Bess Moyer

“ A paper had been shoved under the crack of the door and Terry snatched it up and read the message in a childish handwriting:
“Bud came back with another man in another plane. Don’t worry. When Jim is asleep tonight, I’ll try to get you out. Burn this letter. Sally.”
Terry sniffed disdainfully. “Nothing doing, you little cheat! We heard you talking to Jim Heron, and we know you’re a traitor.”
But Prim asked anxiously, “Who could that other man be? He came in a plane. Could it be Allan or Syd?”
“No such luck! It’s another enemy. The mystery grows every minute, but we’re going to win. ”

“ Just watch my speed,” returned Terry, buttering a slice of bread. “That’s one nice thing about aviators, they never pick over their food. They’re always hungry!”
At that moment the crackling of brush was heard below the cliff. Prim grabbed Terry’s arm.
“Oh what is it, Terry? I’m frightened. Maybe it’s a wild animal!”
“Hush, Prim. Keep still. It’s a man.”
“Then hide and he won’t see us,” whispered Prim.
“We can’t hide Skybird. I’m not afraid,” replied Terry as she rose to her feet just as the dim figure of a man came up the trail to the summit. The girl took a few steps toward the intruder. ”

“ The girl started violently then gave a cry of joy.
“Why Dan Brent, where did you come from?”
“Come here, Sally. I want to show you something!” said Dan as he led the girl along the trail to the clearing. At one side of this space grew trees with overhanging branches and under them stood an airplane. It was placed so that it could not be seen by an aviator flying overhead.
Sally let out a little cry of surprise. “Why Dan Brent, where did you get that airplane?”
“I’m being paid to guard it,” answered Dan. “Gee, isn’t it a beauty? It’s called The Comet, and I bet it goes as fast as a comet. ”

“ For out of the fog bank that hung over the sea, Joe Arnold’s plane had suddenly appeared. It swooped upon them without warning, driving so close that Terry was thoroughly frightened. Two men were in the plane that was bearing down upon her, and desperately she put Skybird into a swift sideslip to avoid a collision.
Joe Arnold was there to fight! And the fight had started!
“Watch out, Terry,” called Allan through the ear phones. “Be careful. Bud Hyslop is at the controls and Joe is in the rear cockpit. He’s got a sub-machine gun. We’re up against the real thing!” ”

“ Terry had left the details of supplies to Prim, knowing that her sister’s part would be done well. She hurriedly examined her plane, looked over the instrument board to see that everything was in order, tested the engine, took on a supply of gas and oil and in less than an hour was all set and ready to go.
Alice Mapes could never see her two daughters take-off without a feeling of dread. She had none of the confidence of the flyer. Although she had flown with her husband ever since her marriage she could never be persuaded to take the controls herself and learn to fly. ”

“ The girls stood with their arms around each other as they watched Jim Heron whose broad grin displayed his brown snaggle teeth.
“I wish he’d scowl,” said Prim. “He doesn’t look half as mean and sly as when he laughs. I wonder what he’s thinking about?”
“I can tell you that!” exploded Terry. “He’s thinking that we’re just a couple of dumb-bells, walking right into the trap that he and Bud Hyslop set for us. There is only one thing to do, Prim. We must get out of here!”
“But how, Terry?” asked her sister anxiously. “Don’t take chances. You know Dad wouldn’t like that.” ”

“ Terry and Prim had liked The Crate. It was an old friend. But they were the proudest girls in Elmwood when their father presented them with Skybird, the little blue-and-gold monoplane, a tiny amphibian. This gift was a reward of merit. Dick had been criticized for allowing his daughters to spend so much time on learning to fly, so he had talked it over with the girls and promised them that if they led their class in at least two subjects and graduated with honors they were to have a plane of their own, and would be allowed to take out their pilot licenses. ”

“ Dick had gone over his plane thoroughly before starting out on an important trip. The plane was in order, the engine running true. Then half an hour later Dick had crashed.
At the hospital his wife and daughters looked on his still form and were given no hope of his recovery. “And if he lives, he’ll be a cripple for the rest of his life,” the doctors had predicted. “A wheel chair is all he can hope for.”
“Pray, Allan, pray that Dad will die,” Terry whispered with a sob as Allan put his arm tenderly about her. “Death would be better, far better, than a broken body. He mustn’t live! ”

“ Prim clutched her sister’s sleeve.
“Don’t hold me back, Prim. I’ve got to go! It’s the only way out. Now that the fog has lifted, everything is in our favor. It’s now or never.”
As Terry slipped quietly down the hill, Sally and Prim returned cautiously to the crest where they could see what was going on. Terry was gliding about among the planes, keeping herself hidden from the man, who was sitting with his back toward her. Terry reached The Comet unobserved. It stood to reason, she thought, that Bud Hyslop would have the planes ready for a quick take-off at any moment. ”

“ But Terry interrupted. “No, let’s stick it out as long as we can by ourselves. I don’t like to mix with people.”
“You’d better get over that idea, Terry Mapes. What’s the matter with you anyway, why don’t you like everybody the way I do? And let me tell you one thing right now. We may have to go down there to find out about Allan and Syd—or we may find Bud Hyslop there. There’s no telling. So don’t you put on that superior air.”
“I won’t Prim, truly, I won’t. I guess it’s more bashfulness than anything else. I really like people but I never know what to say to them,” responded Terry. ”

“ As she pulled back the stick to send the plane upward, the engine sputtered and for an anxious second the girl felt that all was over. Then The Comet took the air and followed the Skybird.
As Joe Arnold saw them climbing into the sky, he sprang to his own plane and worked the controls. Something was wrong. The ignition had been tampered with.
“It’s Terry Mapes’ work! I know her,” cried Bud Hyslop. “She’s too smart for us, Joe Arnold.”
“Keep quiet. Who’s asking your opinion?” With an oath he turned to Jim Heron and cried, “Why didn’t you guard those girls? You were paid to watch them! ”

“ I want to make the field a success. I’m his partner.”
“If you want a partnership, why not go in with a promising young business man like Joe Arnold whose field is next to Dick’s?” suggested Bennett Graham. “Arnold’s a good flyer and all he needs is more room out there.”
Allan snorted in disgust. “Joe Arnold! I hate that fellow! He’s not a square-shooter. No one on our field has any respect for him.”
“That’s jealousy. It’s well known that Joe Arnold is making a lot of money and will be a big man in the aviation field some day. ”

“ It was scarcely dawn when Terry and Prim took off from the airport and headed toward the big rock from which point they could see The Crate. They had no doubt in their minds that Bud Hyslop was responsible for the disappearance of Allan and Syd. They must find Bud and make him talk.
No one had seen or heard of him at Harbor Grace. Where was he hiding? The girls decided to keep watch.
“He’s apt to come back to The Crate,” said Prim.
“I’m not so sure of that,” answered Terry. “If he has The Comet, he’s not particular what happens to the old plane. ”

“ Syd’s brown eyes were full of fun once more as he gave a mock salute.
“And Syd, make a bee line for home. The plane is all set, gas and oil and everything. Our next stop is The Dick Mapes Flying Field!”
“That’s the best trade I ever made,” said Mackey Jones, as he pocketed the money.
The boys laughed heartily. “That’s what he thinks of us,” said Allan as he settled in the seat.
With a wave of her hand to the fishermen, Terry started her engine, throwing up a shower of water in front of the plane as she gained speed for the rise. ”

“ I’ve found The Comet!”
“Sally!” Terry’s voice rose in excitement but Prim laid a hand on her arm.
“Hush, Terry! Everything depends on keeping quiet.” She turned to Sally. “Where is the plane?”
“Over the hill a little ways. It isn’t far. It’s being guarded by Dan Brent, that boy I was telling you about,” whispered Sally, trembling with excitement.
“But where are Allan and Syd? Did you see them?” demanded Prim anxiously.
“They’re not there. Bud Hyslop has them hidden away somewhere.”
“Did you tell Dan that Bud is a crook? That he is keeping the boys hidden, hoping to get a reward?” asked Prim. ”

“ A great cliff rose like a castle. Stretching out from the summit was a broad plateau. At its base was a collection of fishermen’s huts. Consulting her map, Terry decided that Harbor Grace was twenty miles away. She took a straight course and half an hour later put her plane down on the field in a perfect three-point landing.
Before the girl could step from the cockpit a mechanic came toward her.
“Are you Terry Mapes?” he asked. “There’s a telegram here for you. Please call at the office!”
Terry and Prim ran toward the office of the airport. “They’re safe! I’m sure of it! ”

“ Dick put her into his big plane and placed her tiny hands on the controls. Although the motor was still, the child screamed with delight and pulling back on the stick cried, “Up, up!”
Dick hugged her to him. “You’ve got a great life ahead of you, little daughter,” he said. “That’s right, you are a chip off the old block. You’re like your Dad, you’re a born flyer.” And from that time on, Terry played in Dick’s big airplane whenever her father could spare the time necessary to watch her play.
Prim was her mother’s girl, more home-loving, and not nearly so full of spirit. ”

“ At sixteen Terry not only was an expert flyer but was a good mechanic as well. And in the venture of the flying field, Dick called her his “right hand man” and declared that she could do more work and understood more about planes than Bud Hyslop, his helper.
Allan Graham and Syd Ames had been Dick’s first student flyers. And for that reason he felt as if they belonged to him. Syd was an orphan, the son of a flying buddy of Dick’s, and the boy spent most of his time in the Mapes household. ”

“ They understood each other.
“I wish to goodness Bud Hyslop hadn’t chosen this time to go off on a vacation,” exploded Terry, her big brown eyes snapping. “When we want that fellow around, he’s never here, and when we don’t want him he sticks like a burr. He isn’t much good at any time but now he could take care of the field while I’m away. I hate to leave you alone, Dad.”
“Don’t worry about me, Terry.” Dick put out his hand and let it rest for a moment on his daughter’s curly brown locks. “The boys’ safety is more important than business. If they are in trouble, they’ll need us. ”

“ In a plane I feel safe. I guess it’s because I’m a born flyer. Come on, Prim, let’s go!”
“Wait, Terry. We must go down hand over hand. Let’s tie knots in the rope for a hand hold.”
“Of course. Wasn’t I stupid to forget that!” Hastily the girls tied big knots at intervals, then let the rope down at the rear of the house. It seemed like a terrible distance to the ledge, and the ravine below it was dark and terrifying. Prim gasped:
“Oh, Terry. Let’s turn back. If you lose your grip, you’ll be killed.”
But for answer Terry swung off, over the eaves and began letting herself down, hand over hand. ”