Graham M. Dean

“ After a little less than an hour of flying, he sighted the swirling, dirty-yellow current of the Cedar and swung down the valley to pick up the marooned village, a cluster of houses in the midst of a great expanse of angry flood waters.
The roar of the Lark’s motor attracted the attention of the villagers and they gathered in the town square to watch the circling plane. Tim swept low and pointed to the sacks on the side of his plane. The expressions on the upturned faces of the people indicated that they understood what he was going to attempt. ”

“ He touched the dangling wire, but it slipped through his hand. Then a movement of the plane placed it within his reach again and he gripped the wire between his finger-tips. He heard Ralph’s triumphant shout as he tightened his grasp on the wire and felt the plane nose downward, but the world was dancing before his eyes. The strain was intense as he hung on like grim death, his left hand holding and controlling the aileron wire, his other hand and foot anchored to the fuselage.
Down they circled, Tim mechanically manipulating the aileron. Truly he was “riding down” from the clouds. ”

“ While the others were laughing over the thrill of the trip, Tim held their lives in his hands. He was tired, dead tired. The good will trip had been fatiguing and the strain of his sensational landing earlier in the afternoon had taken more of his strength than he had realized. But it was too late now to turn the controls over to Bennett. They were at the edge of the field. Tim killed speed with every trick on the list. The roar of the crowd came to his ears as the tri-motor, with “Daredevil” Dugan’s plane resting on top, passed overhead. ”

“ CHAPTER ONE “Some of our biggest news stories will break above the clouds. The skyways are going to unfold great tales of romance, of daring, possibly of banditry, but whatever it may be, we must have the stories. Do you want the job of getting them?” George Carson, the sandy-haired managing editor of the Atkinson News, fired the question at the reporter standing at the other side of his desk.
“Do I want the job?” There was amazement in Tim Murphy’s voice. “Give me a plane and I’ll bring you some of the best yarns you ever printed.” ”

“ The morning for the start of the state’s first air tour was bright and clear, with a soft May wind out of the south; a veteran air man by the name of “Spin” Beeker, gave the pilots their final instructions and then waved them off the field at one minute intervals.
The air was alive with the throbbing of motors, now low, then rising to a crescendo as each pilot tested his plane, then gunned it hard for the takeoff. The Good News was No. 18 in the starting order and Tim sped down the field and into the air on the first lap of the five day tour. ”

“ Bang! Crash! Bump! And they were down. The shock of the rough landing threw Tim against the fuselage and he clung there like a plaster. Ralph managed to taxi the Good News across the field and brought it up in front of the announcer’s stand and they tumbled down. Above them the sky was alive with planes. They had turned the trick just in time.
Before the crowds surrounded them and swept them toward the announcer’s stand, Tim had a second to examine the aileron wire. The break was clean-cut; no frayed ends to indicate an accident due to normal wear and tear. ”

“ Sparks and Bronson roared away, flame shooting from the exhausts of their motors. Then Tim shoved his throttle ahead and sent the Lark skimming into the air. Behind him came White and Wilkins. Away into the west they sped, traveling on the wings of the dawn, intent on their quest for the missing Perkins.
Within the hour they had roared over Newton, nestled in the foothills of the Great Smokies, and had started clawing for altitude. The Lark handled beautifully in the cool air of the early September morning and answered to Tim’s every movement. ”

“ Tim hurried out of the office and handed his story to the waiting taxi driver. That done, he turned toward the line where five planes were being warmed up for the search.
The flying reporter walked over to the airmen who were grouped around the field manager. He greeted Sparks, Bronson, White and Wilkins, all mail and express pilots—fine fellows every one of them; lean bronzed and alive to the zest of flying. But now there were more serious lines to their faces and it was a determined group of young men who heard Hunter outline the plans for the search. ”

“ The flying reporter slid out of his plane and lounged against the fuselage, as he watched the approach of the rebel leader. So this pig-eye lump of a man was the leader of the revolution. Tim felt a surge of disappointment for Lopez was anything but what he had pictured him. Tim had visualized a tall, clean cut man with a forceful personality and he felt cheated at what he saw. ”

“ It was just a heap of tangled wires and struts, scraps of canvas and twisted rods. It looked like a crackup, with the mail looted after the smash, but to Tim’s carefully trained news sense there was something more. He couldn’t have defined his feelings in so many words but he played his hunch and examined the remains of the big plane. He had almost completed his examination when something on the motor caught his attention. ”

“ Hunter, worried and anxious, was on hand. Every plane which the Sky Hawk destroyed meant a loss of $25,000 and he could see a year’s profits gone in a week unless someone solved the secret of the Sky Hawk’s power.
Tim was warming up the Good News but turned for a final word from Ralph.
“Fly high and keep well behind us,” instructed his chum. “If anything goes wrong with our ship, cut your motor, listen for the hum of another plane, but don’t try to follow it. Beat it for the ground and pull what’s left of us clear of the machine.” ”

“ Ralph and Tim acknowledged the introduction but Tim felt an instant wave of dislike for Dugan. The air circus flyer who was going on the tour was short of stature, with a peaked face and eyes that shifted constantly. There was no question about Dugan’s ability as a flyer for he had a reputation as a daredevil, but there might easily be some question about his ethics.
“I’d like to make the trip,” said Blandin, “but I have to ride herd on the bunch of flying lunatics I’ve got over at my own field. Let them alone and they might decide to make a raid on the treasury.” ”

“ Tim was glad that Perkins was slight in stature. With a heavier man his plan would have failed. Somehow he managed to work himself up on the edge of the cockpit with Perkins held to him by the safety belt.
Tim looked back at Ralph and waved his hand reassuringly. Then, aided by a mighty shove by his feet, he hurled himself into the fog, pulling Perkins with him. As he fell, Tim thought he heard a shout from Ralph. ”

“ Tim started to reply but Dan waved his words aside.
“You have the opportunity of a lifetime,” he continued. “Here you are—young, capable, and with aviation in its swaddling clothes. Within ten years it will be a giant among giants and the newspaper man who knows aviation from the ground up will be in an enviable position—a position to command real power and respect.” ”

“ You’ll have to hit the line hard, Tim, but you’ve got the stuff to do it. And besides, Carson likes you and when he knows you are trying to better yourself it will make a big difference with him.”
Tim’s face was aglow with new hope and courage. “I’ll work hard,” he promised. “I love the flying game; it’s becoming life itself to me and I want to keep on but I won’t be satisfied unless I’m something more than a flying reporter.” ”

“ The wind and snow raged for three days, and during that time Tim and Ralph spent their hours in sleep and stowing away plenty of good food, for the experience in the storm had warned them that they must have their bodies as well as their minds on edge if they hoped to succeed on their flight over the top of the world. ”

“ The Lark was ready for the test and the chances were that it would come that night. The two previous nights had been clear as crystal with a full moon riding the sky. The pilots of the mysterious vulture of the air would not be abroad on such nights for the risk of detection would be too great. Now, however, a thin cloud film at high altitude had spread over the heavens, making an ideal night for another raid on the air mail. And there was no doubt in Tim’s mind but that they would raid again. ”

“ Carson,” said Tim enthusiastically. “Does this mean you want me to take three or four weeks and give all my time to teaching someone on the staff to fly?”
“Right, Tim,” said the managing editor. “Have you any suggestions? Pick your man carefully,” he added, “for we have a heavy investment in that plane.”
“I believe Ralph Parsons could be trained to fly,” suggested Tim.
“But isn’t Ralph a little too slow for this game in the air?”
“Ralph may be a little slow in learning,” admitted Tim, “but he’s steady and that counts a lot in flying. On top of that, Ralph is a brilliant and clever writer. ”

“ There was new interest in Tim’s eyes and he drank in Dan Watkins’ words.
“You’re luckier than you know,” added the head copy reader, “for you have behind you a great newspaper organization. Someday, and someday soon, the News will need an aviation editor. Someone who knows the air from A to Z, someone with nerves and brains and foresight, and there isn’t a reason in the world why you shouldn’t fill that editorial chair when the time comes. ”

“ There’s just one thing, though, Tim. Sometime you may not be able to take the controls and then we’ll be up against it.”
“But you could get any one of half a dozen reliable pilots at the municipal field to fly for you in an emergency,” suggested Tim.
“I know it,” replied Carson, “but I want more than pilots. I want flying reporters. When I first gave you the assignment of handling our new plane, I felt sure that many of the big stories of the future will be in the air. Now I’m more convinced than ever. What I want is another flying reporter; someone that can take your place if need be. ”

“ With his regular work and his studies, Tim found the task of gathering and writing the material for the column a real drain on his physical energies.
“Better take things a little easier,” cautioned Dan, but Tim was too much interested in his work and studies to give up anything and he was too conscientious to slight either.
When Tim’s health started to suffer under the burden, Dan took the matter in his own hands and went to the managing editor.
“Tim’s working too hard,” he told Carson. “The boy is too ambitious for his own good and unless you do something he’ll work himself to death. ”

“ Tim and Ralph waved at the manager of the field, Tim gave the Lark full throttle, and they sloshed over the field and got away to a sluggish takeoff. The muck and water sucked at the Lark’s wheels and it was with an effort that Tim got his craft into the air.
Once clear of the field, he headed into the east. The ceiling was low that morning; not over 500 feet, and the Lark thundered over farms and small towns at better than 100 miles an hour. Tim piloted wholly by compass but after forty-five minutes of flying they ran out of the rain and the sky began to clear. ”

“ Slowly the tri-motor drifted earthward. Perhaps Tim was the only one of the four who fully realized their new danger and he kept his own counsel and nerved himself for the task ahead. But he couldn’t help wondering whether the damaged plane was lashed securely. If there was very much slack in the ropes the ship above would bounce when they landed, smash through the great wing and crush them in a trap that would carry them to their deaths at sixty miles an hour, their landing speed. ”

“ When they neared the Rock River country Ralph nudged his companion.
“Better put on the gas masks,” he warned. “The clouds are heavy ahead of us; just the place for the Sky Hawk.”
They donned the gas protectors, ready for the Sky Hawk to strike. Ahead of them loomed a cloud, grayish-green in color.
Ralph signed for Tim to cut the motor. They soared silently. To their right and ahead of them they could hear the sound of another plane. Tim turned on his motor and ruddered hard to the right. All around them were the grayish-green clouds of gas. ”

“ Tim debated only a moment before he turned to his pilot.
“It’s up to you, Ralph,” he yelled in his companion’s ear. “We can buck the storm or turn back and land at Grant land. Plenty of game there to keep us alive and if we can’t get the plane off the ice again, we can walk to the station of the Northwest Mounted Police at Bache peninsula.”
“I’m not going to do any walking in this temperature,” shouted Ralph. “It’s Spitzbergen or curtains for me,” and he turned back to his controls. ”

“ He glanced toward the plane Blandin was entering in the air tour and saw the head of the flying circus talking with Dugan. “One thing, though,” he added, “I’m going to keep my eyes on Dugan.”
When Tim and Ralph landed the Good News at Prairie City, they found thirty-one other flyers and planes registered for the tour. One side of the big field was lined with the heavier-than-air craft. At one end a sport monoplane was almost lost under the wings of a giant tri-motor and there were cabin planes of almost every type represented. ”

“ Tim put the Lark into a steep climb and soon reached the 3,000 foot level, plenty high enough for his purpose. Then he signalled for Ralph to crawl back into his cockpit.
Ralph scrambled back over the fuselage and his face, illuminated by the light on the instrument board, showed his amazement at the plan Tim unfolded.
“You can’t do that, Tim,” he protested. “It’s too risky. I won’t stand for it. We’ll stick by the ship and take our chances.”
“Not on your life,” replied Tim. “We can’t risk Perk’s life in a crackup and my plan is the only way out. You take the stick and tend to business. ”

“ Don’t get moody, don’t get discouraged. I know the weather gets a fellow’s nerves once in a while but you must learn to pull yourself over those rough spots.”
“I think you’re right about the future for an aviation editor,” agreed Tim, “and that’s one of the things that has put me in the dumps lately. The field is so big and I know so little about it. When the time comes to select an editor I’m afraid Carson will pass me by and pick a man with more education.”
“You can remedy that, Tim,” said Dan. “You can take work at night school and I have a fine library at my room. ”