapes of
the trees falling rapidly away. He
twisted around to Sherr. She was
sitting straight in her seat, staring
back. wide-eyed.
I'VE won't get out OF this" she
whispered. "Oh, Kelly, why did you
ever meet me?"
ITO love you," he answered and
he was rewarded with a ghost of
smile.
His eyes swept around the tiny
! cabin. searching for some hope. He
| glanced through the windows out
into the blackness of the night. The
plane was climbing steadily. John
ODian was tense at the controls,
and when finally the plane leveled
of, the motor beat steadied.
Here it is, Kelly thought.
John ODian turned. He held the
opened gasoline can in his hand.
His face was a mask of triumphful
/ satisfaction as he sprayed the gaSo-
line about. The fuel soaked through
Kelly's clothes, on his hair, over his
head upon the others.
John ODian leaned over the con-
trolls. He was setting them so that
he could leap clear and float TO
earth in safety. He turned then. and
raised his hand in mock salute.
Happy landingsl" His voice
sounded clear and shrill above the
roar OF the motor. He pressed hard
upon the door, straining hard
against the rush of air. He turned
for q last look at his victims and
then Kelly saw him fall head first,
his feet slapping against the swiftly
closing door. Above. four people
were alone, plunging through the
night In the pilotless plane.
Kelly to the Rescue.
Don't anybody move" Kelly
yelled. The plane was leveled Of,
but there was no wav TO determine
when it would veer off and fall into
a spin. Kelly twisted to his right
The window at his side! II he could
reach it with his bound hands!
Kelly twisted himself about and
strained. forward.
Kelly" Sherr cried wildly. as
she saw what he intended.
Don't move. Sherr!" Kelly called
evenly. His hands were up to the
window and his shoulders bulged
with the strain. He hesitated. but
only momentarily. The surge Of his
body was slight, but the smash Of
his fists was shattering. He could
feel the blood squirt from his arms
and hands as they plunged through
the glass. His action had taken only
a moment: still the plane plunged
onward Now Kelly twisted his head
about and setting his teeth grimly,
he sawed bloodily upon the jagged
edges Of the shattered glass He
could hear Sherr's sharply indrawn
sob. Edna Mannon's moan, Crosley's
muttered Good boy Good
boy"
Then the plane heeled over. Kelly
lurched forward hard against the
pilots seat, momentarily stunned.
The motor sound came I'D sharply
to a fuli-throated snarl, then set
tied into a steady whine as the ship
started its swift downward pin
wheel motion.
But the last lurch had severed
the flaxen bonds. Kelly's hands
came out free. He grasped wildly
at the seat for support. He knew
that II he could get to the controls
in time that he could right the
plane.
The dim glow of the instrument
panel guided Kelly. He scrambled
forward into the pilots seat. The
black night was whirling madly
Ground lights were rushing up at
lightning speed. seemingly winking
the ship on to It's doom.
Kelly horsed back on the stick,
his feet damned into the rudder
pedals. He was fighting now as he
never had before. The plane shud-
dered violently, seemed to hang in
the air for a long agonizing second.
fighting against control. Kelly was