Famous Flyers and Their Famous Flights

His sister laughed. “I really can’t go beforeI see what is in the telegram,” she said.“Of course, I suppose I should be polite andpretend not to be interested in it, but I am.We all are, aren’t we, boys?”

Bob and Hal grinned.

“Well, then,” said Bill, “I guess I’ll haveto see what’s in it.” He opened the telegram, and glanced hurriedly over it. “Pat’slanding tomorrow,” he said. “He wants usto be out at the airport to see the Mariannecome in.”

“Hurray!” shouted Bob, and went into awar dance.

His mother looked at him tolerantly. Shewas used to Bob’s antics. “What time isPat coming in?” she asked.

“He didn’t say. In fact, that’s all he didn’tsay in this telegram. But I guess he’llstart out about dawn and get here aroundnoon. Anyway, we’ll be going down to theairport tomorrow morning to look around.We’ll stay there until that Irishman rollsin.”

“What will you do about lunch?” askedthe practical Mrs. Martin.

“Why, we’ll eat at the airport restaurant,”said Bill. “Don’t worry about us, Sis.”

Mrs. Martin looked dubious. She glancedat Hal. She knew that Hal’s mother likedto supervise her son’s meals, and did notcare to have him eat at strange places. Mrs.Martin felt that it would be a shame to spoilthe expedition for such a trivial reason, soshe said, “I have an idea. I’ll pack a lunchfor all of you tonight, and you can take itwith you tomorrow. How will that be?You can eat it anyplace around the airport.It’ll be a regular picnic. There are some niceplaces around the port that you can go to.How about that?”

Bob answered for them. “That will begreat. Gee, Bill, do you remember the picnicbaskets that Mom can pack? We’re inluck.”

“Do I remember?” said Bill. “How couldI forget? You fellows had better be up prettyearly tomorrow.”

“You bet we will, Captain,” said Bob.

Then Hal said, “I guess I’d better be going.My mother will be wondering if I’mnever coming home. I hope that I can comewith you tomorrow.”

“Hope you can come with us? Why, ofcourse you’re coming with us. We won’t gowithout you,” Captain Bill said explosively.

“I’ll see,” said Hal. “I’ll ask Mother.Maybe she’ll let me go. But anyway, I’lllet you know. I’ll put up the flags in theworkshop window. All right?”

“Sure,” said Bob, and walked out withHal. He saw the boy to the door, andwarned him again to be sure to come.

When the two boys had left the room,Captain Bill turned to his sister. “Say,” hesaid, “do you think that Hal’s mother reallywon’t let him come, or is the boy lookingfor a way out?”

“Why, what do you mean?” asked Mrs.Martin.

“Just this,” said Bill, and puffed vigorouslyon his pipe. “I’ve been watching theboy, and I think that he’s afraid.”

“Afraid of what?”

“Afraid of actually going up in an airplane.I feel that a change has come overhim since there has been an actual chanceof his learning to fly,” explained the Captain.

His sister looked pensive. “But he’s alwaysbeen so interested in flying. That’sall the two of them ever talk about.”

“Perhaps. When there was no immediatechance of his going up in a plane. Now thatthere is, I think he’d like to back out.”

“There is his mother to consider, ofcourse,” said Mrs. Martin. “She would undoubtedlyobject very strenuously if hemerely went to the airport. You must rememberthat he’s all she has. She’s alwaysso careful of him.”

The Captain snorted. “Too careful,” hesaid. “She’s made the boy a bundle of fears.Bob has helped him get over some of them, but I think that they’re cropping out now.It will be very bad for Hal if he funks this.I think that it will hurt him a great deal.If he succeeds in overcoming his fears nowfor once and for all, if he learns to go upin a plane, even if he may never fly onehimself, he will be a new boy. He’ll neverbe afraid again. But one let-down now, andhe will be set way back – even further backthan when Bob first met him.”

“I think you’re right, Bill,” said hissister. “But what are we going to do aboutit?”

The Captain shrugged his shoulders. “Ithink the best thing to do with the boy isnot to let him know that we know he’safraid. Treat him just as if he were thebravest lad in the world. I’ll take careof that. But I can’t take care of his mother.I never was a lady’s man,” smiled CaptainBill. “You’ll have to attend to that.”

Mrs. Martin’s brow wrinkled. “I thinkyou’ve taken the easier task,” she said witha wry smile. “I’d much rather teach a boyto overcome his fears than teach a motherto overcome hers. But I’ll try,” she added, and hoped against hope for success.

Bob burst into the room. “How aboutsomething to eat?” he said. “I’m starved!”

“As usual,” said his mother. “I wouldlike to hear you just once complain aboutbeing not hungry.”

“All right, mother,” said Bob. “If youwant to hear me complain about that, youjust feed me a good dinner now, and I’ll domy best to complain about being not hungry – afterI finish it.”

“You’re an impossible son,” said his mother, but smiled fondly at him. She reallydidn’t believe it.

CHAPTER IV – Some War Heroes

Whether secret springs were put into operationby Mrs. Martin that afternoon ornot, nevertheless Hal was able to join theparty going to the airport early the nextmorning. It was a beautiful morning. Ithad stopped raining, and the sun, comingout strong and bright, had dried everythingso thoroughly that only an occasional puddlehere and there on the road showed thatit had rained at all. The drive to the portwas pleasant, too; the port being about amile out of town, and at least five milesfrom the Martin home.

When they arrived, the day’s program wasin full sway. A huge tri-motored plane wasloading passengers for a cross-country trip.As the three approached the port, they sawthe great plane rise into the air and take offexactly on schedule. Smaller planes wereflying about above the airport, and on theground mechanics were working over severalplanes that needed overhauling. Captain Billwanted to go first to the administrationbuilding, a large white brick structure, modernas any office building in appearance. Hewanted to see the head of the airport, anold friend of his, and make the final arrangementsfor the care of his plane whenit came in.

As they were about to enter the building,a tall, heavy-set man passed them, on hisway out. Captain Bill started, and halfturned. “Well, if that didn’t look like – ”he began, then turned and went on into thebuilding. “Looked like an old flying buddyof mine. But of course, it couldn’t be. OldHank never was that fat. Never had anounce of fat on him. All skin and bone.But you never can tell, eh, boys?”

“You’ll be getting there yourself, someday, be careful,” laughed Bob.

John Headlund, delighted to see CaptainBill, jumped up from his desk, and pumpedhis hands up and own. “If it isn’t theCaptain! Man, it’s great to see you again!”Headlund and Bill had flown together inFrance, and although they had kept in touchwith each other a few years after they hadreturned to America, the press of businesshad kept them apart, and they had not seeneach other for years. Captain Bill presentedthe boys.

“They’re going to bring new business foryou, Headlund,” said Bill. “Here are twoof America’s future flyers.”

The boys grinned.

Headlund, after wishing them success, turned again to Bill. “Do you see any ofthe old boys?” he asked.

“Pat McDermott’s my partner,” said Bill.“He’s flying the old boat in this afternoonsometime.”

“He is! That’s great! And quite a coincidence, too. Do you know who was here – left just before you came in?”

“Not Hank Brown!” shouted Bill. “Bygolly, I thought I recognized that face! OldHank! What was he doing here?”

“He’s got a ship down here in one of ourhangars. It’s a beauty – a four passengercabin plane, with the pilot’s seat up front – abeautiful job. Listen, Hank’s gone downto the hangar now to look it over. Maybeyou can catch him down there. It’s AvenueB, the last hangar in line.”

“Great. I’d like to see Hank. Last timeI saw him he was in an English hospital, eating porridge and not liking it at all. Whowould have thought that the old skinnymarink would have put on all that poundage?Old Hank fat! And flying in a cabinplane. Come on, fellows, we’ve got to godown there and see him.” He turned to Headlund.“I’m going to be in town all summer,Heady, and I guess you’ll be seeing plentyof me. What street did you say? AvenueB?”

Captain Bill and the boys hurried out, found the right road, and walked along ituntil they came to the last hangar. A beautifulplane, black and aluminum, stood outside.But as they approached, there was nobodyto be seen.

“Ahoy, there!” shouted Bill. “Anybodyhere know Hank Brown?”

Hank himself appeared from the other sideof the plane, where he had been conferringwith a mechanic. “I’m Henry Brown,” hesaid, peering from behind gold-rimmedglasses at Bill and the boys. His face registeredno sign of recognition at first. Thensuddenly it lighted up, he rushed forward, and gripped Captain Bill’s hand in his, slappinghim heartily on the back with the other.“Well, Bill! You old sock! Whereon earth did you come from? What are youdoing here? Where have you been?”

Bill, delighted to see his old buddy, laughedat him, and poked him in his now well-paddedribs. “One question at a time, Hank.What are you doing here? And how comeyou’ve got this grand ship?” asked Bill.