Edith Lavell

“ But it was difficult with a motor-boat, and all three of the men were unfamiliar with the swamp and its little streams. No one knew where to turn off, as Jackson and Hal had learned from many vacations, and after pushing ahead for two or three hours, they found themselves off their course—grounded.
"It's no use," muttered Worth. "We can't make it in a motor-boat. Magee's never been in the swamp, or he would have known. We'll have to turn back and get a canoe!"
"A whole day wasted!" growled Ralph angrily, as if it were the sergeants fault. "A day! When every minute is precious!" ”

“ Linda Carlton and Dorothy Crowley had been recognized!
A crowd collected immediately, a crowd that had been prepared by Ted's radio message that afternoon, to welcome the two popular girls back to civilization. It was all that Linda and Dot could do to wave and shout greetings in return.
"I just want one look at my Ladybug," said Linda. "If you good people will let me get through——"
At this request, an accommodating official picked her right up on his shoulder, and carried her, amid the laughter of the crowd, triumphantly to the hangar where the autogiro was housed. ”

“ For a moment she sat beside the telephone, waiting to get control of herself, when she suddenly heard a beloved voice behind her. Two voices—three voices—then two pairs of arms around her neck! Dot Crowley's and Louise Mackay's—and Ted was standing behind them!
"Oh!" she gasped, squeezing both girls at once. "Am I dreaming? It's too good to be true!"
"Are you O.K., darling?" demanded Louise, kissing her chum again and again. "When we read about your long flight south, and then heard nothing of you for three days, we got worried. So we managed to hop off."
"You angels!" cried Linda. ”

“ As the plane flew over the desolate expanse, Linda smiled to herself at the familiarity of the landscape. She was getting to be an authority on the Okefenokee Swamp; she never need fear again being lost in its southern part, at least. Although the pilot had a reliable map, he found Linda's directions helpful, and before noon they came down on Soldiers' Camp Island.
The first thing that struck their notice was the autogiro, still leaning over on its side, looking pathetically helpless in its plight. But Susie was not in sight. ”

“ Defeated, miserable, hopeless, Linda sank to the ground and buried her face in her hands, waiting for the dreaded approach of her enemies. Oh, the cruelty of fate, to deliver her to them again, after her superhuman effort to escape! Bitter tears rushed to her eyes, scalding her face, and she sat as one expecting death, listening to the rhythmic dip of the paddles, as the canoe came closer and closer.
She kept her face hidden until the sound ceased, informing her thereby that the craft had stopped at her side. Tensely she waited for the harsh snarl of her captor's voice. ”

“ As it was, they were too worried to think of anything but Linda and Dot.
"What a marvelous time we could be having if the girls were aboard!" lamented Ralph. "Dance and play bridge all day, every day, with no other fellows to cut in on us, and take them away! I say, Jim, we might even come back engaged if we had a chance like that!"
"Much more likely they'd be so sick of us they'd never want to see us again!" returned the other, shrewdly. "No—cruising's all right. But I'd rather be in Green Falls if Linda and Dot were with us." ”

“ When she set out on those wild adventures with me, her parents knew what to expect."
"Cheer up, we're not dead yet," was the reassuring reply. "Things aren't so black. Our enemy is safely out of the country, I take it, and Captain Magee is sure to look us up soon, when he doesn't hear from us. Besides, a friendly boat may come along at any minute."
"Dot, you're one girl in a thousand!" cried Linda, giving her chum a hug. "You're just an old peach, not to be complaining. ”

“ Ted went along with Louise, and entered into all the sports, just as if he had been born and brought up with the crowd in Spring City. Moreover, he was delighted at the prospect of having the two girls go with him the next day, and appeared almost as enthusiastic about the autogiro as Linda herself.
The weather continued perfect, and the three happy young people took off from Spring City the following morning. An excellent mechanic himself, Ted always kept his plane in tip-top condition, and it was a rare thing indeed for him even to encounter a minor accident. This flight proved no exception ”

“ Miss Carlton had agreed. "Though of course she'll always be a little girl to me."
The day after the wedding was warm and the skies were clear; the Ladybug was in perfect condition, and her forty gallon tank was filled with gasoline, so Linda decided to carry out her plan. While her Aunt Emily packed her lunch basket and a box with an emergency supply of food, the girl called Miss Hawkins on the telephone as she had promised.
"But don't put it into the paper until after I start," begged Linda. "I always like to slip off quietly, without any fuss." ”

“ Then he dashed back to the shore, circled the island on the harder sand, and reached the opposite shore, where the autogiro was standing.
"Why doesn't he come after us?" whispered Linda, in amazement.
"He will soon, I'm afraid," replied Dot hoarsely, clutching her revolver tightly. "But I'm going to shoot if he does!"
"So am I," answered Linda, calmly. "We've got the advantage—we're hidden."
Tensely they waited for five minutes—possibly ten; then something they had not thought of happened. The engine of the autogiro began to roar!
"They're stealing the Ladybug!" ”

“ And a bracelet of priceless emeralds!
"Whew!" exclaimed Sergeant Worth, the perspiration running down his face.
"The Van Tyn diamonds!" declared one of the detectives. "And these pearls solve the mystery of that robbery at the Kenworthy estate!"
"Yeah. And that big jewelry store in Atlanta!" added another, breathlessly. "Say, does this uncover a lot of money? I'll tell the world!"
"It'll mean a nice little reward for Miss Carlton," remarked Sergeant Worth, with a smile.
Linda shook her head.
"No, I don't want it," she said. "If there is any reward, it can be divided among you men. ”

“ Then, all of a sudden, the stick sunk so deeply into the muck that she knew she would have to swim, and she hastily ate the chocolate which was to be her evening meal, and plunged forward to swim.
As the time slowly passed, she watched Black Jack Island fading in the distance, and hope [Pg 78] swelled in her heart. She was nearing land at last—perhaps only an island—but even if she were not out of the swamp, at least she would be away from her enemies. She smiled when she pictured the consternation and anger of the men at finding her gone. ”

“ Linda's theories regarding the fourth member of the gang of thieves had been only partially correct. As she had surmised, the "Doc" slipped off in the canoe from Black Jack Island while his companions slept, and he did stop at Soldiers' Camp. But it was not he who compelled Susie to go with him, but the girl herself who insisted upon accompanying him.
Susie's desire to reform had been sincere while Linda was with her. She had actually meant to cut free from the gang and go back to a normal mode of life—earning her living as she had done when she met her husband. ”

“ They picked up their possessions, Linda taking the tool-box, and Dot the bag and basket of food, and hunted the shadiest spot they could find for their camp. Then they set about diligently unloading the money, and stuffing it into the over-night bag, which they first emptied of its contents.
"Let's see what we have to keep us alive," suggested Dot, peering into the basket. "Three quarters of a chicken, ten oranges, almost a whole cake, four bananas, and eight rolls, besides that stuff you found. And one thermos bottle full of water—and another half full." ”

“ The airplane from the police department was the first of these groups to get into action, the first to enter the swamp. Yet it did not actually enter it, but merely flew above it, for the pilot, less experienced than Linda herself, did not believe it possible to come down on one of those islands. For hours, however, he circled about, over the bog, and the cypress-trees, while Sergeant Worth in the rear cock-pit scanned the landscape with his spyglasses. But neither man saw any trace of the autogiro or the girls, and late that afternoon they had to return in discouragement to Captain Magee. ”

“ The Aviation Job
"It's marvelous!" exclaimed Linda, as the salesman came to meet her after her test-flight in the autogiro. "Will you have her filled with gas and oil, while I sign the contract? I'll take her with me."
The salesman smiled at Ted Mackay.
"In the same way any other woman would buy a hat," he remarked, to Louise's amusement.
"You found it easy to fly, Miss Carlton?" he inquired.
"Wonderful!" she replied. "So simple that a child could almost do it! It certainly is the plane of the future, or of the present, I should say." ”

“ All that afternoon they spent in retracing the progress they had made, and returned to the Captain's office just before supper.
"You want to try it again in canoes?" asked Captain Magee.
"Yes," replied Ralph. "Without any of your police this time. No use taking an extra man—it only means more provisions to carry."
"True. But you must be careful of snakes and alligators."
The boys looked none too pleased at the idea, but when they remembered that Linda and Dot, if still alive, would be subjected to the same perils, they were all the more eager to go. ”

“ Miss Carlton looked doubtful.
"No airplane is safe," she remarked.
"This isn't an airplane. It's an autogiro."
"But it flies?"
"Of course."
Linda showed her the picture. It was indeed a queer looking object, with its wind-mill-like arrangement on top, and its absence of big wings. As the reporter had observed, its appearance was very like a huge bug.
"They do say it's unusually safe," corroborated the latter. "You'll have to take a ride in it, Miss Carlton."
"Not I!" protested the older woman. "Firm earth is good enough for me.... No, it looks dangerous enough to me." ”

“ Wasn't your story in all the newspapers, tellin' all about this trip of your'n? And ain't your Bug the easiest thing to spot in the air?"
"Out to get me!" repeated Linda. "Do you mean that you wanted to kill me?"
"No, lady. You're more use to us alive than dead—for a while, anyway. No. Our gang decided we could pick up a hundred grand easier by kidnapping you than by swiping jewelry. It was my idea!" He swelled with pride, believing himself exceedingly clever. "And that's what you get for wanting to have your picture and glories in the papers all the time!" ”

“ Should they have anything to report, Ted announced that he would put his plane through a series of stunts, and, in the case of the yacht's making a discovery, Jim Valier promised to climb up on the rail.
But the airplane and the yacht passed each other with only a dismal fluttering of handkerchiefs.
"Something's bound to happen tomorrow," said Jim, as he crawled into his bunk that night. "It'll be the fourth of July!"
"By Jove! It will!" exclaimed Ralph. "We ought to get some bang-up excitement!" ”

“ There isn't any flying job in Spring City."
Miss Carlton was silent; there was no use in going over the old argument. Instead, she asked:
"How soon do you go, Linda?"
"Tomorrow—if the weather is good. I received my map and my instructions several days ago. I'm all ready. The Ladybug's in perfect shape."
"If you only didn't have to go alone!" sighed the older woman.
"Yes. If I only had Lou!"
"Couldn't you take some other girl?"
"As a matter of fact, I did suggest such a thing to Dot Crowley. She's competent, you know—has her pilot's license—and she's such a peach of a girl. ”

“ Louise informed her. "But," she continued as they walked around the autogiro, "isn't there really any danger of crashing?"
"You can crash, of course," laughed Linda. "If you steer straight for another plane, or a tree. But tail-spins are practically impossible; they say no matter what happens the autogiro settles to the ground like a tired hen. It's the principle of centrifugal force—it can't fail."
"Oh, yeah?" remarked Louise, hiding a yawn.
[Pg 21]
"What I want your opinion on, Ted," added Linda, turning to the young man, "is the engine. You know more about engines than I do." ”