The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1943-04-16
FLOUNDERING
CHAPTER XVII


mere cloud now. 1t was a black,
boiling monster, stretc h n &
Ground the compass from north
10 south. And as harbinger it
was already attacking the sky
train with driving, Lelting, hail
stones and sand.
Number one-all right, Cap
, tain!"
Number two-all right, Cap
tain!"
"Plane number three all
right, Captain"
Crisp reports like that flowed
to Jimmy Carr at intervals from
all 10 of the sailplanes he towed.
What about you, Pat" Jim
my radioed that personal ques-
ton. He couldn't remember to
call her Lorraine, for the real
Lorraine sat beside him, pouting.
Anyway, this was no longer a
time for any sort of masquerade.
Realistic facts confronted them.
Directly ahead and around them
was snorting Rocky Mountain
storm.
II had arisen-likc great
black genii from the earth itself
just beyond Four Peaks. 1t
swept across the crags of Super
stition Mountain. II began with
a sand blow, Enthusiastically,
then it added pebbles, hail
stones, and slashlng rain. 1t was
a fury beyond anything Capt.
Carr had ever known.
Up and down his kite tail,
!. ships were bobbing and dipping
like so many corks on pond.
Number three plane snatched at
the tow line so as to send whip
like wave. simultaneously,
everybody radioed their fears
back at Pat Friday.
Hold it, Number 10! Look
out. :. CAREFUL"
Pats tail end plane, the
cracker of this sky whip, took
the snap of it! But the plane
held on.
Next minute the blow was
even stronger. 1t came not
steadily but in jerks and snorts
that we're almost cyclonic. In
the tow ship, the real Lorraine
Stuart had screamed twice in
terror and Jimmy himself was
deeply concerned. On him of
course rested the responsibility
for all. But Jimmy, trained on
the eastern seaboard, knew
nothing Of Rocky Mountain
storms. This one had trapped
him before he realized its power
and wrath.
Cant turn back YETI he ra-
diced to his trailing pilots.
Don't want to give it full
sweep at us from the side. We're
all hooked together, remember
ANY visibility" somebody
asked.
Zero Jimmy answered.
Flying entirely by instruments
but staying fairly well on the
course. Listen, men,"
Yes, jimmy Pat checked
in, too.
Matter of technical interest.
This being hooked onto one tow
line seems to function some
what like a real kite. You get
me? My power plane has a
real tail and the tail steadies it
in the storm! Or tends to. Maybe
we discovered something!"
That significant idea grippcd
all of them.
This may or may not be i'm
portant," Jimmy told them. I'VE
can break. our necks, men, or
we can sec it through. What S
your wish?'
See it through. -. See it
through, Captain -. see it
through
That came as a queck chorus.
A chorus Of courage, in all
truth. The radio sets were
cracking and splitting noisily
now. Jimmy feared they might
60 out entirely.
"Okay, them" he said hur-
riedly. You men stand by for
orders. II the radio breaks, use
your heads! Well take care of
the lady first, then"
jimmy 49,. Captain Carr?
Number 10 calling Captain
Carl"
What is it, Pat? Do you hear
me?"
Yes! Jimmy, I'm going to
cut loosel"
Hey"
Her announcement held the
rest of the train spellbound, in
Guiding even the real Lorraine
covering in the towing plane.
Check your instruments, jim
my. We ought to be nearing
Globe!'
What of it?' He verify yell
ed it. This is one hell Of a
storm, Pat!"
We're close to Globe!"
I'm watching for chance to
turn around! First lull we get,
I'll swing. I'll take you back to
Phoenix and then the rest of us
will tackle this storm 10 see
what we can learn"
Jimmy. no! Why must you
insult me?"
I'm not insulting anybody!
I'm trying to save your skin"
I'm one of the pilots. We've
reached the place where I'm to
cut loose and landl Right near