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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f50eac6 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #53337 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53337) diff --git a/old/53337-0.txt b/old/53337-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c7d3b62..0000000 --- a/old/53337-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6451 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Linda Carlton's Hollywood Flight, by Edith Lavell - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Linda Carlton's Hollywood Flight - -Author: Edith Lavell - -Release Date: December 21, 2016 [EBook #53337] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LINDA CARLTON'S HOLLYWOOD FLIGHT *** - - - - -Produced by Rick Morris, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -[Illustration: The two girls waited in breathless suspense. (_Page -113_)] - - - - - LINDA CARLTON’S - HOLLYWOOD FLIGHT - - - By EDITH LAVELL - - -Author _of_ “The Girl Scout Series,” “Linda Carlton’s Ocean Flight,” -“Linda Carlton, Air Pilot,” “Linda Carlton’s Island Adventure,” Etc. - - [Illustration: Series Logo] - - - A. L. BURT COMPANY - _PUBLISHERS_ - New York Chicago - - - - - Linda Carlton Series - - - Thrilling Adventure Stories of a Group of Girl Aviation Enthusiasts - By EDITH LAVELL - - LINDA CARLTON, AIR PILOT - LINDA CARLTON’S OCEAN FLIGHT - LINDA CARLTON’S ISLAND ADVENTURE - LINDA CARLTON’S HOLLYWOOD FLIGHT - - - Copyright, 1933 - By A. L. BURT COMPANY - - - _To - My Husband, - Victor Lamasure Lavell._ - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. A Flash On the Screen 7 - II. A Dangerous Landing 21 - III. The Cross-Country Flight 36 - IV. Hollywood 47 - V. The Vanishing “Double” 63 - VI. The Forged Signature 76 - VII. Stolen! 87 - VIII. In Hot Pursuit 102 - IX. The Ladybug! 117 - X. A Close Call 129 - XI. Flirting With Death 142 - XII. The Enemy Plane 155 - XIII. Hot On the Trail 168 - XIV. Over the Pacific 185 - XV. The Island of Oahu 200 - XVI. Missing! 214 - XVII. Capture 226 - XVIII. Fanny’s Story 237 - XIX. Conclusion 250 - - - - - LINDA CARLTON’S - HOLLYWOOD FLIGHT - - - - - CHAPTER I - A FLASH ON THE SCREEN - - -A bright red sports-roadster, loaded to overflowing with young people of -both sexes, turned in at the gate of the Carltons’ home in Spring City -and whizzed up the driveway to the porch steps. As it stopped at the -entrance, Dorothy Crowley, who was Linda Carlton’s best friend, -disentangled herself from the group and jumped out. - -“Hello, Miss Carlton!” she called to the middle-aged woman sitting on -the porch. “Any news of the world’s most famous aviatrix?” - -“You mean Linda?” returned Miss Carlton, smiling. - -Dot nodded. - -“Of course. Have you heard from her?” - -“No, I haven’t, Dorothy. But then, I didn’t expect to. You know, of -course, that Linda has set her heart on taking some sort of flying -position, and she had several prospects to interview.” - -“But she’s been gone a week!” protested Dot. “This is the twenty-second -of September.” - -“I know, but she expected to be gone a week. She ought to be home some -time today. If she doesn’t come, I think she will let me know.” - -“Well, we miss her just fearfully,” concluded Dot. “And we want to hear -the very minute she gets back. You know Ralph leaves for college -tomorrow, and he’s all hot and bothered about going off without even a -good-bye from Linda.” - -Miss Carlton smiled at the mention of Ralph Clavering’s devotion to her -niece. The young man, whose father happened to be the wealthiest citizen -of Spring City, made no attempt to keep his admiration for Linda a -secret. - -“I’ll have her call you the minute she arrives. At least—if she doesn’t -come home in an ambulance.” - -Dot laughed at the absurdity of such a suggestion and turned to go. In -her haste she almost bumped into a messenger-boy, who at that very -moment was coming up the porch steps with a telegram. - -Miss Carlton rose from her seat and stepped forward excitedly. - -“Oh, I’m afraid something dreadful has happened!” she exclaimed, -ominously. - -Dot remained motionless, and even the young people in the car grew -silent. An awful tenseness seemed to hang over the peaceful September -day, as Miss Carlton received the message into her trembling hands. - -“Why, it’s _for_ Linda—not _from_ her!” she cried in sudden relief. “So -she must be all right.” - -Scarcely were the words out of her mouth when the drone of a motor -attracted everybody’s attention to the skies. A plane—yes, with the -rotors that proclaimed it an autogiro—was approaching from the west, -until it seemed to hover over the very house itself. - -“There she is!” screamed Dot, joyously, and in another moment the six -young people in the roadster had all jumped out and were racing towards -the field beyond the house, where Linda always landed her plane. - -“Thank goodness!” exclaimed Miss Carlton, grateful that once again the -girl who had been through so many catastrophes in her zeal for flying -would be safe on the ground. - -Linking her arm with Dot’s, she accompanied the young people to the -field beyond the house. - -With the ease of a cat settling down to take her nap, the Ladybug, -Linda’s famous autogiro, descended to the earth, and the slender, pretty -girl in a flier’s suit and helmet, climbed out of the cockpit. - -“Darling!” cried Dot, dashing forward for the first embrace. - -Linda tried to hug everybody at once, with an especially tender caress -for her Aunt Emily, who had mothered her ever since she was a baby. - -“Were you kidnapped?” inquired Ralph Clavering, the tall, good-looking -young man who considered Linda his special property. - -“Or in a burning house?” suggested Kit Hulbert, Ralph’s married sister. - -Linda shook her head laughingly. - -“Just taking a good week’s rest, I’ll bet!” surmised long-legged Jim -Valier, whose idea of bliss was to sleep. “Don’t blame you a bit, Linda. -A fellow can’t get a decent nap with this snappy bunch around, let alone -a full night’s rest!” - -“You’re surely all right, dear?” inquired Miss Emily Carlton, anxiously. -“No bones broken?” - -Again Linda smiled. - -“I’m fine, and I had a most successful trip. I’ll tell you all about it -later—if anything materializes,” she added, mysteriously. - -“We want to go to the movies,” explained Kit, as they all turned back -towards the house. “Can you make it, Linda?” - -“Yes, if you will give me fifteen minutes for a shower, and five for a -bite to eat,” she replied. “And if Aunt Emily will come along too,” she -added affectionately. - -She made even better time than she had promised, and inside of a quarter -of an hour, a different Linda Carlton came down the stairs. Clad in a -blue silk suit the color of her eyes, her beautiful blond hair showing -under her turban, she looked more like a society girl than the world’s -most famous aviatrix. - -In the meanwhile, Dot had gone into the garage and brought out Linda’s -roadster, for Ralph Clavering’s car, elastic as it seemed to be, could -not be stretched to accommodate two extra passengers. Since Miss Carlton -had graciously accepted their invitation, they wanted her to be -comfortable. - -“So you won’t ride with me!” complained Ralph, as he watched Linda take -her place at the wheel of her own car. - -“I’ll sit beside you in the movies,” she promised, - -“And you even take Dot away from us!” protested Jim Valier, pretending -to be angry. - -“You’ll be glad of my space!” returned Dot, as she squeezed into Linda’s -car, between her chum and Miss Carlton. - -“We’ll miss the wise-cracks,” remarked Ralph. “But I can’t say that you -occupy much room, Dot.” He started his engine. “Hurry up, now, or we’ll -miss the news reel, and think how ignorant we’ll be!” - -The theatre was already darkened when the group entered ten minutes -later, so they all walked quietly, in order to make as little -disturbance as possible. Even Sara Wheeler, who giggled on every -occasion, managed to suppress any outburst with her handkerchief. - -But their good behavior lasted only a moment. No sooner were they -comfortably seated than the most extraordinary piece of news was flashed -on the screen. As if the manager had been waiting for the dramatic -moment to make his announcement. - -“WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS AVIATRIX SIGNS CONTRACT WITH THE APEX FILM -CORPORATION!” thundered the voice of the announcer. - -“As if any other girl could be as famous as you, Linda!” whispered Dot -resentfully. “I’d like to know who—” - -The words died on her lips as the actual picture of the famous aviatrix -was shown. Why—it looked like—it must be—Linda herself! - -The girl, in a flier’s costume, smiled and turned aside to sign a -contract. - -“MISS LINDA CARLTON, THE FIRST GIRL TO FLY FROM NEW YORK TO PARIS ALONE, -ACCEPTS PART IN ‘BRIDE OF THE AIR,’ A PICTURE NOW BEING FILMED IN -HOLLYWOOD,” continued the calm voice of the announcer. - -“So that’s where you’ve been!” exclaimed Dot, just a little bit hurt -that Linda had kept this a secret from her. They had shared all their -joys and secrets ever since their experiences in the Okefenokee Swamp -together, and it did not seem possible that Linda would deliberately -shut her out of such an important event. Besides, Linda had always -refused to go into the movies. Why the sudden change? - -“You cagey thing!” muttered Ralph, as amazed at the revelation as Dot, -and even more hurt than the latter that he had been excluded from her -confidence. - -Linda made no attempt to answer; she sat rigid in her seat, staring at -the screen with unseeing eyes. The girl whom the announcer had -proclaimed to be Linda Carlton was tall and slender, and in her flier’s -suit and helmet, had resembled Linda to a remarkable degree. But of -course it wasn’t Linda. Why, she hadn’t been near Hollywood! - -“It’s not true,” she finally whispered to Dot. “That’s somebody else, -posing for me.” - -“Now, Linda!” returned Dot, unconvinced. “Don’t try to play innocent!” - -“You’ll make a stunning heroine, Linda,” whispered Kit, leaning over -from her seat beside Ralph. There was sincere admiration in her tone. - -Then the whole party grew excited, and all talked at once, shooting -questions at Linda without any regard to the fact that they were -supposed to keep quiet. People around them showed perceptible signs of -annoyance, until Ralph, sitting back in sullen silence, admonished them -all to keep still. - -The talk subsided, and the crowd’s attention was diverted during the -feature, but Linda did not even see it. Inside she was seething at the -very idea of anything so preposterous. Usually a peaceful girl, she felt -as if she would like to tear that impostor to pieces. - -Yet there was no use trying to tell the young people after the show that -it wasn’t true. Hadn’t Linda been away for a number of days, on some -mysterious errand connected with flying! Didn’t the girl look like -her—why, they were sure it was Linda! And they were thrilled, too. It -was great fun to have one of their own group a famous actress, as well -as a famous aviatrix. All of them—except Dot and Ralph. - -“I want you to stay at our house for supper, Dot,” urged Linda, as the -other car drove off after the show. “Can you phone?” - -“Yes, of course,” agreed her chum, wondering what kind of explanation -Linda was going to make for her secrecy in the affair. - -Neither girl mentioned it until they were inside the Carltons’ house. -They did not stop on the porch, but followed Linda’s Aunt Emily into the -living-room. - -“I suppose your telegram was from Hollywood, Linda?” inquired Miss -Carlton, as if to lead up to the all-exciting topic. - -“No, it wasn’t, Aunt Emily,” replied Linda, decidedly. “It was from Mr. -Eckert—you remember, the head of the Air School at St. Louis, where I -took my course?... He wanted me to take a position teaching there this -year.” - -“Why, that sounds very attractive, dear,” replied Miss Carlton. “Safer -and more dignified than all this stunt flying you’ll have to do for the -pictures.” A look of distress passed over her face.... “Linda, I don’t -like your accepting that contract without consulting either me or your -father,” she added, gently. - -Linda dropped into a chair with a groan. - -“Please sit down, Aunt Emily—and Dot. I have a lot to say.” - -Not knowing what was coming next, they both complied with her request. - -“Haven’t you both always found me pretty truthful?” she asked, -seriously. - -“Of course we have, dear,” answered the older woman, immediately. -“Nobody ever doubts your word. But you never promised me that you -wouldn’t go into the films. I never asked you not to, for I thought you -wouldn’t consider it.” - -“No, Aunt Emily, I wouldn’t. And I _haven’t_! You and Dot must believe -me. _That girl you saw today impersonating me is a fake._ I never signed -a contract, with any picture producer, and I haven’t been near -Hollywood!” - -Dot jumped to her feet joyfully, and, dashing across the room, wound her -arms about her chum. - -“I’m so glad, Linda!” she cried. - -Miss Carlton breathed a long sigh of relief. - -“But think of the impudence of that girl!” she exclaimed. “To dare to do -a thing like that—” - -“Expecting that she can get away with it!” added Dot. - -“Well, she can’t!” announced Linda, her eyes shining with indignation. -“I’m going to fly right out there and grab her by the collar—and—and—” - -“Why, Linda, I never heard you talk so!” remarked her aunt in amazement. -“Not even when you were a child.” - -“I never had such occasion to do so before. You know what Shakespeare -says about stealing your good name. That’s just what that girl’s doing. -Making me cheap. As if I were in aviation for publicity, or for personal -gain! Oh, I’m stirred up, all right!” - -“I don’t blame you one bit, dear!” agreed Miss Carlton, soothingly. - -“But what are you going to do?” demanded Dot, realizing that Linda must -have already formulated a plan during that moving-picture show. “Going -to wire the Corporation?” - -“Indeed I’m not!” she replied, emphatically. “They wouldn’t believe me.” - -“‘How could they believe you?’” quoted Dot, from the old song of “The -Girl from Utah.” - -“Exactly! If all my own friends—Ralph, and Kit and Jim and -everybody—yes—even you and Aunt Emily—actually thought I was fooling, -how could I convince a strange director by merely sending a telegram? -He’d think I was the impostor, of course, and their Linda was the real -thing.” - -“Yes, that’s logical,” admitted Miss Carlton. “But what can you do, -dear?” - -“I’m going to fly right out to Hollywood tomorrow, after I give the -Ladybug a thorough inspection.” - -Miss Carlton sighed, this time not in relief. - -“Then you’ll be home only one night!” - -“I can’t help that, Aunt Emily. I must go. I just have to. I’ll stop and -see Mr. Eckert at St. Louis, on my way.” - -Dot’s eyes lighted up with sudden inspiration. - -“May I go with you, Linda?” she asked. - -“May you!” Linda repeated. “Oh, Dot, would you? I’d just love it!” - -“And I’d feel safer,” put in her Aunt Emily. - -“It’s decided, then,” announced Dot. “I’m thrilled to death!... Oh, -Linda, think of seeing Hollywood. The movies being made—and the stars -themselves! We’ll have a marvellous time.” - -“Be sure to take plenty of clothes,” cautioned Miss Carlton. “You know -how much they dress out there.” - -“We’ll outshine Lilyan Tashman herself!” promised Linda, thankful that -her aunt was not raising any objection to the trip. - -“Going to tell Ralph about it?” inquired Dot, as she rose to telephone -to her mother. - -“What’s the use?” returned Linda. “He wouldn’t believe me. He’d think I -was going back to complete my contract. No; he’s peeved—let him stay -peeved. I’d rather spend my evening planning our trip.” - -“Flying comes first, as always,” observed Miss Carlton, in a resigned -tone, as she, too, left the room, to do her part in making the trip -comfortable for the two girls. - - - - - CHAPTER II - A DANGEROUS LANDING - - -Early after lunch the following afternoon—another clear, bright fall day -typical of late September—Linda Carlton and her chum Dorothy Crowley -climbed into the Ladybug, ready to take off for Los Angeles. Smiling and -waving good-bye to Miss Carlton and Mrs. Crowley, who were standing on -the side of the field, Linda gave her the gun. The plane taxied only a -short distance, then with her nose headed upward, she began to climb -almost vertically. It was a pretty, graceful take-off, and even Miss -Carlton, frightened as she was of planes, had to admit that the autogiro -seemed almost human. - -“We ought to make St. Louis before dark,” said Linda, through the -speaking-tube. “I know the way so well—I flew it so often when I was -going to the Air School.” - -“I remember,” replied Dot. “You and Louise.” - -Louise Haydock had been Linda’s inseparable chum all through high -school. Then, when they had graduated, and Linda’s father had given the -latter an Arrow Sport plane, the two girls had spent a year at a ground -school in St. Louis. Louise’s marriage to Ted Mackay had finally -separated them, for the Mackays went to Kansas City to live. Ever since -that time Dot Crowley had shared in most of Linda’s flying adventures. - -“I’ll tell you what,” suggested Linda. “Let’s send Lou a wire tonight, -and plan to stop in Kansas City tomorrow for lunch. I’m wild to see -her.” - -“Great!” agreed Dot. “If she and Ted aren’t off on some flying trip.” - -The autogiro soared up into the clear, tingling air, colder above than -it had been on the ground, and the old exhilaration of flying took -possession of Linda and made her heart sing. Poor people down there on -the earth, looking like ants crawling about on their humdrum affairs, -when she was flying joyously through the heavens! Poor Aunt Emily, who -would never know the thrill of this higher, freer, purer world! - -Even her anger against this impostor was temporarily forgotten. Nobody -could be angry long in the sky. And, no matter what happened later, she -and Dot were going to enjoy this trip to the coast. It would be the -experience of a lifetime to an ordinary girl. - -The motor continued to hum evenly and the Ladybug averaged a hundred -miles an hour. Over rivers and valleys and flat country, through Ohio, -past Indiana, on to Illinois. The sun was setting as the girls sighted -the broad waters of the Mississippi, and they knew that their first goal -was in sight. - -A huge beacon light was already glowing, guiding the fliers on their way -to the airport, and then on to the Air School. But Linda could have -found her way without any guide, even in the fast increasing darkness. - -Linda decreased her speed and hovered over the field. Some of the -attendants recognized the famous Ladybug, and by the time the autogiro -descended to earth, quite a crowd had gathered to greet her. - -“Hello, Miss Carlton! We knew it was you!” - -“Glad to see you back, Miss Carlton!” - -Linda and Dot jumped out and Linda spoke to all her friends and asked -them to put the Ladybug away for the night, and to tell her where to -find Mr. Eckert. - -“He’s gone home, but you can get him on the telephone,” answered one of -the attendants, writing the number down for her. - -“We saw you in the movies, Miss Carlton!” announced another. “You didn’t -look half pretty enough, though. But we’re sure goin’ a see that picture -when it comes to town!” - -Linda frowned. She didn’t want to take the time to deny the false -impression, but she certainly did hate this sort of thing. - -The girls found a taxi at once, and, leaving their bigger box in the -autogiro, they took out an overnight bag and went to a hotel that had -been familiar to Linda during her year at St. Louis. - -“That’s what I’m going to be up against all the time!” she remarked, -with distaste, as she and Dot settled back in the taxi. - -“You mean about the movies?” questioned her companion. “I was wondering -why you didn’t deny it right off.” - -“I haven’t time to go about the world denying things. And it seems so -useless. Until I have proof, I mean. They wouldn’t believe me any more -than the crowd at home did.” - -“I suppose you’re right. Oh, well, don’t let’s worry. We can clear the -whole thing up in no time.” - -They reached the hotel, made an appointment with Mr. Eckert over the -telephone, and changed their costumes for dinner. It was after seven -o’clock when they sat down to the table, and they did full justice to -the meal. - -Mr. Eckert’s first remark when he greeted Linda was practically the same -as that of the boys on the field. - -“I hear you are going into the movies, Linda,” he said, trying to hide -his disapproval. “If I had known that, I shouldn’t have wasted your time -offering you this position at the school.” - -Linda sighed. - -“That’s a false rumor, Mr. Eckert,” she explained. - -“But it wasn’t a rumor. It was a fact,” he persisted. “Sam and Jeff told -me they saw your picture, signing the contract.” - -“I know. I saw it too. But it’s a fake. Some girl is impersonating me. -For the sake of the money, I suppose.” - -The elderly man leaned forward, staring incredulously. - -“Do you really mean that, Linda?” he demanded. - -She nodded. - -“I’m on my way to the coast now, to clear it all up. Naturally, I’m -furious.” - -“You won’t take over the contract yourself?” the man asked, with -apparent satisfaction. What a joy this girl was, he thought! She was -made for far greater things than moving-picture acting. Hers was a name -that ought to go down in history, among the daring pioneers of aviation. - -“Of course not,” she assured him. “You know, Mr. Eckert, that that sort -of thing doesn’t appeal to me—publicity and acting—and all that stuff. -I’m happiest when I’m up in the skies with nobody else but my chum—Miss -Crowley.” - -“That is what I always thought,” he said. “So I must say I was somewhat -disappointed in the news when I heard it.” - -Linda smiled. Mr. Eckert had always understood her, and admired her—not -as Ralph Clavering admired her, for her beauty and feminine charm,—but -for her knowledge and skill as a flier. - -“Then you might consider my proposition after all?” he inquired, -hopefully. - -“Yes, indeed. If you are willing to make it more or less temporary. I -mean I could sign up for the duration of one course—say until next -spring. The other offers I have had have all been so far away, that I’d -rather accept yours, so that I could fly home every week-end. My aunt is -practically alone, you see, for my father’s business is in New York.” - -“That’s splendid, Linda!” he cried, and he proceeded to go into detail -about the work that he wanted her to teach. Dot sat back in her chair, -gazing out of the window, and vainly trying to suppress a yawn. - -“I’m afraid, Mr. Eckert,” remarked Linda, when the former had finished -his explanation, “that I may not be back in time to start when the -school opens. Would you be willing to wait for me—till, say, the first -of October? I ought to be here by then, though you never can tell.” - -At these words Dot sat up and laughed. - -“You surely can’t!” she agreed, heartily. “We have a habit of not -showing up when we’re expected, Mr. Eckert—when Linda goes on her wild -adventures.” - -“Oh, but this is different,” put in Linda, sincerely believing that -there were no wild adventures in store for her this time. “Hollywood -isn’t like the Okefenokee Swamp. It’s the most civilized spot in the -world.” - -“But we haven’t promised to stay in Hollywood,” Dot reminded her. - -“True,” admitted Linda. - -Mr. Eckert rose. - -“I’ll tell you what I’ll do, Linda,” he said. “I’ll teach the class -myself until the first of October. Then, if you can’t come, I’ll get -another instructor. Is that all right with you?” - -“Fine,” agreed the girl, delighted to have it all settled, and at a -salary that was by no means small. For Linda Carlton was a drawing-card, -and Mr. Eckert knew that her name would bring new students to the -school, and add prestige to the fine faculty which they already had. - -The last several days had been glorious weather—too good to last, Linda -knew—for about the middle of September the fall rains usually set in. So -she was not surprised to waken the following morning to find a dismal -downpour, and what was worse, a bad wind. It was one of the equinoctial -storms, so common at that time of the year. - -Dot looked dismayed, but she had no idea that Linda would postpone the -flight. For you couldn’t tell how long such a rain might last, and time -was important. - -She watched Linda get into her flying-suit, as if the mere matter of -weather were nothing—all just part of the day’s work. - -“Hurry up, Dot. If we are to make Kansas City by lunch time.” - -“O.K.,” agreed the smaller girl, cheerfully. - -They were back at the field by half-past seven, ready to start. - -But the field was horribly muddy. Other planes had encountered severe -difficulty in taking off, and the attendants looked doubtful. - -“Looks as if you’re not going after all,” remarked Sam, stepping close -to the Ladybug, as Linda started the rotor blades in motion. “It’s a -beastly day.” - -Linda smiled. - -“My rotor blades are going to help me to rise,” she returned, gaily. -“Just watch ’em!” - -Two minutes later the autogiro left the rain-covered field, and soared -into the murky skies. Almost immediately the ground and the landmarks -became invisible to the girls in the cockpits, and the plane seemed to -be wrapped in a great gray blanket of clouds and rain. The wind was -blowing furiously, as if it were determined to get the better of the -gallant Ladybug, but the rotor blades of the autogiro succeeded in -keeping her on an even keel. But she rocked furiously, until Dot felt -sure that she was going to be seasick. - -Linda’s gas was growing a little low—plenty, she felt sure, to get to -Kansas City—but not any to waste, so she was keeping low. But she could -not see anything, and she was thinking that at times like these flying -could even be monotonous, when, all of a sudden, as if in a hideous -dream, she saw a nineteen-story building rushing madly at her. Not that -she realized that it was exactly nineteen stories—indeed it looked -taller than that at the moment. It was huge, too big to avoid, as it -loomed there in her path, like some tremendous, horrible monster, -shutting out everything else in her sight, waiting to annihilate her. - -In the seat ahead Dot suddenly let out a sharp cry of terror, and Linda, -realizing in a flash that she could not hope to clear the building now, -pushed the joy-stick forward and nosed the plane into a dive. What was -she heading for? A street, where she would dash down on top of -pedestrians and motor-cars, killing others as well as herself and -Dot?... But no, the speed was reducing; she was right over another -office building—a shorter one, only about six stories in height—with—oh, -joy of joys—a flat roof! As if she had planned it, she selected her -spot, banked the autogiro to the left, cleared the wire fence around the -edge, and landed right in the center of the roof! Making it look all the -world as if she had planned a demonstration. - -With a grin of incredulity she turned exultantly to Dot. - -“Linda, you’re priceless!” shouted her chum. “Anybody’d think it was a -stunt for the movies.” - -Linda frowned, and Dot was sorry the instant the words were out of her -mouth. She had forgotten all about the reason for the flight, in her -excitement at this narrow escape. - -At this moment half a dozen people appeared on the fire-escape, and a -freckle-faced youth of about eighteen climbed immediately to the roof. - -“Pretty neat!” he exclaimed. “Is it a stunt?” - -“It was a life-saver,” explained Dot. “We nearly crashed on top of that -big office building over there, and this one just loomed up in time.” - -“Know what building this is?” asked the young man. - -Linda shook her head. - -“It’s a newspaper building! Biggest newspaper in Kansas City!” - -“I never heard of a building made of newspapers,” returned Dot. “Funny -we didn’t crash through!” - -The young man grinned; his specialty was wise-cracks. “I’m a reporter,” -he announced. “My slogan’s ‘First on the spot, to get news while it’s -hot.’—so please give me your names and addresses.” He took out his -notebook, prepared to write. - -Linda looked displeased, but Dot was equal to the occasion. - -“Sallie Slocum and May Manton, from Toonerville,” she replied, briskly. -“Two society buds.” - -The reporter solemnly wrote down the names. - -“Toonerville—where—what state?” he asked. - -“Toonerville, Trolley,” answered Dot, without blinking an eyelash. - -This time the young man didn’t know whether to smile or not. - -“You’re kidding me! That’s a name in Fontaine Fox’s cartoon.” - -“Sure it is,” agreed Dot. “But it’s a place, just the same. Just write -and ask Mr. Fox, if you want to know.” - -Linda, meanwhile, had been examining her gas supply. It was sufficient -to take them to the suburbs, where Ted and Louise lived, and she was -anxious to be off. - -“Come on, May,” she said to Dot, managing with a great effort to keep -her face straight. “We’re off—if the young man will be kind enough to -get out of the way.” - -The reporter went back down the fire-escape, and Linda took off, but as -the girls flew away they could distinguish faces peering at them from -every window in sight. After all, they had afforded a pleasant diversion -to a dull, work-a-day world, and Linda was thankful that it had all -turned out so happily. - -“And how clever of you to think of giving fictitious names, Dot,” she -said, through the speaking-tube. “Now if it gets into the papers, Aunt -Emily will never guess that it was my Ladybug. It might worry her -dreadfully if she thought I was dropping out of the skies all the time -on top of office buildings. She’s dreamt about my being pinned on a -church steeple, dangling in mid-air.” - -Fifteen minutes later, without further mishap, they landed at the -Mackays’ field, and saw Louise waiting for them with an umbrella. - -“Darlings!” she shouted, above the noise of the engine and the rotors, -and dashed across the muddy field like the impulsive girl she had always -been. “I’m just wild about this!” - -Linda and Dot jumped out of the cockpits and hugged her joyfully. - -“Now come on in and get warm and dry,” said Louise. “Pity we can’t take -the Ladybug inside too. But Ted’ll look after her comfort when he gets -home.” - -“Does Ted get home for lunch?” asked Linda. “Oh, I hope he does, for I -haven’t seen him in ages.” - -“No, darling, he doesn’t. But he gets home for supper, and you two are -going to stay all night.” - -“We can’t, Lou—honestly—” - -“There’s no use arguing. You just have to. Didn’t my Ted save your life -a couple of times at least, Linda Carlton? Don’t you owe him a debt of -gratitude?” - -Linda laughed; there was no use arguing with Louise. After all, there -was no great hurry—and it was bad weather for flying. One night more or -less wouldn’t make much difference, she thought. - -So the young people spent a pleasant afternoon and evening together, -talking aviation, swapping stories and gossip, and laughing heartily -over the newspaper story about their strange landing, which appeared on -the front page that night. Little did they think at the time that Dot’s -prank was to cause them serious trouble later! - - - - - CHAPTER III - THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT - - -“How do you go from here?” inquired Louise the next morning at -breakfast, which had been arranged for seven o’clock so that the girls -could make an early start. The skies were still dark, and it was -raining, but the wind had died down, and with it the worst of the storm. - -“From here to Wichita, and then on to Albuquerque by tonight, I hope,” -replied Linda. “We’ll be following the regular air-line. I think that is -really the safest and best way. By tomorrow night I expect to land at -Los Angeles.” - -“Do you have to cross Death Valley?” asked Louise. - -“Fly over it—not cross it,” corrected Linda. “But that has no terrors -for me. And we shall miss the worst of the Rockies, following such a -southern course.” - -“Take plenty of water and gas, in case you come down in the desert!” - -“That reminds me, Ted,” said Linda, turning to the big, red-haired young -man at the head of the table. “Did you fill my Ladybug up?” - -“Yes, and gave her a hasty inspection, too,” he replied. “She looks O.K. -to me.” - -“Then I’m not expecting any trouble,” returned Linda, for she had great -confidence in Ted Mackay’s judgment and knowledge of airplanes. - -While Linda took time to call Miss Carlton on the long distance -telephone, Louise insisted upon packing a lunch, and filling the thermos -bottles with water and coffee. For she had never forgotten Linda’s first -long flight when they had been stranded on a lonely prairie, far from -food and civilization, and how grateful they had been then for the -elaborate picnic lunch with which their hostess had supplied them. - -“You’re a brick, Lou!” Linda cried, as she kissed her good-bye. - -“Don’t forget to stop next week, on your way home!” Louise reminded her. - -The Ladybug’s engine roared, and she taxied a short distance, soaring -soon into the skies. To her joy Linda found that flying conditions had -considerably improved since the previous day. The storm was clearing, -and up above the clouds, the sun was shining. Linda’s way lay straight -before her, and she flew on and on, keeping a sharp watch all the time -for other planes, until the clouds beneath her had completely dispersed. -Passing over Kansas, she left Wichita behind long before noon time, and -pressed on through the northern part of Oklahoma—into Texas, the state -in which her father’s ranch had been located, when she took that daring -night-flight for the surgeon who saved his life. At last, by consulting -her map, she felt certain she had reached New Mexico. - -Both girls had been so thrilled in watching the country beneath them—so -strangely different from the East—that they had not realized how late it -was growing. Hunger finally drove Dot to consult her watch. To her -surprise she found that it was after three o’clock. - -“Let’s eat!” she said to Linda, through the tube. “I’m starved!” - -“Where?” shouted Linda, surveying dubiously the ground beneath them, -covered with dry bushes. There wasn’t a sign of civilization or -cultivation anywhere about, and she had no desire to land. - -“Right here in the plane,” returned Dot. “You haven’t forgotten the -lunch Lou packed for us?” - -“Good idea! And we’ll get to Albuquerque all the sooner. Something tells -me that we’re not far off—if my calculations are correct.” - -“Well, we can’t be lost,” replied Dot. “For we’ve been following the -beacon lights straight along the way. O. K., then. I’ll unpack. Thank -goodness Lou fixed a lunch.” - -The sandwiches and coffee were delicious, and all the while Linda kept -right on flying. But it was still light when the spires and buildings of -Albuquerque loomed up in the distance. - -They landed at the airport and went to a hotel for the night, thankful -that the day, though uneventful, had passed so pleasantly, and hopeful -for clear weather to continue for the rest of their journey. - -The sun was shining brightly and the day was already hot when the girls -took off from Albuquerque the following morning. For hours they flew -over this hot, dry plateau region, where the water supply was scanty, -and where they could see, even from their height in the air, the bare -earth shining between the scattered clumps of grasses and shrubs. - -“We have to miss the Grand Canyon,” Linda told Dot as they came down at -a small airport town in Arizona, to rest and get their lunch. “It lies -up in the north-western part of the state, you know, and if we follow -the most direct course to Los Angeles, we miss it.” - -“Maybe we can fly over it on our way back,” suggested her companion. -“We’ll have more time to enjoy the scenery when we have settled with -this impostor.” - -“Yes, that’s just what I think. So long as we get home before the first -of October, I’m a free woman.” - -They continued their flight without any interruptions or disasters all -that afternoon. They left Arizona behind and crossed into the great -state of California, over the San Bernardino Mountains, where the -climate was lovely. Orange groves blossomed everywhere, the air was -sweet and delicious; they felt a great envy of the people who could -always live in this beautiful region. At last they reached the city of -Los Angeles, and spotted the new white city hall, as it rose in its -majestic splendor, gleaming in the brilliancy of its electric lights. - -“Good old Ladybug!” exclaimed Dot, as the autogiro came to the ground at -the airport, and she stiffly climbed out of the cockpit. “Never lets us -down!” - -“Always lets us down—when we want her to,” corrected Linda, laughingly. - -“You’re going to leave her here at the airport while we go on to -Hollywood?” asked Dot. - -“Yes, I think so. I’ll have the mechanics give her a thorough inspection -in the meanwhile. But I don’t want to go tonight. Let’s have a good -dinner and get some sleep and start out fresh tomorrow morning. We’ll -have our box taken with us this time, and dress for the occasion. We -don’t want to look like hicks from a small town.” - -While Linda turned to give her instructions to an attendant, a strange -young man strolled up to the girls and stopped, evidently waiting for an -opportunity to speak to them. It was growing dark, but the beacon -searchlight at the airport was bright enough for them to see him -perfectly. He looked at the autogiro, and then peered almost rudely into -the faces of the two girls. Linda ignored him, but Dot was furious. - -“Pardon me, ladies,” he said finally, “but aren’t you the two girls who -landed on the top of that newspaper building in Kansas City?—Miss Slocum -and Miss Manton, I believe the names were?” - -Dot giggled. She couldn’t deny the fact. - -“So you’ve been taking a cross-country flight in this boat,” he -continued. “I have a friend who is a reporter—he’s around here -somewhere, for he stops here every day at the airport for news—and he’d -like that story, if you’d give me a few facts.” - -“We don’t want publicity,” Dot said, immediately. “So please don’t let -him print anything at all about us.” - -“Besides,” added Linda, “there’s nothing new in what we’ve done. Girls -fly all over the country every day alone. It really doesn’t mean much -more than driving a motor-car now-a-days.” - -“You’re right about that,” agreed the attendant. “It was a stunt to fly -the Atlantic once, but now it seems rather common-place. The first -person to go from here to Australia by plane will sure get a head-line.” - -“We don’t expect to try that!” returned Dot, laughingly. “That’s a -little too far.” - -“By the way,” remarked the stranger who had looked so keenly at the -girls, “did you girls know that Linda Carlton is here at Los Angeles—or -rather, at Hollywood? You remember her—the first girl to fly from New -York to Paris alone?... She has a contract with the Apex Film -Corporation.” - -Linda and Dot looked at each other in distress. This was a fine -situation indeed. What could they say? - -“My name is Linda Carlton,” the aviatrix finally announced, quietly. - -“Go on! Your name’s Sallie Slocum!” insisted the young man. - -“As you please,” shrugged Linda, turning to the attendant. -“Nevertheless, I want this autogiro registered here as belonging to -Linda Carlton, of Spring City, Ohio.” - -“O. K., Miss,” agreed the attendant, making note of the fact. - -Summoning a taxi, the girls stepped into it and closed the door without -even so much as good-bye to the young man who had forced a conversation -with them. - -“What gets me,” observed Dot, “is the way reporters seem to bob up -anywhere and everywhere—just when they’re not wanted.” - -“True, but they have to get news, I suppose. And it was really my fault -in the first place, for landing on a newspaper building. I would have to -pick that out!” - -“Oh, well, who cares?” returned Dot. “It’ll blow over, and be -forgotten.... What hotel are we going to?” - -“The Ambassador. I’ve heard so much about their ‘Cocoanut Grove’ that I -want to see it.” - -A few minutes later the taxi stopped at the luxurious hotel, and the -girls secured a room. They engaged it for only a couple of days, little -thinking that they would have to remain in Los Angeles for a longer -period of time. - -It was lots of fun to dress in evening gowns and sweep into the -dining-room as if they were actresses. Even Linda admitted that she -enjoyed taking off her flier’s suit at times, and just being a “regular -girl.” - -“For tonight we’ll be absolutely care-free,” she said. “As if we hadn’t -a thing to worry about!” - -“Which we really haven’t,” added Dot. - -They ordered an elaborate dinner and ate slowly, watching the people in -the dining-room, hoping to catch a glimpse of a famous star or a -celebrated flier. But if there were actors and actresses there, neither -Linda nor Dot recognized them. - -“I wish there were a ‘first-night’ performance that we could attend,” -remarked Dot, when, after dinner, they summoned a taxi to go to a -moving-picture show. - -“Yes, it would be nice. But then, we probably couldn’t get in, anyhow. -Unless I pretended to be the Linda Carlton who is in ‘Bride of the -Air’.” - -Dot laughed. - -“That would be a mix-up. The other girl doubling for you—and then your -pretending to be the other girl!” - -“Sounds kind of like ‘Alice in Wonderland’ to me.” - -In spite of the fact, however, that nothing unusual happened, the girls -spent a pleasant evening, and were glad of the chance to get to bed -early. - -“For,” remarked Linda, as she undressed in the charming bedroom, “I am -tired, even though we didn’t break any records crossing the country.” - -“It was fast enough for me,” agreed Dot. “I’d rather rest now and then, -than dash off like Frank Hawks. And when you compare it to the way they -used to cross the United States, it’s no less than miraculous.” - -“I know,” yawned Linda. “What was it that that movie said—twenty-four -days in 1850?” - -“Yes, that was it, I think. Only I’m too sleepy to remember much now.... -Wake me up early tomorrow, Linda. For it’s HOLLYWOOD!” - - - - - CHAPTER IV - HOLLYWOOD - - -“It certainly seems queer to be riding along the ground,” remarked -Linda, as she and Dot stepped into a bus for Hollywood the following -morning. “But we can see so much more.” - -“And it’s only eleven miles,” Dot reminded her. “Oh, aren’t you -thrilled, Linda?” - -“Of course I am. What girl wouldn’t be?” - -“If they offer you the contract now, won’t you change your mind and go -into pictures?” inquired Dot. - -“No,” replied the famous aviatrix, decidedly. “I love the movies, and of -course I’m keen to see the stars face to face, but I still haven’t the -slightest desire to act. I guess I’m too shy. I get so fussed.” - -“But it’ll be kind of a mean trick to haul that girl out of the picture -after the Film Corporation have advertised it, and then not take her -place. The producer may lose a lot of money.” - -“That’s his fault. They should have been more careful about looking up -her credentials.” - -“Suppose you can’t convince them that you’re the real Linda Carlton?” -suggested Dot. - -“I’ll have to stay there till I do. But I have my licenses with me. I -only wish I had my Distinguished Flying Cross, but unfortunately Daddy -put it away in his safe-deposit box.” - -The bus was luxurious and the girls settled down in delighted comfort. -All the other passengers looked prosperous and well dressed; from their -appearance they might easily be moving-picture stars. But of course they -weren’t, the girls decided, for even the humblest star has her own car. - -The country through which they were travelling was lovely, and as they -approached Hollywood, the girls noticed charming, well-kept bungalows -and homes of every description. As if everyone who lived there were -wealthy. The fresh green lawns, the tall palm trees shading the streets, -the vivid blue sky above formed a striking picture. No wonder most girls -were wild to go to Hollywood! - -Linda and Dot went on to Culver City, where most of the studios were -located, and found the Apex Film Corporation, housed in a large and -imposing building. As they ascended the steps Linda became exceedingly -nervous, almost to the point of wishing that she hadn’t come. - -“Suppose they take us for extras—applying for jobs—and throw us out!” -she whispered, fearfully. - -“Don’t be silly, Linda! Your name would get you in anywhere!” - -“I’m not so sure of that. We fliers aren’t much here, where they have a -world of their own and so many celebrities.” - -The girls walked through a hall to a beautiful reception room, where a -“publicity” girl, who looked like an actress herself, took Linda’s card -and passed into an office to the right. - -In a moment she returned with the information that the girls might go -into the office. - -“Mr. Von Goss is out, but his secretary will see you,” she said. “Mr. -Leslie Sprague.” - -“You do the talking, Dot,” begged Linda, as they left the room. - -“Be yourself!” commanded her companion. “You can fly over the Atlantic -Ocean alone, and you’re afraid of an insignificant little secretary!” - -Linda laughed. What would she ever do without Dot to restore her courage -whenever a fit of shyness overtook her? Holding her head high, she -marched into the office where the secretary was sitting. - -The latter, a young man of medium height, with a blond moustache, stood -up as the girls entered. He opened his mouth to speak—but continued to -keep it open without saying anything for a moment. - -“There’s some mistake,” he finally managed to stammer. - -Linda laughed, quite at ease. - -“There’s been a _big_ mistake,” she said. “And your director, Mr. Von -Goss, I believe his name is, has made it. I am the real Linda Carlton, -and he has signed up an impostor for the flying part in his picture!” - -A slight sneer spread over the young man’s features. - -“I suppose you have proof, Miss—er—?” he asked in a tone that plainly -showed that he did not suppose anything of the sort. How nasty he was, -not even to call Linda “Miss Carlton” and at least give her the benefit -of the doubt! - -Dot’s chin shot up in the air. - -“You don’t suppose we’d come here, without some proof, do you, Mr. -Sprague?” she demanded, haughtily. “Miss Carlton is a very busy person, -as you’d know if you read the newspapers.” - -The man flushed at Dot’s high-handed manner; he was not used to being -rebuked by others. Little as she was, Dot Crowley had a masterful way of -driving straight at the mark. - -Linda opened her handbag and held out her licenses. - -“Just have these verified,” she said, calmly. - -The young man stared at them. - -“Where did you get hold of these?” he asked, slyly. “Find Miss Carlton’s -handbag?” - -Linda made no reply, but turned her face aside in haughty disdain, as -Sprague rang a bell and summoned a young woman from another office, to -whom he made a slight explanation. - -“And now,” he continued after the girl had left with the cards, “what do -you propose to do about it—if your identity should be established?” - -“Simply have proof that you will remove my name from the pictures, and -print a statement saying that you had been misled.” - -Mr. Sprague smiled sarcastically. - -“You want the part yourself, I suppose?” - -“I do not,” replied Linda, firmly. “I have neither time nor inclination -to go into the moving pictures. Your actress can play the part—under her -own name, whatever it is.” - -“Mr. Von Goss would never consent to that. The girl isn’t much of an -actress. He just engaged her for the value of the publicity. And, if she -should prove to be an impostor, I’m sure he wouldn’t want her.” - -“Well, that’s not my affair,” concluded Linda, rising. “Please get my -licenses back for me now, Mr. Sprague, and when you have proof, Mr. Von -Goss can communicate with me at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.” - -“Wait a minute—wait a minute,” cautioned Sprague, smugly. “We can’t -verify that license in five minutes. The other girl also had licenses in -the name of Miss Linda Carlton, and the two will have to be compared, in -order to find out which is a counterfeit!” - -“Why, that’s ridiculous!” exclaimed Dot. “People can’t counterfeit U. S. -Government licenses!” - -The secretary smiled in his superior manner. - -“Real counterfeiters can counterfeit anything,” he informed them. - -“Then let me have mine back until we can place them side by side with -this other girl’s,” demanded Linda. - -Sprague shook his head. - -“I’m sorry, madam, but it’s too late to do that now. They have already -been handed over to our private detective, I’m sure.” - -“How soon will he give them back?” asked Dot. - -“Tomorrow, probably.” - -“Where is this double of mine?” questioned Linda, with astonishing -directness. “On the lot?” - -“No. She’s at Spring City now—or rather, on her way to the coast. She’s -due here tomorrow afternoon, flying into the Los Angeles airport, to -begin her part in the rehearsals.” - -“We’ll be there to meet her,” announced Linda, with determination. “What -time?” - -“Three o’clock. I’ll—meet you.” - -Reluctantly the girls left the building, for they hated to go without -the licenses, and walked out into the bright sunshine. - -“What a pest that man is!” exclaimed Dot. “Of all the smug, -self-satisfied, little tin-gods, he’s the worst I ever met.” - -“He was rather unpleasant,” agreed Linda. “But he probably likes the -false Linda, and believes in her. So he treats us as criminals.” - -“I suppose that’s it. But he didn’t have to be so nasty about it. And -the ridiculous way he tried to trip you up, asking where you got hold of -Miss Carlton’s licenses. It made my blood boil.” - -“He’s not worth getting excited over, Dot, for after all, it will be Mr. -Von Goss who will decide the thing. Let’s forget him now, and go to one -of these spiffy restaurants for lunch. Don’t you hope we see some of the -stars?” - -They sauntered along leisurely, looking at the people they passed, -wondering whether they were actors and actresses. But it was confusing, -for every girl here seemed to be pretty, and every man handsome. Indeed, -the stenographers and waitresses were no doubt girls who had won beauty -contests at home, only to come to Hollywood to find that beauty was as -common as blades of grass, and that there was more to getting into the -films than that. But of course these girls with the jobs—any jobs—were -the lucky ones. Thousands of others must have returned home penniless. - -The restaurant Linda and Dot selected was a charming one, not far from -several of the studios, and the girls entered it with subdued -excitement. Although it was crowded, the head waiter succeeded in -finding them a little table by the wall, where they could eat and watch -their fellow-diners. - -For a few minutes, while they sipped their tomato cocktails, their eyes -wandered about the softly lighted room, recognizing nobody in -particular. Then, all of a sudden, Dot pinched Linda’s arm. - -“That’s Joan Crawford!” she whispered. - -“Where?” - -“Over there—to the left.” - -“That girl with glasses?” - -“Yes. She wears them a lot in public, they say, so that people won’t -recognize her. But I’m sure it’s she. And there’s her husband, sitting -down beside her now. Anybody’d know him.” - -Linda nodded, and feasted her eyes on one of Hollywood’s most celebrated -and charming couples. - -“And here comes Marlene Dietrich!” exclaimed Linda. “With that director -she’s so fond of. She is pretty, isn’t she?” - -“Yes, only I like our own actresses better than those foreigners. They -always seem so affected.” - -“How about Claudette Colbert? You like her, don’t you?” asked Linda, -jealously. She had a great admiration for the French ever since her -delightful reception in Paris. - -“Yes, of course.... Oh, look, Linda—there’s Dimples!” - -“Dimples? You mean June Collyer?” - -“No, Stupid! A masculine Dimples. Gable, of course.” - -“So it is! Wouldn’t Sara Wheeler be thrilled if she were here? She’s -wild about him.” - -“I heard he was getting a divorce. If you stayed around here, Linda, and -took that part, you might have a chance.” - -Linda laughed. - -“The last thing I’d ever want to do is marry a movie actor!” - -“I guess you’re right at that,” agreed Dot, sensibly. “Their marriages -don’t often take.” - -The girls made their lunch last as long as they could, and when they had -finished they decided to go to a movie. For although Hollywood is the -town where they make pictures, they also have many gorgeous picture -palaces. Both Linda and Dot felt proud to know that they were having -first chance at seeing a show which their friends in Spring City -probably could not view until many months later. - -After the performance was over they took the bus back to Los Angeles and -went straight to their room to dress elaborately for dinner. They were -almost ready when the telephone on the tiny table between their beds -jingled impatiently. - -It was Mr. Von Goss, the director of the Apex Film Corporation, the man -whom they had hoped to see instead of that unpleasant secretary. - -“May I come over and see you right after dinner, Miss—er—Carlton?” he -asked. “Sprague has just told me the news, and I want to learn all I can -about it at once.” - -“Certainly,” agreed Linda. “I shall be glad to see you as soon as -possible.” - -Linda replaced the receiver and turned to Dot. - -“You know what I’ve been thinking? This girl can’t look exactly like me, -or Mr. Sprague wouldn’t have noticed the difference at once. Instead, -he’d have greeted me more like a friend. But you remember—he opened his -mouth in surprise.” - -“That’s right. Of course we couldn’t judge much from her picture, with -that helmet on. She was your build and your type, Linda. Light curly -hair, and the same kind of nose.” - -“I’m dying to see her.” - -“So am I. But we shall tomorrow.” - -“Well,” continued Linda, “it’s going to be interesting to get Mr. Von -Goss’s reaction. At any rate, he was a lot more polite over the -telephone than his secretary.” - -The man arrived about nine o’clock, and Linda heard herself being paged -just as she and Dot came out of the dining-room. - -“Hadn’t I better slip off?” suggested the latter, in a whisper. - -“No, indeed!” protested Linda. “I need your moral support.” - -Mr. Von Goss was a stout man of past middle-age, heavy set, with a big -jaw and a pair of keen blue eyes—obviously a man of power in his own -field. Nevertheless, he looked thoroughly disturbed over the matter -which had just been brought to his attention by his secretary. - -“You claim to be Miss Carlton?” he inquired, as Linda came up to him in -the hotel lobby. - -“Yes,” replied Linda. “And this is my friend, Miss Crowley. Shall we go -into one of those little parlors where we can talk?” - -The director nodded, and Linda led the way into a small room that was -unoccupied at the moment. - -“Er—will you have a cigarette, Miss—er—Carlton?” he inquired. - -“No, thank you,” answered Linda. “But you go ahead and smoke, Mr. Von -Goss.” - -The man lighted a cigar. - -“This is bad business,” he said. “If what you claim is true, and we have -signed up the wrong young lady.” - -“You are satisfied with my proofs?” asked Linda, hoping that he had -brought back her licenses. - -“Can’t tell yet. The other girl certainly looks like all the newspaper -pictures I’ve ever seen of the famous aviatrix. If she isn’t Linda -Carlton, she certainly fooled me—and my secretary, too.” - -“Do I look like my pictures?” inquired Linda, demurely. - -Mr. Von Goss surveyed her critically. - -“Not so much as the other girl,” he replied, with a smile. “But of -course you’re in evening dress, and the other girl always wears flying -suits.” - -“She would,” put in Dot, cryptically. - -“And, as Mr. Sprague suggested,” added Mr. Von Goss, “there’s the -possibility that the real Miss Carlton’s licenses were stolen—and that -by you—or anyone else!” - -“Oh, that Mr. Sprague!” exclaimed Dot, with the utmost disdain. - -“There are two things to do,” announced Linda, who had already come to a -definite conclusion. “Get the two of us together, and have some one who -knows us in aviation pick out the real Linda Carlton—or—” - -“But Mr. Sprague, and some fliers he knows, have already identified our -Miss Carlton,” interrupted the director. “It was Sprague who looked her -up, and brought her into the production.” - -“Then we’ll have to resort to the only other suggestion I have, if you -can’t decide on our license cards.... It so happens that I am the only -woman in the United States to hold an airplane mechanic’s license.... -Now, my cards could be stolen, but not my knowledge. So my idea is this: -Have some good airplane mechanic give us both an examination, and only -the real Linda Carlton will pass.” - -The director smiled broadly at the suggestion. It was an ingenious plan, -and it appealed to his sense of the dramatic. - -“I believe you, Miss Carlton. I think you must be the right girl, or you -would never make such a suggestion. We’ll try the thing out tomorrow. -When the other girl arrives at two o’clock, as she wired, I’ll take you -to the airport to meet her.” - -“Two o’clock?” repeated Linda. “But Mr. Sprague said ‘Three’!” - -“He must have made a mistake. He told me two.... Now, how would you -girls like to go to a reception with me? One of the stars is giving a -house-warming at her new place at Beverly Hills, and I think I can ring -you in on it, if you’d care about it.” - -“We’d love it!” cried Dot, jumping up excitedly. “But please wait until -we put on our very best dresses, Mr. Von Goss.” - - - - - CHAPTER V - THE VANISHING “DOUBLE” - - -The home of the star where the reception was held was the most gorgeous -place that Linda and Dot had ever seen. It was more like a palace than a -home—out in the rich, exclusive Beverly Hills section, among those of -other famous actors and actresses whose salaries soared into the -thousands. Compared to it, the Claverings seemed almost paupers, yet -they were the wealthiest people Linda had ever known. - -“It’s just like a fairy-tale,” whispered Dot, as the girls left their -evening cloaks in a beautiful blue satin boudoir. “But what is there for -a girl like this to look forward to? Why, she has everything!” - -“Almost too much,” said Linda. - -“But her fame probably won’t last more than ten years at the most. I -read somewhere that even that is a long time for an actress. After that -she has to take character parts, and ‘what have you’.” - -“That seems tragic—giving up what you like to do best. I expect to fly -till I die.” - -“That’s just what your Aunt Emily says—only she means it differently. -That you’ll meet your death in the air.” - -Linda laughed, and she and Dot hastened to join Mr. Von Goss, who was -waiting for them at the foot of the marble staircase. - -“I sort of feel as if we were butting in,” whispered Linda. “Do I look -terribly countrified—or small-townish?” - -“My dear, you’re as pretty as any star here, and lots prettier than -some,” replied Dot, reassuringly. - -“Well, you surely look sweet in that peach chiffon, Dot. You look like -Paris itself.” - -“Of course I do!” laughed the other girl. “I’m not going to have any -inferiority complex. And don’t you, either, Linda!” - -Taking them into his charge, Mr. Von Goss led the girls about the -luxurious rooms, introducing Linda to everybody as the most famous girl -flier in the world. It was evident from his manner that he was entirely -convinced that she was the real Linda. - -The effect of the reception as a whole was startling, overpowering. -Linda felt almost as if she wanted to gasp for breath, so overcome was -she by the brilliancy of it all. It was only when she met Ann Harding, -her favorite actress, that she really felt at home. - -Miss Harding was amazingly beautiful—far lovelier than she seemed on the -screen, if such a thing were possible. Her rich, low voice was charming, -her complexion perfect, her golden hair like the pictures of a fairy -queen. Yet there was something sad in her beautiful brown eyes. She and -her husband had recently parted. - -“Oh, I am so thrilled to meet you, Linda Carlton!” she said, holding -Linda’s hand in hers. “I am only an amateur flier, but I love it so. And -I have read about every single thing you have ever done.” - -Linda blushed deeply at the praise; she wished she could summon courage -to tell Miss Harding that she was her favorite star, but she was too shy -to utter the words. She was afraid it might sound like idle flattery, -thought up on the spur of the moment. - -Dot, however, came to her rescue. - -“You’re Linda’s favorite actress, Miss Harding,” she announced, calmly. -“She goes to see all your pictures—two or three times. Especially the -one where you played a character named ‘Linda.’ Do you remember?” - -“Indeed I do,” replied Miss Harding. “And I loved that part.” - -The three girls sat down in a corner and actually were able to talk -flying without any interruption for about ten minutes. Then someone came -to claim Miss Harding, and Mr. Von Goss appeared for his protegees. - -Nothing was said, during the entire reception, of the trouble Linda was -in, or of the fact that another girl was actually playing her part. The -director had asked the girls not to mention the fact, and they were glad -to accede to his wishes. - -He took them to another room, a spacious hall with a beautiful shiny -floor and a marvellous orchestra, and introduced some younger men to -them, so that they could enjoy the dancing. Then a sumptuous supper was -served, and the party broke up before midnight. - -“I never thought the reception would be over so early, Mr. Von Goss,” -remarked Dot, as the director drove the girls back to their hotel in his -car. “I always thought Hollywood went in for wild parties.” - -The man shook his head. - -“No. If anything, the stars keep earlier hours than ordinary people. -Many of them have to be on location early in the morning, and their work -is long and tiring. All the considerate hostesses arrange for their -parties to be early affairs.” - -“One more mistaken idea shot to pieces,” laughed Dot. - -“We’ve had a marvellous time, Mr. Von Goss,” said Linda, as the car -stopped at the Ambassador. “We never can thank you enough. And I’m so -glad we could go tonight, for we’ll probably be flying home tomorrow.” - -The man raised his eyebrows. - -“I’m not so sure we can clear things up by then. But I hope so. At any -rate, I’ll meet you both at the airport at two o’clock in the -afternoon.” - -The girls said good night to Mr. Von Goss and went to their room, but -they found that they were not sleepy. The party had been too exciting to -settle down and forget it so soon. - -“It does kind of get into your blood,” remarked Linda, as she took off -her most elaborate evening gown. “All the rush and splendor and -excitement, I mean.” - -“Weakening?” teased Dot. - -“You mean go into pictures myself, if I had the chance? No—never! Why, -you can’t tell me Ann Harding’s happy. Or Joan Crawford.... No, it’s not -satisfying, like flying. I know what I love best, and I mean to stick to -it!” - -“Wise girl!” was the comment. “But you surely have Mr. Von Goss -worried.” - -“No wonder. He says he advanced that other girl fifteen thousand -dollars, just for the use of my name, and he’s already spent at least a -hundred thousand on the story and the sets.” - -“It seems as if you just couldn’t let him down, Linda.” - -“I’m not letting him down. I never made any promises to him. He’s being -let down because he was so careless.” - -For at least an hour the girls continued to discuss the party and the -stars, until at last they settled down to sleep, thankful that they had -no need to get up early in the morning. - -They combined breakfast and lunch the following day at noon, and went to -the flying field a little before two o’clock to be on hand when the -false Linda should arrive. - -Linda was intensely excited. She tried over and over to picture to -herself what this meeting would be like, whether the girl would be -humble and sorry, whether she would try to work on Linda’s sympathies by -telling of some pressing need she had for money, or whether she would be -flippant and self-assured, still insisting that she was the real Linda -Carlton. - -Mr. Von Goss’s car appeared shortly after Linda and Dot arrived, and -they recognized Mr. Leslie Sprague in the back seat. Both men nodded to -the girls, who had dismissed their taxi and were standing beside one of -the hangars, talking to an attendant. - -“See your names in the paper, girls?” he was asking them. - -“No. When?” inquired Dot. - -The mechanic picked up a newspaper and handed it to them. There was a -picture, somewhat poor, to be sure, of Linda and Dot in their flying -suits and an account of their arrival, recalling the incident of their -strange landing at Kansas City. Underneath were the names, “Miss Sallie -Slocum and Miss May Manton.” - -“How did they ever get that picture?” demanded Dot. - -“Snapped it when you weren’t looking. Those newspaper reporters are up -to all sorts of tricks. The beacon light is bright, and he had a special -camera.” - -Linda looked serious. - -“This may make trouble for us, Dot,” she said, in a low voice. - -The director and his secretary got out of the car and advanced towards -the girls just as an airplane loomed into view. Linda stared excitedly -at the sky, trying to make out what kind of plane it was. It was not an -autogiro. - -“There she is!” shouted Mr. Von Goss, and Mr. Sprague took off his hat -and waved it violently into the air. - -“The secretary’s pretty keen about the false Linda, or I miss my guess,” -whispered Dot, in her companion’s ear. “Look how excited he is! How -wildly he’s waving!” - -The aviatrix, who was just overhead, suddenly banked her plane, and made -a turn to the left. Then she nosed her plane higher into the air. - -“Doing some stunts for us!” exclaimed Mr. Von Goss. “She’s a great -little flier, all right—” - -“She’s—she’s going away!” faltered Linda, in deepest disappointment. - -“Probably forgotten something,” remarked Leslie Sprague, casually. “I -was almost certain, anyhow, that she said three o’clock—not two. She’ll -most likely be back at three.” - -“You mean to say we’ll have to wait a whole hour?” demanded Dot, as the -plane disappeared in the distance. - -“That’s up to you,” returned Sprague, nonchalantly. - -Mr. Von Goss reached into his pocket and extracted a clipping. It was -the newspaper picture of Dot and Linda, with the fictitious names under -it. - -“Sprague showed me this,” he said, handing the clipping to Linda, with a -suspicious look in his eyes. - -Linda trembled in spite of herself, but Dot immediately explained how it -had happened. Mr. Von Goss, however, looked doubtful of the truth of the -story, and Sprague listened with a nasty grin on his face. - -“We’ll have to talk this over later,” the director said finally. “I have -an appointment now. As soon as the girl arrives, you better all come -straight to the studio, where we can compare licenses, and so on.” - -“Where is mine?” demanded Linda. - -“Sprague’s keeping it. He’ll hand it over when the time comes.” - -With a brief nod of good-bye, the two men drove away together, and the -girls stood watching them in dismay. - -“Something tells me that that young lady won’t be back here,” Dot said -dismally. - -“I’m afraid not. Maybe she even saw us, for her plane was pretty low. -And if she had glasses—” - -“Of course she had glasses! No girl who plays a tricky game like this -one is going to go about unprepared. It would be like a gangster without -a gun.” - -They waited impatiently for over an hour, but nothing happened, and even -the men did not return. Other planes flew into the busy airport, landed -and took off, but there was no sign of Linda’s “double.” - -Bored with the inactivity, they strolled over to the hangar where the -Ladybug was housed, and looked her over. - -“I’d fly over to the studio if I only had my licenses,” said Linda. “But -I hate to break laws—even though it isn’t my fault.” - -“That man has no right to keep them!” stormed Dot. “I’ll bet Sprague’s -at the bottom of this.” - -“He’s still trying to protect his girl-friend, I’m sure of that.... -Well, Dot, we may as well go back to the hotel, for if she should -arrive, I feel confident that Mr. Von Goss would call us there.” - -Linda’s confidence, however, was sadly misplaced. For no one at the -studio called to inform her that the other girl landed her plane right -on the set a little after three o’clock. - -With the neatness of a born flier, she brought her plane to the ground, -climbed out of the cockpit and strolled into Mr. Von Goss’s office. The -director had not yet returned, but Sprague was sitting at his desk. In a -few words he explained the situation, but before the girl could make any -reply, Mr. Von Goss walked in. - -“You’ve heard the story, Miss—Carlton?” he asked, hesitating a little -over the name. - -The girl, who really resembled Linda to a remarkable degree, laughed and -shrugged her shoulders. - -“I’m used to things like that,” she said. “It used to worry me at first, -but I never pay any attention to them now. Why, Mr. Von Goss, you can -see for yourself how absurd the claim is! The girl’s real name—Sallie -Slocum—has been printed in the newspaper twice.” - -“Yes, of course that’s true. But how about those license cards?” - -“Your detective will soon prove them counterfeits. And the signatures -forged.” - -Still, the man hesitated. - -“The other girl said something about taking a test. Said she was the -only licensed mechanic in the country. That made it sound pretty genuine -to me.” - -Again the girl laughed. - -“That was a clever ruse,” she said. “But probably Miss Slocum has passed -that test since I did, and thinks she knows more than I would.... No, -Mr. Von Goss, I haven’t time to fool around here taking tests. I’ve got -to be on my way tomorrow. So if you want me in the picture, you’ll have -to let me go through my stunts now.” - -“I don’t see how it can be done—” began the director. - -“Very well, then,” agreed the girl. “I’d better give you back your -check, because I’m really too busy to wait around here. After all, the -money doesn’t mean much to me—and I don’t need the publicity!” - -Mr. Von Goss looked at her keenly. She must be the real Linda, he -thought, or she certainly wouldn’t talk like this. It never occurred to -him that she was acting. - -“No—I don’t want to give up now. We’ll go through with your part of the -show.... Sprague, get the people on the wire....” - -And so, while Linda and Dot were patiently waiting for their telephone -call at the hotel, the impostor almost completed her part in the -picture, promising to return for only a couple of hours’ work in the -morning. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - THE FORGED SIGNATURE - - -“Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot -entered the studio at Culver City the following day. - -Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another -girl could be entering at the same time. But there was no one except a -strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss -Slocum.” The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was -trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured -on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by -the newspapers. - -“Trying to be funny, Mr. Sprague?” inquired Dot, scathingly. - -The stranger in the corner arose from his seat. - -“This is Mr. Bertram Chase, of the police,” Sprague announced, calmly. -“Miss Slocum and Miss Manton.” - -The girls regarded the young man questioningly. He was in plain -clothes—not an ordinary policeman. - -“A detective,” explained Sprague, simply. - -Dot became impatient; she wanted to get to the point of their visit. - -“We should like to meet the aviatrix who calls herself Linda Carlton,” -she announced, in a business-like tone. “Has she come in yet?” - -“She is on the set now,” replied Sprague. “Going through her stunts. She -has only a small part in the picture, so it can all be done at once.” - -“Will you kindly take us out where she is?” asked Linda. - -“In a minute, sister,” returned the man, condescendingly. “But we have -some business with you first.” - -Linda’s expression became freezing. She could not bear this insolent -young man. He smiled in an irritating manner. - -“We have examined your licenses, Miss Slocum,” he said. “And we believe -the signatures have been forged. The real Miss Carlton brought hers -today, and we compared the two. There is no doubt that hers is genuine.” - -“What?” demanded Linda, in horror. - -“Let us see them!” demanded Dot, entirely unconvinced. - -Mr. Sprague nodded. - -“Our friend, Mr. Chase, has them now. He will let you look at them.” - -The young man, who could not have been a day over twenty-five, looked -extremely embarrassed. Not like a hard-boiled detective at all, Linda -thought. Indeed, he flashed her a look of sympathy, as if he did not -share in Sprague’s accusation. Still, it was his business, and he had to -go through with it. - -He fumbled in his pockets and produced two cards, identical at a glance. -The same numbers, the same printing—and what looked like the same -signatures. - -“Don’t let them out of your hands, Chase,” warned Sprague, evidently -determined to be as nasty as possible. - -“You see, ladies,” Chase said, almost apologetically. “This signature is -forged.” He held up one of the cards. “Look at the capital ‘L’. It -hasn’t been copied quite right.” - -“Of course it hasn’t!” cried Dot. “But the other one is yours, Linda.” - -“Yes,” agreed Linda, trembling in spite of her innocence, “I remember -that mud-spot on mine. I got it on that treasure-hunt that Mr. Clavering -planned, from Green Falls last summer.” - -“Odd,” remarked Sprague, sarcastically. “That is the very mud-spot the -real Miss Carlton identified her card by!” - -“What do you propose to do?” demanded Dot, now thoroughly exasperated. - -“Hold Miss Slocum under bail,” replied Sprague. “For forgery.” - -Dot burst into a peal of laughter. - -“It’s too absurd!” she exclaimed. - -The young detective looked exceedingly uncomfortable. - -“Shall we go out on the lot?” he suggested. “And see the stunts?” - -“O. K. by me,” agreed Sprague. - -“Are we to wear hand-cuffs?” inquired Dot, flippantly. - -Sprague gave her a withering look. - -“You are not being held at all, Miss Manton,” he said. “We’re not -concerned under what names you care to travel.” - -The young detective fell back and walked across the lots with the girls. - -“I believe you are innocent, Miss—Carlton,” he said, his brown eyes -already showing devotion to Linda. “Of course I have to take your money -for bail, but I’m sure it will be all cleared up soon. I think that the -other girl is the impostor.” - -“Oh, thank you, Mr. Chase!” cried Linda, the tears dangerously near to -her eyes at this expression of sympathy. - -The group reached the lot, where the picture was being rehearsed. It -looked so interesting, so thrilling,—had it been under any other -circumstances, the girls would have only been too delighted at the -opportunity. But now they could think only of the horrible fix they were -in, with not a friend in this strange city to vindicate them. - -Mr. Von Goss, who was buzzing busily about the lot, paid no attention at -all to Dot and Linda—not even a formal nod of greeting as he passed them -by. He had evidently decided that they were impostors, who had cleverly -deceived him, thereby securing for themselves an evening’s unusual -entertainment at his expense. Therefore, he preferred not to recognize -them at all. The deliberate cut hurt Linda, for she had liked and -admired the older man, and had found him exceedingly interesting. - -The moving-picture aviatrix, however, was going through all sorts of -stunts in a silver Moth, which had been brightly painted and decorated. -Linda stood still, gazing at her enviously. Not that she wanted to be in -the picture, but she would always rather be in the air than on the -ground. And it looked now as if she were to be chained to the earth for -several days to come, unless she or Dot could think of a way out of -their difficulties. - -“The girl’s too low!” cried Chase suddenly, in horror. - -Linda watched her; she certainly was dangerously near to the ground. The -roar of her motor was deafening. But, by a stroke of luck, she regained -control, and abruptly pointed her plane upward, climbing without -disaster. - -“She’s good,” admitted Linda, in all fairness. - -“Not so good as she looks,” remarked Chase. “I happen to know that plane -and it will take a lot of punishment. But she’ll do that little stunt -once too often.” - -“You’re a flier too, Mr. Chase?” inquired Linda. - -“Yes,” he replied. “I’m a secret-service man, on the air force of the -police.” - -He looked right into Linda’s eyes, as if to tell her that his love of -flying was another bond of sympathy between them. - -“How did you happen to be called in—on an unimportant case like ours?” - -“I’m here on something else. Connected with another case. And I know Mr. -Von Goss personally, so he asked me to help him out.” - -“I see.... I suppose I shouldn’t ask you for advice, Mr. Chase—but—I -feel as if you would help me, if possible. What would you do if you were -in my place?” - -“Wire to somebody well known in aviation circles, who can come and -identify you as _the girl who flew the Atlantic alone_. Because that is -the important thing. That’s why Von Goss is paying the aviatrix thirty -thousand dollars for a small part in one picture. Just because of that -one fact!” - -“Then friends wouldn’t help—in establishing my identity?” - -“No. They ought to be people in aviation.” - -Dot interrupted this conversation, by suddenly grasping Linda’s arm. -“Look at Sprague!” she cried. “Look at the way he’s waving that hat of -his to his girl-friend! Now what do you suppose the idea of that is?” - -At the mention of his own name, the secretary turned to the girls. - -“Miss Carlton is supposed to fly away—be lost to sight now,” he informed -them, calmly. “It isn’t likely she’ll come back and land here, for that -finishes her part.” - -“You mean we’re not to see her?” demanded Dot. “That looks suspicious to -me!” - -“Oh, yeah?” returned Sprague. “Well, don’t flatter yourselves that Miss -Linda Carlton has time to waste on a couple of upstarts from -Toonerville, or wherever it was you came from. She’s a busy girl!” - -Linda sighed deeply as she watched the plane disappear entirely from -view. There was nothing to do now; Sprague and Von Goss were both -against her. She might as well go back to the hotel. - -“Come to the hotel this afternoon for that check for bail,” she said to -Chase. “I’ll have it ready.” - -Then, with a nod of farewell, she and Dot left the lot and went into a -restaurant at Culver City for their lunch. But this time they were not -interested in seeing the stars. Their own problems were too pressing. - -“If I could only get in touch with Daddy,” said Linda, as she nibbled at -her salad. “But I don’t know where he is, and I should hate to alarm -Aunt Emily by telling her that I am being held under bail. No ... I -guess the best idea is to wire Mr. Eckert.” - -“That’s the stuff!” approved Dot. “Why not go over to that telephone and -do it now, while I order something for dessert?” - -Linda took the suggestion, and fifteen minutes later the girls started -back for their hotel in Los Angeles. They felt like prisoners, unable to -come and go at will. As a matter of fact, Dot was still as free as air, -but she had no thought of deserting Linda. - -They bought the afternoon paper on their way back to the hotel, and when -they reached their room, Dot spread it out on her bed to read. But the -first item that met her eye made her stare in horror. It was Linda’s -picture, right on the front page, with the caption “Miss Sallie Slocum, -impersonating Linda Carlton,” and underneath it, the whole dishonest -story. - -She read it in rising anger, determined to destroy it before Linda -should see it. But her companion, noticing the look on her chum’s face, -crossed the room and saw it for herself. - -“Not a soul will believe it is really I!” she exclaimed. “Because it -doesn’t look a whole lot like me.” - -“No, it certainly doesn’t. It must be that same picture the reporter -took of us both at the airport, the day we landed here in Los Angeles. -Only I’m cut off. I’m not news any more.” - -“No, you’re free, Dot.” - -“Yet it’s all my fault!” She wound her arms around Linda. “Darling, I -just can’t tell you how sorry I am for that silly prank!” - -Linda patted her hand. - -“Don’t think of it as your fault, Dot. That name business is only a -side-issue. That girl would have gotten away with it, no matter what we -did. She’d have thought up something else if she hadn’t had that to play -on.” - -“But I played right into her hands.” - -“Perhaps. Only, any girl who would go to all this trouble to invent such -a dishonest scheme would have succeeded somehow. Why, the licenses were -really the most important thing. But how she ever managed to get them -exchanged without that smart Sprague noticing, is more than I can -account for.” - -“Well, you must remember he wasn’t prejudiced against her as he was -against you. He trusted her, so he probably wasn’t watching her -closely.” - -“I detest that man,” said Linda. - -“So do I,” agreed Dot. - -“Well, this isn’t getting us anywhere,” remarked Linda, with a yawn. “I -think a nap would do us good.” - -So, wisely acting upon the suggestion, the girls slept until Mr. Chase -called at five o’clock for Linda’s check for one thousand dollars for -bail. - -“Which I hate to have to take,” he said, apologetically. “But I expect -to give it back to you soon!” - - - - - CHAPTER VII - STOLEN! - - -Linda and Dot both felt terribly depressed, in spite of their luxurious -surroundings. Indeed, both girls had showed more spirit on that deserted -island in the Atlantic Ocean, where they had been stranded without any -plane during the early summer. When both their food and their water -supply were limited, and the chances of survival were small. But now -there was nothing to do but wait—wait in this strange, lonely city, -where their only friends—Mr. Von Goss and Mr. Chase—had turned out to be -enemies. And now Mr. Chase was going away, flying south on important -business, so that even he would be lost to them. - -“But you will soon be free,” he had said, after he had heard that Linda -had wired for Mr. Eckert. - -“In time to stop that picture’s being shown, do you think?” inquired -Linda. “I understand that the rest of it was completed, and that all -that had to be filmed was my double’s part.” - -“Yes, I believe that’s what Von Goss said. But surely it won’t be -released for a month or so. I shouldn’t worry. You do hate publicity, -don’t you?” he asked, sympathetically. - -“I have always tried to shun it,” answered Linda. “But it seems that I -am being punished now.” - -But the young man had gone, and the girls were feeling very blue. - -“We’ve got to pull ourselves together!” announced Dot, after a few -minutes of somber silence. “Let’s step out and go to a show tonight! -After all, you paid that thousand dollars bail, and we might as well get -some fun out of it.” - -“True,” admitted Linda. - -“Not a picture this time. A theatre. I’m sick of movies.” - -“So am I.” - -“And let’s make a rule, with a forfeit of five dollars, if either of us -mentions that aviatrix, or Sprague, or any other vermin we have met -around the studio, we have to pay the other! Is it a go?” - -“Does that include Mr. Chase?” asked Linda, slyly. - -Dot poked her companion under the chin. - -“I suppose not,” she agreed. “You couldn’t exactly describe him as -‘vermin’.... And besides, I can see that you were rather smitten. And -did he fall for you? Whew!” - -Linda blushed. - -“He is a nice young man, don’t you think so, Dot?” - -“Of course I do. But poor Ralph! How jealous he’d be, if he only knew!” - -“Ralph will be furious because I didn’t wire to him to help us out. But -after all, he’s only a personal friend, and of course his assertions -about my innocence wouldn’t carry much weight.” - -“We’re agreed, then,” said Dot, as she began to dress for dinner, “that -the tabu subjects are Von Goss, movies, Sprague, and your double. At -five dollars apiece!” - -Linda laughed, but she felt much better. Trust Dot to find some fun in -every situation, no matter how unpleasant or dangerous it seemed. They -were able to get seats at a very good play, and in the excitement of the -mystery involved, they forgot all about their own troubles, and had no -need to worry about the forfeit. - -It was lucky indeed that they were able to enjoy their evening, for the -next morning held a most unpleasant surprise for them. They had gone for -a walk after breakfast and returned to the hotel about eleven o’clock, -hoping for some word from Mr. Eckert. - -The telephone rang and Linda picked it up gaily, expecting it to be the -message. But it proved to be a message of a very different sort a -summons from a police-court in Los Angeles! - -“The officer wants you to come downstairs immediately, Miss Carlton,” -the operator told her. - -“I’m going too,” announced Dot, following her companion into the -elevator. - -A uniformed policeman was waiting for Linda in the lobby. He was a -rough, uneducated person of the lower class, evidently accustomed to -bullying his suspects into submission. He did not return Linda’s feeble -“Good morning,” but merely extended a piece of paper with his right -hand. - -“Your bum check!” he snarled. “For bail. You had no right to sign the -name of ‘Linda Carlton’ anyhow, but besides that, there ain’t no funds -to cover it—even if you say you are the real ‘Linda’.” - -“No funds!” gasped Linda, staring incredulously at the man. “Why, I keep -five thousand dollars in my check account—just to be ready for any kind -of emergencies that may come up when I’m flying about the country!” - -“That’s just the amount that was took out yesterday. By the real Linda -Carlton.” His tone was jeering, as if he were enjoying the situation as -he would a play. - -“Oh!” cried Linda. “This is terrible!” - -“I’ll say it is,” agreed the policeman. “Now get your hat, and come -along with me. You’re goin’ to jail.” - -The girls looked at each other in speechless amazement. This was too -dreadful for words. - -“Let me wire for the money,” suggested Dot, suddenly. “I can get it from -my father.” - -“Do as you like. But this here forger goes to jail—even if she is a -pretty girl. That ain’t a gonna help her none now!” - -“Oh!” - -The tears came to Linda’s eyes, in spite of her effort to hold them -back. She felt dizzy and weak. It was all like a hideous nightmare, from -which, try as she might, she could not awaken. She opened her mouth to -speak, but only a stifled sob came. Then, with a hopeless gesture of -powerlessness, she decided to do as she was told. - -She turned about desperately and walked towards the elevator like a -criminal going to the electric chair. Dot, still trying to think of some -way to save the situation, waited, hesitating, breathing hard. It was a -tense and horrible moment—until Linda walked right into the arms of her -dear old friend, Mr. Eckert! - -“Linda, I’m here!” he said, putting out his arms to catch her, for he -could see that she was blinded by tears. “Dear child, you’re not going -to faint?” - -Linda looked up in a daze, too astonished to believe that he was true. -Had her imagination conjured up his kindly presence? But no; Mr. -Eckert’s hands were on her shoulders, supporting her, keeping her from -falling. And beside him was a large, fine-looking man in a blue uniform. - -“Oh!” she gasped, in joy and relief, clinging desperately to the elderly -man’s hand. - -“What are you doing to Miss Carlton?” demanded the stranger in uniform, -of the policeman. “Hounding her with abuse?” - -“This here young lady forged a name and passed a bum check,” he -whimpered. - -“What name?” asked the other man. - -“Claims she’s Linda Carlton, with five thousand bucks in a bank, where -she’s already overdrew her account.” - -“She is Linda Carlton!” announced Mr. Eckert. “I can testify to -that—your superior officer, James A. Brenan, can testify to my -knowledge, for he knows me well. He is Chief of Police in St. Louis.” - -“How did you get here so soon, Mr. Eckert?” asked Dot. “We only wired -yesterday.” - -“We started immediately, sensing your trouble. And flew day and night. -But I see that we got here just in time.” - -“Ten minutes later I’d have been wearing prison stripes!” returned -Linda, now almost herself again. “Oh, Mr. Eckert, I can never thank you -enough.” - -“I was only too thankful to be of use, my dear child,” said the -kind-hearted man. - -“What shall we do first?” inquired Dot, as the policeman made a move to -slip away. - -“Catch the thief,” announced Chief Brenan. “If she has forged a check -for five thousand dollars already, she must have gone away as fast as -she could.” He turned to the Los Angeles policeman. “Go and inform your -station of this as fast as you can.... And meanwhile, we’ll go straight -to the studio of the Apex Film Corporation and find out what we can -about her from the director.” - -The policeman departed, and Linda asked Mr. Eckert whether he weren’t -terribly hungry and tired. - -“Hungry, yes, but I haven’t had time to think about being tired yet. I -want to get things all straightened out for you first, before I consider -sleeping. We will arrange for a couple of rooms and order a meal before -we go to Hollywood.” - -In an incredibly short time the men reappeared from their rooms and ate -a hasty meal that was both breakfast and lunch. Then the whole party, -the two girls, and the two older men chartered a car for Culver City. - -“Won’t it be fun to stick out our tongues at that Sprague insect?” -laughed Dot, now enjoying herself hugely. “He was so condescending—so -sure that the other girl was the real thing!” - -“And I’m going to insist that they don’t show the picture under my -name!” added Linda. - -“It’ll serve Mr. Von Goss right. I’m glad he’s losing money. Remember -how snippy he was to us yesterday, on the lot?” - -“He certainly was. Wouldn’t even speak to us!” - -“He may get his money back when we catch the impostor,” remarked Chief -Brenan. “She can’t have had a chance to spend much of it.” - -“I’ll wager she bought that plane that she was doing stunts with,” -observed Linda. “It certainly was speedy. And she’d want to get out of -the country as soon as possible.” - -The short distance to Culver City was covered quickly in the -high-powered car. Dot was the first to run into the studio when they -arrived. She wanted to have the fun of saying, “I told you so,” to that -“fresh Sprig,” as she liked to call him. - -The same “publicity girl” took their cards. But, though Mr. Von Goss was -in, she informed them that Mr. Sprague was no longer with the Apex. - -“Fired?” asked Dot, hopefully. - -“No, I believe not. He left yesterday—to be married to Miss Linda -Carlton.” - -“No, he didn’t!” contradicted Dot. “This is Miss Linda Carlton right -here, and she’d rather be dead than married to that shrimp. Your actress -wasn’t Linda Carlton at all—as we’re just about to prove.” - -“Really?” remarked the girl, only slightly interested. It was a practice -of hers never to frown or show emotion, lest she encourage wrinkles. - -They passed on in to the director’s office, and Linda introduced the two -men and told her story. When she had finished, Mr. Von Goss looked -extremely worried, crestfallen, even defeated. For now Linda’s identity -was established beyond a doubt. - -“How then do you account for this license?” he asked, extending the one -with the forged signature to Linda. - -“Sprague’s doing, of course!” cried Dot, before Linda had a chance to -answer. “He was in league with that girl. We just heard that they were -married.” - -“But how could he manage these licenses?” demanded Von Goss. - -“He got hold of a blank somehow, and forged the name. Then when he had -the chance to get hold of the real Miss Carlton’s, of course he -exchanged them.” - -The Chief of Police was listening to Dot’s logic with admiration. - -“You’re a bright girl,” he said. “And you’ve figured it out just about -right.” He turned to Linda. “You should never have let your own licenses -get out of your hands.” - -“I had no idea Mr. Sprague was dishonest,” she said. “But the worst part -of it is, that now I have to fly with a false license.” - -“We’ll get yours back when we catch that couple!” promised Von Goss. -“Because we’ve got to catch them. Why, I paid her thirty thousand -dollars for her part in the picture—and if my picture is not shown, I’ll -lose thousands more....” - -He looked terribly discouraged. - -The Chief of Police rose. - -“We must go back now and get to work. Have you any idea, Von Goss, where -this couple went, or what kind of plane they flew in?” - -“I heard Sprague say something about South America for a honeymoon,” the -man replied. “He told us to keep his mail for him, till he came back, as -he wouldn’t have any definite address. But I haven’t any idea whether -they expected to fly, or what kind of plane they used if they did.” - -“The girl didn’t buy your plane—or steal it?” asked Linda. - -“No. It’s still out there. We needed it today for some stills.” - -“What kind of plane did she own when she came to the studio?” - -“She didn’t own any. She told me that she had left her autogiro at -Spring City, and had flown west with a friend.” - -“And you believed every word of it!” was Dot’s taunt. “And never even -asked to see her license, until we showed up and made it necessary.” - -“It’s all true,” agreed the director. “I’ve been a fool.” - -“If we only knew what kind of plane, it would be so much easier to -follow and catch her,” remarked Linda, sadly. - -Mr. Von Goss rose from his desk, and followed the group to the door, -lingering beside Linda, as if he were trying to get up courage to say -something to her. For such a self-possessed man, he seemed unusually -nervous. - -“Miss Carlton,” he said, in a humble tone, “won’t you please do that -part of the picture for me?” It seemed strange that a man who could tell -stars what to do, should speak so deferentially to Linda. - -“Oh, no, Mr. Von Goss,” she replied immediately. “I couldn’t possibly. -I’m all keyed up for a chase. I want to catch this girl, if it’s the -last thing I ever do!” - -“Then let me pay you, say fifty thousand dollars for the use of your -name, and let me show the picture as it is. Nobody would ever guess that -it isn’t you. For she does look astonishingly like you.” - -“Wouldn’t I love to see that girl!” said Dot. - -Again Linda shook her head. “I don’t want my name in moving-pictures, -Mr. Von Goss,” she said with quiet determination. “Besides, I shouldn’t -like people to think I flew in the dangerous, spectacular way that girl -did. It is harmful to the whole cause of aviation. No; you cannot use my -name in connection with your picture.” - -Von Goss knew that she meant what she said, and there was no use of any -further argument. But he was in a terrible fix, and he didn’t know how -to get out of it without losing a great deal of money. Certainly he -couldn’t use the name of the girl—whatever it was—for when she was -caught, the whole world would know that she was a criminal. - -A solution of his problem, however, suddenly suggested itself to Linda. - -“I have it, Mr. Von Goss!” she cried, turning about. “Use Ann Harding! -She’s a flier, and a popular actress besides. She can do the stunts, and -probably will prove more of a drawing card to the public than I could -hope to be.” - -“Ann Harding!” repeated the man. “But she belongs to another studio.” - -“Borrow her! Pay her! You’ll save your picture.” - -“I believe you’re right, Miss Carlton,” he admitted, with a sigh of -relief. “That ought to save the situation.” - -The four visitors left the studio and hurried in their car back to the -hotel. But no news of the couple had been received by any of the Los -Angeles police. Linda therefore determined to pack a box of supplies and -to set out, that very afternoon, on the search, inquiring at the -airports they passed as they flew towards Mexico. - -Just before sitting down to her late lunch with Dot, she wired the news -to her aunt, informing her of her plans, and asking that additional -funds be put into her checking account. Then she called the airport on -the telephone. - -“This is Linda Carlton,” she said. “I want you to have my autogiro in -readiness for a long trip. Plenty of gas and oil. I will call for it -inside of an hour.” - -“Linda Carlton?” repeated the voice at the other end of the wire. -“Autogiro?... Must be some mistake.... Miss Carlton flew away in her -autogiro last night, about eight o’clock. She paid the bill, and said -she wouldn’t be back!” - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - IN HOT PURSUIT - - -Linda replaced the telephone receiver and sat motionless, staring at the -wall of the hotel bedroom. The worst had happened. The autogiro was -stolen. The Ladybug! Her dearest possession. - -“What’s the matter?” asked Dot, realizing that her chum must have heard -bad news. - -In a few words Linda explained the situation. - -“And the worst of it is, that girl evidently didn’t have any difficulty -at all about doing it. Just walked into the airport at night and -demanded the plane. They handed it over to her without so much as a -question.” - -For once in her life, Dot remained speechless. There was not a single -word of comfort she could think of to offer to her companion. - -“She’s had almost a whole day’s start,” Linda added dismally. “Here it -is three o’clock, and she must have pulled out at dark last night. She’s -probably out of the United States by this time. And nobody even on her -trail yet!” - -“Our police always catch the wrong person, anyway,” remarked Dot, -grimly. - -“Don’t be too hard on them, Dot. They’re not all like that dreadful -specimen that came for me this morning. And in a case like this, they -would probably put the air-force on duty. Men of a much higher type.” - -“Like Mr. Chase, for instance.” - -“Yes.” - -“What are you going to do, Linda?” - -“Call the police headquarters first. Tell them to get in touch with all -the airports possible, so that any autogiros can be reported. But I’d -like to go after that girl myself, too!” - -“In what?” - -“‘In what?’ is right! Oh, if I only had a plane! If Ted Mackay were only -here—or even Ralph, with his autogiro! But do you realize, Dot, that I’m -bankrupt? I can’t buy a plane, or even hire one, now that that girl took -everything I had in the bank.” - -Her companion nodded. “If somebody would only lend you one,” she said. -“Maybe Mr. Eckert—” - -“I’ve thought of him. But he has to get back to the school immediately. -Why, Dot, this is the twenty-ninth of September! We’ve wasted a whole -week, just to establish the fact that I am Linda Carlton! Isn’t it just -too absurd!” - -“It’s the craziest thing I ever heard of. And now you’ll lose your -chance at that teaching position, unless you give up trying to get your -Ladybug back.” - -“I can’t do that. I couldn’t give up now. No, I’ll call the police -headquarters, and then I’ll wait around until Mr. Eckert wakes up from -his nap. We’ll surprise the men by having dinner with them.” - -It was indeed a surprise, as Linda expected, when she and Dot met Mr. -Eckert and Chief Brenan in the lobby of the hotel that evening at seven -o’clock. Naturally, both men thought that the girls had flown away early -in the afternoon. - -“I’m tied to the earth again,” Linda announced immediately. “But not by -the law this time.... That girl flew off in my autogiro!” - -“No!” cried Mr. Eckert, incredulously. “Why, there isn’t anything she -won’t steal!” He smiled grimly. “Did she leave you your own clothing, -Linda?” - -“Yes,” replied the girl. “But that’s about all.” - -“You should have had me wakened the minute you heard the news. If you -had done that, you might have been on your way by this time.” - -“You mean—?” gasped Linda. - -“In my plane, of course. Take it and welcome, my dear child!” - -Linda seized his hand and tried to stammer out her thanks. But she was -too much moved by his generosity to say anything. - -“How will you get back to St. Louis in time for the opening of your -school?” inquired Dot. - -“By the commercial air-line,” replied Mr. Eckert. “Now come in and eat -some dinner, and after that, you can make your plans.” - -It seemed to Linda almost too good to be true. To have the privilege of -flying that new, fast biplane, which she had admired so much that -morning. It had a cruising speed of a hundred and fifty miles an hour! -Surely, in it, she could catch her own Ladybug. - -“You’ll start early tomorrow morning, I suppose?” asked Mr. Eckert, as -they seated themselves in the dining-room. - -“Yes,” answered Linda. “The police are already on the job, in -communication with all the airports, which are to keep a watch out for -all autogiros that pass overhead or land for gas. We’ll find out what -reports have been turned in, before we take off in the morning.” - -“And will you go along, Miss Crowley?” - -“Certainly,” replied Dot. “I’m just as anxious to recover the Ladybug as -Linda is.” - -“It may mean dangerous business.” - -“It’s bound to be exciting!” - -After dinner Chief Brenan telephoned to the police headquarters to find -out what information had been gained. Three autogiros, he learned, had -been spotted, but only two of them had been stopped. Neither of these -was the Ladybug. The third, it seemed, had been seen early in the day, -flying southeast across California toward Arizona. Two secret-service -planes had already been sent out in that direction. - -With Mr. Eckert’s help, Linda sketched out a course to follow. She would -head straight for the city of Yuma, in the extreme southwest of Arizona, -stopping there for the first night. Then she would go over the border -into Mexico. - -Dot, in the meanwhile, took charge of the practical preparations for the -trip. She arranged to leave their box of clothing at the hotel, and -packed all the supplies for the trip. Water in gallon jugs and thermos -bottles, canned food, blankets in case they were forced to camp out at -night, field glasses and first-aid kit—and finally, upon Mr. Eckert’s -suggestion—a revolver. - -The whole party breakfasted at dawn the following morning, and Mr. -Eckert accompanied the girls to the airport, to sign the necessary -papers for the release of his plane, the Sky Rocket. It was a beautiful -new biplane, of the latest model. Painted yellow, with a companion -cockpit, it stood in readiness on the runway, as if inviting Linda to -climb in and fly. - -Her eyes were shining in happy anticipation as she skipped forward and -climbed into the cockpit to peer at the instruments. Everything for -convenience and comfort seemed to be provided. Altimeter, clocks, -compass, parachutes—even a wireless, with transmitting radio wires -placed inside the wings, so that messages could be sent and received. - -“It’s marvellous, Mr. Eckert!” she exclaimed, as she seated herself at -the controls, her hand fingering the joy-stick. - -“Aren’t you even going to give her a trial flight, Miss Carlton?” -inquired the mechanic, skeptically. - -“Miss Carlton can pilot any plane that’s made!” replied Mr. Eckert, -proudly. “She never needs any instruction. But,” he added, coming closer -to Linda, “don’t forget that this isn’t an autogiro. Don’t try to land -her on top of a building!” - -Linda smiled. - -“I only wish I had my own license,” she said. - -“I shouldn’t worry about that,” returned Mr. Eckert. “The police aren’t -going to make any more mistakes about arresting you.” - -“I should hope not!” exclaimed Dot. - -A minute later the mechanic started the motor, and Linda taxied along -the runway, waving good-bye to Mr. Eckert. A few hundred feet further, -and the Sky Rocket rose into the air like a bird, soaring up to the -skies. The usual fog common to the early morning climate of California -had lifted, and the sun shone brightly as Linda directed her course -towards the mountains. She let out the throttle to its maximum as soon -as she reached a good safe height; a hundred and fifty miles an hour did -not seem an abnormal speed, but it was a thrilling experience. Linda -loved her own Ladybug, but after all, this was an exciting change. - -Over the orange groves of southern California they passed again, then, -even higher up in the air to clear the San Jacinto Mountains, over the -city of Imperial—on towards Yuma. The flight was nearly four hundred -miles, but Linda covered it in less than four hours. At noon she landed -the Sky Rocket at the airport of Yuma, Arizona. - -Being a large airport, the men had already been informed by radio of the -stolen autogiro, and the attendant who came out to greet the Sky Rocket -was prepared to answer Linda’s questions. - -“A giro stopped here yesterday for gas and oil,” he said. “And we filled -her up. Put a patch on one wing, but the couple wouldn’t wait long -enough to have it done right. That must have been about three o’clock in -the afternoon. We got the radio soon after that, to take the licenses of -all the giros we got a look at.” - -“What did the people look like? Were they a man and a girl?” demanded -Dot, excitedly. - -“Yeah. A married couple, I believe.” - -“On their honeymoon?” - -“Can’t tell you that. They didn’t act mushy.” - -Linda smiled. - -“Did they give you their names?” she inquired. - -“And did the girl look like—Miss Carlton?” put in Dot, before the man -could answer Linda’s question. - -“Couldn’t say she did, except that all you girl fliers look something -alike. But her face was pretty dirty, and her helmet was pulled down -low.... Yeah, they gave their names. A Mr. and Mrs. Bower, of Texas.” - -“Oh!” gasped Linda, in disappointment. “We’re looking for people named -Sprague.” - -“They wouldn’t be likely to give their right names, Linda,” Dot reminded -her. “Why, that girl thinks nothing of swiping a new name to fit her -fancy!” - -“True,” admitted Linda. - -“And another thing,” added the attendant. “There was a secret-service -flier here this morning already. After them. A nice-looking chap, in a -gray monoplane.” - -“Could it have been Mr. Chase?” demanded Dot. - -“Yeah. I think that was the name.... Well, he crossed the border, hot on -their trail. Shouldn’t be surprised if he had ’em by now, for he flew a -fast plane!” - -The news was encouraging, so after a bite of lunch and a hasty -inspection, the girls flew away again, heading south now, avoiding the -Gulf of California, and crossing over into Mexico. - -They passed over the California river and continued an easterly course, -avoiding the mountains near the coast, and pointing inland before they -turned southeast again. From their height in the air they could not see -the ground without glasses, but as Linda dipped lower, they could -distinguish how barren and desolate it was. There were no trees; only -short, stumpy underbrush scattered about, with big patches of bare, hard -earth between. A most unattractive part of the country. - -The engine of the plane continued to throb evenly; it was in perfect -condition. At least, Linda thought, her plane was giving her no worry. -But then, planes were more like automobiles now; the accidents were -oftener due to the pilots themselves than to faulty motors.... But thus -far, she had accomplished nothing. There had been no sign of an -autogiro, or indeed of any kind of plane, since they left Arizona. - -“We may be flying too high,” she remarked, as the hours passed without -any success. “I’m afraid to dip too low with this plane.” - -“Yes, that must be the trouble,” responded her companion. “They could -come down amongst those bushes and camp for the night, and we’d never -see them. It seems like a wild-goose chase to me.” - -“You don’t want to give up?” - -“No, not as long as we can get any news at all. And they can’t go on -forever without gas. They’ll have to stop at airports every once in a -while to refuel, and then they’ll be caught.” - -“Some of these little Mexican places may not have been informed,” -observed Linda. “If they didn’t speak English—or didn’t have a radio.” - -On and on they flew, over this hot, deserted land, so uncultivated and -barren. The sun sank and twilight came on—and still no sign of a town or -an airport where the girls might land. - -“I’m afraid I’m lost,” Linda admitted to Dot, when it became too dim to -distinguish the ground even with the aid of glasses. “I’ll have to fly -lower, and look for a landing. I think remember a place a couple of -miles back.” - -She circled about and began flying in the opposite direction, cautiously -gliding a little nearer to the ground. - -“Do you mind sleeping out tonight, Dot?” she inquired. - -Her companion made a face. She had read enough about Mexican bandits not -to relish the prospect. - -“I suppose we’ll have to,” she said. “Anyway, we have plenty of food.” - -Darkness was coming on fast; there was nothing to do but take a chance -at landing. Beyond them stretched great black mountains, deep and -forbidding, inhabited, they felt sure, by all sorts of wild animals. -These must be avoided at any cost; so Linda went back to the spot she -had selected and prepared to make a dangerous landing. How thankful she -was that she had had plenty of experience in spot landings! - -Keeping the plane still high enough to maintain the glide to the spot, -she combined maneuvers to accomplish her purpose. From a glide, she went -into a side-slip until she lost altitude, then, as she approached the -landing-mark, she gradually reduced speed with the forward slip, -straightening out just as she reached the ground. And landed on the -exact spot she had selected! - -“Good work, Linda!” cried Dot, admiringly. - -Linda grinned. - -“I was afraid I might be out of practice,” she said. “Spoiled by my -Ladybug. It’s a satisfaction to know I can still land an ordinary plane. -I guess she’ll be all right, just here.... Now for some food! I’m -starved.” - -“So am I. And thirsty too.... Where shall we make our camp?” - -They looked all about them. In spite of the gathering darkness, they -could see bare ground everywhere; only a few clumps of dry bushes in the -distance. It was not exactly the spot one would select to camp out, if -given a choice. - -“Not too near the plane,” said Linda. “Though I guess we don’t need to -build a fire. I don’t believe we could find any wood. No; let’s just -open a can or two, and eat oranges and biscuits for tonight. Anything -would taste good now.” - -They prepared their meal and ate it almost in silence, for they were too -weary to talk. Then, crawling into their blankets, although the night -was exceedingly mild, they went to sleep under the stars. - -The first faint rays of light were appearing when Linda was abruptly -awakened by a familiar sound over her head. She sat up, reaching -instinctively for her revolver at her side, and looking about her for -some animal which might be the cause of the noise. But the sound, now -more loud than before, was not that of an animal. It grew nearer, almost -deafening—over her head. An airplane, of course! Now fully awake, she -looked up into the skies. The plane was descending; a flashlight was -turned into her face. Blinded for an instant, she looked away. Then, as -she turned her gaze upon it again, she saw it on the ground. And, wonder -of wonders, it was an autogiro! - -Excitedly she turned to her companion. But Dot was still sleeping -peacefully. That wasn’t surprising; it had always been hard to waken -Dot. Alarms right beside her bed never had any effect. - -“Dot!” she whispered, disentangling herself from her blanket, and edging -up nearer to her chum. “Dot! Wake up!” - -But Linda stopped suddenly; she couldn’t say anything more. With the -speed of a bolt of lightning, a man ran at her, and, grasping both -Linda’s hands with one of his, he clapped a wet rag over her face with -the other. She had just time enough to identify her attacker as Sprague, -when she fell to the ground unconscious. And, although she did not see -what happened next, the same fate was accorded to Dot. - -Both girls had been chloroformed! - - - - - CHAPTER IX - THE LADYBUG! - - -Dot was the first of the two girls to come to consciousness. With a gasp -for breath, she pushed the cloth from her face and sat up. For a moment -or two everything swam about her; she didn’t know where she was. - -She thought at first that she and Linda were on that deserted island in -the Atlantic Ocean where they had been stranded early in the summer. But -no; the ground was hard and dry—not a bit sandy—and there was no ocean -in view. That couldn’t be the explanation. For there was the Ladybug -within a few hundred yards! - -She glanced at Linda and saw that she was lying motionless beside her on -the barren ground, her blanket thrown aside. With a cloth over her face! -In sudden panic Dot pulled it off desperately. Oh, suppose Linda were -dead! - -“Linda! Darling!” she implored piteously, but there was no reply, no -movement from the inert figure. With a tremendous effort Dot forced -herself to rise and bend over her chum. - -“Tell me you aren’t dead, Linda!” she begged, hysterically. - -A faint flutter of her companion’s eyelids came as a response. - -With a tremendous effort, Dot reached for the thermos bottle and held -water to Linda’s lips. At last the color came faintly back to the -aviatrix’s face, and she smiled faintly. - -“I’m—all right—Dot,” she managed to whisper. “But what happened?” - -“I don’t know.” - -Dot took a drink of the water herself, and felt more revived. - -“Where are we?” asked Linda. - -“Somewhere in Mexico. Don’t you remember? We were flying after that -girl, in Mr. Eckert’s Sky Rocket, and we came down for the night.” - -Linda rubbed her eyes and looked about her. And caught sight of the -Ladybug, whose appearance had so amazed Dot a moment before. And rubbed -her eyes, and stared again. - -“Am I crazy, Dot—or is that really an autogiro over there? Or am I -seeing things?” - -“It’s the Ladybug,” replied Dot. “I’m positive. We couldn’t both be -dreaming.” - -“But how did it get here? Is that girl around?” - -“I don’t hear her. Unless she’s hiding.” Dot lowered her voice to a -whisper. “Have you got your revolver handy, Linda?” - -Linda felt at her side, where she had put it the previous night when she -went to sleep, and sure enough, it was there. And, with the touch of -that revolver, memory of the scene that preceded unconsciousness -returned. - -“I remember now!” she cried triumphantly. “I was wakened just as it was -getting light, by a big noise. I finally identified it as a plane. At -first I thought it was bandits, and I recall reaching for my -revolver.... Yes.... Then I saw it was an autogiro. It landed ... and a -man ... it was Sprague, I’m sure ... came and clapped that rag over my -face. That’s all.” - -“How ghastly!” cried Dot. “I can’t seem to remember a thing myself. I -must have been sound asleep when he did it to me. But where is he now?” - -“I know!” exclaimed Linda, with a sudden flash of understanding. “They -must have made off in Mr. Eckert’s plane! In the Sky Rocket—for it’s -gone.” - -“Of course that’s it!” agreed Dot. “But how do you suppose they ever -spotted us?” - -“Well, you see, the Ladybug can fly much lower than we could in the Sky -Rocket,” Linda explained. “They probably saw us in the air—when we -didn’t see them—and followed us about till they saw where we made our -landing. Then they waited for us to get to sleep, and for early morning -light to help them in landing and taking off, and then descended on us -with the chloroform.” - -“Why do you think they wanted to swap planes?” asked Dot. “Because the -Sky Rocket is faster?” - -“Yes. And it wouldn’t be so easy to spot in the sky as an autogiro. -Besides, by doing this, they know they will be throwing the police off -the clue. Pretty clever, I’d say.” - -“Those two are about the slickest pair of schemers I’ve ever heard of. -There’s nothing they don’t think of.” - -“And with each new trick they make a gain. Mr. Eckert’s plane is faster, -newer, and more expensive than the Ladybug.” - -“True. But aren’t you glad to have the dear old Ladybug back again?” -asked Dot. - -“I surely am. If she will fly. That’s another thing, Dot. You know that -man at the airport said that she had a damaged wing. So naturally, the -Spragues would be glad to get hold of a fresh plane.” - -“I wonder whether they had trouble taking off,” observed Dot. “It’s not -any too easy.” - -“No, but the ground’s very hard. I guess they haven’t had any rain here -all summer.... Come on, Dot, if you’re able to walk, let’s go over and -see the Ladybug. I’m dying to get a look at her again.” - -“So am I,” agreed her companion. - -Walking a trifle shakily at first, and feeling extremely weak and queer -after their experience, the girls went slowly to the spot where the -autogiro was resting. Like her owner, she, too, looked in bad condition, -as if she had been mistreated, and had travelled a great distance. And, -as Linda expected, the patch on the wing was split open again. - -“No wonder they swapped planes!” exclaimed Linda. “I guess that girl was -pretty desperate. Well, thank goodness, I keep stuff on hand for -repairs.” - -“And thank goodness you know how to do it!” added Dot, with admiration. -“Any other girl would be in a fine picnic in a fix like this!” - -“Speaking of picnics, don’t you think we’d feel better if we ate -something? I don’t feel a bit sick at my stomach—only terribly weak. -Breakfast might help. They didn’t take our food and water, did they?” - -“They didn’t take what we left out for breakfast,” replied the chum. -“But unfortunately we left most of our stuff in the plane.” - -“Well, we’ll have to eat sparingly. But if I work fast, I ought to be -able to get off by noon, and we can surely fly till we find a place to -eat.” - -“Have we gas?” - -“Yes, I just looked. Enough to go a couple of hundred miles.” - -Arm in arm they went back to their little encampment and ate the food -which Dot had reserved for breakfast and drank the coffee in one of the -thermos bottles. The remainder of the water they decided to keep for -their flight, and they still had half a dozen oranges which Dot had -purposely left out of the Sky Rocket, expecting to eat them during the -morning. - -Linda wasted no time. As soon as she had finished eating she set right -to work on the damaged wing. It was not hard for her, for she knew every -tiniest detail of the construction. How thankful she was that it was her -own Ladybug that she had to repair, and not a strange plane! - -Much to her delight, she found her own license cards on the seat of the -cockpit. Evidently the girl had no further use for them. - -After the repairs had been made to the outside of the plane, Linda -tested the engine. It was not running so smoothly as she liked to hear -it. A spark plug was missing. With a sigh, she set to work again. - -Dot, who had cleaned up all evidences of their camp, watched her in -dismal silence. The day grew hotter and hotter, the sun poured down -mercilessly on Linda, bending patiently over her work while the -perspiration streamed from her face. But it was fixed at last; -everything was to her satisfaction. - -“Let’s have an orange,” she suggested, wiping her face with her -handkerchief. “Oh, maybe I wouldn’t like a good swim right now!” - -“And we haven’t even water enough to wash our faces!” lamented Dot. - -“If we only had that gallon jug we put into the Sky Rocket!” - -“Oh, well, we will soon find a town, now that it is light enough to find -our way.” - -Dot brought the oranges, and they tasted good, although they had become -exceedingly warm from the hot sun. - -“Think we’ll have any trouble taking off?” she inquired, as they -finished the fruit. - -“I guess not. If the Sky Rocket could get off—and she evidently did—I’m -sure the Ladybug can make it. It’s good hard ground all about.” - -Linda sounded confident, but Dot’s heart was in her mouth until she saw -the Ladybug actually rise from the earth and soar up into the -skies—wherein lay safety. - -Once again Linda’s heart was singing with rapture. She had enjoyed -piloting that swift plane of Mr. Eckert’s, but after all, there was -nothing like her beloved Ladybug. Why, the thing was almost human, the -way it responded to her touch! - -Another great advantage at the present time, when the girls had lost -their way, was the autogiro’s ability to fly low. Now they could watch -the landscape for towns and airports and landing-fields. Oh, it was good -to have the Ladybug back again, if she couldn’t make a hundred and fifty -miles an hour! - -The country was so strange, so different from anything they were used -to, that, in spite of its barrenness, they watched it in fascination. -They came to the mountains and Linda nosed her plane upward, over the -steep slopes covered with pine forests, until she was rewarded by seeing -little villages on the other side. Straw-roofed houses dotted the -landscape; there was evidence of farm-life, of some kind of -civilization, though just what, the girls couldn’t make out from their -height in the air. - -Linda consulted her map, and familiarized herself with the names of -several of the towns near the mountains, determined to fly on until she -could find a good landing. She noticed the tracks of a railroad in the -distance, and this she decided to follow, until it should lead to a -station, and be identified as a town. Her gas was growing low, but she -had no fear of a forced landing. In country like this there would be -plenty of opportunities for an autogiro. - -Half an hour later she hovered over a small Mexican town that provided -an airport, and brought the Ladybug to earth. - -A man who was obviously a Mexican came forward to meet them. - -“Do you speak English?” asked Linda. - -The man nodded, smiling. - -Reassured, the girls climbed out of the cockpit, and Dot proceeded to -tell their story, asking how she could notify the police in Los Angeles -in the quickest time, so as to have them pursue the Sky Rocket instead -of the autogiro. - -“You can send a wire immediately, right from here,” the man replied. “At -least—you can when the operator comes back. He’s off for supper now.” - -“I am a wireless operator,” announced Linda, calmly. “If you are willing -to trust me, I can send my own message.” - -“O. K.,” agreed the man, who was beginning to decide that girls could do -almost anything now-a-days. - -“And I want to leave the autogiro here for the night, and have her -filled with gas and oil,” she continued. “And go to some hotel for a -meal. Can you recommend one for us?” - -“There are several hotels,” he replied, proudly. “But I will send you to -the best.” - -It proved to be strangely unlike any hotel the girls had ever visited. -It was a long, low stucco building, with stone floors on the first -story, and bare boards above. The supper, too, was unlike American food, -but it tasted good to the hungry girls who had had nothing but a couple -of oranges since their breakfast. And the prospect of a roof over their -heads, after their disastrous adventure of the night before, was -extremely pleasant. After their hearty supper they sat out on the wide, -roofless veranda until the night grew cool enough for sleep. - -“But where do we go from here?” asked Dot, wondering whether Linda had -had enough by now, and was ready to go back to Los Angeles. - -“More pursuit,” returned her companion. “I feel under greater -obligations than ever to catch that thief now—for she has Mr. Eckert’s -plane. I’m responsible for it. We’ll fly around to all the airports for -news. Their gas supply ought to be getting low, and they’ll have to stop -somewhere to fill up. That’s the clue we’ll have to follow.” - -“I wish we could get back into the United States,” remarked Dot. “I -don’t like the bugs here in Mexico.” - -“I don’t think we can hope for that, till we catch them. They’re going -to steer clear of our police.” - -“I suppose you’re right,” yawned Dot. “Well, let’s go get some sleep. We -can’t tell what adventures may be in front of us tomorrow.” - -“No, we can’t possibly tell,” agreed Linda. - - - - - CHAPTER X - A CLOSE CALL - - -“I think,” announced Linda at the breakfast table in the Mexican hotel -the following morning, “that we’ll have to cross the mountains today.” - -Dot groaned. - -“What a pleasant little ray of sunshine you are, Linda!” she said. - -“I don’t see why you object so to the mountains—in broad daylight, I -mean. If there are bears and snakes in the mountains, they can’t attack -us in the air, can they?” - -“So long as we just stay up in the air, it’s all right. What I don’t -care about is camping out in these wild spots.” - -“I don’t expect we’ll have to,” Linda assured her. “But I am taking an -extra tank of gasoline, in case we can’t find a place to refuel. -Meanwhile, what I want you to see about is the food, if you will.” - -“I’m to make a visit to the kitchen, I suppose?” inquired Dot. She made -a wry face at the cereal she was eating. “Do you know, Linda, I could -bear most anything if only we never had to eat another mouthful of this -hotel’s cooking.” - -Linda laughed. - -“I know it’s not exactly like the Ambassador. Still, it’s a lot better -than nothing, and we might be very glad to have it.” - -Dot did as she was asked and raided the hotel kitchen, ignoring the -indignant protests of the servants. Inside of half an hour the girls -were back at the airport where they had left the autogiro, and Linda was -giving the Ladybug a thorough inspection, for she did not have much -confidence in the mechanic’s knowledge. - -“Any news of the Sky Rocket?” she asked, as she completed her work to -her satisfaction. - -“No, not a thing,” replied the man. - -Somewhat discouraged, the girls climbed into the cockpits and Linda -taxied a short distance along the runway, but left the ground so quickly -that the mechanic stood there staring at the autogiro with his mouth -wide open. - -Linda directed her course south, aiming to reach a larger airport before -noon. Here she made a landing, refueled, and again inquired for news. A -yellow biplane, it seemed, had been sighted that morning, flying low, -going west towards the coast of the Gulf of California. Whether it was -the Sky Rocket or not, no one could say. But at least it was a clue to -follow. - -“I told you we’d have to cross those mountains,” remarked Linda. “But -please don’t start to worry about them yet.” - -Linda changed her direction and headed the ship west, and they flew a -monotonous course for a couple of hours. The sun glared down upon them, -and the earth below looked parched and barren. So different from their -own Ohio country in the month of October. - -They reached the mountains at last, and after assuring herself that -there was plenty of gas in her reserve tanks, Linda flew dauntlessly -towards them. As she approached, she noted a heavy cloud bank hovering -directly above the mountains, and extending so far on either side that -she gave up all thought of going around it. Instead she put the ship -into a sharp climb and headed resolutely into it. She held the climb -until she was several thousand feet higher to make sure of clearing the -mountain safely, but as they had failed at this height to rise above the -cloud, she leveled off. - -Grayness was all about them, enveloping them like a blanket, and cutting -off their view of either the mountains or the sun. In her powerlessness -to see in this unknown region, Linda suddenly experienced a queer -choking sensation, brought on by her helplessness. Scolding herself for -this momentary weakness, she pulled back the joy-stick and nosed the -Ladybug still higher up. But climb as she might, she could not get away -from that cloud. - -Dot, however, did not appear to be frightened at all. Wasn’t Linda -always able to get the best of almost any bad situation, even if it were -an unknown mountain range in a mist? She was singing cheerfully to -herself, when all of a sudden, the words died on her lips. - -Another plane was approaching—was almost on top of them! They had not -been able to see it, because of the cloud, or to hear it, because of the -noise of their own motor. But there it was, rushing headlong at them -with the relentless speed of an infuriated animal. Dot held her breath -and shut her eyes. - -Linda saw it too, and flashed on her lights as a signal. But it was too -late for signals; only a miracle could save them. With a sudden sharp -turn she banked to the left, and went into a side-slip, dropping the -plane fifty feet. The other plane passed over their heads, barely -missing the rotor blades. - -The perspiration had collected on her face in beads, and her hands were -hot and moist. It had been a narrow escape! - -But it evidently wasn’t over. Or could it be another plane? For the -thing was almost upon her again, as if it, too, had dropped on purpose. -She couldn’t believe her ears. Was it that girl—and had she recognized -the rotor blades of the autogiro, and was trying to force Linda to land? - -Her heart in her mouth, she banked again, dropping for the second time, -determined to land now at any cost. The strain had been awful the first -time, but now it actually unnerved her. Inside of that cloud—on the -dangerous mountain side! No; she could not take another chance, not only -with her own life, but with Dot’s. Wherever she came down, it couldn’t -be as dangerous as this. - -Gradually throttling her engine down to a slower speed, she began her -descent by a series of glides. All the while watching for a glimpse of -the solid earth beneath her. - -Down, down they came, but still there was no ground visible. They must -have passed over the mountains, she decided, and were descending into a -valley. Or level ground, perhaps. That thought was encouraging. - -“There it is!” shouted Dot, almost hysterically. “The earth, I mean!” - -Linda breathed a deep sigh of relief. Never before had she been so -thankful to see it, unless perhaps the first time she had made a -parachute jump. - -“It must be the plateau!” she cried, joyfully. “We must have passed over -the mountains!” - -Gently the autogiro settled down to a landing on the level ground -beneath them. It was a fertile spot in comparison with the other places -in Mexico where they had landed. The earth was not nearly so parched or -barren, and here and there, between the underbrush and the bare spots, a -kind of coarse grass was growing. Perhaps, Linda thought, the land was -used by someone for grazing. - -“Quite a pleasant spot,” remarked Dot gaily, as if they had been on a -picnic instead of face to face with death. - -“See the mountains over there?” asked Linda, for they were out of the -range of the cloud through which they had just passed. - -“Yes. But they’re far enough away that I really don’t mind. If a bear -wanders over to visit us, we’ll feed him some Mexican food.” - -They climbed out of the cockpits, carrying their box of provisions in -their arms, when they saw a sight that made them stand breathless in -horror. About five hundred yards away they beheld a great mass of flame, -shooting up to the sky. - -“It’s a plane!” exclaimed Linda. “It must be the one we almost crashed -against.” - -With one thought in mind, the girls both dropped their box and started -to run. Oh, if a human being were caged in that burning cockpit! It was -too dreadful to think of—a death like that. - -But before they had covered fifty yards of the intervening distance, -they saw a parachute floating down to the earth. They stopped instantly, -waiting in breathless suspense. Suppose it were Sprague, with his supply -of chloroform? Tensely alert, Linda pulled her revolver from her belt. - -But it was not Sprague. The man who floated down let out a cry of horror -when he recognized Linda and Dot. Though why he should be so horrified, -the girls did not know. - -The man was Bertram Chase! - -He disentangled himself from his ropes, glanced at his burning plane, -and let out a groan. - -“You!” he cried. “And to think, I almost killed you!” - -“You couldn’t help that,” said Linda gently. “It seems we almost did for -you, too. If you hadn’t jumped.” - -“That wasn’t your fault. My plane caught on fire somehow—a leak, I -think, in the gas feed. That’s why I jumped.... But that had nothing to -do with you.... But I actually tried to force you down—the second time, -I mean. The first was accident.” - -“But why?” asked Dot, incredulously. - -“I saw your rotors, the first time I passed over you. And knew it was -the autogiro. And thought that girl was piloting it, of course. How did -you girls ever get hold of it again?” - -“Then you didn’t get the report from the Los Angeles headquarters?” -inquired Linda. - -“What report?” - -“That we exchanged planes. My double stole our Sky Rocket, and left us -the Ladybug instead.” - -“And got away with it?” demanded Chase. - -“Yes. We’re still after them. But where have you been in the meanwhile?” - -“Flying around these mountains, without any touch of civilization. I -even made a search on foot, but it proved to be a false clue that I was -following. But tell me the story, while we take a walk over and examine -my poor ship.” - -Briefly Dot related the facts of the night-adventure with Sprague and -his wife, as the three young fliers approached the burning mass. The -flames had somewhat subsided, and only a smoking, blackened frame -remained. - -“Was it yours, Mr. Chase?” asked Linda sympathetically, thinking how -dreadful she would feel if it were the Ladybug. - -“No,” he replied. “It belonged to the secret service. It was an old -boat, but I was fond of it. And I’ve lost a lot of my things.... I -think,” he added, gloomily, “that I’d better hunt about for some water, -to put the fire entirely out. I don’t want to start a prairie fire, or -whatever you call it.” - -“Do you suppose there is a stream anywhere about?” asked Linda. - -“I hope so. If we’ve got to stay here for the night.” - -“Then come back to the Ladybug and get a can to fill, in case you do -find water. Bring some back to us, if possible, and then we’ll give you -some supper. Real Mexican food—if you like it.” It was Dot who made this -offer, and she winked slyly at Linda as she concluded. - -The young man wandered off, and the girls turned to their preparations -for supper. The food had already been cooked, so they decided to eat it -cold. - -It was some time before Chase returned with the can of water and the -announcement that he had found a stream, and had succeeded in putting -out the fire. He sat down gloomily beside the girls, but he made no -motion to eat. - -“Don’t look so sad, Mr. Chase,” said Dot. “They’ll give you another -plane.” - -“It isn’t that,” he replied, morosely. “It’s my foolhardiness. When I -think of what I did to you, I’d like to shoot myself.” - -He looked so pathetic, so utterly downcast, that Linda didn’t know what -to say. But Dot, in her characteristic manner, tried teasing him. Very -solemnly she handed him Linda’s pistol. - -“If you really want to shoot yourself, go off away from us, where you -won’t clutter up the landscape!” - -The young man laughed in spite of himself. - -“Snap out of it, Bert!” she commanded, using his first name on purpose. -“And have some of this delicious Mexican food. I don’t know its name, -but it tastes like week-old hash to me.” - -Smiling again, Chase accepted the paper plate she held out to him. - -“Just imagine, Bert,” Dot continued, afraid to stop talking lest he -become sad again, “that we’re here on a picnic, with the autogiro, and -this delicious supper. And you’re lucky enough to be the young man -chosen—out of hundreds of admirers of Miss Linda Carlton! Why, you have -no idea how many young men in this country would give their best hats to -have your chance!” - -Linda flushed at this remark. - -“Now, Dot,” she protested. “You’re being silly!” - -“I am not. I’ll enumerate them, if you like. There’s Ralph Clavering, -and Harriman Smith, and—” - -“Hush, Dot!” cried her chum, putting her hand over her mouth. “That’s -about enough out of you!” - -Chase, who by this time was grinning broadly, bowed in acknowledgment. - -“All joking aside,” he said, “I realize what an honor it is. And that’s -just why I feel so rotten about doing those two mean things to you, -Linda.” He was so in earnest that he did not realize that he had used -her first name. “Accusing you of forgery the first time I saw you, and -then almost killing you. You, who have never done anything wrong in your -whole life!” - -“Come now, that’s putting it on a little bit too thick!” remonstrated -Dot. “Linda’s not such a saint as that. I remember many a time that she -climbed cherry trees that didn’t belong to her, and skinned out of -school—” - -“That’s enough about me,” interrupted Linda. “It’s getting so dark, I -think we ought to make our plans for the night.” - -“I suppose we have to stay here,” remarked Dot, with a sigh. - -“Why the sigh?” asked Chase. - -“Oh, I don’t care for camping out—in Mexico.” - -“I don’t blame you—after being chloroformed,” sympathized Chase. “But -you don’t have to, tonight. For I found a straw-covered shack over near -the stream where I got our water. You girls can have that. I’ll stay up -here, beside the autogiro.” - -“You have redeemed yourself, Bert!” exclaimed Dot, jumping to her feet, -and shaking his hand. “For one night at least, we’ll be safe!” - - - - - CHAPTER XI - FLIRTING WITH DEATH - - -The little Mexican adobe house which Bert Chase had discovered was the -funniest Linda and Dot had ever seen. A one-room affair, with a slanting -straw-covered roof, and no windows. Only two doors, opening back and -front. - -“I’d almost rather sleep under the stars,” remarked Linda. “For there -are probably all sorts of bugs in the corners and cracks.” - -Dot shivered. “Still, bugs are better than bears and snakes, that might -come wandering down from those mountains,” she said. “And besides, it -would be ungrateful not to use the house after Bert found it.” - -“It will be protection from the sun in the morning,” added Linda. -“Because this Mexican climate gets pretty hot.” - -So, spreading their blankets on the floor and propping the doors open -with sticks, they lay down on their hard bed and fell fast asleep, not -to awaken until quite late the following morning. - -“Fog again!” yawned Dot, as she finally got up stiffly and walked to the -door. “I’m sick of these fogs.” - -“It’ll probably clear up soon,” Linda reminded her. “I’ve read that -early morning fogs are the common thing in this part of the country.” - -“Let’s hunt that stream Bert was talking about, and get a good wash,” -suggested Dot. “Before we go back to the autogiro.” - -They found it not far from the little house, and although it was shallow -and narrow, the water was clear and refreshing. They felt much better as -they made their way back to the spot where the Ladybug had landed. - -For several minutes they could see nothing because of the fog, and they -began to feel worried. Suppose something had happened to Chase or to the -autogiro during the night! What a desolate place to be stranded! - -Before these dismal thoughts could really take hold of them, they spied -the dim outlines of the Ladybug, shadowy in the fog. She was still -there! Their means of escape. - -Dot placed her hands at her mouth, and gave a war-whoop for Chase. - -“Yo-ho-ho-ho-Bert!” she shouted. - -“Yo-ho, girls!” came the reassuring reply. “This way!” - -Then they distinguished a fire, and a moment later, came upon him, -contentedly cooking a fish. - -“Where did you get it?” demanded Dot. - -“Caught it. Early this morning,” he replied. “I felt guilty about eating -so much of your food last night, so I tried to get a contribution. That -stream widens out about a mile below your little house, so I went down -and tried my luck.” - -“You’re a peach!” exclaimed Dot. “Because all we have left is coffee and -that terrible Mexican bread. It’s a wonder they don’t learn how to bake -in Mexico.” - -“It surely smells good,” observed Linda. “How soon can we eat?” - -“As soon as you girls make the coffee. I brought up a fresh supply of -water this morning. We’ll boil some of it, to take along with us for -drinking, while we have the chance to do it.” - -It turned out to be a delicious as well as a merry meal. While they ate, -the fog gradually lifted, bringing a clear, if hot day, for their -flight. - -“We must be pretty near the coast of the Gulf of California,” said -Linda. “So I think perhaps our best plan would be to fly across to the -peninsula. I have an idea that girl is going to abandon the Sky Rocket -as soon as she can, for it’s pretty conspicuous.” - -“What would she do to get away, if she hadn’t a plane?” demanded Dot. - -“Hide somewhere, or take a boat for South America perhaps. Now that she -and her husband are out of the United States, it would be easy enough -for them to book passage on a small steamer—without being noticed.” - -“Is your autogiro in good condition?” inquired Chase. “I mean—I didn’t -damage it yesterday, did I?” - -“No. You know you never touched me. But I’ll look her over before we -start. And put in that tank of extra gas I was carrying in the -passenger’s cockpit.” - -“Perhaps I could help you?” suggested the young man. “I don’t know much -about the inside workings of a plane, but maybe two heads are better -than one.” - -Dot let out a peal of laughter. - -“Linda is a graduate airplane mechanic,” she said. “She is the only -woman in the country with a mechanic’s license!” - -Chase stared in open-mouthed amazement. - -“Whew!” he exclaimed. “I do take off my hat to you, Miss Linda Carlton!” - -“You’d better!” laughed Dot. - -“Oh, don’t be so silly,” put in Linda, anxious to be off. “Let’s all go -over to the Ladybug now.” - -While Dot put the equipment into the autogiro, Chase filled the gasoline -tank and Linda gave the boat a hasty inspection. Apparently everything -was ship-shape. - -They climbed into the cockpits and Linda started the rotors in motion. -It was Chase’s first experience in an autogiro, and he watched her with -absorbed interest. The ease with which the Ladybug rose into the air -seemed nothing short of miraculous to him, accustomed as he was to the -prolonged taxi-ing of a fast plane. - -With the aid of her maps and compass, Linda was able to judge their -location pretty definitely, and she flew westward to the Gulf of -California, aiming to stop first at an airport to make inquiries about -the Sky Rocket, and to refuel. They passed over the plateau, and caught -glimpses of several Mexican villages, which, however, seemed too small -to boast of airports. At last, however, about noon, she spotted a town -of some size, with beacon sign-posts, pointing to an airport. Here she -made her landing. - -“We’ll be out of luck if they don’t speak English,” remarked Dot. - -“Don’t worry about that,” returned Chase. “I can speak Spanish, and they -all understand that down here.” - -But it wasn’t necessary, for one of the attendants at the field spoke -English perfectly. - -“Have you seen a yellow biplane?” demanded Dot, as the man came out of -the hangar. “A fast plane?” - -The attendant nodded. - -“Yes,” he replied. “I did. We got a radio yesterday, telling us to be on -the look-out for a stolen plane. I’m pretty sure I saw her yesterday, -but she didn’t stop here.” - -“She wouldn’t,” remarked Dot, bitterly. - -“What direction did she take?” asked Linda. - -“Straight across the Gulf. Due west.” - -“Due west for us, then,” announced Linda. “Fill up my tanks, for we want -to leave with all possible speed.” - -Inside of ten minutes they were off again, more encouraged than they had -been since the beginning of their pursuit. It looked now as if they -really might catch those criminals. - -In their eagerness to follow hot on the trail, not one of the three -fliers even thought of lunch. Later in the day they were to regret this -omission sorely. - -An hour of flying brought them to the coast, but Linda did not stop. Out -over the water she flew, her heart beating rapidly with the expectation -of victory ahead. - -But in her excitement, she had not realized how wide the Gulf of -California was at this southern part. Two hundred miles, at least, if -she kept her course straight. She had covered only a little more than -half of this, when she saw to her horror that her main tank was -exhausted. Twelve gallons of gas in the emergency supply, and almost a -hundred miles to go! - -What a fool she had been, not to put an extra tank into the cockpit! To -think that after all her experience, she should be endangering three -lives by her carelessness! To be forced down in the water! To meet death -in a way she had not thought of, since her flight across the Atlantic -Ocean! - -She slowed down her speed and gazed all about her at the limitless -expanse of water beneath them. No land in sight—not even a boat to which -she could signal. Parachute jumping would be of no use, and she did not -carry life-preservers. - -She glanced again at the indicator; conserving gas as well as she could, -it was nevertheless rapidly disappearing. Ten minutes more, perhaps—and -then a watery grave! She grew panicky, more for her companions than for -herself. She would have to tell them of their fate. - -Trying to keep her voice from shaking, she called into the -speaking-tube: - -“We’re out of gas. We have to come down. Be prepared to jump clear of -the ship!” - -Chase and Dot looked at each other in incredulity. The young man thought -Linda was joking, but the girl knew that it was not her chum’s habit to -make ghastly jokes. If Linda said danger, she meant it. Desperately Dot -reached for the glasses and peered anxiously about them in all -directions. - -Linda, her lips tight and her heart tense, continued to guide the plane -and to watch the indicator. Five minutes more, perhaps—and then—what? -The hungry waves, tossing beneath her, seemed to make their greedy -answer. - -A sudden hysterical cry from Dot sounded above the roar of the motor. - -“Land!” she shouted, wildly. “Bank to the right!” And then, fearing that -Linda had not heard her, she repeated her message through the -speaking-tube. - -Although Linda could still see nothing with her naked eye, she did as -she was told, thankful that she was high enough in the air to gain -considerable distance by gliding. Two minutes passed; the gas ran dry, -but now the island was in sight. By careful manipulation, Linda thought -she could make it. - -With a series of side-slips, she gradually made her approach, coming -nearer and nearer to the land as she descended, until she was actually -over it. Then, with a dead-stick landing, so much easier with an -autogiro than with an ordinary plane, she slowly came down on the sandy -soil of the beach! - -“Oh, thank Heaven!” cried Dot, in an ecstasy of relief. “A miracle, if -there ever was one.” - -Chase said nothing for a moment; he was speechless with admiration. - -“Pretty tight squeeze,” admitted Linda, as she wiped the perspiration -from her face. “If it hadn’t been for you, Dot, I’d never have seen it.” - -Still trembling from their experience, the girls climbed out of the -cockpits with Chase’s assistance. At last the young man found words to -express his admiration to Linda. But she was too ashamed of her lack of -foresight to accept any praise. She was still terribly vexed with -herself. - -“Now we’ll have to explore,” announced Dot. “Do you suppose anybody -lives on this island?” - -“I’m afraid not,” replied Chase. “Or they’d have been here to see us by -this time. It looks pretty barren and forsaken to me.” - -“No trees! No shade at all!” added Dot. - -Nothing, indeed, but a dry underbrush, and the sort of weeds that grow -in sandy soil. The little group walked all around the island, and found -it to be very small. Probably it was not even shown on most maps, though -Linda did recall seeing some dots in the southern part of the Gulf. And -of course nobody lived there. - -Dismally they came back to the beach where the Ladybug was resting. - -“Is there any food left at all?” asked Chase, trying not to appear too -eager. - -“Not a crumb,” replied Dot. “Though we do still have about a gallon of -water.” - -“The first thing to do,” he said, “is to climb up on the plane and hoist -a signal of distress. So we’ll catch a ship, if one goes past. If you’ll -get me something to put....” - -He glanced shyly at the girls. As they were both in khaki flying-suits, -there was no chance of using a white skirt or petticoat, as he had so -often read of, in books about ship-wreck. But Linda immediately procured -a large square of canvas which she kept on hand for repair, and he did -the climbing at once. - -When he came down again, he produced the fishing-line which he had -improvised that morning and set about to try to catch a fish. Linda -spent her time inspecting the plane, and Dot went about gathering -underbrush for a fire, in case Chase was lucky enough to secure a catch. - -Each of the three had taken a deep drink of water, resolutely trying to -stave off their hunger by that means. - -An hour passed, and another, without any sign of a boat, and the girls -began to wonder whether they would have to spend the night on this tiny -island, without any food. They were sitting back on the beach, near to -the autogiro, talking a little, and searching the waters often with the -glasses for the sight of a ship. The sun was already low against the -horizon. - -“I wonder how far we are from the peninsula,” remarked Dot. “Maybe we -could swim.” - -“Not on an empty stomach,” returned Linda. “Besides, we must be pretty -far. According to my figures.... Oh, look, Dot!” She jumped gaily to her -feet. - -“What! A boat?” cried her companion. - -“No. Only Bert—with a fish! But it surely does look good.” - -“Light your fire, Dot!” the young man called as he approached. “The fish -is cleaned—all ready to fry.” - -“You’re an ace!” returned the girl, looking admiringly at the young man -in his flier’s suit, and his rumpled hair and cheery smile. How -different he looked from the first time the girls had seen him—as a -stern detective in Von Goss’s office. It didn’t seem possible that they -had known him only a few days. - -She lighted the fire, and half an hour later they ate their scanty -supper. If anyone had ever told them that fish without any bread, or -even salt, would taste good, they would not have believed it. But now -they found it extremely satisfying. - -“I’m going right back again,” said Chase, when they had finished eating. -“If I have to fish all night, I’m determined to get something for your -breakfast!” - -“You—won’t—have—to,” announced Linda, slowly, handing her glasses to -Dot. “I’m sure I see a boat!” - - - - - CHAPTER XII - THE ENEMY PLANE - - -The three young fliers stood on the beach, waiting for the approaching -boat in excited suspense. She was nearer now; there was no doubt that -she was answering their signal. - -It was a large, flat steamboat with wide decks, which were packed with -passengers who were peering at the lonely little island, and waving -cheerily at the three survivors. It approached rapidly; when it was -within calling distance of the island it stopped and let down a -life-boat, which two men rowed to the shore. - -“Shall we all get aboard?” inquired Dot, turning to Linda. - -“I think I’d rather not,” replied Linda. “If they can supply us with -some food, I think I’d better stay here. You see, I don’t like to leave -the Ladybug alone.” - -“What do you suggest, Linda?” asked Chase, as if he, too, considered her -the guide in this situation. - -“That you go to the mainland, Bert—or to the peninsula, whichever the -boat happens to be headed for—and bring me back some gas.” - -“You mean leave you two girls here alone?” he asked. “It’ll mean all -night—before I can get back.” - -“Yes. Why not? We’ll be safe, unless a shark comes to shore and bites -us. But for goodness’ sake, don’t forget us!” - -“I’ll never forget you,” replied the young man solemnly. - -The life-boat had reached the island by this time, and two men jumped -out and leaped to shore. - -“This is wonderful of you!” cried Dot. “We certainly are grateful.” - -“Glad to do it,” replied one of the men, a big, brawny sailor. “But do -tell me what that thing is.” He pointed to the autogiro. “It looks like -a plane, but I never seen a plane like that before.” - -“It’s an autogiro,” explained Chase. “And we ran out of gas—almost -dropped down in the Gulf.... So, if you can take me to shore, I’d like -to get some and bring it back here.” - -“Sure,” replied the man. “But what about the ladies?” - -“We’ve decided to stay here,” replied Dot. “At least, if you can supply -us with some food to keep us till tomorrow morning. We’re nearly -starved.” - -“Sure,” repeated the man, “anything you say!” - -Chase and the two sailors climbed into the rowboat and pushed off -immediately. Inside of ten minutes they returned, bringing a box of food -with them, and a tank of ice-water. - -“How much do we owe you?” inquired Linda, taking a bill from her pocket. - -“Nothin’!” answered the man. “The Captain says it’s a present, with his -compliments.” - -“I think that’s awfully good of him,” said Dot, lifting the lid of the -box and peering hungrily inside. “And it looks like real American food, -too. Biscuits—and ham—and eggs!” - -“Mexican chickens lay the same kind of eggs that American chickens do,” -observed Chase, dryly. - -“That’ll be enough out of you!” retorted Dot, trying to look scornful, -but laughing in spite of herself. - -“Be sure to get something to eat for yourself, right away, Bert,” put in -Linda. - -“We’ll take care of that,” the sailor assured her, as the men returned -to the boat. - -“And come back soon!” added Dot. - -The rowboat went back to the steamer, and the girls remained on the -beach watching it, all the while waving and smiling to their rescuers. -At last the steamboat pulled off, and disappeared from view; then they -returned to their fire and built it up again. - -“This is going to be a meal worth eating!” exclaimed Dot, as she -unpacked biscuits and butter, ham, eggs, and coffee. “Even oranges and -bananas!” she added, hardly able to wait until they should begin to eat. - -They sat about their fire talking until long after darkness came on, and -the stars appeared in the sky. Both girls felt happy now—only anxious to -be after their enemy again. - -“I’m so sorry for the delay,” remarked Linda. “More on Mr. Eckert’s -account than my own. If I could only get his plane back, I shouldn’t -worry so much about that forged check for five thousand dollars.” - -“It’s the idea of what that girl got away with that exasperates me,” -said Dot. “Making all that money on your name. It’s maddening.” - -“But she’s sure to be caught sometime, by the police. And then she’ll -have to pay up.” - -“Yes, but I want her caught soon—and by us, if possible.” - -“Well, tomorrow’s a new day,” said Linda hopefully. “And you never can -tell what will happen. Now—let’s get some sleep.” - -So, wrapping up in their blankets, they lay down in the sand, far -inland, lest the tide should rise, and slept until the sun awakened -them. A delightfully cool breeze was blowing from the ocean, reminding -the girls of pleasant days at the seashore. - -“Only it reminds me more of that island off the coast of Georgia,” -returned Dot, when Linda made this observation. - -“It does look something like it. But oh, such different circumstances -now. We’re not Robinson Crusoes here. We’ve got everything we want—food, -and the Ladybug, and Bert Chase to rescue us.” - -“Speaking of Bert,” put in Dot, “let’s get a good swim before he gets -back.” - -They acted upon the suggestion immediately, and enjoyed their dip -immensely. What a thrill it gave them to bathe for the first time in the -Gulf of California! Almost like going into the Pacific Ocean. But they -did not venture out far, or stay long in the water. They wanted to be -all ready for Chase when he returned, so that they could be on their -pursuit again as quickly as possible. - -“I like your boy-friend, Linda,” said Dot, taking up the conversation -where they had left it when they went in to bathe. “But it’s nice to -have him out of the way for a while.” - -“I don’t see why you call him _my_ boy-friend,” returned the other girl. -“He’s just as much yours.” - -“He is not! Haven’t you noticed how he’s always watching you? As if he -couldn’t take his eyes from you. Pure devotion, I’d call it.” - -Linda laughed and began to run a comb through her wet hair, arranging -the ringlets in place. She had a lovely natural wave—a gift which saved -her a great deal of time at hairdressers’. No matter where she was, or -how she was dressed, she always looked pretty. - -“I think you’re exaggerating, Dot. He’s never said anything to make me -think he especially likes me.” - -“All the more credit to him! But just the same, I’ll bet Ralph Clavering -wouldn’t feel any too easy about him.” - -Suddenly Linda sighed. - -“What’s the matter?” demanded Dot. “That wasn’t a sigh of hunger!” - -“No, it wasn’t. The mention of Ralph made me feel just a little bit -homesick. Not for him especially—but for the whole crowd, and for Aunt -Emily and Daddy. We’ve only been gone about ten days, but it seems ages -and ages!” - -“Because so much has happened.” - -“Yes, and because we have been in such strange places. And the days have -been long too.” - -“What do you suppose everybody is doing by now?” inquired Dot. - -“Most of them are at college, I suppose. Sue Emery and Sara Wheeler are -rooming together. And Jim and Ralph both must have gone back. I don’t -know about Harriman Smith. The last letter I had from him, he said he -wasn’t sure whether he’d have enough money.” - -“He’s a nice boy,” was Dot’s comment. - -“One of the best,” replied Linda, with unusual enthusiasm for her. “But -Dot,” she continued, as they began to make their fire for breakfast, -“don’t you regret not going to college?” - -“No, not a bit. I get lots more thrills batting about the country on -adventures with you. If I were at college, and learned that you were -suddenly off to California—or to the North Pole, I’d be absolutely sick -with jealousy. I’d probably drop everything and go. And then, of course, -college would drop me.” - -“You’re an old peach, Dot!” exclaimed Linda, giving her chum a hug. “But -some day I ’spose I’ll have to lose you, as I did Lou. Jim’ll decide -that he just won’t wait any longer, and you’ll be going up the aisle to -the tune of Lohengrin!” - -Dot dimpled, but shook her head. - -“You needn’t worry about that, Linda,” she said. “But if the time ever -comes, I’ll tell you what you can do: Get married yourself! And then -you’ll have a chum who won’t ever desert you!” - -“I’m not so sure about that—these days.... Now, shall we have our -breakfast?” - -“I’m all for it,” agreed Dot, sitting down to the pleasant meal they had -just cooked. - -The boat bringing Chase with the gasoline did not arrive until eleven -o’clock. It took some little time to get the tanks of gasoline into -shore, for the men dared load only one at a time on the rowboat. And -Chase had brought three. - -“Greetings!” he called to the girls, as the small boat approached. -“You’re still alive? Nothing happened during the night?” - -Dot laughed merrily. - -“You sound like Linda’s aunt, Bert. She always expects the worst.” - -“Well, I didn’t really think there was anything much you girls couldn’t -conquer. Only something like a big tide, that would sweep the whole -island away.” - -He filled the empty tanks of the autogiro, and put the other two cans -into the passenger’s cockpit. As soon as the rowboat pulled off, the -young man turned excitedly to the girls. - -“I’ve got hot news!” he announced. “A yellow biplane was sighted -yesterday, flying with all possible speed towards the Pacific Ocean. I -got that from Los Angeles headquarters last night.” - -Linda’s eyes sparkled with excitement. - -“We’ll be right after them,” she said. “Oh, if we’re only not too late!” - -“It’s a peach of a day,” commented Dot. “If it is hot.” - -“Heat doesn’t bother me,” returned Linda, climbing into the cockpit, and -setting the rotors in motion. “Get in—if you’re coming with me!” - -Linda gave her the gun, and the Ladybug left the beach a minute or so -later, soaring triumphantly into the skies. - -“We’re going to fly high, now!” shouted Linda. “And we’re going to make -speed!” - -The outlines of the island faded and disappeared from their sight; even -the water was lost to their view. The Ladybug flew as if she were on a -test flight, to prove her ability to take part in any kind of service. -Mile after mile disappeared as Linda watched her instruments and her map -closely, for now she could figure just about how far she had to go to -reach the coast of the peninsula. All the while Dot scanned the air with -the glasses, looking for a flash of yellow in the sky. - -“We are over an airport town now,” Linda announced about one o’clock. -“Shall we come down for lunch?” - -“No! No!” returned her companions. “We’ll dig out something from the -box, and eat as we go. On to the coast!” - -They continued onward for an hour or so, landing once to refuel from an -extra tank of gas. Now Linda dipped lower, anxious to watch the -landscape, for she knew that she must be very near to the Pacific Ocean. -She identified the roofs of a village—a little seaport town, -probably—and yes—there was the ocean beyond! - -“I’d go south for a while, Linda!” Chase advised. “The report was that -the Sky Rocket was headed southwest.” - -So Linda banked and directed her course along the coast to the -southward. Flying low, and watching the ground for an airport. - -From the air they were able to identify scattered seaside huts, and even -fishing boats out on the ocean. But no town of any size, and no sign of -an airport. - -“We ought to land and make inquiries,” Linda was thinking to herself, -when Dot suddenly let out a piercing scream. Terrified, Linda looked all -about her, thinking they must be rushing headlong into some awful peril. - -“I see the plane!” Dot cried, frantically. “Over there on the beach—to -the left!” - -Linda peered out to the side her chum indicated, but she could -distinguish nothing but a blurred outline of green. - -“The Sky Rocket!” screamed Dot. “Bank to the left!” - -Though she still failed to see it with her naked eye, Linda’s heart beat -rapidly with the thrill of success, and she took the direction Dot -indicated. She dipped lower, and banked to the left, approaching the -spot slowly. And then, sure enough, she saw it for herself. The Sky -Rocket! - -The beach was wide and the plane stood erect, as if all ready for a -take-off. Suppose it sailed off this moment! Before Linda could get to -it! The Sky Rocket was bigger, faster, newer than the Ladybug—wouldn’t -it be sure to get away in a race? - -While these thoughts were running through her head, she kept her eyes -glued upon the plane, approaching it cautiously. Nearer and nearer she -came—but still the Sky Rocket did not move. What was Sprague’s game now? -Would he wait for her to land, and shoot from under cover? - -Down—down the Ladybug came. To death? Or at least a struggle? Reaching -instinctively for her revolver, Linda landed the autogiro on the beach, -about a hundred yards from the enemy plane.... And—waited! - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - HOT ON THE TRAIL - - -Chase, his hand on his revolver, climbed out of the autogiro and slipped -cautiously around the side. He kept his eyes riveted on the Sky Rocket, -but there was no movement whatsoever. - -“They’re probably hiding,” he whispered, as the noise of the rotors died -out. “You girls stay right here, and creep up on them.” - -Dot and Linda did as they were told. In tense silence they watched the -young man advance nearer and nearer to the Sky Rocket, expecting every -moment to hear a shot ring out from the underbrush that grew along the -beach. - -It was a deserted spot; there were no cottages or boathouses about. The -only sound was the breaking of the waves, with monotonous regularity, -upon the shore. - -Chase got nearer and nearer; he actually came up to the yellow plane, -and peered all around it. Still there was no sign of human life -anywhere. He looked into the cockpit; then he sauntered towards the -scattered bushes on the beach, examining them with his glasses. And -still nothing happened. - -Unable to bear the suspense any longer, the girls came out from behind -the Ladybug and started to advance towards the Sky Rocket. At the same -time Chase, satisfied that the enemy was nowhere about, proceeded slowly -back to meet them. - -“We’re too late again,” he observed, gloomily. “They’ve abandoned it, -there’s no doubt of that. Evidently got scared and decided to leave it.” - -Running up to the plane, Linda began to examine it eagerly. - -“It seems to be in good condition,” she said. “And that certainly is a -lucky break. If I couldn’t get both, I’d rather have the plane than the -girl!” - -Chase regarded her in amazement. - -“But she has your money!” was his comment. - -“I know. But I care more about Mr. Eckert’s plane—it’s worth a whole lot -more than five thousand dollars. And he was such a good sport to lend it -to me. I can just imagine how dreadfully he’d feel, if he thought he’d -never see it again. I know how I felt when I lost the Ladybug.” - -“But where do you suppose they have gone?” asked Dot. “The Spragues, I -mean.” - -Linda dropped down to a sitting position on the sand and fished in her -pocket for a map. - -“They must have taken a boat from somewhere near here,” she said. “So if -we can find out where we are, and the nearest seaport town, we might be -able to catch them before they sail.” - -“We’re pretty far south on this peninsula,” put in Chase, looking over -Linda’s shoulder at the map. - -“Yes, I think so.... You know what I believe would be best, Bert? If the -Sky Rocket is in good condition—we’ll look her over in a minute and find -out—one of us could fly her south along the coast, and another take the -Ladybug north. In that way we ought to pick up news of our honeymooners -pretty quickly.” - -“Good idea!” returned Chase, immediately. “Which plane do you want, -Linda?” - -“I think I’d rather have the Sky Rocket,” returned the girl. “If you can -manage the Ladybug. Because if I should find out that the Spragues have -sailed somewhere in a boat, I might like to pursue them. And the Sky -Rocket can go so much faster, and carry enough gas for a trip across the -United States.” - -“It’s all one to me,” agreed Chase. “If you’ll trust me with the -Ladybug.” - -“Certainly,” Linda assured him. “Now I think I’ll go look the Sky Rocket -over, and tighten some of those wires that I see out of ‘stream-line’. -That makes a lot of difference, you know.” - -Linda finished her job in less than an hour, and after they had eaten -the remainder of their food supply, she gave Chase a few instructions -about flying the autogiro. Satisfied that he knew how to manage it, the -girls insisted that he take off first, flying back north along the -sea-coast. - -“And when you’re through, you can park the Ladybug at the Los Angeles -airport,” concluded Linda. “I’ll pick her up there, after the girl has -been caught—by us, or somebody else.” - -She and Dot stood watching the young man take off and soar into the air, -until he was finally lost to sight. Once again they were alone, but with -more hope of success than they had had before. Now both planes had been -regained, and they had the Sky Rocket to rely on. They felt, with it, -that they had the world—or better still, the air—at their command. - -“There must be a seaport pretty near here,” said Linda, as she and Dot -climbed into the powerful yellow plane. “If the Spragues haven’t left -from there, they at least ought to be able to find out by wire what -vessels have left the coast.” - -She flew straight down to Cape San Lucas, a seaport town, which boasted -of a sizable airport. It was terribly hot here, when she brought the -plane to the ground; the heat seemed to rise in waves to hit them in the -face as the girls climbed out of the cockpits. For the airport was -located behind the town, and that morning no ocean breezes brought -cooling refreshment to landward. - -It was a large airport, and it kept attendants who could speak all the -principal languages. The man who came forward, a dark Mexican, surprised -the girls by speaking perfect English. - -Briefly Linda told him the facts of her story—about the stolen planes, -which had since been regained, and the forged check for five thousand -dollars. But she said nothing about the part in the talking-picture, or -of the girl’s having taken her name. There was no reason, she felt, for -emphasizing that point or drawing publicity to herself. - -“So we think this couple have sailed,” she concluded. “Though under what -name, we don’t know. Probably neither Sprague nor Bower, but something -else, to fool us, and throw the police off the track. Our first desire -is to find out what big vessels have left this vicinity today or -yesterday.” - -“I’ll get in touch with the docks immediately,” the man assured her. -“Though I think can tell you myself. A vessel named the ‘Mona’ left here -yesterday for Hawaii. There isn’t another until day after tomorrow, -which sails for South America.” - -Linda’s eyes shone with excitement. - -“Hawaii!” she exclaimed. “I always did want to fly the Pacific!” - -“You wouldn’t try it!” he cried, in horror. - -“Why not?” she demanded. “It’s only a matter of about two thousand -miles—less than a non-stop flight across the United States. And I have a -marvellous plane.” - -“You mean—this?” he asked, pointing to the Sky Rocket. - -“Yes. She’s a marvel, even if she has only one motor. She can make a -hundred and fifty miles an hour, and is equipped with all the newest -inventions and improvements.” - -“I can see that.... But the danger—in any kind of plane,” he -remonstrated. “No woman has ever attempted it, and plenty of airmen have -found a watery grave in the Pacific.” - -“Well, some woman has to be first,” returned Linda. “I’ll think about -it, anyway. In the meanwhile, I think I’ll go down to have a talk with -the men at the docks.... By the way, have you an expert mechanic?” - -“The very best!” - -“Then please have him give the Sky Rocket a thorough inspection. Doubly -thorough, for tell him what I am contemplating. And have him take a look -at the wireless that is already installed. And fill her up with gas and -oil.” - -“O. K.,” agreed the man, shaking his head as if he thought Linda were -crazy. - -“Oh, yes—and could you get me a rubber life-boat?” she inquired. - -“At considerable cost.” - -“Well, get me one if you can, and have it put in,” said Linda, as if she -were ordering an ice-cream soda. - -“Then you really are serious about going?” asked the man, unable to -believe she meant what she was saying. - -“If I find good reason to think that couple sailed for Hawaii,” she -replied. “But not if I don’t. It isn’t a stunt, you see.” - -The girls left immediately in a taxicab for the dock. Here they saw -numerous small boats and yachts, and it occurred to Linda to wonder -whether the missing couple might not have gone off in a pleasure boat. -But after all, they couldn’t get far in the Pacific in a yacht, unless -it were one specially built for the purpose, and the idea seemed -improbable. - -They made their inquiries about the couple of a sailor. - -“Yes, there were several young couples among the passengers that left -for Hawaii yesterday,” he informed them. “About thirty passengers, all -told.” - -“But did one of the young couples look like honeymooners?” demanded Dot. - -“Can’t say as I noticed. But you can look at the list of passengers in -the office. That ought to tell you.” - -He led the girls through an open door, where they found the book on the -desk with the name of the boat, the “Mona,” and the list. But, as they -had expected, neither the name of Bower nor of Sprague occurred. - -“If that girl were using her own maiden name, we shouldn’t even know -what it was,” remarked Dot, gloomily. - -“True,” admitted Linda, thinking how strange it was that once again they -were involved in complications with a nameless girl. But, unlike poor -little Helen Tower, who had been nameless because of a cruel accident -wherein she lost her memory, this girl was deliberately, criminally, -nameless. - -“Were there any couples in flying costumes?” asked Dot, thinking perhaps -that if the Spragues had hiked from the plane, and speed were their -object, they wouldn’t have had time to change. - -But such a course would have been too obvious, and would have given them -away immediately. As she expected, the sailor shook his head to the -question. - -“Any with hand-luggage?” suggested Linda. - -“Yeah. A couple of couples.” - -“Now we’re getting there! Can you describe them?” - -“Can’t say as I could. Didn’t look at ’em, to tell you the truth. Only I -do recollect our baggage man sayin’ he was gipped out of two tips, so -these two guys must of carried their bags theirselves.” - -“Let’s go see him,” suggested Dot. - -“He’s a Mexican. Don’t speak English. But maybe I can explain to him -what you want.” - -They walked about the dock until they found a greasy-looking man who was -sprawled on a truck-van, smoking a pipe. The sailor explained what the -girls wanted, and the man sat up and stared at them. - -Linda could hardly restrain a shudder. She thought that she wouldn’t -care about meeting this man alone in the dark, or in the desert. But he -seemed pleasant enough. And, to their delight, he gave them the -information they wanted. Pointing abruptly at Linda, he told the sailor -in Mexican that one woman looked like that girl! - -Before the latter had even interpreted his meaning, Linda and Dot had -jumped to the correct conclusion and were wild with excitement. Nothing -could keep them back now, short of a cyclone. If the weather held like -this on the morrow, they would be on their way to Hawaii! - -“That settles it!” announced Linda. Then, turning to the sailor, she -inquired the exact destination of the “Mona.” - -“Honolulu,” was the reply. - -“Then I’ll send a wireless there now,” she said, and proceeded to write -out a message. - -“Hold all passengers of the ‘Mona’ for identification at Honolulu dock. -Two criminals aboard.... Signed, Linda Carlton.” - -“The Captain ought to pick up that message, too,” she remarked, turning -to Dot as soon as the words had been sent. “And the thing for us to do -now, is to make sure that we beat that boat to Honolulu!” - -Realizing their need for rest and food, the girls went back to their -taxi and directed the driver to take them to the best hotel the seaport -afforded. Here they engaged a room for the night and proceeded to make -themselves comfortable. After they had their baths, they stretched out -on the bed in their room, shaded and darkened by awnings from the hot -sun, and began to discuss the proposition seriously. They realized now -how suddenly they had plunged headlong into what really might be the -experience of a lifetime—an undertaking that took most fliers months and -months to prepare for. - -“Do you think we ought to go, Dot?” asked Linda, over-awed for the first -time at the dangers of the project, when she considered them for -somebody besides herself. - -“I’m dying to go!” cried the other girl, her eyes sparkling with -anticipation. “There’s only one thing that might hold me back.” - -“What’s that? You mean consideration for your parents?” - -“No. They’d be willing to let me do anything you considered safe. It’s -just that if I didn’t go with you, you could take a more experienced -flier in my place—or a mechanic or a navigator. And that would be better -and safer for you.” - -“Nonsense!” laughed Linda. “I can do those things, and if anything goes -wrong, you can take the controls. You certainly fly well—I’d trust you a -lot farther than a good many boys I know—like Ralph Clavering, for -instance. You’re air-minded—you have air sense, to put it another -way—and you never get rattled. You can take charge if I want to -rest—though it isn’t nearly so far as Paris, and I flew that alone.” - -“That’s true,” agreed Dot. “It isn’t even as far as if we were taking -off from Los Angeles.” She was pleased, more than she could say, at her -chum’s praise, for Linda Carlton never said anything she didn’t mean. - -“Yes, we’re a lot farther south than Los Angeles—almost in a direct line -westward.” - -“Are you going to tell your Aunt Emily?” inquired Dot, after a moment of -silence. - -“No, I think not. I don’t believe I’ll tell anybody except the people at -this airport. Then, if anything goes wrong, we shan’t have a lot of -unpleasant publicity. Besides, it’s all the better for our cause to keep -it a secret. It’s not an aviation feat this time, like flying the -Atlantic. The main object is to catch those two criminals.” - -“Then we won’t call Spring City on the telephone?” - -“No. Let’s send wires, assuring our families of our safety, and telling -them not to expect us home for several days. That will put their minds -at rest, and won’t disclose anything.” - -“What about food?” - -“Enough for a day. I figure that if we start before dawn tomorrow, we -ought to land early in the morning of the following day. So, while I am -mapping out our course, you can go visit the chef and see about packing -sandwiches and fruit and coffee. That ought to be enough. And we’ll eat -an early breakfast before we start.” - -“What are the predictions for weather?” - -“Favorable and warm.” - -“It doesn’t seem possible that we’re going so soon,” observed Dot. - -“It’s the way I like to do things,” returned Linda. “With a snap—and -we’re off! Let’s have an early supper, about six o’clock, and get in bed -by nine. And leave a call for three o’clock tomorrow morning.” - -“Three o’clock! The time lots of young people are getting home from -dances!” - -“Well, this is going to be more thrilling than any dance you ever -attended, Dot Crowley!” - -“It’s going to be the thrill of a lifetime!” - -“I hope it is. I really believe it will end happily, or I shouldn’t be -taking you along, for I am the one who’s responsible. The Sky Rocket can -carry a good load, and we’re both so light that I can easily put in a -big extra tank of gas for emergency, in case we get off our course.” - -“And if that runs out, or anything else happens, we’ll go to sea in a -rubber life-boat!” - -“I hope we shan’t have to,” said Linda.... “But now we really must get -to work. I’m going to get out my maps. It’ll be a pretty hard job to -locate those little islands in that vast expanse of ocean.” - -“If we only don’t run into a fog!” commented Dot. - -“But if we do, there’s the good old earth-inductor compass to guide us. -And besides, our course lies pretty straight westward.” - -For the next few hours the girls scarcely exchanged a word, so busily -were they employed upon their duties. Dot sent the wires and interviewed -the chef of the hotel, and Linda pored over maps and diagrams, running -her fingers through her hair, marking her course with her pencil. At six -o’clock she telephoned to the airport with final instructions. Then, -dressed as they were, for all their dresses were still at the Los -Angeles hotel, they went down to dinner. - -The dining-room was warm in spite of the fans, and it seemed exactly -like midsummer to the girls, although it really was October by the -calendar. But San Lucas was much farther south than Spring City, Ohio. - -There were not many people in the dining-room, for it was an early hour -to dine. How thankful the girls were that they were not at the -Ambassador, crowded as it always was with motion-picture people and -visitors! They ate their meal slowly, then retired to their room to work -quietly until bed-time. - -And so, at nine o’clock they prepared to go to sleep, conscious that -their next night would probably be spent on the ocean—an adventure which -would either end in disaster, or would make a story that would go down -in history, of the first young women to fly the Pacific Ocean. - -Only time could answer that question! - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - OVER THE PACIFIC - - -The gray dawn of early morning found Linda and Dot at the airport of -Cape San Lucas, all ready to take off on their momentous journey. More -than two thousand miles over the biggest ocean in the world, without a -single stop! - -The Sky Rocket was already on the runway, in perfect condition for the -trip. Her high-powered Wright engine was performing as excellently as an -expensive watch; her instruments were in tune, her tanks filled. The -wireless had been tested, and found to be working, and the rubber -life-boat which Linda had ordered was tucked away in the plane. - -“What are the weather predictions for this morning?” Linda inquired of -the mechanic, as Dot put the lunch into the cockpit. - -“Good for at least twenty-four hours,” he replied. “But that’s not the -only danger, Miss Carlton.” He shook his head ominously. “This is sure -suicide,” he predicted. - -“Why?” demanded Dot. “Isn’t the motor in perfect condition? There isn’t -anything wrong, is there?” - -“No. She’s O.K. Oiled her up a bit, and tightened a few screws. It isn’t -that. But you’ll run into a typhoon, or lose your way—” - -“It’s a pretty straight course,” said Linda. “We’re on the Tropic of -Cancer now, and Hawaii is just a little below it. It looks like pretty -easy navigating to me.” - -“You’re welcome to it. And—happy landing!” - -Linda and Dot lost no time in getting started. Five minutes later the -Sky Rocket was triumphantly rising into the air, heading straight -towards the ocean. Over the weeds and rough seashore growth on the -beach, past the waves breaking on the shore of the Pacific! The sun had -not yet risen, but it was light enough to see where they were going. On -they flew; now the waves seemed higher, but the air was calm. - -There was little wind, so Linda continued to fly low, so that they could -make use of the cushion of air on top of the water. And it was thrilling -to watch the ocean—more exciting than seeing it from the deck of a boat. - -“It does seem calmer than the Atlantic,” observed Dot, in a loud tone. -Seated side by side as they were in the companion cockpit, it was not -necessary to use the speaking-tube, and for this advantage they were -grateful. “They say that’s why it was called the ‘Pacific.’” - -“It’s beautiful, anyway,” returned Linda, admiringly. - -On and on they flew, ever westward, as the sun rose in its full glory -behind them. Soon the land was lost to view; there were no vessels in -sight—only limitless sky and ocean, and two girls alone in that vast, -empty universe. But both girls were in high spirits; neither was the -least bit afraid. - -Climbing a little higher, Linda opened her throttle to its maximum, and -found themselves travelling at a speed of a hundred and fifty miles an -hour. The girls laughed and sang at the joy of the exhilarating motion, -but they did not attempt to talk. There was so much to think about—the -fun of the flight, and the triumph of landing in Hawaii, ahead of that -boat, the “Mona.” Oh, if they only made it! - -Water everywhere—and the sky overhead. Noontime came, with the sun right -above them, and the girls realized that it had been a long time since -they had eaten. Dot made a dive for the coffee and sandwiches, divided -off as they were in portions for lunch and supper and breakfast, and -both girls ate ravenously. When they had finished she insisted that -Linda take a rest. - -With a yawn and a stretch, Linda willingly complied, and gave the -controls over to the other girl. It would afford her not only an -opportunity to relax, but a chance to study the maps as well. - -“We’ve covered eight hundred miles already,” she shouted in Dot’s ear. -“And we’re sticking straight to our course.” - -“How’s the gas holding out?” returned her companion. - -“Fine. I think we’ll have some left over, at this rate.... Now Dot, if -you’re all right, I think I’ll take forty winks. Even that blazing sun -doesn’t seem to keep me from being sleepy.” - -The other girl nodded, and Linda slipped off to sleep. Even the bumps in -the air seemed to have no effect upon her slumbers; for an hour perhaps, -she slept soundly, while Dot continued on the flight. Then, all of a -sudden she was abruptly awakened by a terrified cry from her companion. -The plane was dropping—it seemed to be diving right into the ocean—into -the very jaws of death! - -For one brief moment Linda thought of the life-boat, but that did not -seem feasible now. Instinctively she grabbed the stick, and pulled it -back sharply. The Sky Rocket wobbled almost on the surface of the water, -and at that very moment a hideous, terrifying shark poked its head above -the surface! - -For one awful second death stared them in the face. Not the easy death -of drowning, but a horrible torturing agony at the jaws of a ferocious -fish. The plane seemed to hover uncertainly for a moment; then with a -sudden lightning speed it gathered control and started to climb -upward—to safety! - -Linda let out a gasp of relief, and Dot sobbed in contrition as the Sky -Rocket soared into the air. - -“I don’t know how I could have done it,” wailed Dot. “All of a sudden, -it seemed as if we were headed straight for the ocean, and nothing could -stop us. If you hadn’t taken hold that very instant, we’d have been -killed.” - -“It was a lucky escape,” returned Linda. “And from now on we’ll make it -a point to fly higher, even if we can’t use the wind to such advantage, -as we could right over the water.” - -The afternoon passed, with the motor still functioning perfectly. The -wind increased somewhat, but not enough to disturb Linda greatly. She -was continuing to fly high, for she didn’t want to run any risk of -hitting that deep, terrifying ocean again. A little before sunset they -sighted a ship. - -“I’m going a little lower,” she shouted to Dot. “Get your glasses. We’ll -see whether that’s the ‘Mona.’” - -“It is!” exclaimed Dot, a few minutes later. “I suppose we’re too far -south to meet the regular Los Angeles-Hawaii lines. But we must be -following about the same course as the ‘Mona.’” - -“Keep a watch-out for the girl-friend!” advised Linda. - -Down they glided, keeping the ship in sight until they were about a -hundred feet over the water. It was a small boat—not nearly so large as -the regular San Francisco-Hawaii line; and they could see the people -hurrying to the deck, peering through their glasses, and waving and -shouting in greeting. Dot, too, did her share of the searching. - -“I don’t see them,” she said. - -Linda looked intently, but she could not distinguish the passengers’ -faces. However, she did not think it was likely that Sprague or his wife -would be waving to them. They would surely recognize the plane. - -“Probably they’ve been keeping off the decks,” she said. “Hiding, as -much as possible, without arousing suspicion.” - -“Maybe the girl’s seasick,” observed Dot. “I only hope she doesn’t pass -out and get buried at sea, before we ever have a look at her, or a -chance to collect that five thousand,” remarked Dot. - -Linda regained her height, and sped onward, determined to get to Hawaii -well in advance of the boat, and to lie in wait for the criminals. The -blood was rushing through her veins, and she was thrilled with the -chase, but she resolutely kept calm. The worst of the trip—the black -night—was ahead of her, and she needed every ounce she had of energy and -nerve. - -The plane was still doing well over a hundred miles an hour, and going -forward with mighty gains, eating up the miles. The sun set and once -again the girls ate some sandwiches and drank more coffee. - -“I’m almost afraid to offer to take the controls and let you rest,” said -Dot, humbly. “After the way I fell down before.” - -“It was the Sky Rocket that did the falling,” laughed Linda. “But I -guess that wouldn’t happen again. You’ll stay up high, I’m thinking.” - -“You’ll trust me again?” - -“Certainly, Dot. Don’t be so foolish. Besides, I want to do a little -calculating.” - -Relaxing back in her seat, Linda consulted her maps and her sextant, -when suddenly she heard a queer noise. The motor was knocking in a -strange, ominous way that almost made the girls’ hearts stop beating. -Was it going dead? Panic-stricken, Dot looked down on the ocean, hoping -that she could see the “Mona,” or some other ship that might rescue -them, and Linda’s thoughts turned to the wireless. - -The tapping was growing worse; the engine seemed to be dying. Linda -racked her brain for a reason; surely the gas hadn’t given out. Telling -Dot to keep on guiding the plane, she examined the feed-valve. And here -she located the trouble! - -A broad smile of relief spread over her face. “I can fix that, easily,” -she assured her companion. “Just hang on for a couple of minutes.” - -She was as good as her word; soon the knocking ceased, and the engine -was running as smoothly as when the Sky Rocket left Cape San Lucas. And -Linda herself was back at the controls, urging Dot to avail herself of a -nap while she had the chance. - -It was entirely dark now, and the stars were shining in the sky, and -reflected in the ocean, making a beautiful picture for the girls as they -flew on. Phosphorescent lights, too, played through the water, reminding -Linda of the dangerous life beneath. - -Towards ten o’clock, while Dot was taking her nap, they had one more -terrifying experience. Suddenly, for no reason at all, they started to -fall. Yet the engine was not dead, nor was their motion slow enough for -a stall. There was only one explanation, of course: an air-pocket. Down, -down they came, like an elevator whose cords have been broken. Dot -wakened up with a scream and the beads of perspiration stood out on -Linda’s forehead, for she believed that this time the sea was really -about to swallow them. - -But she had been flying high, and this proved to be her salvation. She -tried banking the plane, first on one side and then on the other, -breaking the fall, but making both herself and Dot dizzy with the -sickening motion. Her head swam; she hardly knew what she was doing, and -there was the black water beneath them. But at last a current of air -swept under the wings, assuring her that she was out of danger once -more. Making a sharp turn away from the air-pocket, she found her plane -responding to the stick as she started to climb back again to the height -she had lost. - -The girls breathed freely again, and Dot, now wide awake, produced -coffee from the thermos bottle, for they felt in need of a stimulant. -But, as the plane flew fearlessly on, and the flight again became -monotonous, Dot fell asleep once more, and Linda continued, waking and -watchful. - -She watched the stars fade gradually from the sky, and the first gray -light play over the sea. Tensely alert, she glanced eagerly at her -speedometer. If her calculations were correct, there were only three -hundred miles more to go! - -It was considerably lighter when Dot finally opened her eyes. - -“Fine companion I am!” she exclaimed, in shame. “To go to sleep like -that. Leaving you as lonely as you were on your Atlantic flight!” - -Linda reached over and touched her hand affectionately. - -“Don’t you believe it, Dot!” she said. “It makes a big difference, -having you here.... And if you’re awake now, I’d like to have you take -control. I want to do some figuring. Now that we’re getting so near, I -want to locate the islands. Suppose we’d miss them, after coming all -this distance!” - -“Suppose we would!” repeated Dot. “And never realize it till we landed -on the coast of Australia!” - -“We’d know it before then. Our gas would give out somewhere in the -middle of the ocean.” - -“Well, we’re not going to miss them!” - -It was, as Linda said, one of the most difficult parts of the flight, to -locate those tiny dots of islands in the vast expanse of ocean. But -Linda was a good navigator, and she made her calculations correctly. -They were, she discovered, only about fifty miles off their course—an -error which was easily remedied, since their gas supply was adequate. - -“A hundred miles more!” she announced, when she finally resumed control. -“Now we can watch for the sea-gulls!” - -Nearer and nearer to their destination they came. Now Dot spied some -fishing craft with her glasses, and that fact told her that the shore -must be near. Her excitement was so intense that she could hardly sit -still. The end of her first ocean flight! Her first landing from over -the water! - -“We’re coming!” she shouted, in wild exultation. - -Linda was almost equally thrilled, although her pulse was calmer. It had -been less terrifying, less difficult, less nerve-racking than the -solitary, long flight over the Atlantic. But she was nevertheless -excited. - -Now the cliffs rose from the ocean, and the waves broke against the -shore, showing their white-caps. And, as if to stage a dramatic arrival, -the sun rose in all its glory, shedding its beams over the land and -water. - -The green island of Molokai was beneath them! - -But this was not their destination, and Linda pressed on. - -“Aren’t you going to land?” cried Dot, in disappointment. - -“No,” returned Linda. “We are making for the island of Oahu. I must come -down in Honolulu.” - -On they flew, past Molokai, directing their course southwest, over the -indigo waters of the Pacific, now so beautiful in the sunlight, then -swinging north towards the capital city of the Hawaiian Islands. Now -they saw speed boats and launches on the waves; they passed the great -Diamond Head, and Waikiki beach, and hovered at last over the Rogers -Airport on the coast. - -“Honolulu!” cried Linda, joyously. “We are here!” - -As the girls looked beneath them, it seemed for a moment as if the -airport were a bed of flowers. Garlands of leis and gardenias filled the -air with a strange and wonderful fragrance. Then, as Linda dropped -lower, she realized that these flowers were all in the arms of people -standing about the ground. People of every race and color. - -“Who are all those people?” demanded Dot. “Do you suppose there’s been -an accident?” - -“Oh, I hope not!” replied Linda. “I’ll keep on flying over the field -until they scatter. I mustn’t hurt anybody.” She brought the Sky Rocket -lower, and gave a signal that she wanted to land. - -But already policemen were busily pushing the crowd back, making a clear -runway for the plane. When Linda thought it was safe, she gracefully -glided to the ground. - -Even above the noise of the engine, the girls heard the wild shouts of -the multitude. - -“Hello, Linda Carlton! Hello, Dot Crowley!” seemed to rise from every -direction, and flowers were strewn in their path. “Welcome to Oahu!” - -The girls stared at each other a moment in consternation, not -understanding how these people could possibly be informed of their -names. But only a moment, for the crowd rushed in, and it took all the -policemen’s efforts to hold them in check. A small and select group of -half a dozen or so were admitted close to the plane. - -From this group, a couple of young fliers stepped forward and lifted the -girls right out of the cockpit. - -“Congratulations to the first girls to cross the Pacific!” they cried, -as they put garlands of leis around their necks. Then, with Linda and -Dot on their shoulders, high over the heads of the crowd, the boys -carried them to a waiting car. - -“Aloha!” shouted everyone as they passed. “To our heroines of the air!” - - - - - CHAPTER XV - THE ISLAND OF OAHU - - -“But how did you know about us?” gasped Dot, as she found herself -miraculously seated in a shining, low car at the edge of the flying -field. “We didn’t tell anybody about it.” - -Both the young men grinned broadly. - -“A special late edition came out last night with the announcement,” -explained one of the boys. “A Los Angeles paper. And every newspaper in -the United States and Hawaii will run the story this morning. Besides, a -ship you flew over yesterday sent a radio that you had been sighted!” - -The car moved slowly through the space blocked off by the policemen, and -Linda and Dot smiled and waved to the crowd as they passed. - -“Where are we going now?” asked Linda. - -“To the Governor’s mansion. There’s a big breakfast waiting for you. -Then there will be a reception tonight. Did you know that you will -receive an award of ten thousand dollars, to be shared between you?” - -Linda and Dot looked at each other in amazement. They had undertaken the -flight with no thought of glory or reward, and they were winning -applause from the whole world. It was nothing short of miraculous! - -But what would their own relatives think? Miss Carlton, and Mr. and Mrs. -Crowley—and Linda’s father, who hadn’t even been informed of the -project? Was it too late now to send them telegrams? - -“We each get five thousand dollars?” repeated Dot, incredulously. “But -why? Who is giving it?” - -“A wealthy woman in Honolulu promised that amount some time ago to the -first woman to fly to Hawaii from the coast of America. The only point -she stipulated was that there was to be no man in the plane. So, if two -girls made the flight, she said she would divide the prize.” - -“So you’ll get the five thousand back that you lost, Linda!” exclaimed -Dot. “Now you won’t have to catch that girl.” - -“But I’m going to catch her,” Linda insisted. “Not for the money, -especially, but because I’ve made up my mind to do it.” - -The automobile threaded its way through the streets of Honolulu, on to -the Governor’s mansion. Here the girls were received with the greatest -cordiality by the chief executive’s wife. A lovely breakfast, to which -all the important aviators of the island were invited, was served on the -wide veranda, and a suite of rooms had been set aside for the girls’ -visit. - -“I suppose you will want to take a nap first,” said their charming -hostess. “Then, after you have rested, perhaps you would like to go down -to our beach and bathe.” - -“We’d love it!” cried Dot, eagerly. “Think of the thrill of going in -bathing in October!” - -“Then this evening,” continued the older woman, “is the banquet, -followed by a reception in your honor at the hotel. And Mrs. Dinwitty, -the donor of the award, will present you with your checks.” - -“It’s all just too wonderful!” exclaimed Dot. “But what shall we do for -clothes? We can’t attend receptions in flying-suits!” - -“I’ll see that they are provided,” promised the other. “We have -marvellous shops in our city, and now that I know your sizes, it will be -easy enough to order a supply.” - -As soon as she had left them, Linda went to the telephone in her room. - -“I must call the police before we go to sleep,” she said to Dot. “We -might miss our criminals.” - -The reply, however, was reassuring. - -“The ‘Mona’ doesn’t dock till noon tomorrow,” an official assured her. -“And we have detailed men to help you. We got in touch with the Los -Angeles police after we got your wireless, and we made out a warrant for -the arrest of the girl. We’ll call you when the ship docks.” - -Reassured now, and at ease for the rest of the day, the girls slept all -morning in the beautiful bedroom set aside for their visit, and after -luncheon they were driven to the famous Waikiki beach, and lay on the -sand and later rode the waves of the Pacific on the long, narrow boards -which they had so often seen pictured in the movies. There was so much -to do and see and enjoy that they wished that they might spend at least -a month in this Paradise of the Pacific, as the Hawaiian Islands are so -often called. - -“It’s hard to think of crime and criminals in a spot like this,” -remarked Linda, as she lay on the sand and gazed at the deep blue sky -above her. “I purposely haven’t mentioned them to our hostess—because I -didn’t want to spoil things. Today has been so perfect.” - -And perfect it continued to be, until the girls finally closed their -eyes in sleep that night. The dinner and the reception were gorgeous -affairs, yet the kindness of the Governor and his wife prevented them -from becoming stilted and formal. Even Linda felt no embarrassment when -she was called out and presented with the check. For Dot was at her -side, equal to the occasion with a clever little speech of acceptance -and thanks. - -Excitement had kept the girls going during the first day, but the next -morning reaction set in and they felt as if they wanted to sleep -forever. Their thoughtful hostess, realizing just what they had been -through, decided not to have them wakened. Telegrams and flowers began -to arrive, but she saw no need of disturbing Linda and Dot. She did not -know that they were counting on meeting the ship that was scheduled to -dock at noon. - -At last, however, Linda opened her eyes and reached for her wrist-watch -that lay on the tiny table between her bed and Dot’s. It said twenty -minutes after twelve! - -She picked it up and examined it closely, unable to believe her eyes. - -“Dot!” she cried. “We’ve overslept! Do you suppose the police have -called? And we’ve missed them?” - -“Missed—who—whom—I mean?” inquired her companion, sleepily. - -“The couple we’re after! Sprague and that girl! Oh, Dot, wake up!” - -“What shall we do?” asked Dot, realizing at last the seriousness of the -situation. - -“Get dressed at once!” replied Linda, as she rang the bell for the maid. - -Almost miraculously the latter appeared in answer to the summons, with -fresh sports-clothing for both the girls. And bringing telegrams and -boxes of flowers. - -“Have the police telephoned?” asked Linda, to the maid’s amazement. - -“Police? Oh, no, ma’am. There’s been some calls for you, but not from -the police. Are you expectin’ them?” She eyed the girls suspiciously, as -if she thought they might be criminals. - -“Yes,” replied Linda, her fingers already on the telephone, giving the -number to the operator. - -“This is Linda Carlton,” she announced. “Has the ‘Mona’ docked yet?” - -“No, ma’am. But she’s due any minute now, and the Chief gave me orders -to call you. We’ve got a warrant ready for Mrs. Leslie Sprague—is that -right?” - -“That’s it!” replied Linda, grinning with satisfaction. “And we’ll be -right over—so hold all the passengers until we get a look at them.” - -“O.K., Miss Carlton. See you later!” - -Linda replaced the receiver, and turned to the maid, who was still -awaiting her orders. - -“Do you think we could have our breakfast right away—and then have a car -take us to the flying field?” she asked. “Please ask your mistress—and -tell her that it’s terribly important.” - -“Aren’t you even going to read those telegrams?” inquired Dot, a trifle -disappointed. After all, it was her first big air triumph, and she -wanted to enjoy the victory to its utmost. But, instead, Linda must be -rushing off immediately. - -“When we come back!” returned the latter, as she put on the pretty white -linen suit with which her hostess had provided her. - -Dot sighed, and proceeded to dress. There was no stopping Linda, once -she had made up her mind to do something. - -“I could go alone, Dot,” Linda remarked, as they started for the -dining-room. “Then you’d have a chance to enjoy yourself this -afternoon.” - -“No,” replied her chum. “It isn’t going to take long, and I wouldn’t -miss it for the world. You know how I despise that man Sprague—I want to -gloat over his capture.” - -They ate a hasty meal that was both breakfast and lunch, and got into a -car with a native chauffeur, that was waiting for them in the driveway. -A few minutes later they arrived at the dock, just as the passengers -from the “Mona” were about to be discharged. - -It would have been difficult to press through the crowds of native -children, with their flowers of welcome for the arriving visitors, had -the girls not had the aid of the Chief of Police. Clearing a passage for -himself and his companions, he led them right on board the “Mona.” The -Captain came forward to meet them, beaming proudly at the two brave -aviatrixes, as he shook their hands. - -“Congratulations, Miss Carlton and Miss Crowley!” he exclaimed. “You did -a valiant thing!” - -“Thank you so much,” replied Linda, modestly. She had no desire to talk -of her flight over the Pacific; her one absorbing interest now was the -capture of the girl whom she had pursued so far. - -“Stand here,” continued the Captain, “and you can watch the passengers -as they go by.” - -Two by two the people on board the “Mona” walked over the gangplank to -the pier, as Linda and Dot, their hearts beating fast with excitement, -peered intently into their faces. - -A dozen couples hurried by, then three lone passengers straggled along -as if in no haste at all. But still no girl that even remotely resembled -Linda. And no sign of Leslie Sprague. - -“Is—that—all?” faltered Linda, unable to believe that they really had -not come. - -“Here’s one more couple. They’re still awful seasick,” explained the -Captain, and Linda and Dot strained their necks to catch the first -glimpse of these last people, just emerging from the cabin. - -But their hopes were immediately dashed to the ground. The couple were -elderly; their hair gray, their faces wrinkled. - -“Maybe it’s a disguise,” whispered Dot, suspiciously. - -The Captain shook his head. - -“No. I know these people well. Cousins of mine, by the name of Rankin. -Lived on Oahu all their lives.” - -Linda heaved a deep sigh of disappointment. - -“And you’re sure that’s positively all the passengers who sailed from -Cape San Lucas?” she asked. - -“All except a couple that docked at the island of Lanai. A planter who -lives there part of every year—and often makes the trip. I know him -well—have brought him across half a dozen times. He had a new bride with -him this trip.” - -“A new bride!” repeated Linda. “Did she look like me?” - -The Captain regarded her closely. - -“Believe she did.... But that man’s not a criminal. He couldn’t be the -fellow you want.” - -“Well, whether the man is or not, the girl is!” cried Linda. “What name -did they give?” - -“Steve Long is the man’s name. He didn’t have to give it—I know him.” - -“Light hair—light moustache?” she questioned. - -“Sissy-looking!” added Dot. - -The Captain smiled. - -“That must be your man,” he agreed. - -“So we have to fly to Lanai,” muttered Linda, turning to the Chief of -Police. “Can you help me out?” - -“You mean go with you?” - -“No, not necessarily. I’d rather not overload the plane.... Isn’t there -somebody on the island who would help us?” - -“Of course there is. I can send a wireless to our agent over there, and -you can report to him. He can give you native police, if you need them. -And give you the warrant for the girl’s arrest.” - -They completed their arrangements, and had the chauffeur drive them -immediately to the airport, where the Sky Rocket had been resting since -their landing the preceding morning. Here they dismissed the car, asking -the driver to make their explanations to his mistress, assuring her that -they would be back in time for dinner. Linda then went in search of her -plane. - -“What sort of shape is she in?” she asked, as she spied the Sky Rocket -in a hangar, with a mechanic beside her. - -“Fine!” replied the man. “We did some overhauling on her yesterday—a few -minor repairs, and filled her up with gas and oil. She’s fit as a fiddle -now.... But why? You girls aren’t thinking of flying back over the -ocean, are you?” - -“No!” laughed Linda. “Once is enough. But we want to go to one of the -islands—Lanai, to be exact—to do some scouting. We’re after a criminal.” - -“A criminal?” - -“Two criminals, rather. Forgers—thieves. They came across on the ‘Mona,’ -and we thought they’d dock here—but they got off at Lanai instead.” - -“By heck!” exclaimed the mechanic in amazement. “What will modern girls -take up next?” - -“Can you tell us what that island is like?” asked Dot. - -“Well, it’s not like Oahu,” he replied. “Not a place that tourists visit -much. No hotels and stores—or cities. Mostly pineapple plantations -there—not many white people, except some of the owners.... But I’ll get -you a map, and show you just where to land if you want to go to the -agent’s office first. He can tell you all about it.” - -He disappeared into an office, and returned with the map in question, -marking the best spot on the beach for Linda to make her landing. Then -he had the Sky Rocket pushed out on the runway, and the engine started. - -“Watch the planes that arrive and leave here,” Linda shouted into his -ear as she climbed into the cockpit. - -“I’ll be on the job!” the man assured her. “And happy landings to you!” - -The Sky Rocket taxied along the runway, and left the ground a minute -later, as if it, too, were eager to be in the skies again, on the chase. -Over the beach of Waikiki, past Diamond Head, southeast over the Pacific -Ocean again, Linda directed her course, sure that at last she was within -sight of her goal. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - MISSING! - - -The girls had been away from Spring City for ten days when Mr. Carlton, -Linda’s father, returned from his trip abroad and arrived at his -sister’s home, expecting, naturally, to see his daughter. - -“Hello, Emily!” he exclaimed, walking in as he so often did, without any -notice, and kissing his sister nonchalantly, as if he had been absent a -week instead of six months. “Where’s Linda?” - -“Hollywood,” was his sister’s reply. - -“No!” exclaimed the man, in a tone of deepest disappointment. It had -always been a matter of extreme satisfaction to him that Linda had never -been carried away by the lure of fame and fortune, and accepted a -motion-picture contract. - -“Don’t look so horrified, Tom!” laughed Miss Carlton. “I only wish she -were safely acting for the movies. Instead of that, she’s chasing wildly -around Mexico after a couple of criminals.” - -“Mexico!” - -“Yes. And I’m so afraid of bandits there.” - -“Now, Emily, you’re judging Mexico by the movies. That sort of stuff has -gone out long ago. Mexico City is as civilized as New York.” - -“Mexico City—yes. But that isn’t where Linda’s telegram is from, and -that isn’t where she’ll be. Trust her to find some lonely wilderness! -Oh, I’m so worried. In fact, I’m packing now to go out to Los Angeles.” - -Her brother sat down and lighted a cigarette. - -“You might as well tell me the story,” he said. - -Miss Carlton made it as brief as possible and showed her brother the -telegrams she had received thus far. The man listened quietly, more -worried than he cared to admit to his sister, but then and there he -decided to go with her. - -He would have preferred to fly by the commercial air-line, in order to -save time, but since Miss Carlton stubbornly refused to get into a -plane, he agreed to take the fast train on which she had already engaged -passage. - -A few hours later, just as they were about to leave the house, a very -excited young man rushed into the living-room, without even waiting to -ring the doorbell. It was Ralph Clavering, who always had the right to -come and go as he pleased. - -“I’ve just heard the news about Linda and Dot!” he exclaimed. “And so -Jim Valier and I are flying to the coast in my autogiro immediately.” - -“What news?” demanded Miss Carlton, turning pale. Did he know more than -she did—and had something terrible happened to her darling niece? - -“About chasing off to Mexico. Dot’s mother showed me the telegrams. -Believe me, I’m scared this time. Those girls may be dead by now.” - -“Now—now—Ralph, please be a little more tactful!” urged Mr. Carlton. -“Don’t scare my sister to death with your gloomy conjectures.” - -“I’m scared to death myself,” muttered the boy, sullenly. “That’s why -I’m going. There’s nobody out there to help her—not even Ted Mackay, or -that young reporter that saved her from burning to death. I’ve got to -go!” - -“Of course, that’s fine of you,” agreed Mr. Carlton. “But don’t get all -worked up about it. I’m betting on Linda and Dot every time!” - -“How about your college work?” questioned Miss Carlton. - -“I can’t be annoyed with classes when my best girl’s in danger,” replied -Ralph. “And Jim feels the same way about Dot.” - -“We’re just ready to go too,” announced Miss Carlton. “But not by -plane.” - -Ralph smiled; he did not need to be told that. - -And so that morning in early October four people departed from Spring -City to go to the rescue of those two daring young fliers, who never -expected help from anyone. - -When the news came that Linda and Dot had safely reached Honolulu, Ralph -and Jim had already arrived at the Los Angeles airport, and Miss Carlton -and her brother were well on their way to the West. - -Their train had stopped at Santa Fe for a few moments, and newsboys were -shouting the story. - -“Two girls fly the Pacific!” they screamed. “All about the flight to -Hawaii!” - -Mr. Carlton looked at his sister. - -“Could it be Linda and Dot?” he demanded. - -Miss Carlton nodded. - -“Of course. They would. I knew it. The Pacific Ocean would be too much -of a temptation to Linda, once she was out here. I’ve been fearing it -all along.” - -“But you don’t have to fear it any longer—if it really is they who did -it. It’ll be over by now—and the danger past.” - -He stepped to the platform and bought a paper. And, sure enough, his -daughter’s and Dot’s pictures stared at him from the front page. - -There was no hiding his pride now. His eyes shone with happiness; he -looked like a small boy who sees his favorite pitcher win a baseball -game. - -“Look! Look! Emily!” he cried, as he came back to her chair. “Read what -it says for yourself!” And she noticed that his hands were actually -shaking. - -A wave of pride and admiration surged over Miss Carlton as she read -about the two dauntless girls. The first of their sex to make this -flight over the gigantic ocean—from the United States to Hawaii. They -had evidently made up their minds in a hurry, and had not told anyone -except the people at the airport from which they took off. - -But the feat had evidently not been accepted so casually by others, for -already, they read, the girls were being feted. Entertained by the -Governor of Hawaii—a reception planned in their honor—and five thousand -dollars apiece to be presented to them! - -“And to think we came out to rescue them!” laughed Miss Carlton. - -“I wonder what Ralph and Jim will think of this news,” remarked her -brother. - -“Ralph will probably be jealous because he didn’t make the flight with -Linda—instead of Dot. But Jim will just be filled with admiration.” - -“I like Jim,” observed Mr. Carlton. - -“Yes, so does everybody,” agreed his sister. “He’s so good-natured, even -if he is lazy. But he’s really true-blue, all the way through. And if -Dot marries him, she’ll certainly keep him stepping.” - -“Do you still want Linda to marry Ralph, Emily?” inquired the other. “I -remember how excited you were at her graduation, because he had -evidently fallen so hard for her. With all his wealth and social -position.” - -The woman smiled a little and shook her head. - -“I’ve learned my lesson, Tom,” she said, “in this year and a half since -Linda’s been out of school. I had expected her to have a year of -parties—to ‘come out,’ you know—and then marry some nice young man. But -Linda has plans of her own, and I realize now that I might as well save -my time as to try to arrange anything for her.... And, as for wealth and -social position—well, they simply mean nothing in her life. Besides, she -doesn’t need them; I can see that. Linda could go anywhere, be accepted -at Court, if she wanted to, because of what she has accomplished -herself.” - -“I’m glad you’ve got so much sense, Emily! Lots of women of your age -wouldn’t see that at all.” - -“I didn’t at first. But I do now. And so I think, when she marries, it -must be somebody as big as herself. It won’t be Ralph Clavering—unless -he does cave-man stuff, and actually kidnaps her.” - -“Even then, she’d probably find a way to escape. She always does get out -of the most difficult situations.” - -“Yes. When Linda marries, I think it will be love at first sight—on the -spur of the moment, just as she evidently decided to take this flight to -Hawaii. It will seem to her to be the one, the only thing to do—and -she’ll do it. I’m sorry, for I’d love a big wedding for her—she’d make -such a beautiful bride—but I’m not going to count on it.” - -Mr. Carlton nodded approvingly. Like most men, he couldn’t see the use -of the big fuss a formal wedding entailed. But though he knew Linda was -tremendously interested in aviation, he didn’t want her to miss the -happiness that marriage would bring her. His own had been blissfully -happy during its short duration, until his wife died at her baby -daughter’s birth. - -“Yes, Linda will decide for herself,” he muttered. “I only hope that the -man will be worthy of her.” - -“He couldn’t be. No mere man could possibly equal Linda,” remarked Miss -Carlton. - -“How you love to tease, Emily!” retorted her brother. “But I guess -you’re right at that.” - -The rest of the journey seemed longer than ever, now, to the impatient -couple who longed to be with the girls to celebrate their great triumph -with them. Never did a train seem to move so slowly. But at last it -arrived at Los Angeles, about seven o’clock of the night on which Linda -and Dot came down in the wilds of Oahu, at the cabin of their enemies. - -“We’ll take a boat to Honolulu tomorrow,” announced Miss Carlton. “I -only wish we could take it right away—if there were only one sailing.” - -From out of the crowd on the platform two young men, hatless and -sun-burned, edged their way toward the Carltons. Both were tall, so that -they could easily be seen above the heads of the other people around. - -“Greetings, Miss Carlton!” called Ralph Clavering, before he had even -reached them. “We’ve got bad news.” - -“Bad news!” repeated Mr. Carlton, in consternation. “But we read in the -papers that the girls arrived safely in Honolulu!” - -“Yes. They did, sir. But they’re lost again!” - -Miss Carlton seized Ralph’s arm, to steady herself, and looked into his -face. - -“You’re not joking, Ralph? You wouldn’t—joke about a thing like this?” -Her voice was trembling. - -“Indeed I’m not, Miss Carlton,” replied the boy, earnestly. “I’m worried -sick.” - -Mr. Carlton, however, looked less troubled than his sister. - -“No, I know you’re not joking, Ralph,” he said. “But you probably are -exaggerating. You always see the black side of everything. You and my -sister are just alike.... But let’s go over here and sit down, and -suppose Jim tells us the story.” - -They went to one of the waiting-rooms in the station and sat down -together, Miss Carlton struggling hard to get herself under control. -Suppose Linda had taken it into her head to fly back—and she and Dot -were now lost at the bottom of the Pacific! Suppose—But Jim was already -explaining. - -“Well, we don’t know much that you haven’t read in the papers,” he -began. “The girls went to the dinner and the reception in their honor -last night, and were staying at the Governor’s mansion. We were going to -sail for the island this morning, but there was no boat till tomorrow, -so we called them on the telephone. - -“That was about eleven o’clock this morning, and we were told that they -were still asleep. We phoned again at one, and they had gone out. - -“So we sent a couple of telegrams and waited. We asked them to call our -hotel here at Los Angeles. But by seven o’clock there was no message, -and we sort of got mad. At least, Ralph did. I thought maybe they had -too much to do, but Ralph thought some new bird like that Englishman -Linda fell for last summer was taking her time, and he resented it. - -“But I persuaded him to give them another chance, and we phoned again. -This time the Governor himself talked to me. And he was really scared. - -“It seems Linda and Dot had gone to the airport right after they got up -about noon, and had taken the Sky Rocket for a flight—” - -“The Sky Rocket?” interrupted Mr. Carlton. “Has Linda a new plane?” - -“Temporarily—yes. The Ladybug is here at Los Angeles.... But that’s -another story.... Well, anyhow, the girls promised to be back early, for -a dinner that had been planned in their honor but they haven’t been -heard from!” - -“Murdered! Attacked by some half-breeds, of course!” cried Miss Carlton. -“And no man with them to protect them!” - -“Nonsense, Emily!” returned her brother. “They probably ran out of -gas—or damaged a wing. Or had a missing spark-plug. Linda will fix that, -and those two girls will show up tomorrow morning.” - -“I wish I could think that, sir,” said Ralph. “Gosh, if I only had my -bug over there on that island! But I haven’t the nerve to fly it.” - -“No, don’t!” pleaded Miss Carlton. “It would only add another disaster -to our troubles. No, we’ll sail together tomorrow morning.” - -“In the meanwhile, let’s go to our hotel and wash and have dinner,” -suggested Mr. Carlton. “Then things may look brighter. I positively -refuse to worry till I have just cause!” - -“Wise man!” commented Jim Valier, as he picked up Miss Carlton’s bag. - -So the little group had dinner together at the Ambassador, waiting all -the time tensely for news. But none came. And the newspapers duly -reported the story that the dinner for two famous aviatrixes had been -postponed! - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - CAPTURE - - -The flight across the Pacific from Oahu to Lanai took less than two -hours. Early in the afternoon Linda brought the Sky Rocket to a landing -on the beach of the lonely island, near to the spot indicated on her -map. - -“That must be the agent’s shack over there,” she said, as she and Dot -climbed out of the cockpit. “I hope he’s there.” - -The girls walked along the beach a short distance. How different it was -from Waikiki! How deserted! Yet just as beautiful in the bright -sunlight. Before they reached the shack, however, a man in a linen suit -came out to meet them. - -“Miss Carlton and Miss Crowley, I suppose?” he inquired, holding out his -hand. He was a pleasant-faced man of middle age, with a tanned -complexion and eyes as blue as the waters of the Pacific. “My name is -Jardin. I have the wireless from Honolulu.” - -“Then you know all about us,” said Linda. “Can you take us to Steven -Long’s plantation?” - -“Yes, I can. But it doesn’t seem possible that that man is a criminal. -What are the charges against him?” - -Briefly, Linda told the facts of her story. - -“But those are all charges against the girl,” Jardin pointed out. “You -haven’t anything against Long.” - -“He stole two planes,” insisted Dot. - -“You mean his wife stole them. I don’t think that man can fly.” - -Linda and Dot looked at each other in disappointment. How awful it would -be if they couldn’t bring Sprague to justice! For they believed that he -was responsible for the whole affair. - -“Well, we’ve got plenty against the girl—if she is the one you’re -seeking,” concluded Jardin. “So I’ll get my runabout and drive you over -to their plantation.” - -“Wait!” interposed Dot. “A plane’s coming! Who can it be?” - -“Probably only some of the coast guards,” explained Jardin, gazing up at -the approaching monoplane. It was the type used by the U. S. fliers in -their patrol about the islands. - -Nearer and nearer it whirred; a moment later it swooped down on the -beach a short distance from them. The pilot climbed out of the cockpit, -and the girls, recognizing him instantly, uttered a wild cry of joy. It -was Bertram Chase! - -“Bert!” they both cried at the same time, as he rushed forward and -seized their hands. “What miracle brought you here?” - -“I found out about your flight at the Honolulu airport,” he replied. -“You might know I’d come after you, no matter where you went!” - -“But what are you doing in Hawaii?” demanded Dot. - -“I sailed from Los Angeles the very night I left you—after I put the -Ladybug into the airport. We’re on the track of a counterfeiter, and a -clue pointed to Honolulu. Money turned in at a bank there. So I was sent -to Hawaii. Lucky break for me!” He looked admiringly at Linda. - -“That’s great!” exclaimed Dot. “Leave your plane here and come along -with us in Mr. Jardin’s car. We think we’re going to nab Linda’s double -at last.” - -Mr. Jardin took the wheel of his runabout and Linda sat beside him. In -the rumble-seat behind, Dot and Bert Chase laughed and talked excitedly -of the adventure. - -Over the beach, through lanes that could hardly be called roads, the -little car threaded its way into the heart of the island. Fifteen -minutes later, within sight of a low, straw-covered bungalow, it came to -a stop. - -“This is Long’s place,” announced Jardin. “Do you all want to come in -with me?” - -“Certainly,” replied Dot, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. - -Along a path overgrown with ferns and flowers, in thick profusion, the -little party went single file to the veranda of the bungalow. Not a -person was in sight; the place looked empty. Had Sprague and his wife -run away again—or were they only hiding? - -Jardin stepped boldly up to the door and rapped. A native boy answered -his summons in a minute or two. - -“Meester Jardin,” he said, with a grin of welcome. - -“Is your master about?” asked the agent. - -The boy nodded and beckoned for them to come inside. - -The room to which the door opened was deserted. A plain, bare room, with -only a few rough chairs, a table, and a hard cot. Not exactly the kind -of place a woman would enjoy. - -“I get him,” said the boy, indicating for the visitors to be seated, and -going out of the front door again. - -Linda and Dot sat down upon the hard chairs, but Chase wandered -aimlessly around the room, examining its scanty contents with curiosity. -Another native boy came in with a pitcher of water, and Jardin inquired -for Mrs. Long. - -“She sick,” he explained, briefly, pointing to another room beyond, and -he, too, disappeared. - -They drank their water, and waited tensely. Why didn’t the man come? Did -he suspect something? Chase continued to walk about the room, peering -with interest, at the closed door where the girl was supposed to be -lying, stopping now at the table beside a window, and picking up a -little tool that looked like a nut-pick, that was lodged in a crack -between the table and the window-sill. - -“What’s that, Bert?” asked Dot idly, not because she cared about -knowing, but just for something to say. - -“Looks like a dentist’s drill to me,” remarked Jardin, with a shudder. - -But Chase was holding it up, examining it closely, his eyes staring with -unbelief. He had made a discovery! - -“I’m going to investigate this place!” he announced, putting the little -instrument into his pocket. “See you later.” And he went out of the -front door. - -“Now what do you suppose—?” began Dot, but she stopped abruptly, for at -that moment a door at the back opened and Long came into the room. He, -like Jardin, was wearing a linen suit, and a big hat, but there was no -mistaking the man. As Linda and Dot had insisted, he was none other than -Leslie Sprague! - -If he was startled by the sight of the two aviatrixes, he did not betray -the fact by his expression. Whatever he felt, he covered his surprise by -a grin. - -“Afternoon, Jardin,” he said, calmly shaking hands. “How are you?” - -“Afternoon, Long,” replied the agent, looking questioningly at the -girls. - -“How do you do, Mr. Leslie Sprague?” asked Dot, triumphantly. - -Sprague shrugged his shoulders and laughed. - -“A name I used in connection with moving-pictures,” he explained to -Jardin. - -“Where is your wife, Long?” asked the agent, desirous of getting this -business over as quickly as possible. “If she is the girl these young -ladies believe her to be, we have a warrant for her arrest.” - -“Poor Fanny’s sick,” replied Sprague. “Too bad to arrest her now, when -she feels so rotten.... Besides, it was only a prank.” He looked -understandingly at Jardin. - -“A prank!” repeated Dot, in disdain. “A prank to steal two planes, -chloroform both of us, and forge a check for five thousand dollars!” - -Sprague laughed uncomfortably. - -“You must be mistaken, Miss—er—Manton.” He remembered Dot’s assumed -name, and took pleasure in using it. “Probably Mexican bandits did -that.” - -“Mexican bandits can’t fly planes!” returned Dot, defiantly. - -“We will have to take your wife, Long,” interrupted Jardin. “Go in and -get her.” - -“Can’t we arrest him?” demanded Dot, resentfully. - -“I don’t see how we can, until we have something more definite,” replied -Jardin, who was evidently an easy-going person, who hated to suspect -anybody. “We can hold him as accessory while his wife is being -tried....” - -He stopped abruptly, for Chase suddenly opened the door and walked into -the room, dragging a man with him. A hard-looking fellow, with a sullen -expression and a slinking gait. - -“I have found my counterfeiter!” Chase announced triumphantly to Jardin. -“And this is his accomplice!” - -Still holding the man by the arm, the detective swung about and pointed -his finger at Sprague. - -“Steven Long is the criminal the U. S. Government has been searching for -for a year! Long, alias Logman, alias Sprague—” He stopped, and laughed. -“To think that I saw this man in the studio of the Apex Film -Corporation—even tried to help him out—and never knew who he was! The -joke is on me!” - -“But you’ve got him now!” cried Dot, unable to restrain her delight. - -All eyes were turned upon Sprague. He was not laughing now. Rather, he -was cowering, deathly pale, holding on to a chair for support. He did -not even demand how Chase had discovered his secret. But Jardin asked -immediately. - -“It was this little instrument I picked up out of the crack,” explained -the young detective, producing the tool that resembled a nut-pick. “I -recognized it as an engraver’s tool. I wondered why it should be here. -And then I had an inspiration to search the place. Where could a -counterfeiter work better than here on this lonely island? Under the -guise of a pineapple planter?” - -“But is that all the proof you have, Chase?” demanded Jardin, -impatiently. - -“Not by any means. That was only the beginning. I wandered about the -place till I found another shack, hidden almost completely by -camouflage. But I got in. And caught this fellow—” he shook his -captive’s arm—“in the act of engraving fifty-dollar bills!” - -Deliberately, then, he reached into his pocket for two pairs of -handcuffs, which he calmly proceeded to fasten upon the wrists of the -two men. A tense silence lasted while he performed this operation, a -silence which was suddenly broken by the hysterical wail of a girl. - -In a second the closed door of the bedroom was flung open, and Linda’s -double dashed into the room. Sobbing with fright, she threw herself at -Linda’s feet. - -“I didn’t know I was married to a criminal!” she wailed. “Oh, this is -the end—the end of everything! I wish I was dead!” - -Leaning over, Linda gently raised the girl to her feet, and for the -first time, looked into the face of her double. The same blue eyes, and -blond, curly hair; a nose not unlike her own, and a lovely, flower-like -complexion. But oh, how different she looked, with that expression of -terror and misery on her face, and the tears streaming from her eyes! -Like Linda, and yet totally unlike her! - -“Sit down,—Fanny,” whispered Linda. “And try to control yourself.” - -The girl did as she was told, and Chase turned to Jardin. - -“Let’s take these men away in your car, Jardin,” he suggested. “And come -back for the girls. We’ll send a wireless for a boat to come over from -Honolulu and put them into the jail there.” - -“Is that all right with you, Miss Carlton?” inquired Jardin. “Can you -manage Fanny till we get back?” - -“Yes, that suits me,” agreed Linda. - -“Do you want to say good-bye to your husband, Mrs. Long?” asked Chase. - -“I never want to see him again!” was the impassioned reply. “I hate -him!” - -So the four men went out, leaving Linda and Dot alone at last with the -girl who had made so much trouble for them. The girl who had pretended -to be Linda Carlton! - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - FANNY’S STORY - - -The three girls sat silently for a few minutes after the men had left. -They heard the car start, and Fanny heaved a sigh of relief. - -“Of course you hate me,” she said, in a pathetic voice, turning her face -towards Linda. “But I don’t believe you can hate me half so much as I -hate Les!” - -Both Linda and Dot looked at the girl in surprise. - -“But you didn’t have to marry him!” Dot pointed out. - -“I know. But I hadn’t found him out then. I—I didn’t know anybody could -be so awful!” - -Linda stood up. - -“Suppose,” she suggested, “we go outside where it is so much more -beautiful—and hear your story, Fanny. I’d like to know just what did -lead up to your pretending to be me.” - -The girl jumped to her feet. She didn’t seem sick at all now; in all -probability it had only been nerves. - -“Wait,” she said. “I want to get you something first.” And she -disappeared into the bedroom. - -In a moment she returned, carrying a heavy bag in her hands. - -“It’s your money, Linda,” she said. “That check I cashed. Les made me -get it in gold—I guess he didn’t want the bank numbers traced. Anyhow, I -hid it, and never let him have it.” - -And she dropped the bag at Linda’s feet. - -“Why, thank you, Fanny,” said Linda, in surprise. “I’ll just leave it -here till Mr. Chase comes back for us.” - -“Aren’t you going to count it?” - -“Oh, no. I believe you,” replied Linda. - -Tears came into Fanny’s eyes. She seized Linda’s hand gratefully. - -“It’s sweet of you to say that,” she said. “But you better not leave it -here just the same. You can’t trust those native boys.” - -“True,” admitted Dot, and picking it up, she carried it for Linda out of -the bungalow. - -The girls walked along the path and settled themselves on the ground -amongst the bright flowers and soft ferns. Now that Fanny had stopped -crying, it was astonishing how much she resembled Linda. Both Linda and -Dot watched her intently, eager to hear her version of the story. - -“Well,” she began, finally, “I’ll tell you first of all that I’m an -orphan. I was brought up in a children’s home—I don’t remember my -parents at all. But I had a pretty good education, and took a business -course after I finished high school. My first job was with an airplane -construction company.” - -“Yon mean you had a flying job?” interrupted Linda, with interest. - -“No. I was a stenographer. But the boss did give me a chance to learn to -fly—on the side. But there wasn’t any hope of a job in aviation—I just -worked inside the office for twenty-five dollars a week. And, like every -other girl in the world, I never had enough money.” - -“Where did you work?” asked Dot. “What city, I mean?” - -“San Francisco. That was the trouble, I suppose. Too near Hollywood. I -got the craze to go into pictures. Everybody told me I was pretty—and -other girls succeeded—so why shouldn’t I?” - -“Naturally,” commented Dot. - -“Well, I had some money saved up,” continued Fanny, “and I tried to -register at all the studios as an extra. But I soon learned how -impossible it is to get into the movies in times like these. I couldn’t -land a thing—not even a part in a crowd!” - -“I’ve heard they’re using old actresses and actors for those -parts—people who used to be stars—and even ex-directors,” remarked -Linda. - -“It’s true! And even some of those people can’t get anything at all! -People with years of experience go absolutely broke!... Well, my money -dwindled and dwindled until I finally met Mr. Sprague. Not in a -studio—but at a party. That was last June—only a little while after you -made your famous Atlantic Ocean flight.” - -Linda nodded, wondering whose idea the masquerade had been. She asked -the question. - -“It was Mr. Sprague’s,” replied Fanny. “He saw the resemblance -immediately to your newspaper pictures, and when he found out I could -fly a plane, he told me I ought to cash in on it. I thought he was only -joking, but he told me he was serious, and explained how you had refused -movie contracts at enormous salaries.... Well, he kept after me, and -when I found that I wasn’t getting any parts, and that my money was all -gone and even my old job in San Francisco, I gave in and promised to try -it. - -“Les planned everything—even rehearsed with me how I was to talk to Mr. -Von Goss. And it was he who pushed through the aviation picture. - -“Mr. Von Goss was lovely—he never asked me for any proofs of my identity -at all, just signed me up for the picture, and it was Les who made me -insist on the enormous salary. I acted stubborn, like Greta Garbo, and I -got it. - -“And then Les proposed to me. Told me that he’d invest my money, and -give up his job at the studio and come over here to Hawaii to live after -we were married. He said he had a plantation here, and that I’d never be -discovered as the girl who pretended to be Linda Carlton. Oh, Les can be -very charming if he tries, and he made me think we’d live on this island -paradise in a perpetual honeymoon.” - -“Then you had no idea that he was also involved in anything that was -crooked?” asked Linda. - -“No. Absolutely none. I just thought that the masquerade was a clever -trick, that wouldn’t really hurt anybody, because you had refused movie -contracts.... Well, to get back to the story.... Everything went well -till you girls appeared. Of course we were prepared for that—Les had -thought it all out ahead of time, in case you ever did show up. I came -back to Los Angeles, as you know, in a hired plane, and was just about -to land when Les gave me the pre-arranged signal not to come down. You -remember—waving his hat on the field?” - -Linda nodded, though she had hardly noticed it at the time. - -“I flew off and landed an hour later at Culver City. And he pushed the -rehearsals right through, and the next morning he told me to go right to -the Los Angeles airport and demand your autogiro. We’d only borrow it, -he said, to get away. I believed him, and did it, for I was anxious to -be married and out of the country. We flew to Mexico, as you know, and -got married. - -“And I guess you know the rest. How we circled about you when we found -out you were chasing us—and how we changed planes. But you don’t know -that Les made me fly that Sky Rocket at the point of a pistol. He seemed -to change then and there into a demon, and he had me frightened to -death. Of course I realized what a horrible mistake it had been to marry -him. - -“Then he seemed nice again when we sailed on that boat, but when I -actually saw you girls fly over the Pacific Ocean, it was too much for -me. We recognized the Sky Rocket, and knew you were after us. I wanted -to give up then, but Les said nobody would ever find us here at -Lanai....” - -“But didn’t you know that he was a counterfeiter, after you lived here?” - -“No, of course not. I never knew till this afternoon. Of course I’d -often seen that man before—the one that the detective caught—but I -thought he was just the overseer. Les has always been away from here -most of the time, so he needed somebody to manage the plantation.” - -“Is there much of a plantation?” asked Linda, suspiciously. - -“I guess not,” admitted Fanny. “We do raise a few pineapples. But I -never saw any great quantities. And there are only a couple of native -boys working here.” - -“Well, you won’t have to worry about your marriage, anyhow. So long as -Sprague married you under a false name, and in Mexico besides, I guess -it can easily be annulled. You won’t have to see him again.” - -Fanny was silent, worn out with the tension of telling her story. -Stretching back, she buried her face in the ferns. Linda and Dot looked -at each other in hopeless dismay. Here was the girl whom Linda had -threatened to prosecute to the uttermost, completely in her power, and -she felt only sympathy for her! - -“You poor kid!” said Dot, feelingly, as if Fanny were years younger than -she was. - -“Oh, I know it’s my own fault,” said Fanny, with a suppressed sob. “It -was acting a lie in the beginning. But I never dreamed it would lead to -anything like this. I thought if you—the real Linda Carlton—ever did -appear, I’d just hand over the money, and maybe you’d give me back part -of it for my work in the picture.” - -“I suppose,” said Linda, “that we have to learn for ourselves that -deceit never pays. But somehow, I can’t be hard on you, Fanny. And I’ll -tell you why. It’s because of the very first thing you told us—that you -are an orphan. It’s so much more difficult if you haven’t parents to -teach you. I—haven’t a mother—but I have a wonderful father and a loving -aunt.... So, somehow, I just feel as if I hadn’t the right to judge -you....” - -Without raising her head from the ground, Fanny groped blindly for -Linda’s hand. And found it and pressed it gratefully. - -The sound of a motor in the distance made the girls glance towards the -lane. The car was returning. - -“What are you going to do with me?” asked Fanny, plaintively. - -“Take you with us, of course,” replied Linda. “You can fly with Mr. -Chase.” - -“And—when we get to Honolulu—shall I have to go to jail?” - -Linda hesitated a moment and looked at Dot. But her companion, usually -so relentless in seeing that justice was done, had evidently softened -too. She, also, felt a great sympathy for Fanny. - -“I don’t think so,” said Linda. “I think you’ve suffered enough, Fanny. -You’ve returned my money, and both planes, and if you’ll return Mr. Von -Goss’s—” - -“I can’t!” interrupted the girl. “Les took that.” - -“Well, he’ll be made to return it. So—if you’ll promise to be good, I -think we’ll let you go free—if Mr. Chase can fix it up with the police.” - -The girl’s blue eyes opened wide with appreciation. - -“You really mean that, Linda?” - -“Yes, I do.” - -“Oh, you are wonderful! So generous! So clever, too!” She lowered her -eyelids. “And to think I ever dared to pretend I could be you!” - -Linda flushed in embarrassment at this praise—from the girl she had been -regarding as her worst enemy. Luckily she did not need to say anything, -for the car had stopped now, and Jardin, who had returned alone, was -getting out. - -“I left Chase with the two prisoners,” he explained. “Now you girls -climb in.” - -“Oughtn’t we to say something to the native boys who work here?” asked -Fanny. - -“I’ll come back and talk to them later,” replied Jardin. “After Long -tells me what he wants to do with the plantation.” - -The ride back to the beach consumed only fifteen minutes, but Linda -realized when she got there that the afternoon was gone. So much time -had been spent at the plantation, waiting around, first for Sprague, and -then for the return of Jardin. Though it was still bright sunlight, her -watch indicated six o’clock. - -“We had better send a wireless to our hostess,” she said to Dot. “To let -her know that we can’t be back in time for dinner.” - -Her chum nodded dismally. Another festivity passed up! But it had been -worth while this time, for at last their purpose was accomplished. - -Linda proceeded to send the wireless from the Sky Rocket, and then -returned to the agent’s shack, where Chase was still sitting. - -“Will you take Fanny,” she asked, “and when you get to Honolulu see -whether you can have that warrant for her arrest nullified? We are -dropping the charges.” - -The young detective stared at Linda in incredulous amazement. - -“You don’t really mean it?” he gasped. - -Linda laughed. - -“I do, though. Fanny returned the money—and is sorry, so we’re forgiving -her. That’s all there is to it.” - -“You stand there and tell me you’re letting that girl off, after flying -four thousand miles, over land and ocean, to capture her?” he demanded. - -Linda nodded. - -“But why?” - -“Because Linda’s a Christian!” retorted Dot, exasperated at the delay. -“But I warn you, Bert, I won’t show Christian spirit towards you, if you -don’t stop talking and get a move on pretty soon. Do you realize we’re -starved—and we’ve got almost two hours’ flight before we get any food?” - -Chase grinned, and started towards the door. - -“If you’re willing to wait an hour,” suggested Jardin, “I can take you -all to my bungalow for supper.” - -“No, thank you, Mr. Jardin,” replied Linda. “We want to be on our -way—and fly while it is light. We’ll set off immediately. Fanny, you go -with Mr. Chase. Come on, everybody!” - -“What’s your other name, Fanny?” asked Chase, as the group walked along -the beach to the planes. - -“Preston,” replied the girl, with a sigh of relief at the thought of -dropping the name of Sprague—or Long—forever. - -The Sky Rocket took off first, and five minutes later Chase’s monoplane -left the island. Within sight of each other, the two planes flew across -the Pacific in the glorious light of the sunset, and arrived at the -Honolulu airport without any disaster, a little after eight o’clock. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - CONCLUSION - - -Leaving the planes at the airport, the four young people ate supper -together at a quick-lunch restaurant in Honolulu. Here they discussed -their plans concerning Fanny Preston. - -Linda insisted that the girl live at one of the smaller hotels, on some -of the gold pieces which she had returned that afternoon, and though -Fanny protested, she had no money of her own, and no place to go, so she -finally had to agree. In the meantime, Chase promised to work for her -release. - -“And then we’ll take you back to Los Angeles with us when we go,” Linda -concluded. “And try to find you a job.” - -There were tears in Fanny’s eyes when Linda and Dot finally left her at -the hotel and took a taxi to the Governor’s mansion. Here they offered -profuse apologies to their hostess—apologies which she dismissed with a -smile. She was delighted to learn that the counterfeiting menace had -been checked, for news of this crime had been in the papers for more -than a year. She felt that Linda and Dot had helped in a big service for -both Hawaii and the United States, but the girls insisted that the -honors were for Bertram Chase. - -“Now for our telegrams!” exclaimed Linda. “Oh, I do so hope there is one -from father!” - -“I received one from your father, Miss Carlton,” announced her hostess. -“From Los Angeles. He and your aunt are sailing tomorrow for Honolulu. -And two young men are with them—I have forgotten their names.” - -“Was one of them Jim—I mean James—Valier?” asked Dot, eagerly. - -The older woman smiled. - -“I believe so,” she said. “And a Ralph somebody. Would that be right?” - -“Absolutely,” agreed Dot, with immense satisfaction. - -“So, in view of that news,” continued the Governor’s wife, “I think we -will plan a big dinner for the night they arrive. It takes four days, -you know, from Los Angeles. I hope we can keep you amused until then.” - -“Oh, we love it here!” cried Linda. “It’s the most beautiful spot in the -world!” - -So, although Linda was anxious to see her own family and the two boys, -the time nevertheless passed pleasantly. They went to the famous Waikiki -beach every morning, and swam in the water that seemed like velvet, or -rode in the launches and speed boats. After luncheon they drove about -the beautiful island visiting the marvellous aquarium, with its gorgeous -fish of all colors and descriptions, or viewing the mountains and the -coral formations; and in the evening they would watch the glorious -sunsets over the ocean and then dance or bathe in the moonlight. One -lovely afternoon Linda and Dot took Fanny and flew to the island of -Kauai, and saw the Waimea Canyon and the Barking Sands, and the rocky, -jagged cliffs, and the beaches and parks in all their beauty. And one -evening Bert Chase went with them on another flight, for he had managed -to have his stay at Hawaii extended, since he had successfully completed -his work. - -And so the great day came when the boat from Los Angeles docked at Pearl -Harbor. Linda and Dot were at the wharf half an hour before it was -scheduled to arrive, so impatient were they to see their folks from -home. - -A great surging joy swelled up in Linda’s throat at the sight of her -father as he came forward to meet her. It was so suffocating that for a -moment she couldn’t say a word of greeting. Breathless, she flew into -his arms. - -“Daughter!” he said, in a tone filled with emotion. - -“Daddy, darling!” she managed to stammer, and then, recovering herself -somewhat, she kissed her aunt and shook hands with the boys. - -“Congratulations, congratulations, and then some!” exclaimed Jim, to -both of the girls. - -“It was great, Linda!” cried Ralph. - -“‘Linda and Dot,’ if you please,” corrected Linda. “Dot did every bit as -much as I did!” - -“In fact, I flew nearer the ocean,” added her chum, mischievously. “So -near that I almost drowned us both!” - -“Don’t tell us about the dangers—now that you have miraculously escaped -with your lives!” begged Miss Carlton, with a shiver. - -And then everybody talked at once, asking questions, making -explanations, accounting for all the time since they had seen each -other. The girls drove right to the hotel with the party, and here Linda -dragged out Fanny and introduced her, much to Miss Carlton’s amazement. -And then she actually asked her aunt to look after the girl for the rest -of the visit, until they should all go back to Los Angeles together. - -The dinner at the Governor’s mansion that night was another gorgeous -affair. All the celebrities of the island were invited, as well as -Linda’s friends. Even Fanny Preston was included, and Bertram Chase was -accorded a seat of honor on Linda’s right, with Ralph Clavering on her -left—an arrangement which made Ralph exceedingly jealous, for Chase -managed to absorb most of her attention. - -“I want you to go into the secret service, Linda,” he said, earnestly. -“You’d be a marvellous detective. Have you signed up for anything for -the winter?” - -“I had expected to teach,” replied the aviatrix. “But I guess it’s too -late for that.” - -“No, no, don’t do that.” - -Chase wasn’t eating at all, instead he was fumbling with his fork, as if -he were terribly nervous. Linda noticed his queer actions, and wondered -what could be the cause of them, for he had always seemed to have such -easy, pleasant manners. But his next question, abrupt as it was, offered -the explanation. - -“It’s a funny place—and a funny time—to ask you, Linda,” he began, very -low “but I’m so afraid you’ll fly away and I’ll never see you again.... -You see—I’m crazy about you. I love you! I want you to marry me, and fly -everywhere with me!” - -Faltering as his speech was at first, he ended it very fast, as if he -had to finish with one breath. Out of the corner of her eye, Linda could -see his hand trembling; this fearless flier, who dared all sorts of -dangers! Why, he seemed to be afraid to look in her face! - -Linda, too, was embarrassed; she didn’t know what to say. She liked him -so much that she couldn’t bear to hurt his feelings, yet marriage was -out of the question at this time. - -“I appreciate it a lot, Bert,” she finally replied, softly. “But—I -couldn’t. Not now, anyway,” she added, so as not to seem too abrupt. -“But there’s no reason why you shouldn’t see me often. Distance isn’t -anything to fliers. And I’ll talk to you later about the secret -service.” She paused, nodding in Ralph’s direction.... “This impatient -boy on my left is having a fit. I must talk to him now.” - -She turned to the latter, sulking as usual. - -“Old friends are a nuisance when we have a new crush, aren’t they?” he -asked, bitterly. - -“Ralph, behave yourself!” she commanded. “Don’t spoil my party by -getting peeved!” - -“I’m sorry, Linda,” he said, penitently. “I didn’t mean it. Only I just -know that guy has fallen for you. What was he talking to you so long -about?” - -Linda blushed. “He wants me to go into secret service flying,” she -explained. - -“He would! And then get you to marry him!” - -Linda laughed, as if to imply that what Ralph suggested was nonsense. If -he only knew how near to the point he had come! - -“Well, are you going to do it?” he persisted. - -“I don’t know. First I’m going to get my Ladybug at Los Angeles—and fly -home!” - -“Ladybug, Ladybug, fly away home!” quoth Ralph. - -“We will!” promised Linda, smiling. But she did not say how long she -would stay there. - - - The End. - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Linda Carlton's Hollywood Flight, by Edith Lavell - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LINDA CARLTON'S HOLLYWOOD FLIGHT *** - -***** This file should be named 53337-0.txt or 53337-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/3/3/53337/ - -Produced by Rick Morris, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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font-weight:bold; margin-top:2em; max-width:20em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - p.bkpr {font-size:90%; } - p.bkrv { } - dl.blist dt { margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; } - dl.blist, dl.biblio { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; } - - dl.int { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; } - dl.int dt {margin-left:0em; } - dl.int dd {margin-left:2em; } -</style> -</head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's Linda Carlton's Hollywood Flight, by Edith Lavell - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Linda Carlton's Hollywood Flight - -Author: Edith Lavell - -Release Date: December 21, 2016 [EBook #53337] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LINDA CARLTON'S HOLLYWOOD FLIGHT *** - - - - -Produced by Rick Morris, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - -<div id="cover" class="img"> -<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Linda Carlton’s Hollywood Flight" width="500" height="719" /> -</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p001.jpg" alt="The two girls waited in breathless suspense. (Page 113)" width="500" height="794" /> -<p class="caption">The two girls waited in breathless suspense. (<i><a href="#Page_113">Page 113</a></i>)</p> -</div> -<div class="box"> -<h1>LINDA CARLTON’S -<br /><span class="small">HOLLYWOOD FLIGHT</span></h1> -<hr /> -<p class="center">By EDITH LAVELL</p> -<hr /> -<p><span class="small"><span class="sc">Author</span> <i>of</i> -“The Girl Scout Series,” “Linda Carlton’s Ocean Flight,” “Linda Carlton, Air Pilot,” “Linda Carlton’s Island Adventure,” Etc.</span></p> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p002.jpg" alt="Series Logo" width="300" height="278" /> -</div> -<hr /> -<p class="center">A. L. BURT COMPANY -<br /><span class="small"><i>PUBLISHERS</i></span> -<br />New York <span class="hst">Chicago</span></p> -</div> -<h2>Linda Carlton Series</h2> -<p class="center">Thrilling Adventure Stories of a Group of Girl Aviation Enthusiasts -<br /><span class="large">By EDITH LAVELL</span></p> -<dl class="undent"><dt>LINDA CARLTON, AIR PILOT</dt> -<dt>LINDA CARLTON’S OCEAN FLIGHT</dt> -<dt>LINDA CARLTON’S ISLAND ADVENTURE</dt> -<dt>LINDA CARLTON’S HOLLYWOOD FLIGHT</dt></dl> -<hr /> -<p class="center small">Copyright, 1933 -<br />By A. L. BURT COMPANY</p> -<p class="tbcenter"><i>To -<br />My Husband, -<br />Victor Lamasure Lavell.</i></p> -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> -<dl class="toc"> -<dt class="jr"><span class="jl"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span></span> <span class="small">PAGE</span></dt> -<dt><a href="#c1"><span class="cn">I. </span>A Flash On the Screen</a> 7</dt> -<dt><a href="#c2"><span class="cn">II. </span>A Dangerous Landing</a> 21</dt> -<dt><a href="#c3"><span class="cn">III. </span>The Cross-Country Flight</a> 36</dt> -<dt><a href="#c4"><span class="cn">IV. </span>Hollywood</a> 47</dt> -<dt><a href="#c5"><span class="cn">V. </span>The Vanishing “Double”</a> 63</dt> -<dt><a href="#c6"><span class="cn">VI. </span>The Forged Signature</a> 76</dt> -<dt><a href="#c7"><span class="cn">VII. </span>Stolen!</a> 87</dt> -<dt><a href="#c8"><span class="cn">VIII. </span>In Hot Pursuit</a> 102</dt> -<dt><a href="#c9"><span class="cn">IX. </span>The Ladybug!</a> 117</dt> -<dt><a href="#c10"><span class="cn">X. </span>A Close Call</a> 129</dt> -<dt><a href="#c11"><span class="cn">XI. </span>Flirting With Death</a> 142</dt> -<dt><a href="#c12"><span class="cn">XII. </span>The Enemy Plane</a> 155</dt> -<dt><a href="#c13"><span class="cn">XIII. </span>Hot On the Trail</a> 168</dt> -<dt><a href="#c14"><span class="cn">XIV. </span>Over the Pacific</a> 185</dt> -<dt><a href="#c15"><span class="cn">XV. </span>The Island of Oahu</a> 200</dt> -<dt><a href="#c16"><span class="cn">XVI. </span>Missing!</a> 214</dt> -<dt><a href="#c17"><span class="cn">XVII. </span>Capture</a> 226</dt> -<dt><a href="#c18"><span class="cn">XVIII. </span>Fanny’s Story</a> 237</dt> -<dt><a href="#c19"><span class="cn">XIX. </span>Conclusion</a> 250</dt> -</dl> -<div class="pb" id="Page_7">7</div> -<h1 title="">LINDA CARLTON’S -<br />HOLLYWOOD FLIGHT</h1> -<h2 id="c1">CHAPTER I -<br /><span class="small">A FLASH ON THE SCREEN</span></h2> -<p>A bright red sports-roadster, loaded to -overflowing with young people of both sexes, -turned in at the gate of the Carltons’ home in -Spring City and whizzed up the driveway to -the porch steps. As it stopped at the entrance, -Dorothy Crowley, who was Linda Carlton’s -best friend, disentangled herself from the -group and jumped out.</p> -<p>“Hello, Miss Carlton!” she called to the -middle-aged woman sitting on the porch. “Any -news of the world’s most famous aviatrix?”</p> -<p>“You mean Linda?” returned Miss Carlton, -smiling.</p> -<p>Dot nodded.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_8">8</div> -<p>“Of course. Have you heard from her?”</p> -<p>“No, I haven’t, Dorothy. But then, I didn’t -expect to. You know, of course, that Linda has -set her heart on taking some sort of flying position, -and she had several prospects to interview.”</p> -<p>“But she’s been gone a week!” protested -Dot. “This is the twenty-second of September.”</p> -<p>“I know, but she expected to be gone a week. -She ought to be home some time today. If she -doesn’t come, I think she will let me know.”</p> -<p>“Well, we miss her just fearfully,” concluded -Dot. “And we want to hear the very minute she -gets back. You know Ralph leaves for college -tomorrow, and he’s all hot and bothered about -going off without even a good-bye from Linda.”</p> -<p>Miss Carlton smiled at the mention of Ralph -Clavering’s devotion to her niece. The young -man, whose father happened to be the wealthiest -citizen of Spring City, made no attempt to -keep his admiration for Linda a secret.</p> -<p>“I’ll have her call you the minute she arrives. -At least—if she doesn’t come home in an ambulance.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_9">9</div> -<p>Dot laughed at the absurdity of such a suggestion -and turned to go. In her haste she almost -bumped into a messenger-boy, who at that -very moment was coming up the porch steps -with a telegram.</p> -<p>Miss Carlton rose from her seat and stepped -forward excitedly.</p> -<p>“Oh, I’m afraid something dreadful has happened!” -she exclaimed, ominously.</p> -<p>Dot remained motionless, and even the young -people in the car grew silent. An awful tenseness -seemed to hang over the peaceful September -day, as Miss Carlton received the message -into her trembling hands.</p> -<p>“Why, it’s <i>for</i> Linda—not <i>from</i> her!” she -cried in sudden relief. “So she must be all -right.”</p> -<p>Scarcely were the words out of her mouth -when the drone of a motor attracted everybody’s -attention to the skies. A plane—yes, -with the rotors that proclaimed it an autogiro—was -approaching from the west, until it -seemed to hover over the very house itself.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_10">10</div> -<p>“There she is!” screamed Dot, joyously, and -in another moment the six young people in the -roadster had all jumped out and were racing -towards the field beyond the house, where Linda -always landed her plane.</p> -<p>“Thank goodness!” exclaimed Miss Carlton, -grateful that once again the girl who had been -through so many catastrophes in her zeal for -flying would be safe on the ground.</p> -<p>Linking her arm with Dot’s, she accompanied -the young people to the field beyond the house.</p> -<p>With the ease of a cat settling down to take -her nap, the Ladybug, Linda’s famous autogiro, -descended to the earth, and the slender, pretty -girl in a flier’s suit and helmet, climbed out of -the cockpit.</p> -<p>“Darling!” cried Dot, dashing forward for -the first embrace.</p> -<p>Linda tried to hug everybody at once, with -an especially tender caress for her Aunt Emily, -who had mothered her ever since she was a -baby.</p> -<p>“Were you kidnapped?” inquired Ralph -Clavering, the tall, good-looking young man -who considered Linda his special property.</p> -<p>“Or in a burning house?” suggested Kit Hulbert, -Ralph’s married sister.</p> -<p>Linda shook her head laughingly.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_11">11</div> -<p>“Just taking a good week’s rest, I’ll bet!” -surmised long-legged Jim Valier, whose idea of -bliss was to sleep. “Don’t blame you a bit, -Linda. A fellow can’t get a decent nap with this -snappy bunch around, let alone a full night’s -rest!”</p> -<p>“You’re surely all right, dear?” inquired -Miss Emily Carlton, anxiously. “No bones -broken?”</p> -<p>Again Linda smiled.</p> -<p>“I’m fine, and I had a most successful trip. -I’ll tell you all about it later—if anything materializes,” -she added, mysteriously.</p> -<p>“We want to go to the movies,” explained -Kit, as they all turned back towards the house. -“Can you make it, Linda?”</p> -<p>“Yes, if you will give me fifteen minutes for -a shower, and five for a bite to eat,” she replied. -“And if Aunt Emily will come along -too,” she added affectionately.</p> -<p>She made even better time than she had -promised, and inside of a quarter of an hour, -a different Linda Carlton came down the stairs. -Clad in a blue silk suit the color of her eyes, -her beautiful blond hair showing under her -turban, she looked more like a society girl than -the world’s most famous aviatrix.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_12">12</div> -<p>In the meanwhile, Dot had gone into the -garage and brought out Linda’s roadster, for -Ralph Clavering’s car, elastic as it seemed to -be, could not be stretched to accommodate two -extra passengers. Since Miss Carlton had graciously -accepted their invitation, they wanted -her to be comfortable.</p> -<p>“So you won’t ride with me!” complained -Ralph, as he watched Linda take her place at -the wheel of her own car.</p> -<p>“I’ll sit beside you in the movies,” she -promised,</p> -<p>“And you even take Dot away from us!” protested -Jim Valier, pretending to be angry.</p> -<p>“You’ll be glad of my space!” returned Dot, -as she squeezed into Linda’s car, between her -chum and Miss Carlton.</p> -<p>“We’ll miss the wise-cracks,” remarked -Ralph. “But I can’t say that you occupy much -room, Dot.” He started his engine. “Hurry -up, now, or we’ll miss the news reel, and think -how ignorant we’ll be!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_13">13</div> -<p>The theatre was already darkened when the -group entered ten minutes later, so they all -walked quietly, in order to make as little disturbance -as possible. Even Sara Wheeler, who -giggled on every occasion, managed to suppress -any outburst with her handkerchief.</p> -<p>But their good behavior lasted only a moment. -No sooner were they comfortably seated -than the most extraordinary piece of news was -flashed on the screen. As if the manager had -been waiting for the dramatic moment to make -his announcement.</p> -<p>“WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS AVIATRIX -SIGNS CONTRACT WITH THE APEX -FILM CORPORATION!” thundered the voice -of the announcer.</p> -<p>“As if any other girl could be as famous as -you, Linda!” whispered Dot resentfully. “I’d -like to know who—”</p> -<p>The words died on her lips as the actual picture -of the famous aviatrix was shown. Why—it -looked like—it must be—Linda herself!</p> -<p>The girl, in a flier’s costume, smiled and -turned aside to sign a contract.</p> -<p>“MISS LINDA CARLTON, THE FIRST -GIRL TO FLY FROM NEW YORK TO -PARIS ALONE, ACCEPTS PART IN -‘BRIDE OF THE AIR,’ A PICTURE NOW -BEING FILMED IN HOLLYWOOD,” continued -the calm voice of the announcer.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_14">14</div> -<p>“So that’s where you’ve been!” exclaimed -Dot, just a little bit hurt that Linda had kept -this a secret from her. They had shared all -their joys and secrets ever since their experiences -in the Okefenokee Swamp together, and -it did not seem possible that Linda would deliberately -shut her out of such an important -event. Besides, Linda had always refused to -go into the movies. Why the sudden change?</p> -<p>“You cagey thing!” muttered Ralph, as -amazed at the revelation as Dot, and even more -hurt than the latter that he had been excluded -from her confidence.</p> -<p>Linda made no attempt to answer; she sat -rigid in her seat, staring at the screen with unseeing -eyes. The girl whom the announcer had -proclaimed to be Linda Carlton was tall and -slender, and in her flier’s suit and helmet, had -resembled Linda to a remarkable degree. But -of course it wasn’t Linda. Why, she hadn’t -been near Hollywood!</p> -<p>“It’s not true,” she finally whispered to Dot. -“That’s somebody else, posing for me.”</p> -<p>“Now, Linda!” returned Dot, unconvinced. -“Don’t try to play innocent!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_15">15</div> -<p>“You’ll make a stunning heroine, Linda,” -whispered Kit, leaning over from her seat beside -Ralph. There was sincere admiration in -her tone.</p> -<p>Then the whole party grew excited, and all -talked at once, shooting questions at Linda -without any regard to the fact that they were -supposed to keep quiet. People around them -showed perceptible signs of annoyance, until -Ralph, sitting back in sullen silence, admonished -them all to keep still.</p> -<p>The talk subsided, and the crowd’s attention -was diverted during the feature, but Linda did -not even see it. Inside she was seething at the -very idea of anything so preposterous. Usually -a peaceful girl, she felt as if she would like to -tear that impostor to pieces.</p> -<p>Yet there was no use trying to tell the young -people after the show that it wasn’t true. -Hadn’t Linda been away for a number of days, -on some mysterious errand connected with flying! -Didn’t the girl look like her—why, they -were sure it was Linda! And they were thrilled, -too. It was great fun to have one of their own -group a famous actress, as well as a famous -aviatrix. All of them—except Dot and Ralph.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_16">16</div> -<p>“I want you to stay at our house for supper, -Dot,” urged Linda, as the other car drove off -after the show. “Can you phone?”</p> -<p>“Yes, of course,” agreed her chum, wondering -what kind of explanation Linda was going -to make for her secrecy in the affair.</p> -<p>Neither girl mentioned it until they were inside -the Carltons’ house. They did not stop on -the porch, but followed Linda’s Aunt Emily -into the living-room.</p> -<p>“I suppose your telegram was from Hollywood, -Linda?” inquired Miss Carlton, as if to -lead up to the all-exciting topic.</p> -<p>“No, it wasn’t, Aunt Emily,” replied Linda, -decidedly. “It was from Mr. Eckert—you remember, -the head of the Air School at St. -Louis, where I took my course?... He wanted -me to take a position teaching there this year.”</p> -<p>“Why, that sounds very attractive, dear,” -replied Miss Carlton. “Safer and more dignified -than all this stunt flying you’ll have to do -for the pictures.” A look of distress passed -over her face.... “Linda, I don’t like your -accepting that contract without consulting -either me or your father,” she added, gently.</p> -<p>Linda dropped into a chair with a groan.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_17">17</div> -<p>“Please sit down, Aunt Emily—and Dot. I -have a lot to say.”</p> -<p>Not knowing what was coming next, they both -complied with her request.</p> -<p>“Haven’t you both always found me pretty -truthful?” she asked, seriously.</p> -<p>“Of course we have, dear,” answered the -older woman, immediately. “Nobody ever -doubts your word. But you never promised me -that you wouldn’t go into the films. I never -asked you not to, for I thought you wouldn’t -consider it.”</p> -<p>“No, Aunt Emily, I wouldn’t. And I <i>haven’t</i>! -You and Dot must believe me. <i>That girl you -saw today impersonating me is a fake.</i> I never -signed a contract, with any picture producer, -and I haven’t been near Hollywood!”</p> -<p>Dot jumped to her feet joyfully, and, dashing -across the room, wound her arms about her -chum.</p> -<p>“I’m so glad, Linda!” she cried.</p> -<p>Miss Carlton breathed a long sigh of relief.</p> -<p>“But think of the impudence of that girl!” -she exclaimed. “To dare to do a thing like -that—”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_18">18</div> -<p>“Expecting that she can get away with it!” -added Dot.</p> -<p>“Well, she can’t!” announced Linda, her -eyes shining with indignation. “I’m going to -fly right out there and grab her by the collar—and—and—”</p> -<p>“Why, Linda, I never heard you talk so!” -remarked her aunt in amazement. “Not even -when you were a child.”</p> -<p>“I never had such occasion to do so before. -You know what Shakespeare says about stealing -your good name. That’s just what that -girl’s doing. Making me cheap. As if I were -in aviation for publicity, or for personal gain! -Oh, I’m stirred up, all right!”</p> -<p>“I don’t blame you one bit, dear!” agreed -Miss Carlton, soothingly.</p> -<p>“But what are you going to do?” demanded -Dot, realizing that Linda must have already -formulated a plan during that moving-picture -show. “Going to wire the Corporation?”</p> -<p>“Indeed I’m not!” she replied, emphatically. -“They wouldn’t believe me.”</p> -<p>“‘How could they believe you?’” quoted -Dot, from the old song of “The Girl from -Utah.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_19">19</div> -<p>“Exactly! If all my own friends—Ralph, and -Kit and Jim and everybody—yes—even you -and Aunt Emily—actually thought I was fooling, -how could I convince a strange director by -merely sending a telegram? He’d think I was -the impostor, of course, and their Linda was the -real thing.”</p> -<p>“Yes, that’s logical,” admitted Miss Carlton. -“But what can you do, dear?”</p> -<p>“I’m going to fly right out to Hollywood tomorrow, -after I give the Ladybug a thorough -inspection.”</p> -<p>Miss Carlton sighed, this time not in relief.</p> -<p>“Then you’ll be home only one night!”</p> -<p>“I can’t help that, Aunt Emily. I must go. -I just have to. I’ll stop and see Mr. Eckert at -St. Louis, on my way.”</p> -<p>Dot’s eyes lighted up with sudden inspiration.</p> -<p>“May I go with you, Linda?” she asked.</p> -<p>“May you!” Linda repeated. “Oh, Dot, -would you? I’d just love it!”</p> -<p>“And I’d feel safer,” put in her Aunt Emily.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_20">20</div> -<p>“It’s decided, then,” announced Dot. “I’m -thrilled to death!... Oh, Linda, think of seeing -Hollywood. The movies being made—and -the stars themselves! We’ll have a marvellous -time.”</p> -<p>“Be sure to take plenty of clothes,” cautioned -Miss Carlton. “You know how much -they dress out there.”</p> -<p>“We’ll outshine Lilyan Tashman herself!” -promised Linda, thankful that her aunt was not -raising any objection to the trip.</p> -<p>“Going to tell Ralph about it?” inquired Dot, -as she rose to telephone to her mother.</p> -<p>“What’s the use?” returned Linda. “He -wouldn’t believe me. He’d think I was going -back to complete my contract. No; he’s peeved—let -him stay peeved. I’d rather spend my -evening planning our trip.”</p> -<p>“Flying comes first, as always,” observed -Miss Carlton, in a resigned tone, as she, too, -left the room, to do her part in making the trip -comfortable for the two girls.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_21">21</div> -<h2 id="c2">CHAPTER II -<br /><span class="small">A DANGEROUS LANDING</span></h2> -<p>Early after lunch the following afternoon—another -clear, bright fall day typical of late -September—Linda Carlton and her chum Dorothy -Crowley climbed into the Ladybug, ready -to take off for Los Angeles. Smiling and waving -good-bye to Miss Carlton and Mrs. Crowley, -who were standing on the side of the field, -Linda gave her the gun. The plane taxied only -a short distance, then with her nose headed upward, -she began to climb almost vertically. It -was a pretty, graceful take-off, and even Miss -Carlton, frightened as she was of planes, had to -admit that the autogiro seemed almost human.</p> -<p>“We ought to make St. Louis before dark,” -said Linda, through the speaking-tube. “I -know the way so well—I flew it so often when -I was going to the Air School.”</p> -<p>“I remember,” replied Dot. “You and -Louise.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_22">22</div> -<p>Louise Haydock had been Linda’s inseparable -chum all through high school. Then, when -they had graduated, and Linda’s father had -given the latter an Arrow Sport plane, the two -girls had spent a year at a ground school in St. -Louis. Louise’s marriage to Ted Mackay had -finally separated them, for the Mackays went -to Kansas City to live. Ever since that time -Dot Crowley had shared in most of Linda’s flying -adventures.</p> -<p>“I’ll tell you what,” suggested Linda. “Let’s -send Lou a wire tonight, and plan to stop in -Kansas City tomorrow for lunch. I’m wild to -see her.”</p> -<p>“Great!” agreed Dot. “If she and Ted -aren’t off on some flying trip.”</p> -<p>The autogiro soared up into the clear, tingling -air, colder above than it had been on the -ground, and the old exhilaration of flying took -possession of Linda and made her heart sing. -Poor people down there on the earth, looking -like ants crawling about on their humdrum -affairs, when she was flying joyously through -the heavens! Poor Aunt Emily, who would -never know the thrill of this higher, freer, -purer world!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_23">23</div> -<p>Even her anger against this impostor was -temporarily forgotten. Nobody could be angry -long in the sky. And, no matter what happened -later, she and Dot were going to enjoy this trip -to the coast. It would be the experience of a -lifetime to an ordinary girl.</p> -<p>The motor continued to hum evenly and the -Ladybug averaged a hundred miles an hour. -Over rivers and valleys and flat country, -through Ohio, past Indiana, on to Illinois. The -sun was setting as the girls sighted the broad -waters of the Mississippi, and they knew that -their first goal was in sight.</p> -<p>A huge beacon light was already glowing, -guiding the fliers on their way to the airport, -and then on to the Air School. But Linda could -have found her way without any guide, even in -the fast increasing darkness.</p> -<p>Linda decreased her speed and hovered over -the field. Some of the attendants recognized the -famous Ladybug, and by the time the autogiro -descended to earth, quite a crowd had gathered -to greet her.</p> -<p>“Hello, Miss Carlton! We knew it was you!”</p> -<p>“Glad to see you back, Miss Carlton!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_24">24</div> -<p>Linda and Dot jumped out and Linda spoke -to all her friends and asked them to put the -Ladybug away for the night, and to tell her -where to find Mr. Eckert.</p> -<p>“He’s gone home, but you can get him on the -telephone,” answered one of the attendants, -writing the number down for her.</p> -<p>“We saw you in the movies, Miss Carlton!” -announced another. “You didn’t look half -pretty enough, though. But we’re sure goin’ a -see that picture when it comes to town!”</p> -<p>Linda frowned. She didn’t want to take the -time to deny the false impression, but she certainly -did hate this sort of thing.</p> -<p>The girls found a taxi at once, and, leaving -their bigger box in the autogiro, they took out -an overnight bag and went to a hotel that had -been familiar to Linda during her year at St. -Louis.</p> -<p>“That’s what I’m going to be up against all -the time!” she remarked, with distaste, as she -and Dot settled back in the taxi.</p> -<p>“You mean about the movies?” questioned -her companion. “I was wondering why you -didn’t deny it right off.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_25">25</div> -<p>“I haven’t time to go about the world denying -things. And it seems so useless. Until I -have proof, I mean. They wouldn’t believe me -any more than the crowd at home did.”</p> -<p>“I suppose you’re right. Oh, well, don’t let’s -worry. We can clear the whole thing up in no -time.”</p> -<p>They reached the hotel, made an appointment -with Mr. Eckert over the telephone, and -changed their costumes for dinner. It was after -seven o’clock when they sat down to the -table, and they did full justice to the meal.</p> -<p>Mr. Eckert’s first remark when he greeted -Linda was practically the same as that of the -boys on the field.</p> -<p>“I hear you are going into the movies, -Linda,” he said, trying to hide his disapproval. -“If I had known that, I shouldn’t have wasted -your time offering you this position at the -school.”</p> -<p>Linda sighed.</p> -<p>“That’s a false rumor, Mr. Eckert,” she explained.</p> -<p>“But it wasn’t a rumor. It was a fact,” he -persisted. “Sam and Jeff told me they saw -your picture, signing the contract.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_26">26</div> -<p>“I know. I saw it too. But it’s a fake. Some -girl is impersonating me. For the sake of the -money, I suppose.”</p> -<p>The elderly man leaned forward, staring incredulously.</p> -<p>“Do you really mean that, Linda?” he demanded.</p> -<p>She nodded.</p> -<p>“I’m on my way to the coast now, to clear -it all up. Naturally, I’m furious.”</p> -<p>“You won’t take over the contract yourself?” -the man asked, with apparent satisfaction. -What a joy this girl was, he thought! She was -made for far greater things than moving-picture -acting. Hers was a name that ought to go -down in history, among the daring pioneers of -aviation.</p> -<p>“Of course not,” she assured him. “You -know, Mr. Eckert, that that sort of thing doesn’t -appeal to me—publicity and acting—and all -that stuff. I’m happiest when I’m up in the -skies with nobody else but my chum—Miss -Crowley.”</p> -<p>“That is what I always thought,” he said. -“So I must say I was somewhat disappointed -in the news when I heard it.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_27">27</div> -<p>Linda smiled. Mr. Eckert had always understood -her, and admired her—not as Ralph Clavering -admired her, for her beauty and feminine -charm,—but for her knowledge and skill as a -flier.</p> -<p>“Then you might consider my proposition -after all?” he inquired, hopefully.</p> -<p>“Yes, indeed. If you are willing to make it -more or less temporary. I mean I could sign up -for the duration of one course—say until next -spring. The other offers I have had have all -been so far away, that I’d rather accept yours, -so that I could fly home every week-end. My -aunt is practically alone, you see, for my -father’s business is in New York.”</p> -<p>“That’s splendid, Linda!” he cried, and he -proceeded to go into detail about the work that -he wanted her to teach. Dot sat back in her -chair, gazing out of the window, and vainly trying -to suppress a yawn.</p> -<p>“I’m afraid, Mr. Eckert,” remarked Linda, -when the former had finished his explanation, -“that I may not be back in time to start when -the school opens. Would you be willing to wait -for me—till, say, the first of October? I ought -to be here by then, though you never can tell.”</p> -<p>At these words Dot sat up and laughed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_28">28</div> -<p>“You surely can’t!” she agreed, heartily. -“We have a habit of not showing up when -we’re expected, Mr. Eckert—when Linda goes -on her wild adventures.”</p> -<p>“Oh, but this is different,” put in Linda, -sincerely believing that there were no wild adventures -in store for her this time. “Hollywood -isn’t like the Okefenokee Swamp. It’s the most -civilized spot in the world.”</p> -<p>“But we haven’t promised to stay in Hollywood,” -Dot reminded her.</p> -<p>“True,” admitted Linda.</p> -<p>Mr. Eckert rose.</p> -<p>“I’ll tell you what I’ll do, Linda,” he said. -“I’ll teach the class myself until the first of -October. Then, if you can’t come, I’ll get another -instructor. Is that all right with you?”</p> -<p>“Fine,” agreed the girl, delighted to have it -all settled, and at a salary that was by no means -small. For Linda Carlton was a drawing-card, -and Mr. Eckert knew that her name would bring -new students to the school, and add prestige -to the fine faculty which they already had.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_29">29</div> -<p>The last several days had been glorious -weather—too good to last, Linda knew—for -about the middle of September the fall rains -usually set in. So she was not surprised to -waken the following morning to find a dismal -downpour, and what was worse, a bad wind. It -was one of the equinoctial storms, so common -at that time of the year.</p> -<p>Dot looked dismayed, but she had no idea that -Linda would postpone the flight. For you -couldn’t tell how long such a rain might last, -and time was important.</p> -<p>She watched Linda get into her flying-suit, -as if the mere matter of weather were nothing—all -just part of the day’s work.</p> -<p>“Hurry up, Dot. If we are to make Kansas -City by lunch time.”</p> -<p>“O.K.,” agreed the smaller girl, cheerfully.</p> -<p>They were back at the field by half-past seven, -ready to start.</p> -<p>But the field was horribly muddy. Other -planes had encountered severe difficulty in taking -off, and the attendants looked doubtful.</p> -<p>“Looks as if you’re not going after all,” remarked -Sam, stepping close to the Ladybug, -as Linda started the rotor blades in motion. -“It’s a beastly day.”</p> -<p>Linda smiled.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_30">30</div> -<p>“My rotor blades are going to help me to -rise,” she returned, gaily. “Just watch ’em!”</p> -<p>Two minutes later the autogiro left the rain-covered -field, and soared into the murky skies. -Almost immediately the ground and the landmarks -became invisible to the girls in the cockpits, -and the plane seemed to be wrapped in a -great gray blanket of clouds and rain. The wind -was blowing furiously, as if it were determined -to get the better of the gallant Ladybug, but the -rotor blades of the autogiro succeeded in keeping -her on an even keel. But she rocked furiously, -until Dot felt sure that she was going -to be seasick.</p> -<p>Linda’s gas was growing a little low—plenty, -she felt sure, to get to Kansas City—but -not any to waste, so she was keeping low. But -she could not see anything, and she was thinking -that at times like these flying could even -be monotonous, when, all of a sudden, as if in -a hideous dream, she saw a nineteen-story -building rushing madly at her. Not that she -realized that it was exactly nineteen stories—indeed -it looked taller than that at the moment. -It was huge, too big to avoid, as it loomed -there in her path, like some tremendous, horrible -monster, shutting out everything else in -her sight, waiting to annihilate her.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_31">31</div> -<p>In the seat ahead Dot suddenly let out a -sharp cry of terror, and Linda, realizing in a -flash that she could not hope to clear the building -now, pushed the joy-stick forward and -nosed the plane into a dive. What was she -heading for? A street, where she would dash -down on top of pedestrians and motor-cars, -killing others as well as herself and Dot?... -But no, the speed was reducing; she was right -over another office building—a shorter one, -only about six stories in height—with—oh, joy -of joys—a flat roof! As if she had planned it, -she selected her spot, banked the autogiro to -the left, cleared the wire fence around the edge, -and landed right in the center of the roof! Making -it look all the world as if she had planned -a demonstration.</p> -<p>With a grin of incredulity she turned exultantly -to Dot.</p> -<p>“Linda, you’re priceless!” shouted her chum. -“Anybody’d think it was a stunt for the -movies.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_32">32</div> -<p>Linda frowned, and Dot was sorry the instant -the words were out of her mouth. She had -forgotten all about the reason for the flight, in -her excitement at this narrow escape.</p> -<p>At this moment half a dozen people appeared -on the fire-escape, and a freckle-faced youth of -about eighteen climbed immediately to the roof.</p> -<p>“Pretty neat!” he exclaimed. “Is it a -stunt?”</p> -<p>“It was a life-saver,” explained Dot. “We -nearly crashed on top of that big office building -over there, and this one just loomed up in -time.”</p> -<p>“Know what building this is?” asked the -young man.</p> -<p>Linda shook her head.</p> -<p>“It’s a newspaper building! Biggest newspaper -in Kansas City!”</p> -<p>“I never heard of a building made of newspapers,” -returned Dot. “Funny we didn’t -crash through!”</p> -<p>The young man grinned; his specialty was -wise-cracks. “I’m a reporter,” he announced. -“My slogan’s ‘First on the spot, to get news -while it’s hot.’—so please give me your names -and addresses.” He took out his notebook, prepared -to write.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_33">33</div> -<p>Linda looked displeased, but Dot was equal -to the occasion.</p> -<p>“Sallie Slocum and May Manton, from Toonerville,” -she replied, briskly. “Two society -buds.”</p> -<p>The reporter solemnly wrote down the names.</p> -<p>“Toonerville—where—what state?” he asked.</p> -<p>“Toonerville, Trolley,” answered Dot, without -blinking an eyelash.</p> -<p>This time the young man didn’t know -whether to smile or not.</p> -<p>“You’re kidding me! That’s a name in Fontaine -Fox’s cartoon.”</p> -<p>“Sure it is,” agreed Dot. “But it’s a place, -just the same. Just write and ask Mr. Fox, if -you want to know.”</p> -<p>Linda, meanwhile, had been examining her -gas supply. It was sufficient to take them to -the suburbs, where Ted and Louise lived, and -she was anxious to be off.</p> -<p>“Come on, May,” she said to Dot, managing -with a great effort to keep her face straight. -“We’re off—if the young man will be kind -enough to get out of the way.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_34">34</div> -<p>The reporter went back down the fire-escape, -and Linda took off, but as the girls flew away -they could distinguish faces peering at them -from every window in sight. After all, they had -afforded a pleasant diversion to a dull, work-a-day -world, and Linda was thankful that it -had all turned out so happily.</p> -<p>“And how clever of you to think of giving -fictitious names, Dot,” she said, through the -speaking-tube. “Now if it gets into the papers, -Aunt Emily will never guess that it was my -Ladybug. It might worry her dreadfully if she -thought I was dropping out of the skies all the -time on top of office buildings. She’s dreamt -about my being pinned on a church steeple, -dangling in mid-air.”</p> -<p>Fifteen minutes later, without further mishap, -they landed at the Mackays’ field, and saw -Louise waiting for them with an umbrella.</p> -<p>“Darlings!” she shouted, above the noise of -the engine and the rotors, and dashed across -the muddy field like the impulsive girl she had -always been. “I’m just wild about this!”</p> -<p>Linda and Dot jumped out of the cockpits -and hugged her joyfully.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_35">35</div> -<p>“Now come on in and get warm and dry,” -said Louise. “Pity we can’t take the Ladybug -inside too. But Ted’ll look after her comfort -when he gets home.”</p> -<p>“Does Ted get home for lunch?” asked -Linda. “Oh, I hope he does, for I haven’t seen -him in ages.”</p> -<p>“No, darling, he doesn’t. But he gets home -for supper, and you two are going to stay all -night.”</p> -<p>“We can’t, Lou—honestly—”</p> -<p>“There’s no use arguing. You just have to. -Didn’t my Ted save your life a couple of times -at least, Linda Carlton? Don’t you owe him a -debt of gratitude?”</p> -<p>Linda laughed; there was no use arguing -with Louise. After all, there was no great -hurry—and it was bad weather for flying. One -night more or less wouldn’t make much difference, -she thought.</p> -<p>So the young people spent a pleasant afternoon -and evening together, talking aviation, -swapping stories and gossip, and laughing -heartily over the newspaper story about their -strange landing, which appeared on the front -page that night. Little did they think at the -time that Dot’s prank was to cause them serious -trouble later!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_36">36</div> -<h2 id="c3">CHAPTER III -<br /><span class="small">THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT</span></h2> -<p>“How do you go from here?” inquired -Louise the next morning at breakfast, which -had been arranged for seven o’clock so that the -girls could make an early start. The skies were -still dark, and it was raining, but the wind had -died down, and with it the worst of the storm.</p> -<p>“From here to Wichita, and then on to Albuquerque -by tonight, I hope,” replied Linda. -“We’ll be following the regular air-line. I think -that is really the safest and best way. By tomorrow -night I expect to land at Los Angeles.”</p> -<p>“Do you have to cross Death Valley?” asked -Louise.</p> -<p>“Fly over it—not cross it,” corrected Linda. -“But that has no terrors for me. And we shall -miss the worst of the Rockies, following such -a southern course.”</p> -<p>“Take plenty of water and gas, in case you -come down in the desert!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_37">37</div> -<p>“That reminds me, Ted,” said Linda, turning -to the big, red-haired young man at the -head of the table. “Did you fill my Ladybug -up?”</p> -<p>“Yes, and gave her a hasty inspection, too,” -he replied. “She looks O.K. to me.”</p> -<p>“Then I’m not expecting any trouble,” returned -Linda, for she had great confidence in -Ted Mackay’s judgment and knowledge of -airplanes.</p> -<p>While Linda took time to call Miss Carlton -on the long distance telephone, Louise insisted -upon packing a lunch, and filling the thermos -bottles with water and coffee. For she had never -forgotten Linda’s first long flight when they -had been stranded on a lonely prairie, far from -food and civilization, and how grateful they -had been then for the elaborate picnic lunch -with which their hostess had supplied them.</p> -<p>“You’re a brick, Lou!” Linda cried, as she -kissed her good-bye.</p> -<p>“Don’t forget to stop next week, on your way -home!” Louise reminded her.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_38">38</div> -<p>The Ladybug’s engine roared, and she taxied -a short distance, soaring soon into the skies. To -her joy Linda found that flying conditions had -considerably improved since the previous day. -The storm was clearing, and up above the -clouds, the sun was shining. Linda’s way lay -straight before her, and she flew on and on, -keeping a sharp watch all the time for other -planes, until the clouds beneath her had completely -dispersed. Passing over Kansas, she -left Wichita behind long before noon time, and -pressed on through the northern part of Oklahoma—into -Texas, the state in which her -father’s ranch had been located, when she took -that daring night-flight for the surgeon who -saved his life. At last, by consulting her map, -she felt certain she had reached New Mexico.</p> -<p>Both girls had been so thrilled in watching -the country beneath them—so strangely different -from the East—that they had not realized -how late it was growing. Hunger finally drove -Dot to consult her watch. To her surprise she -found that it was after three o’clock.</p> -<p>“Let’s eat!” she said to Linda, through the -tube. “I’m starved!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_39">39</div> -<p>“Where?” shouted Linda, surveying dubiously -the ground beneath them, covered with -dry bushes. There wasn’t a sign of civilization -or cultivation anywhere about, and she had no -desire to land.</p> -<p>“Right here in the plane,” returned Dot. -“You haven’t forgotten the lunch Lou packed -for us?”</p> -<p>“Good idea! And we’ll get to Albuquerque -all the sooner. Something tells me that we’re -not far off—if my calculations are correct.”</p> -<p>“Well, we can’t be lost,” replied Dot. “For -we’ve been following the beacon lights straight -along the way. O. K., then. I’ll unpack. Thank -goodness Lou fixed a lunch.”</p> -<p>The sandwiches and coffee were delicious, -and all the while Linda kept right on flying. -But it was still light when the spires and buildings -of Albuquerque loomed up in the distance.</p> -<p>They landed at the airport and went to a -hotel for the night, thankful that the day, -though uneventful, had passed so pleasantly, -and hopeful for clear weather to continue for -the rest of their journey.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_40">40</div> -<p>The sun was shining brightly and the day was -already hot when the girls took off from Albuquerque -the following morning. For hours they -flew over this hot, dry plateau region, where -the water supply was scanty, and where they -could see, even from their height in the air, the -bare earth shining between the scattered -clumps of grasses and shrubs.</p> -<p>“We have to miss the Grand Canyon,” Linda -told Dot as they came down at a small airport -town in Arizona, to rest and get their lunch. -“It lies up in the north-western part of the -state, you know, and if we follow the most direct -course to Los Angeles, we miss it.”</p> -<p>“Maybe we can fly over it on our way back,” -suggested her companion. “We’ll have more -time to enjoy the scenery when we have settled -with this impostor.”</p> -<p>“Yes, that’s just what I think. So long as we -get home before the first of October, I’m a free -woman.”</p> -<p>They continued their flight without any interruptions -or disasters all that afternoon. -They left Arizona behind and crossed into the -great state of California, over the San Bernardino -Mountains, where the climate was lovely. -Orange groves blossomed everywhere, the air -was sweet and delicious; they felt a great envy -of the people who could always live in this beautiful -region. At last they reached the city of -Los Angeles, and spotted the new white city -hall, as it rose in its majestic splendor, gleaming -in the brilliancy of its electric lights.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_41">41</div> -<p>“Good old Ladybug!” exclaimed Dot, as the -autogiro came to the ground at the airport, and -she stiffly climbed out of the cockpit. “Never -lets us down!”</p> -<p>“Always lets us down—when we want her -to,” corrected Linda, laughingly.</p> -<p>“You’re going to leave her here at the airport -while we go on to Hollywood?” asked Dot.</p> -<p>“Yes, I think so. I’ll have the mechanics give -her a thorough inspection in the meanwhile. -But I don’t want to go tonight. Let’s have a -good dinner and get some sleep and start out -fresh tomorrow morning. We’ll have our box -taken with us this time, and dress for the occasion. -We don’t want to look like hicks from a -small town.”</p> -<p>While Linda turned to give her instructions -to an attendant, a strange young man strolled -up to the girls and stopped, evidently waiting -for an opportunity to speak to them. It was -growing dark, but the beacon searchlight at the -airport was bright enough for them to see him -perfectly. He looked at the autogiro, and then -peered almost rudely into the faces of the two -girls. Linda ignored him, but Dot was furious.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_42">42</div> -<p>“Pardon me, ladies,” he said finally, “but -aren’t you the two girls who landed on the top -of that newspaper building in Kansas City?—Miss -Slocum and Miss Manton, I believe the -names were?”</p> -<p>Dot giggled. She couldn’t deny the fact.</p> -<p>“So you’ve been taking a cross-country -flight in this boat,” he continued. “I have a -friend who is a reporter—he’s around here -somewhere, for he stops here every day at the -airport for news—and he’d like that story, if -you’d give me a few facts.”</p> -<p>“We don’t want publicity,” Dot said, immediately. -“So please don’t let him print anything -at all about us.”</p> -<p>“Besides,” added Linda, “there’s nothing -new in what we’ve done. Girls fly all over the -country every day alone. It really doesn’t -mean much more than driving a motor-car now-a-days.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_43">43</div> -<p>“You’re right about that,” agreed the attendant. -“It was a stunt to fly the Atlantic -once, but now it seems rather common-place. -The first person to go from here to Australia -by plane will sure get a head-line.”</p> -<p>“We don’t expect to try that!” returned Dot, -laughingly. “That’s a little too far.”</p> -<p>“By the way,” remarked the stranger who -had looked so keenly at the girls, “did you girls -know that Linda Carlton is here at Los Angeles—or -rather, at Hollywood? You remember her—the -first girl to fly from New York to Paris -alone?... She has a contract with the Apex -Film Corporation.”</p> -<p>Linda and Dot looked at each other in distress. -This was a fine situation indeed. What -could they say?</p> -<p>“My name is Linda Carlton,” the aviatrix -finally announced, quietly.</p> -<p>“Go on! Your name’s Sallie Slocum!” insisted -the young man.</p> -<p>“As you please,” shrugged Linda, turning -to the attendant. “Nevertheless, I want this -autogiro registered here as belonging to Linda -Carlton, of Spring City, Ohio.”</p> -<p>“O. K., Miss,” agreed the attendant, making -note of the fact.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_44">44</div> -<p>Summoning a taxi, the girls stepped into it -and closed the door without even so much as -good-bye to the young man who had forced a -conversation with them.</p> -<p>“What gets me,” observed Dot, “is the way -reporters seem to bob up anywhere and everywhere—just -when they’re not wanted.”</p> -<p>“True, but they have to get news, I suppose. -And it was really my fault in the first place, -for landing on a newspaper building. I would -have to pick that out!”</p> -<p>“Oh, well, who cares?” returned Dot. “It’ll -blow over, and be forgotten.... What hotel -are we going to?”</p> -<p>“The Ambassador. I’ve heard so much about -their ‘Cocoanut Grove’ that I want to see it.”</p> -<p>A few minutes later the taxi stopped at the -luxurious hotel, and the girls secured a room. -They engaged it for only a couple of days, little -thinking that they would have to remain in Los -Angeles for a longer period of time.</p> -<p>It was lots of fun to dress in evening gowns -and sweep into the dining-room as if they were -actresses. Even Linda admitted that she enjoyed -taking off her flier’s suit at times, and -just being a “regular girl.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_45">45</div> -<p>“For tonight we’ll be absolutely care-free,” -she said. “As if we hadn’t a thing to worry -about!”</p> -<p>“Which we really haven’t,” added Dot.</p> -<p>They ordered an elaborate dinner and ate -slowly, watching the people in the dining-room, -hoping to catch a glimpse of a famous star or a -celebrated flier. But if there were actors and -actresses there, neither Linda nor Dot recognized -them.</p> -<p>“I wish there were a ‘first-night’ performance -that we could attend,” remarked Dot, -when, after dinner, they summoned a taxi to -go to a moving-picture show.</p> -<p>“Yes, it would be nice. But then, we probably -couldn’t get in, anyhow. Unless I pretended -to be the Linda Carlton who is in ‘Bride -of the Air’.”</p> -<p>Dot laughed.</p> -<p>“That would be a mix-up. The other girl -doubling for you—and then your pretending to -be the other girl!”</p> -<p>“Sounds kind of like ‘Alice in Wonderland’ -to me.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_46">46</div> -<p>In spite of the fact, however, that nothing unusual -happened, the girls spent a pleasant evening, -and were glad of the chance to get to bed -early.</p> -<p>“For,” remarked Linda, as she undressed in -the charming bedroom, “I am tired, even -though we didn’t break any records crossing -the country.”</p> -<p>“It was fast enough for me,” agreed Dot. -“I’d rather rest now and then, than dash off -like Frank Hawks. And when you compare it -to the way they used to cross the United States, -it’s no less than miraculous.”</p> -<p>“I know,” yawned Linda. “What was it that -that movie said—twenty-four days in 1850?”</p> -<p>“Yes, that was it, I think. Only I’m too -sleepy to remember much now.... Wake me -up early tomorrow, Linda. For it’s HOLLYWOOD!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_47">47</div> -<h2 id="c4">CHAPTER IV -<br /><span class="small">HOLLYWOOD</span></h2> -<p>“It certainly seems queer to be riding along -the ground,” remarked Linda, as she and Dot -stepped into a bus for Hollywood the following -morning. “But we can see so much more.”</p> -<p>“And it’s only eleven miles,” Dot reminded -her. “Oh, aren’t you thrilled, Linda?”</p> -<p>“Of course I am. What girl wouldn’t be?”</p> -<p>“If they offer you the contract now, won’t -you change your mind and go into pictures?” -inquired Dot.</p> -<p>“No,” replied the famous aviatrix, decidedly. -“I love the movies, and of course I’m keen to -see the stars face to face, but I still haven’t the -slightest desire to act. I guess I’m too shy. I -get so fussed.”</p> -<p>“But it’ll be kind of a mean trick to haul that -girl out of the picture after the Film Corporation -have advertised it, and then not take her -place. The producer may lose a lot of money.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_48">48</div> -<p>“That’s his fault. They should have been -more careful about looking up her credentials.”</p> -<p>“Suppose you can’t convince them that -you’re the real Linda Carlton?” suggested Dot.</p> -<p>“I’ll have to stay there till I do. But I have -my licenses with me. I only wish I had my Distinguished -Flying Cross, but unfortunately -Daddy put it away in his safe-deposit box.”</p> -<p>The bus was luxurious and the girls settled -down in delighted comfort. All the other passengers -looked prosperous and well dressed; -from their appearance they might easily be -moving-picture stars. But of course they -weren’t, the girls decided, for even the humblest -star has her own car.</p> -<p>The country through which they were travelling -was lovely, and as they approached Hollywood, -the girls noticed charming, well-kept -bungalows and homes of every description. As -if everyone who lived there were wealthy. The -fresh green lawns, the tall palm trees shading -the streets, the vivid blue sky above formed a -striking picture. No wonder most girls were -wild to go to Hollywood!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_49">49</div> -<p>Linda and Dot went on to Culver City, where -most of the studios were located, and found the -Apex Film Corporation, housed in a large and -imposing building. As they ascended the steps -Linda became exceedingly nervous, almost to -the point of wishing that she hadn’t come.</p> -<p>“Suppose they take us for extras—applying -for jobs—and throw us out!” she whispered, -fearfully.</p> -<p>“Don’t be silly, Linda! Your name would get -you in anywhere!”</p> -<p>“I’m not so sure of that. We fliers aren’t -much here, where they have a world of their -own and so many celebrities.”</p> -<p>The girls walked through a hall to a beautiful -reception room, where a “publicity” girl, -who looked like an actress herself, took Linda’s -card and passed into an office to the right.</p> -<p>In a moment she returned with the information -that the girls might go into the office.</p> -<p>“Mr. Von Goss is out, but his secretary will -see you,” she said. “Mr. Leslie Sprague.”</p> -<p>“You do the talking, Dot,” begged Linda, as -they left the room.</p> -<p>“Be yourself!” commanded her companion. -“You can fly over the Atlantic Ocean alone, and -you’re afraid of an insignificant little secretary!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_50">50</div> -<p>Linda laughed. What would she ever do without -Dot to restore her courage whenever a fit -of shyness overtook her? Holding her head -high, she marched into the office where the secretary -was sitting.</p> -<p>The latter, a young man of medium height, -with a blond moustache, stood up as the girls -entered. He opened his mouth to speak—but -continued to keep it open without saying anything -for a moment.</p> -<p>“There’s some mistake,” he finally managed -to stammer.</p> -<p>Linda laughed, quite at ease.</p> -<p>“There’s been a <i>big</i> mistake,” she said. -“And your director, Mr. Von Goss, I believe -his name is, has made it. I am the real Linda -Carlton, and he has signed up an impostor for -the flying part in his picture!”</p> -<p>A slight sneer spread over the young man’s -features.</p> -<p>“I suppose you have proof, Miss—er—?” he -asked in a tone that plainly showed that he did -not suppose anything of the sort. How nasty -he was, not even to call Linda “Miss Carlton” -and at least give her the benefit of the doubt!</p> -<p>Dot’s chin shot up in the air.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_51">51</div> -<p>“You don’t suppose we’d come here, without -some proof, do you, Mr. Sprague?” she demanded, -haughtily. “Miss Carlton is a very -busy person, as you’d know if you read the -newspapers.”</p> -<p>The man flushed at Dot’s high-handed manner; -he was not used to being rebuked by -others. Little as she was, Dot Crowley had a -masterful way of driving straight at the mark.</p> -<p>Linda opened her handbag and held out her -licenses.</p> -<p>“Just have these verified,” she said, calmly.</p> -<p>The young man stared at them.</p> -<p>“Where did you get hold of these?” he asked, -slyly. “Find Miss Carlton’s handbag?”</p> -<p>Linda made no reply, but turned her face -aside in haughty disdain, as Sprague rang a -bell and summoned a young woman from another -office, to whom he made a slight explanation.</p> -<p>“And now,” he continued after the girl had -left with the cards, “what do you propose to -do about it—if your identity should be established?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_52">52</div> -<p>“Simply have proof that you will remove my -name from the pictures, and print a statement -saying that you had been misled.”</p> -<p>Mr. Sprague smiled sarcastically.</p> -<p>“You want the part yourself, I suppose?”</p> -<p>“I do not,” replied Linda, firmly. “I have -neither time nor inclination to go into the moving -pictures. Your actress can play the part—under -her own name, whatever it is.”</p> -<p>“Mr. Von Goss would never consent to that. -The girl isn’t much of an actress. He just engaged -her for the value of the publicity. And, -if she should prove to be an impostor, I’m sure -he wouldn’t want her.”</p> -<p>“Well, that’s not my affair,” concluded -Linda, rising. “Please get my licenses back for -me now, Mr. Sprague, and when you have proof, -Mr. Von Goss can communicate with me at the -Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.”</p> -<p>“Wait a minute—wait a minute,” cautioned -Sprague, smugly. “We can’t verify that license -in five minutes. The other girl also had licenses -in the name of Miss Linda Carlton, and the two -will have to be compared, in order to find out -which is a counterfeit!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_53">53</div> -<p>“Why, that’s ridiculous!” exclaimed Dot. -“People can’t counterfeit U. S. Government -licenses!”</p> -<p>The secretary smiled in his superior manner.</p> -<p>“Real counterfeiters can counterfeit anything,” -he informed them.</p> -<p>“Then let me have mine back until we can -place them side by side with this other girl’s,” -demanded Linda.</p> -<p>Sprague shook his head.</p> -<p>“I’m sorry, madam, but it’s too late to do -that now. They have already been handed over -to our private detective, I’m sure.”</p> -<p>“How soon will he give them back?” asked -Dot.</p> -<p>“Tomorrow, probably.”</p> -<p>“Where is this double of mine?” questioned -Linda, with astonishing directness. “On the -lot?”</p> -<p>“No. She’s at Spring City now—or rather, -on her way to the coast. She’s due here tomorrow -afternoon, flying into the Los Angeles airport, -to begin her part in the rehearsals.”</p> -<p>“We’ll be there to meet her,” announced -Linda, with determination. “What time?”</p> -<p>“Three o’clock. I’ll—meet you.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_54">54</div> -<p>Reluctantly the girls left the building, for -they hated to go without the licenses, and -walked out into the bright sunshine.</p> -<p>“What a pest that man is!” exclaimed Dot. -“Of all the smug, self-satisfied, little tin-gods, -he’s the worst I ever met.”</p> -<p>“He was rather unpleasant,” agreed Linda. -“But he probably likes the false Linda, and believes -in her. So he treats us as criminals.”</p> -<p>“I suppose that’s it. But he didn’t have to -be so nasty about it. And the ridiculous way he -tried to trip you up, asking where you got hold -of Miss Carlton’s licenses. It made my blood -boil.”</p> -<p>“He’s not worth getting excited over, Dot, -for after all, it will be Mr. Von Goss who will -decide the thing. Let’s forget him now, and go -to one of these spiffy restaurants for lunch. -Don’t you hope we see some of the stars?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_55">55</div> -<p>They sauntered along leisurely, looking at the -people they passed, wondering whether they -were actors and actresses. But it was confusing, -for every girl here seemed to be pretty, and -every man handsome. Indeed, the stenographers -and waitresses were no doubt girls who -had won beauty contests at home, only to come -to Hollywood to find that beauty was as common -as blades of grass, and that there was more -to getting into the films than that. But of -course these girls with the jobs—any jobs—were -the lucky ones. Thousands of others must -have returned home penniless.</p> -<p>The restaurant Linda and Dot selected was a -charming one, not far from several of the -studios, and the girls entered it with subdued -excitement. Although it was crowded, the head -waiter succeeded in finding them a little table -by the wall, where they could eat and watch -their fellow-diners.</p> -<p>For a few minutes, while they sipped their -tomato cocktails, their eyes wandered about the -softly lighted room, recognizing nobody in particular. -Then, all of a sudden, Dot pinched -Linda’s arm.</p> -<p>“That’s Joan Crawford!” she whispered.</p> -<p>“Where?”</p> -<p>“Over there—to the left.”</p> -<p>“That girl with glasses?”</p> -<p>“Yes. She wears them a lot in public, they -say, so that people won’t recognize her. But -I’m sure it’s she. And there’s her husband, sitting -down beside her now. Anybody’d know -him.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_56">56</div> -<p>Linda nodded, and feasted her eyes on one of -Hollywood’s most celebrated and charming -couples.</p> -<p>“And here comes Marlene Dietrich!” exclaimed -Linda. “With that director she’s so -fond of. She is pretty, isn’t she?”</p> -<p>“Yes, only I like our own actresses better -than those foreigners. They always seem so -affected.”</p> -<p>“How about Claudette Colbert? You like -her, don’t you?” asked Linda, jealously. She -had a great admiration for the French ever -since her delightful reception in Paris.</p> -<p>“Yes, of course.... Oh, look, Linda—there’s -Dimples!”</p> -<p>“Dimples? You mean June Collyer?”</p> -<p>“No, Stupid! A masculine Dimples. Gable, -of course.”</p> -<p>“So it is! Wouldn’t Sara Wheeler be -thrilled if she were here? She’s wild about -him.”</p> -<p>“I heard he was getting a divorce. If you -stayed around here, Linda, and took that part, -you might have a chance.”</p> -<p>Linda laughed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_57">57</div> -<p>“The last thing I’d ever want to do is marry -a movie actor!”</p> -<p>“I guess you’re right at that,” agreed Dot, -sensibly. “Their marriages don’t often take.”</p> -<p>The girls made their lunch last as long as -they could, and when they had finished they decided -to go to a movie. For although Hollywood -is the town where they make pictures, -they also have many gorgeous picture palaces. -Both Linda and Dot felt proud to know that -they were having first chance at seeing a show -which their friends in Spring City probably -could not view until many months later.</p> -<p>After the performance was over they took -the bus back to Los Angeles and went straight -to their room to dress elaborately for dinner. -They were almost ready when the telephone on -the tiny table between their beds jingled impatiently.</p> -<p>It was Mr. Von Goss, the director of the Apex -Film Corporation, the man whom they had -hoped to see instead of that unpleasant secretary.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_58">58</div> -<p>“May I come over and see you right after -dinner, Miss—er—Carlton?” he asked. -“Sprague has just told me the news, and I -want to learn all I can about it at once.”</p> -<p>“Certainly,” agreed Linda. “I shall be glad -to see you as soon as possible.”</p> -<p>Linda replaced the receiver and turned to -Dot.</p> -<p>“You know what I’ve been thinking? This -girl can’t look exactly like me, or Mr. Sprague -wouldn’t have noticed the difference at once. -Instead, he’d have greeted me more like a -friend. But you remember—he opened his -mouth in surprise.”</p> -<p>“That’s right. Of course we couldn’t judge -much from her picture, with that helmet on. -She was your build and your type, Linda. Light -curly hair, and the same kind of nose.”</p> -<p>“I’m dying to see her.”</p> -<p>“So am I. But we shall tomorrow.”</p> -<p>“Well,” continued Linda, “it’s going to be -interesting to get Mr. Von Goss’s reaction. At -any rate, he was a lot more polite over the telephone -than his secretary.”</p> -<p>The man arrived about nine o’clock, and -Linda heard herself being paged just as she -and Dot came out of the dining-room.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_59">59</div> -<p>“Hadn’t I better slip off?” suggested the -latter, in a whisper.</p> -<p>“No, indeed!” protested Linda. “I need -your moral support.”</p> -<p>Mr. Von Goss was a stout man of past middle-age, -heavy set, with a big jaw and a pair of -keen blue eyes—obviously a man of power in -his own field. Nevertheless, he looked thoroughly -disturbed over the matter which had -just been brought to his attention by his secretary.</p> -<p>“You claim to be Miss Carlton?” he inquired, -as Linda came up to him in the hotel lobby.</p> -<p>“Yes,” replied Linda. “And this is my -friend, Miss Crowley. Shall we go into one of -those little parlors where we can talk?”</p> -<p>The director nodded, and Linda led the way -into a small room that was unoccupied at the -moment.</p> -<p>“Er—will you have a cigarette, Miss—er—Carlton?” -he inquired.</p> -<p>“No, thank you,” answered Linda. “But -you go ahead and smoke, Mr. Von Goss.”</p> -<p>The man lighted a cigar.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_60">60</div> -<p>“This is bad business,” he said. “If what -you claim is true, and we have signed up the -wrong young lady.”</p> -<p>“You are satisfied with my proofs?” asked -Linda, hoping that he had brought back her -licenses.</p> -<p>“Can’t tell yet. The other girl certainly looks -like all the newspaper pictures I’ve ever seen -of the famous aviatrix. If she isn’t Linda Carlton, -she certainly fooled me—and my secretary, -too.”</p> -<p>“Do I look like my pictures?” inquired -Linda, demurely.</p> -<p>Mr. Von Goss surveyed her critically.</p> -<p>“Not so much as the other girl,” he replied, -with a smile. “But of course you’re in evening -dress, and the other girl always wears flying -suits.”</p> -<p>“She would,” put in Dot, cryptically.</p> -<p>“And, as Mr. Sprague suggested,” added -Mr. Von Goss, “there’s the possibility that the -real Miss Carlton’s licenses were stolen—and -that by you—or anyone else!”</p> -<p>“Oh, that Mr. Sprague!” exclaimed Dot, -with the utmost disdain.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_61">61</div> -<p>“There are two things to do,” announced -Linda, who had already come to a definite conclusion. -“Get the two of us together, and have -some one who knows us in aviation pick out -the real Linda Carlton—or—”</p> -<p>“But Mr. Sprague, and some fliers he knows, -have already identified our Miss Carlton,” interrupted -the director. “It was Sprague who -looked her up, and brought her into the production.”</p> -<p>“Then we’ll have to resort to the only other -suggestion I have, if you can’t decide on our -license cards.... It so happens that I am the -only woman in the United States to hold an airplane -mechanic’s license.... Now, my cards -could be stolen, but not my knowledge. So my -idea is this: Have some good airplane mechanic -give us both an examination, and only the real -Linda Carlton will pass.”</p> -<p>The director smiled broadly at the suggestion. -It was an ingenious plan, and it appealed -to his sense of the dramatic.</p> -<p>“I believe you, Miss Carlton. I think you -must be the right girl, or you would never make -such a suggestion. We’ll try the thing out tomorrow. -When the other girl arrives at two -o’clock, as she wired, I’ll take you to the airport -to meet her.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_62">62</div> -<p>“Two o’clock?” repeated Linda. “But Mr. -Sprague said ‘Three’!”</p> -<p>“He must have made a mistake. He told me -two.... Now, how would you girls like to go -to a reception with me? One of the stars is giving -a house-warming at her new place at Beverly -Hills, and I think I can ring you in on it, -if you’d care about it.”</p> -<p>“We’d love it!” cried Dot, jumping up excitedly. -“But please wait until we put on our -very best dresses, Mr. Von Goss.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_63">63</div> -<h2 id="c5">CHAPTER V -<br /><span class="small">THE VANISHING “DOUBLE”</span></h2> -<p>The home of the star where the reception -was held was the most gorgeous place that -Linda and Dot had ever seen. It was more like -a palace than a home—out in the rich, exclusive -Beverly Hills section, among those of other -famous actors and actresses whose salaries -soared into the thousands. Compared to it, the -Claverings seemed almost paupers, yet they -were the wealthiest people Linda had ever -known.</p> -<p>“It’s just like a fairy-tale,” whispered Dot, -as the girls left their evening cloaks in a beautiful -blue satin boudoir. “But what is there for -a girl like this to look forward to? Why, she -has everything!”</p> -<p>“Almost too much,” said Linda.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div> -<p>“But her fame probably won’t last more than -ten years at the most. I read somewhere that -even that is a long time for an actress. After -that she has to take character parts, and ‘what -have you’.”</p> -<p>“That seems tragic—giving up what you like -to do best. I expect to fly till I die.”</p> -<p>“That’s just what your Aunt Emily says—only -she means it differently. That you’ll meet -your death in the air.”</p> -<p>Linda laughed, and she and Dot hastened to -join Mr. Von Goss, who was waiting for them -at the foot of the marble staircase.</p> -<p>“I sort of feel as if we were butting in,” -whispered Linda. “Do I look terribly countrified—or -small-townish?”</p> -<p>“My dear, you’re as pretty as any star here, -and lots prettier than some,” replied Dot, reassuringly.</p> -<p>“Well, you surely look sweet in that peach -chiffon, Dot. You look like Paris itself.”</p> -<p>“Of course I do!” laughed the other girl. -“I’m not going to have any inferiority complex. -And don’t you, either, Linda!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_65">65</div> -<p>Taking them into his charge, Mr. Von Goss -led the girls about the luxurious rooms, introducing -Linda to everybody as the most famous -girl flier in the world. It was evident from his -manner that he was entirely convinced that she -was the real Linda.</p> -<p>The effect of the reception as a whole was -startling, overpowering. Linda felt almost as -if she wanted to gasp for breath, so overcome -was she by the brilliancy of it all. It was only -when she met Ann Harding, her favorite -actress, that she really felt at home.</p> -<p>Miss Harding was amazingly beautiful—far -lovelier than she seemed on the screen, if such -a thing were possible. Her rich, low voice was -charming, her complexion perfect, her golden -hair like the pictures of a fairy queen. Yet -there was something sad in her beautiful brown -eyes. She and her husband had recently parted.</p> -<p>“Oh, I am so thrilled to meet you, Linda -Carlton!” she said, holding Linda’s hand in -hers. “I am only an amateur flier, but I love it -so. And I have read about every single thing -you have ever done.”</p> -<p>Linda blushed deeply at the praise; she -wished she could summon courage to tell Miss -Harding that she was her favorite star, but she -was too shy to utter the words. She was afraid -it might sound like idle flattery, thought up on -the spur of the moment.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_66">66</div> -<p>Dot, however, came to her rescue.</p> -<p>“You’re Linda’s favorite actress, Miss -Harding,” she announced, calmly. “She goes -to see all your pictures—two or three times. -Especially the one where you played a character -named ‘Linda.’ Do you remember?”</p> -<p>“Indeed I do,” replied Miss Harding. “And -I loved that part.”</p> -<p>The three girls sat down in a corner and actually -were able to talk flying without any interruption -for about ten minutes. Then someone -came to claim Miss Harding, and Mr. Von -Goss appeared for his protegees.</p> -<p>Nothing was said, during the entire reception, -of the trouble Linda was in, or of the fact -that another girl was actually playing her part. -The director had asked the girls not to mention -the fact, and they were glad to accede to his -wishes.</p> -<p>He took them to another room, a spacious -hall with a beautiful shiny floor and a marvellous -orchestra, and introduced some younger -men to them, so that they could enjoy the dancing. -Then a sumptuous supper was served, and -the party broke up before midnight.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div> -<p>“I never thought the reception would be over -so early, Mr. Von Goss,” remarked Dot, as the -director drove the girls back to their hotel in -his car. “I always thought Hollywood went in -for wild parties.”</p> -<p>The man shook his head.</p> -<p>“No. If anything, the stars keep earlier -hours than ordinary people. Many of them have -to be on location early in the morning, and their -work is long and tiring. All the considerate -hostesses arrange for their parties to be early -affairs.”</p> -<p>“One more mistaken idea shot to pieces,” -laughed Dot.</p> -<p>“We’ve had a marvellous time, Mr. Von -Goss,” said Linda, as the car stopped at the -Ambassador. “We never can thank you enough. -And I’m so glad we could go tonight, for we’ll -probably be flying home tomorrow.”</p> -<p>The man raised his eyebrows.</p> -<p>“I’m not so sure we can clear things up by -then. But I hope so. At any rate, I’ll meet you -both at the airport at two o’clock in the afternoon.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_68">68</div> -<p>The girls said good night to Mr. Von Goss -and went to their room, but they found that -they were not sleepy. The party had been too -exciting to settle down and forget it so soon.</p> -<p>“It does kind of get into your blood,” remarked -Linda, as she took off her most elaborate -evening gown. “All the rush and splendor -and excitement, I mean.”</p> -<p>“Weakening?” teased Dot.</p> -<p>“You mean go into pictures myself, if I had -the chance? No—never! Why, you can’t tell -me Ann Harding’s happy. Or Joan Crawford.... -No, it’s not satisfying, like flying. I know -what I love best, and I mean to stick to it!”</p> -<p>“Wise girl!” was the comment. “But you -surely have Mr. Von Goss worried.”</p> -<p>“No wonder. He says he advanced that other -girl fifteen thousand dollars, just for the use of -my name, and he’s already spent at least a -hundred thousand on the story and the sets.”</p> -<p>“It seems as if you just couldn’t let him -down, Linda.”</p> -<p>“I’m not letting him down. I never made any -promises to him. He’s being let down because -he was so careless.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_69">69</div> -<p>For at least an hour the girls continued to -discuss the party and the stars, until at last -they settled down to sleep, thankful that they -had no need to get up early in the morning.</p> -<p>They combined breakfast and lunch the following -day at noon, and went to the flying field -a little before two o’clock to be on hand when -the false Linda should arrive.</p> -<p>Linda was intensely excited. She tried over -and over to picture to herself what this meeting -would be like, whether the girl would be -humble and sorry, whether she would try to -work on Linda’s sympathies by telling of some -pressing need she had for money, or whether -she would be flippant and self-assured, still insisting -that she was the real Linda Carlton.</p> -<p>Mr. Von Goss’s car appeared shortly after -Linda and Dot arrived, and they recognized -Mr. Leslie Sprague in the back seat. Both men -nodded to the girls, who had dismissed their -taxi and were standing beside one of the -hangars, talking to an attendant.</p> -<p>“See your names in the paper, girls?” he -was asking them.</p> -<p>“No. When?” inquired Dot.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_70">70</div> -<p>The mechanic picked up a newspaper and -handed it to them. There was a picture, somewhat -poor, to be sure, of Linda and Dot in their -flying suits and an account of their arrival, recalling -the incident of their strange landing -at Kansas City. Underneath were the names, -“Miss Sallie Slocum and Miss May Manton.”</p> -<p>“How did they ever get that picture?” demanded -Dot.</p> -<p>“Snapped it when you weren’t looking. -Those newspaper reporters are up to all sorts -of tricks. The beacon light is bright, and he had -a special camera.”</p> -<p>Linda looked serious.</p> -<p>“This may make trouble for us, Dot,” she -said, in a low voice.</p> -<p>The director and his secretary got out of the -car and advanced towards the girls just as an -airplane loomed into view. Linda stared excitedly -at the sky, trying to make out what kind -of plane it was. It was not an autogiro.</p> -<p>“There she is!” shouted Mr. Von Goss, and -Mr. Sprague took off his hat and waved it violently -into the air.</p> -<p>“The secretary’s pretty keen about the false -Linda, or I miss my guess,” whispered Dot, in -her companion’s ear. “Look how excited he is! -How wildly he’s waving!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_71">71</div> -<p>The aviatrix, who was just overhead, suddenly -banked her plane, and made a turn to the -left. Then she nosed her plane higher into the -air.</p> -<p>“Doing some stunts for us!” exclaimed Mr. -Von Goss. “She’s a great little flier, all -right—”</p> -<p>“She’s—she’s going away!” faltered Linda, -in deepest disappointment.</p> -<p>“Probably forgotten something,” remarked -Leslie Sprague, casually. “I was almost certain, -anyhow, that she said three o’clock—not -two. She’ll most likely be back at three.”</p> -<p>“You mean to say we’ll have to wait a whole -hour?” demanded Dot, as the plane disappeared -in the distance.</p> -<p>“That’s up to you,” returned Sprague, nonchalantly.</p> -<p>Mr. Von Goss reached into his pocket and -extracted a clipping. It was the newspaper picture -of Dot and Linda, with the fictitious names -under it.</p> -<p>“Sprague showed me this,” he said, handing -the clipping to Linda, with a suspicious look in -his eyes.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_72">72</div> -<p>Linda trembled in spite of herself, but Dot -immediately explained how it had happened. -Mr. Von Goss, however, looked doubtful of the -truth of the story, and Sprague listened with -a nasty grin on his face.</p> -<p>“We’ll have to talk this over later,” the director -said finally. “I have an appointment -now. As soon as the girl arrives, you better all -come straight to the studio, where we can compare -licenses, and so on.”</p> -<p>“Where is mine?” demanded Linda.</p> -<p>“Sprague’s keeping it. He’ll hand it over -when the time comes.”</p> -<p>With a brief nod of good-bye, the two men -drove away together, and the girls stood watching -them in dismay.</p> -<p>“Something tells me that that young lady -won’t be back here,” Dot said dismally.</p> -<p>“I’m afraid not. Maybe she even saw us, for -her plane was pretty low. And if she had -glasses—”</p> -<p>“Of course she had glasses! No girl who -plays a tricky game like this one is going to go -about unprepared. It would be like a gangster -without a gun.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div> -<p>They waited impatiently for over an hour, -but nothing happened, and even the men did -not return. Other planes flew into the busy -airport, landed and took off, but there was no -sign of Linda’s “double.”</p> -<p>Bored with the inactivity, they strolled over -to the hangar where the Ladybug was housed, -and looked her over.</p> -<p>“I’d fly over to the studio if I only had my -licenses,” said Linda. “But I hate to break -laws—even though it isn’t my fault.”</p> -<p>“That man has no right to keep them!” -stormed Dot. “I’ll bet Sprague’s at the bottom -of this.”</p> -<p>“He’s still trying to protect his girl-friend, -I’m sure of that.... Well, Dot, we may as -well go back to the hotel, for if she should arrive, -I feel confident that Mr. Von Goss would -call us there.”</p> -<p>Linda’s confidence, however, was sadly misplaced. -For no one at the studio called to inform -her that the other girl landed her plane -right on the set a little after three o’clock.</p> -<p>With the neatness of a born flier, she brought -her plane to the ground, climbed out of the -cockpit and strolled into Mr. Von Goss’s office. -The director had not yet returned, but Sprague -was sitting at his desk. In a few words he explained -the situation, but before the girl could -make any reply, Mr. Von Goss walked in.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_74">74</div> -<p>“You’ve heard the story, Miss—Carlton?” -he asked, hesitating a little over the name.</p> -<p>The girl, who really resembled Linda to a -remarkable degree, laughed and shrugged her -shoulders.</p> -<p>“I’m used to things like that,” she said. “It -used to worry me at first, but I never pay any -attention to them now. Why, Mr. Von Goss, -you can see for yourself how absurd the claim -is! The girl’s real name—Sallie Slocum—has -been printed in the newspaper twice.”</p> -<p>“Yes, of course that’s true. But how about -those license cards?”</p> -<p>“Your detective will soon prove them counterfeits. -And the signatures forged.”</p> -<p>Still, the man hesitated.</p> -<p>“The other girl said something about taking -a test. Said she was the only licensed mechanic -in the country. That made it sound pretty genuine -to me.”</p> -<p>Again the girl laughed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_75">75</div> -<p>“That was a clever ruse,” she said. “But -probably Miss Slocum has passed that test -since I did, and thinks she knows more than I -would.... No, Mr. Von Goss, I haven’t time -to fool around here taking tests. I’ve got to be -on my way tomorrow. So if you want me in the -picture, you’ll have to let me go through my -stunts now.”</p> -<p>“I don’t see how it can be done—” began the -director.</p> -<p>“Very well, then,” agreed the girl. “I’d better -give you back your check, because I’m really -too busy to wait around here. After all, the -money doesn’t mean much to me—and I don’t -need the publicity!”</p> -<p>Mr. Von Goss looked at her keenly. She must -be the real Linda, he thought, or she certainly -wouldn’t talk like this. It never occurred to him -that she was acting.</p> -<p>“No—I don’t want to give up now. We’ll go -through with your part of the show.... -Sprague, get the people on the wire....”</p> -<p>And so, while Linda and Dot were patiently -waiting for their telephone call at the hotel, the -impostor almost completed her part in the picture, -promising to return for only a couple of -hours’ work in the morning.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_76">76</div> -<h2 id="c6">CHAPTER VI -<br /><span class="small">THE FORGED SIGNATURE</span></h2> -<p>“Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. -Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the -studio at Culver City the following day.</p> -<p>Linda winced at the name, and looked around -her, to see whether another girl could be entering -at the same time. But there was no one -except a strange young man sitting in the corner, -who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.” -The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; -perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling -her by the name which Dot had manufactured -on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and -which had been repeated by the newspapers.</p> -<p>“Trying to be funny, Mr. Sprague?” inquired -Dot, scathingly.</p> -<p>The stranger in the corner arose from his -seat.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_77">77</div> -<p>“This is Mr. Bertram Chase, of the police,” -Sprague announced, calmly. “Miss Slocum and -Miss Manton.”</p> -<p>The girls regarded the young man questioningly. -He was in plain clothes—not an ordinary -policeman.</p> -<p>“A detective,” explained Sprague, simply.</p> -<p>Dot became impatient; she wanted to get to -the point of their visit.</p> -<p>“We should like to meet the aviatrix who -calls herself Linda Carlton,” she announced, -in a business-like tone. “Has she come in yet?”</p> -<p>“She is on the set now,” replied Sprague. -“Going through her stunts. She has only a -small part in the picture, so it can all be done at -once.”</p> -<p>“Will you kindly take us out where she is?” -asked Linda.</p> -<p>“In a minute, sister,” returned the man, condescendingly. -“But we have some business -with you first.”</p> -<p>Linda’s expression became freezing. She -could not bear this insolent young man. He -smiled in an irritating manner.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_78">78</div> -<p>“We have examined your licenses, Miss -Slocum,” he said. “And we believe the signatures -have been forged. The real Miss Carlton -brought hers today, and we compared the two. -There is no doubt that hers is genuine.”</p> -<p>“What?” demanded Linda, in horror.</p> -<p>“Let us see them!” demanded Dot, entirely -unconvinced.</p> -<p>Mr. Sprague nodded.</p> -<p>“Our friend, Mr. Chase, has them now. He -will let you look at them.”</p> -<p>The young man, who could not have been a -day over twenty-five, looked extremely embarrassed. -Not like a hard-boiled detective at all, -Linda thought. Indeed, he flashed her a look of -sympathy, as if he did not share in Sprague’s -accusation. Still, it was his business, and he -had to go through with it.</p> -<p>He fumbled in his pockets and produced two -cards, identical at a glance. The same numbers, -the same printing—and what looked like the -same signatures.</p> -<p>“Don’t let them out of your hands, Chase,” -warned Sprague, evidently determined to be as -nasty as possible.</p> -<p>“You see, ladies,” Chase said, almost apologetically. -“This signature is forged.” He held -up one of the cards. “Look at the capital ‘L’. -It hasn’t been copied quite right.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_79">79</div> -<p>“Of course it hasn’t!” cried Dot. “But the -other one is yours, Linda.”</p> -<p>“Yes,” agreed Linda, trembling in spite of -her innocence, “I remember that mud-spot on -mine. I got it on that treasure-hunt that Mr. -Clavering planned, from Green Falls last summer.”</p> -<p>“Odd,” remarked Sprague, sarcastically. -“That is the very mud-spot the real Miss Carlton -identified her card by!”</p> -<p>“What do you propose to do?” demanded -Dot, now thoroughly exasperated.</p> -<p>“Hold Miss Slocum under bail,” replied -Sprague. “For forgery.”</p> -<p>Dot burst into a peal of laughter.</p> -<p>“It’s too absurd!” she exclaimed.</p> -<p>The young detective looked exceedingly uncomfortable.</p> -<p>“Shall we go out on the lot?” he suggested. -“And see the stunts?”</p> -<p>“O. K. by me,” agreed Sprague.</p> -<p>“Are we to wear hand-cuffs?” inquired Dot, -flippantly.</p> -<p>Sprague gave her a withering look.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_80">80</div> -<p>“You are not being held at all, Miss Manton,” -he said. “We’re not concerned under -what names you care to travel.”</p> -<p>The young detective fell back and walked -across the lots with the girls.</p> -<p>“I believe you are innocent, Miss—Carlton,” -he said, his brown eyes already showing devotion -to Linda. “Of course I have to take your -money for bail, but I’m sure it will be all -cleared up soon. I think that the other girl is -the impostor.”</p> -<p>“Oh, thank you, Mr. Chase!” cried Linda, -the tears dangerously near to her eyes at this -expression of sympathy.</p> -<p>The group reached the lot, where the picture -was being rehearsed. It looked so interesting, -so thrilling,—had it been under any other circumstances, -the girls would have only been too -delighted at the opportunity. But now they -could think only of the horrible fix they were in, -with not a friend in this strange city to vindicate -them.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_81">81</div> -<p>Mr. Von Goss, who was buzzing busily about -the lot, paid no attention at all to Dot and Linda—not -even a formal nod of greeting as he -passed them by. He had evidently decided that -they were impostors, who had cleverly deceived -him, thereby securing for themselves an evening’s -unusual entertainment at his expense. -Therefore, he preferred not to recognize them -at all. The deliberate cut hurt Linda, for she -had liked and admired the older man, and had -found him exceedingly interesting.</p> -<p>The moving-picture aviatrix, however, was -going through all sorts of stunts in a silver -Moth, which had been brightly painted and decorated. -Linda stood still, gazing at her enviously. -Not that she wanted to be in the picture, -but she would always rather be in the air than -on the ground. And it looked now as if she -were to be chained to the earth for several days -to come, unless she or Dot could think of a way -out of their difficulties.</p> -<p>“The girl’s too low!” cried Chase suddenly, -in horror.</p> -<p>Linda watched her; she certainly was dangerously -near to the ground. The roar of her -motor was deafening. But, by a stroke of luck, -she regained control, and abruptly pointed her -plane upward, climbing without disaster.</p> -<p>“She’s good,” admitted Linda, in all fairness.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_82">82</div> -<p>“Not so good as she looks,” remarked Chase. -“I happen to know that plane and it will take -a lot of punishment. But she’ll do that little -stunt once too often.”</p> -<p>“You’re a flier too, Mr. Chase?” inquired -Linda.</p> -<p>“Yes,” he replied. “I’m a secret-service -man, on the air force of the police.”</p> -<p>He looked right into Linda’s eyes, as if to -tell her that his love of flying was another bond -of sympathy between them.</p> -<p>“How did you happen to be called in—on an -unimportant case like ours?”</p> -<p>“I’m here on something else. Connected with -another case. And I know Mr. Von Goss personally, -so he asked me to help him out.”</p> -<p>“I see.... I suppose I shouldn’t ask you -for advice, Mr. Chase—but—I feel as if you -would help me, if possible. What would you do -if you were in my place?”</p> -<p>“Wire to somebody well known in aviation -circles, who can come and identify you as <i>the -girl who flew the Atlantic alone</i>. Because that -is the important thing. That’s why Von Goss -is paying the aviatrix thirty thousand dollars -for a small part in one picture. Just because -of that one fact!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_83">83</div> -<p>“Then friends wouldn’t help—in establishing -my identity?”</p> -<p>“No. They ought to be people in aviation.”</p> -<p>Dot interrupted this conversation, by suddenly -grasping Linda’s arm. “Look at -Sprague!” she cried. “Look at the way he’s -waving that hat of his to his girl-friend! Now -what do you suppose the idea of that is?”</p> -<p>At the mention of his own name, the secretary -turned to the girls.</p> -<p>“Miss Carlton is supposed to fly away—be -lost to sight now,” he informed them, calmly. -“It isn’t likely she’ll come back and land here, -for that finishes her part.”</p> -<p>“You mean we’re not to see her?” demanded -Dot. “That looks suspicious to me!”</p> -<p>“Oh, yeah?” returned Sprague. “Well, don’t -flatter yourselves that Miss Linda Carlton has -time to waste on a couple of upstarts from -Toonerville, or wherever it was you came from. -She’s a busy girl!”</p> -<p>Linda sighed deeply as she watched the plane -disappear entirely from view. There was -nothing to do now; Sprague and Von Goss were -both against her. She might as well go back -to the hotel.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_84">84</div> -<p>“Come to the hotel this afternoon for that -check for bail,” she said to Chase. “I’ll have -it ready.”</p> -<p>Then, with a nod of farewell, she and Dot -left the lot and went into a restaurant at Culver -City for their lunch. But this time they were -not interested in seeing the stars. Their own -problems were too pressing.</p> -<p>“If I could only get in touch with Daddy,” -said Linda, as she nibbled at her salad. “But -I don’t know where he is, and I should hate to -alarm Aunt Emily by telling her that I am being -held under bail. No ... I guess the best -idea is to wire Mr. Eckert.”</p> -<p>“That’s the stuff!” approved Dot. “Why -not go over to that telephone and do it now, -while I order something for dessert?”</p> -<p>Linda took the suggestion, and fifteen minutes -later the girls started back for their hotel -in Los Angeles. They felt like prisoners, unable -to come and go at will. As a matter of -fact, Dot was still as free as air, but she had no -thought of deserting Linda.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_85">85</div> -<p>They bought the afternoon paper on their -way back to the hotel, and when they reached -their room, Dot spread it out on her bed to read. -But the first item that met her eye made her -stare in horror. It was Linda’s picture, right -on the front page, with the caption -“Miss Sallie Slocum, impersonating Linda -Carlton,” and underneath it, the whole dishonest -story.</p> -<p>She read it in rising anger, determined to -destroy it before Linda should see it. But her -companion, noticing the look on her chum’s -face, crossed the room and saw it for herself.</p> -<p>“Not a soul will believe it is really I!” she -exclaimed. “Because it doesn’t look a whole -lot like me.”</p> -<p>“No, it certainly doesn’t. It must be that -same picture the reporter took of us both at the -airport, the day we landed here in Los Angeles. -Only I’m cut off. I’m not news any more.”</p> -<p>“No, you’re free, Dot.”</p> -<p>“Yet it’s all my fault!” She wound her arms -around Linda. “Darling, I just can’t tell you -how sorry I am for that silly prank!”</p> -<p>Linda patted her hand.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_86">86</div> -<p>“Don’t think of it as your fault, Dot. That -name business is only a side-issue. That girl -would have gotten away with it, no matter what -we did. She’d have thought up something else -if she hadn’t had that to play on.”</p> -<p>“But I played right into her hands.”</p> -<p>“Perhaps. Only, any girl who would go to all -this trouble to invent such a dishonest scheme -would have succeeded somehow. Why, the -licenses were really the most important thing. -But how she ever managed to get them exchanged -without that smart Sprague noticing, -is more than I can account for.”</p> -<p>“Well, you must remember he wasn’t prejudiced -against her as he was against you. He -trusted her, so he probably wasn’t watching her -closely.”</p> -<p>“I detest that man,” said Linda.</p> -<p>“So do I,” agreed Dot.</p> -<p>“Well, this isn’t getting us anywhere,” remarked -Linda, with a yawn. “I think a nap -would do us good.”</p> -<p>So, wisely acting upon the suggestion, the -girls slept until Mr. Chase called at five o’clock -for Linda’s check for one thousand dollars for -bail.</p> -<p>“Which I hate to have to take,” he said, -apologetically. “But I expect to give it back -to you soon!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_87">87</div> -<h2 id="c7">CHAPTER VII -<br /><span class="small">STOLEN!</span></h2> -<p>Linda and Dot both felt terribly depressed, -in spite of their luxurious surroundings. Indeed, -both girls had showed more spirit on that -deserted island in the Atlantic Ocean, where -they had been stranded without any plane during -the early summer. When both their food -and their water supply were limited, and the -chances of survival were small. But now there -was nothing to do but wait—wait in this -strange, lonely city, where their only friends—Mr. -Von Goss and Mr. Chase—had turned out -to be enemies. And now Mr. Chase was going -away, flying south on important business, so -that even he would be lost to them.</p> -<p>“But you will soon be free,” he had said, -after he had heard that Linda had wired for -Mr. Eckert.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_88">88</div> -<p>“In time to stop that picture’s being shown, -do you think?” inquired Linda. “I understand -that the rest of it was completed, and that all -that had to be filmed was my double’s part.”</p> -<p>“Yes, I believe that’s what Von Goss said. -But surely it won’t be released for a month or -so. I shouldn’t worry. You do hate publicity, -don’t you?” he asked, sympathetically.</p> -<p>“I have always tried to shun it,” answered -Linda. “But it seems that I am being punished -now.”</p> -<p>But the young man had gone, and the girls -were feeling very blue.</p> -<p>“We’ve got to pull ourselves together!” announced -Dot, after a few minutes of somber -silence. “Let’s step out and go to a show tonight! -After all, you paid that thousand dollars -bail, and we might as well get some fun -out of it.”</p> -<p>“True,” admitted Linda.</p> -<p>“Not a picture this time. A theatre. I’m sick -of movies.”</p> -<p>“So am I.”</p> -<p>“And let’s make a rule, with a forfeit of five -dollars, if either of us mentions that aviatrix, -or Sprague, or any other vermin we have met -around the studio, we have to pay the other! -Is it a go?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_89">89</div> -<p>“Does that include Mr. Chase?” asked Linda, -slyly.</p> -<p>Dot poked her companion under the chin.</p> -<p>“I suppose not,” she agreed. “You couldn’t -exactly describe him as ‘vermin’.... And besides, -I can see that you were rather smitten. -And did he fall for you? Whew!”</p> -<p>Linda blushed.</p> -<p>“He is a nice young man, don’t you think so, -Dot?”</p> -<p>“Of course I do. But poor Ralph! How -jealous he’d be, if he only knew!”</p> -<p>“Ralph will be furious because I didn’t wire -to him to help us out. But after all, he’s only a -personal friend, and of course his assertions -about my innocence wouldn’t carry much -weight.”</p> -<p>“We’re agreed, then,” said Dot, as she began -to dress for dinner, “that the tabu subjects are -Von Goss, movies, Sprague, and your double. -At five dollars apiece!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_90">90</div> -<p>Linda laughed, but she felt much better. -Trust Dot to find some fun in every situation, -no matter how unpleasant or dangerous it -seemed. They were able to get seats at a very -good play, and in the excitement of the mystery -involved, they forgot all about their own -troubles, and had no need to worry about the -forfeit.</p> -<p>It was lucky indeed that they were able to -enjoy their evening, for the next morning held -a most unpleasant surprise for them. They had -gone for a walk after breakfast and returned to -the hotel about eleven o’clock, hoping for some -word from Mr. Eckert.</p> -<p>The telephone rang and Linda picked it up -gaily, expecting it to be the message. But it -proved to be a message of a very different sort -a summons from a police-court in Los Angeles!</p> -<p>“The officer wants you to come downstairs -immediately, Miss Carlton,” the operator told -her.</p> -<p>“I’m going too,” announced Dot, following -her companion into the elevator.</p> -<p>A uniformed policeman was waiting for -Linda in the lobby. He was a rough, uneducated -person of the lower class, evidently accustomed -to bullying his suspects into submission. -He did not return Linda’s feeble “Good -morning,” but merely extended a piece of paper -with his right hand.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_91">91</div> -<p>“Your bum check!” he snarled. “For bail. -You had no right to sign the name of ‘Linda -Carlton’ anyhow, but besides that, there ain’t -no funds to cover it—even if you say you are -the real ‘Linda’.”</p> -<p>“No funds!” gasped Linda, staring incredulously -at the man. “Why, I keep five thousand -dollars in my check account—just to be ready -for any kind of emergencies that may come up -when I’m flying about the country!”</p> -<p>“That’s just the amount that was took out -yesterday. By the real Linda Carlton.” His -tone was jeering, as if he were enjoying the -situation as he would a play.</p> -<p>“Oh!” cried Linda. “This is terrible!”</p> -<p>“I’ll say it is,” agreed the policeman. “Now -get your hat, and come along with me. You’re -goin’ to jail.”</p> -<p>The girls looked at each other in speechless -amazement. This was too dreadful for words.</p> -<p>“Let me wire for the money,” suggested Dot, -suddenly. “I can get it from my father.”</p> -<p>“Do as you like. But this here forger goes -to jail—even if she is a pretty girl. That ain’t -a gonna help her none now!”</p> -<p>“Oh!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_92">92</div> -<p>The tears came to Linda’s eyes, in spite of -her effort to hold them back. She felt dizzy and -weak. It was all like a hideous nightmare, from -which, try as she might, she could not awaken. -She opened her mouth to speak, but only a -stifled sob came. Then, with a hopeless gesture -of powerlessness, she decided to do as she was -told.</p> -<p>She turned about desperately and walked -towards the elevator like a criminal going to -the electric chair. Dot, still trying to think of -some way to save the situation, waited, hesitating, -breathing hard. It was a tense and horrible -moment—until Linda walked right into the -arms of her dear old friend, Mr. Eckert!</p> -<p>“Linda, I’m here!” he said, putting out his -arms to catch her, for he could see that she was -blinded by tears. “Dear child, you’re not going -to faint?”</p> -<p>Linda looked up in a daze, too astonished to -believe that he was true. Had her imagination -conjured up his kindly presence? But no; Mr. -Eckert’s hands were on her shoulders, supporting -her, keeping her from falling. And beside -him was a large, fine-looking man in a blue -uniform.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_93">93</div> -<p>“Oh!” she gasped, in joy and relief, clinging -desperately to the elderly man’s hand.</p> -<p>“What are you doing to Miss Carlton?” demanded -the stranger in uniform, of the policeman. -“Hounding her with abuse?”</p> -<p>“This here young lady forged a name and -passed a bum check,” he whimpered.</p> -<p>“What name?” asked the other man.</p> -<p>“Claims she’s Linda Carlton, with five thousand -bucks in a bank, where she’s already overdrew -her account.”</p> -<p>“She is Linda Carlton!” announced Mr. -Eckert. “I can testify to that—your superior -officer, James A. Brenan, can testify to my -knowledge, for he knows me well. He is Chief -of Police in St. Louis.”</p> -<p>“How did you get here so soon, Mr. Eckert?” -asked Dot. “We only wired yesterday.”</p> -<p>“We started immediately, sensing your -trouble. And flew day and night. But I see that -we got here just in time.”</p> -<p>“Ten minutes later I’d have been wearing -prison stripes!” returned Linda, now almost -herself again. “Oh, Mr. Eckert, I can never -thank you enough.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_94">94</div> -<p>“I was only too thankful to be of use, my -dear child,” said the kind-hearted man.</p> -<p>“What shall we do first?” inquired Dot, as -the policeman made a move to slip away.</p> -<p>“Catch the thief,” announced Chief Brenan. -“If she has forged a check for five thousand -dollars already, she must have gone away as -fast as she could.” He turned to the Los Angeles -policeman. “Go and inform your station -of this as fast as you can.... And meanwhile, -we’ll go straight to the studio of the Apex Film -Corporation and find out what we can about her -from the director.”</p> -<p>The policeman departed, and Linda asked Mr. -Eckert whether he weren’t terribly hungry and -tired.</p> -<p>“Hungry, yes, but I haven’t had time to -think about being tired yet. I want to get things -all straightened out for you first, before I consider -sleeping. We will arrange for a couple -of rooms and order a meal before we go to -Hollywood.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_95">95</div> -<p>In an incredibly short time the men reappeared -from their rooms and ate a hasty meal -that was both breakfast and lunch. Then the -whole party, the two girls, and the two older -men chartered a car for Culver City.</p> -<p>“Won’t it be fun to stick out our tongues at -that Sprague insect?” laughed Dot, now enjoying -herself hugely. “He was so condescending—so -sure that the other girl was the real -thing!”</p> -<p>“And I’m going to insist that they don’t -show the picture under my name!” added -Linda.</p> -<p>“It’ll serve Mr. Von Goss right. I’m glad -he’s losing money. Remember how snippy he -was to us yesterday, on the lot?”</p> -<p>“He certainly was. Wouldn’t even speak to -us!”</p> -<p>“He may get his money back when we catch -the impostor,” remarked Chief Brenan. “She -can’t have had a chance to spend much of it.”</p> -<p>“I’ll wager she bought that plane that she -was doing stunts with,” observed Linda. “It -certainly was speedy. And she’d want to get -out of the country as soon as possible.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_96">96</div> -<p>The short distance to Culver City was covered -quickly in the high-powered car. Dot was -the first to run into the studio when they arrived. -She wanted to have the fun of saying, “I -told you so,” to that “fresh Sprig,” as she -liked to call him.</p> -<p>The same “publicity girl” took their cards. -But, though Mr. Von Goss was in, she informed -them that Mr. Sprague was no longer with the -Apex.</p> -<p>“Fired?” asked Dot, hopefully.</p> -<p>“No, I believe not. He left yesterday—to be -married to Miss Linda Carlton.”</p> -<p>“No, he didn’t!” contradicted Dot. “This is -Miss Linda Carlton right here, and she’d rather -be dead than married to that shrimp. Your -actress wasn’t Linda Carlton at all—as we’re -just about to prove.”</p> -<p>“Really?” remarked the girl, only slightly -interested. It was a practice of hers never to -frown or show emotion, lest she encourage -wrinkles.</p> -<p>They passed on in to the director’s office, and -Linda introduced the two men and told her -story. When she had finished, Mr. Von Goss -looked extremely worried, crestfallen, even defeated. -For now Linda’s identity was established -beyond a doubt.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_97">97</div> -<p>“How then do you account for this license?” -he asked, extending the one with the forged signature -to Linda.</p> -<p>“Sprague’s doing, of course!” cried Dot, before -Linda had a chance to answer. “He was -in league with that girl. We just heard that -they were married.”</p> -<p>“But how could he manage these licenses?” -demanded Von Goss.</p> -<p>“He got hold of a blank somehow, and forged -the name. Then when he had the chance to get -hold of the real Miss Carlton’s, of course he exchanged -them.”</p> -<p>The Chief of Police was listening to Dot’s -logic with admiration.</p> -<p>“You’re a bright girl,” he said. “And you’ve -figured it out just about right.” He turned to -Linda. “You should never have let your own -licenses get out of your hands.”</p> -<p>“I had no idea Mr. Sprague was dishonest,” -she said. “But the worst part of it is, that now -I have to fly with a false license.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_98">98</div> -<p>“We’ll get yours back when we catch that -couple!” promised Von Goss. “Because we’ve -got to catch them. Why, I paid her thirty thousand -dollars for her part in the picture—and if -my picture is not shown, I’ll lose thousands -more....”</p> -<p>He looked terribly discouraged.</p> -<p>The Chief of Police rose.</p> -<p>“We must go back now and get to work. -Have you any idea, Von Goss, where this couple -went, or what kind of plane they flew in?”</p> -<p>“I heard Sprague say something about South -America for a honeymoon,” the man replied. -“He told us to keep his mail for him, till he -came back, as he wouldn’t have any definite address. -But I haven’t any idea whether they expected -to fly, or what kind of plane they used if -they did.”</p> -<p>“The girl didn’t buy your plane—or steal -it?” asked Linda.</p> -<p>“No. It’s still out there. We needed it today -for some stills.”</p> -<p>“What kind of plane did she own when she -came to the studio?”</p> -<p>“She didn’t own any. She told me that she -had left her autogiro at Spring City, and had -flown west with a friend.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_99">99</div> -<p>“And you believed every word of it!” was -Dot’s taunt. “And never even asked to see her -license, until we showed up and made it necessary.”</p> -<p>“It’s all true,” agreed the director. “I’ve -been a fool.”</p> -<p>“If we only knew what kind of plane, it would -be so much easier to follow and catch her,” remarked -Linda, sadly.</p> -<p>Mr. Von Goss rose from his desk, and followed -the group to the door, lingering beside -Linda, as if he were trying to get up courage -to say something to her. For such a self-possessed -man, he seemed unusually nervous.</p> -<p>“Miss Carlton,” he said, in a humble tone, -“won’t you please do that part of the picture -for me?” It seemed strange that a man who -could tell stars what to do, should speak so -deferentially to Linda.</p> -<p>“Oh, no, Mr. Von Goss,” she replied immediately. -“I couldn’t possibly. I’m all keyed up -for a chase. I want to catch this girl, if it’s the -last thing I ever do!”</p> -<p>“Then let me pay you, say fifty thousand dollars -for the use of your name, and let me show -the picture as it is. Nobody would ever guess -that it isn’t you. For she does look astonishingly -like you.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_100">100</div> -<p>“Wouldn’t I love to see that girl!” said Dot.</p> -<p>Again Linda shook her head. “I don’t want -my name in moving-pictures, Mr. Von Goss,” -she said with quiet determination. “Besides, I -shouldn’t like people to think I flew in the dangerous, -spectacular way that girl did. It is -harmful to the whole cause of aviation. No; -you cannot use my name in connection with -your picture.”</p> -<p>Von Goss knew that she meant what she said, -and there was no use of any further argument. -But he was in a terrible fix, and he didn’t know -how to get out of it without losing a great deal -of money. Certainly he couldn’t use the name -of the girl—whatever it was—for when she was -caught, the whole world would know that she -was a criminal.</p> -<p>A solution of his problem, however, suddenly -suggested itself to Linda.</p> -<p>“I have it, Mr. Von Goss!” she cried, turning -about. “Use Ann Harding! She’s a flier, and -a popular actress besides. She can do the -stunts, and probably will prove more of a drawing -card to the public than I could hope to be.”</p> -<p>“Ann Harding!” repeated the man. “But she -belongs to another studio.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_101">101</div> -<p>“Borrow her! Pay her! You’ll save your -picture.”</p> -<p>“I believe you’re right, Miss Carlton,” he -admitted, with a sigh of relief. “That ought to -save the situation.”</p> -<p>The four visitors left the studio and hurried -in their car back to the hotel. But no news of -the couple had been received by any of the Los -Angeles police. Linda therefore determined to -pack a box of supplies and to set out, that very -afternoon, on the search, inquiring at the airports -they passed as they flew towards Mexico.</p> -<p>Just before sitting down to her late lunch -with Dot, she wired the news to her aunt, informing -her of her plans, and asking that additional -funds be put into her checking account. -Then she called the airport on the telephone.</p> -<p>“This is Linda Carlton,” she said. “I want -you to have my autogiro in readiness for a long -trip. Plenty of gas and oil. I will call for it inside -of an hour.”</p> -<p>“Linda Carlton?” repeated the voice at the -other end of the wire. “Autogiro?... Must be -some mistake.... Miss Carlton flew away in -her autogiro last night, about eight o’clock. She -paid the bill, and said she wouldn’t be back!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_102">102</div> -<h2 id="c8">CHAPTER VIII -<br /><span class="small">IN HOT PURSUIT</span></h2> -<p>Linda replaced the telephone receiver and -sat motionless, staring at the wall of the hotel -bedroom. The worst had happened. The autogiro -was stolen. The Ladybug! Her dearest -possession.</p> -<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Dot, realizing -that her chum must have heard bad news.</p> -<p>In a few words Linda explained the situation.</p> -<p>“And the worst of it is, that girl evidently -didn’t have any difficulty at all about doing it. -Just walked into the airport at night and demanded -the plane. They handed it over to her -without so much as a question.”</p> -<p>For once in her life, Dot remained speechless. -There was not a single word of comfort she -could think of to offer to her companion.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_103">103</div> -<p>“She’s had almost a whole day’s start,” -Linda added dismally. “Here it is three o’clock, -and she must have pulled out at dark last night. -She’s probably out of the United States by this -time. And nobody even on her trail yet!”</p> -<p>“Our police always catch the wrong person, -anyway,” remarked Dot, grimly.</p> -<p>“Don’t be too hard on them, Dot. They’re -not all like that dreadful specimen that came -for me this morning. And in a case like this, -they would probably put the air-force on duty. -Men of a much higher type.”</p> -<p>“Like Mr. Chase, for instance.”</p> -<p>“Yes.”</p> -<p>“What are you going to do, Linda?”</p> -<p>“Call the police headquarters first. Tell -them to get in touch with all the airports possible, -so that any autogiros can be reported. -But I’d like to go after that girl myself, too!”</p> -<p>“In what?”</p> -<p>“‘In what?’ is right! Oh, if I only had a -plane! If Ted Mackay were only here—or even -Ralph, with his autogiro! But do you realize, -Dot, that I’m bankrupt? I can’t buy a plane, -or even hire one, now that that girl took everything -I had in the bank.”</p> -<p>Her companion nodded. “If somebody would -only lend you one,” she said. “Maybe Mr. -Eckert—”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_104">104</div> -<p>“I’ve thought of him. But he has to get back -to the school immediately. Why, Dot, this is -the twenty-ninth of September! We’ve wasted -a whole week, just to establish the fact that I -am Linda Carlton! Isn’t it just too absurd!”</p> -<p>“It’s the craziest thing I ever heard of. And -now you’ll lose your chance at that teaching -position, unless you give up trying to get your -Ladybug back.”</p> -<p>“I can’t do that. I couldn’t give up now. No, -I’ll call the police headquarters, and then I’ll -wait around until Mr. Eckert wakes up from -his nap. We’ll surprise the men by having dinner -with them.”</p> -<p>It was indeed a surprise, as Linda expected, -when she and Dot met Mr. Eckert and Chief -Brenan in the lobby of the hotel that evening -at seven o’clock. Naturally, both men thought -that the girls had flown away early in the afternoon.</p> -<p>“I’m tied to the earth again,” Linda announced -immediately. “But not by the law this -time.... That girl flew off in my autogiro!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_105">105</div> -<p>“No!” cried Mr. Eckert, incredulously. -“Why, there isn’t anything she won’t steal!” -He smiled grimly. “Did she leave you your -own clothing, Linda?”</p> -<p>“Yes,” replied the girl. “But that’s about -all.”</p> -<p>“You should have had me wakened the minute -you heard the news. If you had done that, -you might have been on your way by this time.”</p> -<p>“You mean—?” gasped Linda.</p> -<p>“In my plane, of course. Take it and welcome, -my dear child!”</p> -<p>Linda seized his hand and tried to stammer -out her thanks. But she was too much moved by -his generosity to say anything.</p> -<p>“How will you get back to St. Louis in time -for the opening of your school?” inquired Dot.</p> -<p>“By the commercial air-line,” replied Mr. -Eckert. “Now come in and eat some dinner, -and after that, you can make your plans.”</p> -<p>It seemed to Linda almost too good to be -true. To have the privilege of flying that new, -fast biplane, which she had admired so much -that morning. It had a cruising speed of a -hundred and fifty miles an hour! Surely, in it, -she could catch her own Ladybug.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_106">106</div> -<p>“You’ll start early tomorrow morning, I suppose?” -asked Mr. Eckert, as they seated themselves -in the dining-room.</p> -<p>“Yes,” answered Linda. “The police are -already on the job, in communication with all -the airports, which are to keep a watch out for -all autogiros that pass overhead or land for -gas. We’ll find out what reports have been -turned in, before we take off in the morning.”</p> -<p>“And will you go along, Miss Crowley?”</p> -<p>“Certainly,” replied Dot. “I’m just as anxious -to recover the Ladybug as Linda is.”</p> -<p>“It may mean dangerous business.”</p> -<p>“It’s bound to be exciting!”</p> -<p>After dinner Chief Brenan telephoned to the -police headquarters to find out what information -had been gained. Three autogiros, he -learned, had been spotted, but only two of them -had been stopped. Neither of these was the -Ladybug. The third, it seemed, had been seen -early in the day, flying southeast across California -toward Arizona. Two secret-service -planes had already been sent out in that direction.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_107">107</div> -<p>With Mr. Eckert’s help, Linda sketched out -a course to follow. She would head straight -for the city of Yuma, in the extreme southwest -of Arizona, stopping there for the first -night. Then she would go over the border into -Mexico.</p> -<p>Dot, in the meanwhile, took charge of the -practical preparations for the trip. She arranged -to leave their box of clothing at the -hotel, and packed all the supplies for the trip. -Water in gallon jugs and thermos bottles, -canned food, blankets in case they were forced -to camp out at night, field glasses and first-aid -kit—and finally, upon Mr. Eckert’s suggestion—a -revolver.</p> -<p>The whole party breakfasted at dawn the following -morning, and Mr. Eckert accompanied -the girls to the airport, to sign the necessary -papers for the release of his plane, the Sky -Rocket. It was a beautiful new biplane, of the -latest model. Painted yellow, with a companion -cockpit, it stood in readiness on the runway, as -if inviting Linda to climb in and fly.</p> -<p>Her eyes were shining in happy anticipation -as she skipped forward and climbed into the -cockpit to peer at the instruments. Everything -for convenience and comfort seemed to be provided. -Altimeter, clocks, compass, parachutes—even -a wireless, with transmitting radio wires -placed inside the wings, so that messages could -be sent and received.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_108">108</div> -<p>“It’s marvellous, Mr. Eckert!” she exclaimed, -as she seated herself at the controls, -her hand fingering the joy-stick.</p> -<p>“Aren’t you even going to give her a trial -flight, Miss Carlton?” inquired the mechanic, -skeptically.</p> -<p>“Miss Carlton can pilot any plane that’s -made!” replied Mr. Eckert, proudly. “She -never needs any instruction. But,” he added, -coming closer to Linda, “don’t forget that this -isn’t an autogiro. Don’t try to land her on top -of a building!”</p> -<p>Linda smiled.</p> -<p>“I only wish I had my own license,” she said.</p> -<p>“I shouldn’t worry about that,” returned -Mr. Eckert. “The police aren’t going to make -any more mistakes about arresting you.”</p> -<p>“I should hope not!” exclaimed Dot.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_109">109</div> -<p>A minute later the mechanic started the -motor, and Linda taxied along the runway, waving -good-bye to Mr. Eckert. A few hundred -feet further, and the Sky Rocket rose into the -air like a bird, soaring up to the skies. The -usual fog common to the early morning climate -of California had lifted, and the sun shone -brightly as Linda directed her course towards -the mountains. She let out the throttle to its -maximum as soon as she reached a good safe -height; a hundred and fifty miles an hour did -not seem an abnormal speed, but it was a thrilling -experience. Linda loved her own Ladybug, -but after all, this was an exciting change.</p> -<p>Over the orange groves of southern California -they passed again, then, even higher up -in the air to clear the San Jacinto Mountains, -over the city of Imperial—on towards Yuma. -The flight was nearly four hundred miles, but -Linda covered it in less than four hours. At -noon she landed the Sky Rocket at the airport -of Yuma, Arizona.</p> -<p>Being a large airport, the men had already -been informed by radio of the stolen autogiro, -and the attendant who came out to greet the -Sky Rocket was prepared to answer Linda’s -questions.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_110">110</div> -<p>“A giro stopped here yesterday for gas and -oil,” he said. “And we filled her up. Put a -patch on one wing, but the couple wouldn’t wait -long enough to have it done right. That must -have been about three o’clock in the afternoon. -We got the radio soon after that, to take the -licenses of all the giros we got a look at.”</p> -<p>“What did the people look like? Were they a -man and a girl?” demanded Dot, excitedly.</p> -<p>“Yeah. A married couple, I believe.”</p> -<p>“On their honeymoon?”</p> -<p>“Can’t tell you that. They didn’t act mushy.”</p> -<p>Linda smiled.</p> -<p>“Did they give you their names?” she inquired.</p> -<p>“And did the girl look like—Miss Carlton?” -put in Dot, before the man could answer -Linda’s question.</p> -<p>“Couldn’t say she did, except that all you -girl fliers look something alike. But her face -was pretty dirty, and her helmet was pulled -down low.... Yeah, they gave their names. -A Mr. and Mrs. Bower, of Texas.”</p> -<p>“Oh!” gasped Linda, in disappointment. -“We’re looking for people named Sprague.”</p> -<p>“They wouldn’t be likely to give their right -names, Linda,” Dot reminded her. “Why, that -girl thinks nothing of swiping a new name to -fit her fancy!”</p> -<p>“True,” admitted Linda.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_111">111</div> -<p>“And another thing,” added the attendant. -“There was a secret-service flier here this -morning already. After them. A nice-looking -chap, in a gray monoplane.”</p> -<p>“Could it have been Mr. Chase?” demanded -Dot.</p> -<p>“Yeah. I think that was the name.... Well, -he crossed the border, hot on their trail. -Shouldn’t be surprised if he had ’em by now, -for he flew a fast plane!”</p> -<p>The news was encouraging, so after a bite -of lunch and a hasty inspection, the girls flew -away again, heading south now, avoiding the -Gulf of California, and crossing over into -Mexico.</p> -<p>They passed over the California river and -continued an easterly course, avoiding the -mountains near the coast, and pointing inland -before they turned southeast again. From their -height in the air they could not see the ground -without glasses, but as Linda dipped lower, -they could distinguish how barren and desolate -it was. There were no trees; only short, -stumpy underbrush scattered about, with big -patches of bare, hard earth between. A most -unattractive part of the country.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_112">112</div> -<p>The engine of the plane continued to throb -evenly; it was in perfect condition. At least, -Linda thought, her plane was giving her no -worry. But then, planes were more like automobiles -now; the accidents were oftener due to -the pilots themselves than to faulty motors.... -But thus far, she had accomplished nothing. -There had been no sign of an autogiro, or indeed -of any kind of plane, since they left -Arizona.</p> -<p>“We may be flying too high,” she remarked, -as the hours passed without any success. “I’m -afraid to dip too low with this plane.”</p> -<p>“Yes, that must be the trouble,” responded -her companion. “They could come down -amongst those bushes and camp for the night, -and we’d never see them. It seems like a wild-goose -chase to me.”</p> -<p>“You don’t want to give up?”</p> -<p>“No, not as long as we can get any news at -all. And they can’t go on forever without gas. -They’ll have to stop at airports every once in -a while to refuel, and then they’ll be caught.”</p> -<p>“Some of these little Mexican places may not -have been informed,” observed Linda. “If they -didn’t speak English—or didn’t have a radio.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_113">113</div> -<p>On and on they flew, over this hot, deserted -land, so uncultivated and barren. The sun sank -and twilight came on—and still no sign of a -town or an airport where the girls might land.</p> -<p>“I’m afraid I’m lost,” Linda admitted to -Dot, when it became too dim to distinguish the -ground even with the aid of glasses. “I’ll have -to fly lower, and look for a landing. I think -remember a place a couple of miles back.”</p> -<p>She circled about and began flying in the opposite -direction, cautiously gliding a little -nearer to the ground.</p> -<p>“Do you mind sleeping out tonight, Dot?” -she inquired.</p> -<p>Her companion made a face. She had read -enough about Mexican bandits not to relish the -prospect.</p> -<p>“I suppose we’ll have to,” she said. “Anyway, -we have plenty of food.”</p> -<p>Darkness was coming on fast; there was nothing -to do but take a chance at landing. Beyond -them stretched great black mountains, -deep and forbidding, inhabited, they felt sure, -by all sorts of wild animals. These must be -avoided at any cost; so Linda went back to the -spot she had selected and prepared to make a -dangerous landing. How thankful she was that -she had had plenty of experience in spot landings!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_114">114</div> -<p>Keeping the plane still high enough to maintain -the glide to the spot, she combined -maneuvers to accomplish her purpose. From a -glide, she went into a side-slip until she lost -altitude, then, as she approached the landing-mark, -she gradually reduced speed with the -forward slip, straightening out just as she -reached the ground. And landed on the exact -spot she had selected!</p> -<p>“Good work, Linda!” cried Dot, admiringly.</p> -<p>Linda grinned.</p> -<p>“I was afraid I might be out of practice,” -she said. “Spoiled by my Ladybug. It’s a satisfaction -to know I can still land an ordinary -plane. I guess she’ll be all right, just here.... -Now for some food! I’m starved.”</p> -<p>“So am I. And thirsty too.... Where shall -we make our camp?”</p> -<p>They looked all about them. In spite of the -gathering darkness, they could see bare ground -everywhere; only a few clumps of dry bushes -in the distance. It was not exactly the spot one -would select to camp out, if given a choice.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_115">115</div> -<p>“Not too near the plane,” said Linda. -“Though I guess we don’t need to build a fire. -I don’t believe we could find any wood. No; -let’s just open a can or two, and eat oranges -and biscuits for tonight. Anything would taste -good now.”</p> -<p>They prepared their meal and ate it almost in -silence, for they were too weary to talk. Then, -crawling into their blankets, although the night -was exceedingly mild, they went to sleep under -the stars.</p> -<p>The first faint rays of light were appearing -when Linda was abruptly awakened by a familiar -sound over her head. She sat up, reaching -instinctively for her revolver at her side, and -looking about her for some animal which might -be the cause of the noise. But the sound, now -more loud than before, was not that of an animal. -It grew nearer, almost deafening—over -her head. An airplane, of course! Now fully -awake, she looked up into the skies. The plane -was descending; a flashlight was turned into her -face. Blinded for an instant, she looked away. -Then, as she turned her gaze upon it again, she -saw it on the ground. And, wonder of wonders, -it was an autogiro!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_116">116</div> -<p>Excitedly she turned to her companion. But -Dot was still sleeping peacefully. That wasn’t -surprising; it had always been hard to waken -Dot. Alarms right beside her bed never had any -effect.</p> -<p>“Dot!” she whispered, disentangling herself -from her blanket, and edging up nearer to her -chum. “Dot! Wake up!”</p> -<p>But Linda stopped suddenly; she couldn’t -say anything more. With the speed of a bolt of -lightning, a man ran at her, and, grasping both -Linda’s hands with one of his, he clapped a -wet rag over her face with the other. She had -just time enough to identify her attacker as -Sprague, when she fell to the ground unconscious. -And, although she did not see what -happened next, the same fate was accorded to -Dot.</p> -<p>Both girls had been chloroformed!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_117">117</div> -<h2 id="c9">CHAPTER IX -<br /><span class="small">THE LADYBUG!</span></h2> -<p>Dot was the first of the two girls to come to -consciousness. With a gasp for breath, she -pushed the cloth from her face and sat up. -For a moment or two everything swam about -her; she didn’t know where she was.</p> -<p>She thought at first that she and Linda were -on that deserted island in the Atlantic Ocean -where they had been stranded early in the summer. -But no; the ground was hard and dry—not -a bit sandy—and there was no ocean in -view. That couldn’t be the explanation. For -there was the Ladybug within a few hundred -yards!</p> -<p>She glanced at Linda and saw that she was -lying motionless beside her on the barren -ground, her blanket thrown aside. With a cloth -over her face! In sudden panic Dot pulled it -off desperately. Oh, suppose Linda were dead!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_118">118</div> -<p>“Linda! Darling!” she implored piteously, -but there was no reply, no movement from the -inert figure. With a tremendous effort Dot -forced herself to rise and bend over her chum.</p> -<p>“Tell me you aren’t dead, Linda!” she -begged, hysterically.</p> -<p>A faint flutter of her companion’s eyelids -came as a response.</p> -<p>With a tremendous effort, Dot reached for -the thermos bottle and held water to Linda’s -lips. At last the color came faintly back to the -aviatrix’s face, and she smiled faintly.</p> -<p>“I’m—all right—Dot,” she managed to whisper. -“But what happened?”</p> -<p>“I don’t know.”</p> -<p>Dot took a drink of the water herself, and -felt more revived.</p> -<p>“Where are we?” asked Linda.</p> -<p>“Somewhere in Mexico. Don’t you remember? -We were flying after that girl, in Mr. -Eckert’s Sky Rocket, and we came down for the -night.”</p> -<p>Linda rubbed her eyes and looked about her. -And caught sight of the Ladybug, whose appearance -had so amazed Dot a moment before. -And rubbed her eyes, and stared again.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_119">119</div> -<p>“Am I crazy, Dot—or is that really an autogiro -over there? Or am I seeing things?”</p> -<p>“It’s the Ladybug,” replied Dot. “I’m positive. -We couldn’t both be dreaming.”</p> -<p>“But how did it get here? Is that girl -around?”</p> -<p>“I don’t hear her. Unless she’s hiding.” -Dot lowered her voice to a whisper. “Have you -got your revolver handy, Linda?”</p> -<p>Linda felt at her side, where she had put it -the previous night when she went to sleep, and -sure enough, it was there. And, with the touch -of that revolver, memory of the scene that preceded -unconsciousness returned.</p> -<p>“I remember now!” she cried triumphantly. -“I was wakened just as it was getting light, by -a big noise. I finally identified it as a plane. -At first I thought it was bandits, and I recall -reaching for my revolver.... Yes.... Then I -saw it was an autogiro. It landed ... and a -man ... it was Sprague, I’m sure ... came and -clapped that rag over my face. That’s all.”</p> -<p>“How ghastly!” cried Dot. “I can’t seem to -remember a thing myself. I must have been -sound asleep when he did it to me. But where -is he now?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_120">120</div> -<p>“I know!” exclaimed Linda, with a sudden -flash of understanding. “They must have made -off in Mr. Eckert’s plane! In the Sky Rocket—for -it’s gone.”</p> -<p>“Of course that’s it!” agreed Dot. “But how -do you suppose they ever spotted us?”</p> -<p>“Well, you see, the Ladybug can fly much -lower than we could in the Sky Rocket,” Linda -explained. “They probably saw us in the air—when -we didn’t see them—and followed us -about till they saw where we made our landing. -Then they waited for us to get to sleep, and for -early morning light to help them in landing and -taking off, and then descended on us with the -chloroform.”</p> -<p>“Why do you think they wanted to swap -planes?” asked Dot. “Because the Sky Rocket -is faster?”</p> -<p>“Yes. And it wouldn’t be so easy to spot in -the sky as an autogiro. Besides, by doing this, -they know they will be throwing the police off -the clue. Pretty clever, I’d say.”</p> -<p>“Those two are about the slickest pair of -schemers I’ve ever heard of. There’s nothing -they don’t think of.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_121">121</div> -<p>“And with each new trick they make a gain. -Mr. Eckert’s plane is faster, newer, and more -expensive than the Ladybug.”</p> -<p>“True. But aren’t you glad to have the dear -old Ladybug back again?” asked Dot.</p> -<p>“I surely am. If she will fly. That’s another -thing, Dot. You know that man at the airport -said that she had a damaged wing. So naturally, -the Spragues would be glad to get hold of -a fresh plane.”</p> -<p>“I wonder whether they had trouble taking -off,” observed Dot. “It’s not any too easy.”</p> -<p>“No, but the ground’s very hard. I guess they -haven’t had any rain here all summer.... Come -on, Dot, if you’re able to walk, let’s go over -and see the Ladybug. I’m dying to get a look at -her again.”</p> -<p>“So am I,” agreed her companion.</p> -<p>Walking a trifle shakily at first, and feeling -extremely weak and queer after their experience, -the girls went slowly to the spot where -the autogiro was resting. Like her owner, she, -too, looked in bad condition, as if she had been -mistreated, and had travelled a great distance. -And, as Linda expected, the patch on the wing -was split open again.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_122">122</div> -<p>“No wonder they swapped planes!” exclaimed -Linda. “I guess that girl was pretty -desperate. Well, thank goodness, I keep stuff -on hand for repairs.”</p> -<p>“And thank goodness you know how to do -it!” added Dot, with admiration. “Any other -girl would be in a fine picnic in a fix like this!”</p> -<p>“Speaking of picnics, don’t you think we’d -feel better if we ate something? I don’t feel a -bit sick at my stomach—only terribly weak. -Breakfast might help. They didn’t take our -food and water, did they?”</p> -<p>“They didn’t take what we left out for breakfast,” -replied the chum. “But unfortunately -we left most of our stuff in the plane.”</p> -<p>“Well, we’ll have to eat sparingly. But if I -work fast, I ought to be able to get off by noon, -and we can surely fly till we find a place to eat.”</p> -<p>“Have we gas?”</p> -<p>“Yes, I just looked. Enough to go a couple -of hundred miles.”</p> -<p>Arm in arm they went back to their little -encampment and ate the food which Dot had reserved -for breakfast and drank the coffee in -one of the thermos bottles. The remainder of -the water they decided to keep for their flight, -and they still had half a dozen oranges which -Dot had purposely left out of the Sky Rocket, -expecting to eat them during the morning.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_123">123</div> -<p>Linda wasted no time. As soon as she had -finished eating she set right to work on the -damaged wing. It was not hard for her, for -she knew every tiniest detail of the construction. -How thankful she was that it was her -own Ladybug that she had to repair, and not a -strange plane!</p> -<p>Much to her delight, she found her own license -cards on the seat of the cockpit. Evidently -the girl had no further use for them.</p> -<p>After the repairs had been made to the outside -of the plane, Linda tested the engine. It -was not running so smoothly as she liked to -hear it. A spark plug was missing. With a -sigh, she set to work again.</p> -<p>Dot, who had cleaned up all evidences of their -camp, watched her in dismal silence. The day -grew hotter and hotter, the sun poured down -mercilessly on Linda, bending patiently over -her work while the perspiration streamed from -her face. But it was fixed at last; everything -was to her satisfaction.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_124">124</div> -<p>“Let’s have an orange,” she suggested, -wiping her face with her handkerchief. “Oh, -maybe I wouldn’t like a good swim right now!”</p> -<p>“And we haven’t even water enough to wash -our faces!” lamented Dot.</p> -<p>“If we only had that gallon jug we put into -the Sky Rocket!”</p> -<p>“Oh, well, we will soon find a town, now that -it is light enough to find our way.”</p> -<p>Dot brought the oranges, and they tasted -good, although they had become exceedingly -warm from the hot sun.</p> -<p>“Think we’ll have any trouble taking off?” -she inquired, as they finished the fruit.</p> -<p>“I guess not. If the Sky Rocket could get -off—and she evidently did—I’m sure the Ladybug -can make it. It’s good hard ground all -about.”</p> -<p>Linda sounded confident, but Dot’s heart was -in her mouth until she saw the Ladybug actually -rise from the earth and soar up into the -skies—wherein lay safety.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_125">125</div> -<p>Once again Linda’s heart was singing with -rapture. She had enjoyed piloting that swift -plane of Mr. Eckert’s, but after all, there was -nothing like her beloved Ladybug. Why, the -thing was almost human, the way it responded -to her touch!</p> -<p>Another great advantage at the present time, -when the girls had lost their way, was the autogiro’s -ability to fly low. Now they could watch -the landscape for towns and airports and -landing-fields. Oh, it was good to have the -Ladybug back again, if she couldn’t make a -hundred and fifty miles an hour!</p> -<p>The country was so strange, so different -from anything they were used to, that, in spite -of its barrenness, they watched it in fascination. -They came to the mountains and Linda nosed -her plane upward, over the steep slopes covered -with pine forests, until she was rewarded by -seeing little villages on the other side. Straw-roofed -houses dotted the landscape; there was -evidence of farm-life, of some kind of civilization, -though just what, the girls couldn’t make -out from their height in the air.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_126">126</div> -<p>Linda consulted her map, and familiarized -herself with the names of several of the towns -near the mountains, determined to fly on until -she could find a good landing. She noticed the -tracks of a railroad in the distance, and this she -decided to follow, until it should lead to a station, -and be identified as a town. Her gas was -growing low, but she had no fear of a forced -landing. In country like this there would be -plenty of opportunities for an autogiro.</p> -<p>Half an hour later she hovered over a small -Mexican town that provided an airport, and -brought the Ladybug to earth.</p> -<p>A man who was obviously a Mexican came -forward to meet them.</p> -<p>“Do you speak English?” asked Linda.</p> -<p>The man nodded, smiling.</p> -<p>Reassured, the girls climbed out of the cockpit, -and Dot proceeded to tell their story, asking -how she could notify the police in Los -Angeles in the quickest time, so as to have -them pursue the Sky Rocket instead of the -autogiro.</p> -<p>“You can send a wire immediately, right -from here,” the man replied. “At least—you -can when the operator comes back. He’s off -for supper now.”</p> -<p>“I am a wireless operator,” announced -Linda, calmly. “If you are willing to trust -me, I can send my own message.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_127">127</div> -<p>“O. K.,” agreed the man, who was beginning -to decide that girls could do almost anything -now-a-days.</p> -<p>“And I want to leave the autogiro here for -the night, and have her filled with gas and oil,” -she continued. “And go to some hotel for a -meal. Can you recommend one for us?”</p> -<p>“There are several hotels,” he replied, -proudly. “But I will send you to the best.”</p> -<p>It proved to be strangely unlike any hotel -the girls had ever visited. It was a long, low -stucco building, with stone floors on the first -story, and bare boards above. The supper, too, -was unlike American food, but it tasted good to -the hungry girls who had had nothing but a -couple of oranges since their breakfast. And -the prospect of a roof over their heads, after -their disastrous adventure of the night before, -was extremely pleasant. After their hearty -supper they sat out on the wide, roofless veranda -until the night grew cool enough for -sleep.</p> -<p>“But where do we go from here?” asked -Dot, wondering whether Linda had had enough -by now, and was ready to go back to Los -Angeles.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_128">128</div> -<p>“More pursuit,” returned her companion. -“I feel under greater obligations than ever to -catch that thief now—for she has Mr. Eckert’s -plane. I’m responsible for it. We’ll fly around -to all the airports for news. Their gas supply -ought to be getting low, and they’ll have to -stop somewhere to fill up. That’s the clue we’ll -have to follow.”</p> -<p>“I wish we could get back into the United -States,” remarked Dot. “I don’t like the bugs -here in Mexico.”</p> -<p>“I don’t think we can hope for that, till we -catch them. They’re going to steer clear of -our police.”</p> -<p>“I suppose you’re right,” yawned Dot. -“Well, let’s go get some sleep. We can’t tell -what adventures may be in front of us tomorrow.”</p> -<p>“No, we can’t possibly tell,” agreed Linda.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_129">129</div> -<h2 id="c10">CHAPTER X -<br /><span class="small">A CLOSE CALL</span></h2> -<p>“I think,” announced Linda at the breakfast -table in the Mexican hotel the following -morning, “that we’ll have to cross the mountains -today.”</p> -<p>Dot groaned.</p> -<p>“What a pleasant little ray of sunshine you -are, Linda!” she said.</p> -<p>“I don’t see why you object so to the mountains—in -broad daylight, I mean. If there are -bears and snakes in the mountains, they can’t -attack us in the air, can they?”</p> -<p>“So long as we just stay up in the air, it’s all -right. What I don’t care about is camping out -in these wild spots.”</p> -<p>“I don’t expect we’ll have to,” Linda assured -her. “But I am taking an extra tank of -gasoline, in case we can’t find a place to refuel. -Meanwhile, what I want you to see about is the -food, if you will.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_130">130</div> -<p>“I’m to make a visit to the kitchen, I suppose?” -inquired Dot. She made a wry face at -the cereal she was eating. “Do you know, -Linda, I could bear most anything if only we -never had to eat another mouthful of this -hotel’s cooking.”</p> -<p>Linda laughed.</p> -<p>“I know it’s not exactly like the Ambassador. -Still, it’s a lot better than nothing, and we -might be very glad to have it.”</p> -<p>Dot did as she was asked and raided the hotel -kitchen, ignoring the indignant protests of the -servants. Inside of half an hour the girls were -back at the airport where they had left the -autogiro, and Linda was giving the Ladybug a -thorough inspection, for she did not have much -confidence in the mechanic’s knowledge.</p> -<p>“Any news of the Sky Rocket?” she asked, -as she completed her work to her satisfaction.</p> -<p>“No, not a thing,” replied the man.</p> -<p>Somewhat discouraged, the girls climbed into -the cockpits and Linda taxied a short distance -along the runway, but left the ground so quickly -that the mechanic stood there staring at the -autogiro with his mouth wide open.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_131">131</div> -<p>Linda directed her course south, aiming to -reach a larger airport before noon. Here she -made a landing, refueled, and again inquired -for news. A yellow biplane, it seemed, had been -sighted that morning, flying low, going west -towards the coast of the Gulf of California. -Whether it was the Sky Rocket or not, no one -could say. But at least it was a clue to follow.</p> -<p>“I told you we’d have to cross those mountains,” -remarked Linda. “But please don’t -start to worry about them yet.”</p> -<p>Linda changed her direction and headed the -ship west, and they flew a monotonous course -for a couple of hours. The sun glared down -upon them, and the earth below looked parched -and barren. So different from their own Ohio -country in the month of October.</p> -<p>They reached the mountains at last, and after -assuring herself that there was plenty of gas in -her reserve tanks, Linda flew dauntlessly -towards them. As she approached, she noted a -heavy cloud bank hovering directly above the -mountains, and extending so far on either side -that she gave up all thought of going around -it. Instead she put the ship into a sharp climb -and headed resolutely into it. She held the -climb until she was several thousand feet higher -to make sure of clearing the mountain safely, -but as they had failed at this height to rise -above the cloud, she leveled off.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_132">132</div> -<p>Grayness was all about them, enveloping -them like a blanket, and cutting off their view -of either the mountains or the sun. In her -powerlessness to see in this unknown region, -Linda suddenly experienced a queer choking -sensation, brought on by her helplessness. -Scolding herself for this momentary weakness, -she pulled back the joy-stick and nosed the -Ladybug still higher up. But climb as she -might, she could not get away from that cloud.</p> -<p>Dot, however, did not appear to be frightened -at all. Wasn’t Linda always able to get the -best of almost any bad situation, even if it -were an unknown mountain range in a mist? -She was singing cheerfully to herself, when all -of a sudden, the words died on her lips.</p> -<p>Another plane was approaching—was almost -on top of them! They had not been able to see -it, because of the cloud, or to hear it, because -of the noise of their own motor. But there it -was, rushing headlong at them with the relentless -speed of an infuriated animal. Dot held -her breath and shut her eyes.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_133">133</div> -<p>Linda saw it too, and flashed on her lights as -a signal. But it was too late for signals; only -a miracle could save them. With a sudden -sharp turn she banked to the left, and went into -a side-slip, dropping the plane fifty feet. The -other plane passed over their heads, barely -missing the rotor blades.</p> -<p>The perspiration had collected on her face in -beads, and her hands were hot and moist. It -had been a narrow escape!</p> -<p>But it evidently wasn’t over. Or could it be -another plane? For the thing was almost upon -her again, as if it, too, had dropped on purpose. -She couldn’t believe her ears. Was it that girl—and -had she recognized the rotor blades of -the autogiro, and was trying to force Linda to -land?</p> -<p>Her heart in her mouth, she banked again, -dropping for the second time, determined to -land now at any cost. The strain had been -awful the first time, but now it actually unnerved -her. Inside of that cloud—on the -dangerous mountain side! No; she could not -take another chance, not only with her own life, -but with Dot’s. Wherever she came down, it -couldn’t be as dangerous as this.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_134">134</div> -<p>Gradually throttling her engine down to a -slower speed, she began her descent by a series -of glides. All the while watching for a glimpse -of the solid earth beneath her.</p> -<p>Down, down they came, but still there was no -ground visible. They must have passed over -the mountains, she decided, and were descending -into a valley. Or level ground, perhaps. -That thought was encouraging.</p> -<p>“There it is!” shouted Dot, almost hysterically. -“The earth, I mean!”</p> -<p>Linda breathed a deep sigh of relief. Never -before had she been so thankful to see it, unless -perhaps the first time she had made a parachute -jump.</p> -<p>“It must be the plateau!” she cried, joyfully. -“We must have passed over the mountains!”</p> -<p>Gently the autogiro settled down to a landing -on the level ground beneath them. It was a -fertile spot in comparison with the other places -in Mexico where they had landed. The earth -was not nearly so parched or barren, and here -and there, between the underbrush and the bare -spots, a kind of coarse grass was growing. -Perhaps, Linda thought, the land was used by -someone for grazing.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_135">135</div> -<p>“Quite a pleasant spot,” remarked Dot -gaily, as if they had been on a picnic instead of -face to face with death.</p> -<p>“See the mountains over there?” asked -Linda, for they were out of the range of the -cloud through which they had just passed.</p> -<p>“Yes. But they’re far enough away that I -really don’t mind. If a bear wanders over to -visit us, we’ll feed him some Mexican food.”</p> -<p>They climbed out of the cockpits, carrying -their box of provisions in their arms, when they -saw a sight that made them stand breathless in -horror. About five hundred yards away they -beheld a great mass of flame, shooting up to -the sky.</p> -<p>“It’s a plane!” exclaimed Linda. “It must -be the one we almost crashed against.”</p> -<p>With one thought in mind, the girls both -dropped their box and started to run. Oh, if a -human being were caged in that burning cockpit! -It was too dreadful to think of—a death -like that.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_136">136</div> -<p>But before they had covered fifty yards of -the intervening distance, they saw a parachute -floating down to the earth. They stopped instantly, -waiting in breathless suspense. Suppose -it were Sprague, with his supply of chloroform? -Tensely alert, Linda pulled her revolver -from her belt.</p> -<p>But it was not Sprague. The man who -floated down let out a cry of horror when he -recognized Linda and Dot. Though why he -should be so horrified, the girls did not know.</p> -<p>The man was Bertram Chase!</p> -<p>He disentangled himself from his ropes, -glanced at his burning plane, and let out a -groan.</p> -<p>“You!” he cried. “And to think, I almost -killed you!”</p> -<p>“You couldn’t help that,” said Linda gently. -“It seems we almost did for you, too. If you -hadn’t jumped.”</p> -<p>“That wasn’t your fault. My plane caught -on fire somehow—a leak, I think, in the gas -feed. That’s why I jumped.... But that had -nothing to do with you.... But I actually -tried to force you down—the second time, I -mean. The first was accident.”</p> -<p>“But why?” asked Dot, incredulously.</p> -<p>“I saw your rotors, the first time I passed -over you. And knew it was the autogiro. And -thought that girl was piloting it, of course. -How did you girls ever get hold of it again?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_137">137</div> -<p>“Then you didn’t get the report from the -Los Angeles headquarters?” inquired Linda.</p> -<p>“What report?”</p> -<p>“That we exchanged planes. My double -stole our Sky Rocket, and left us the Ladybug -instead.”</p> -<p>“And got away with it?” demanded Chase.</p> -<p>“Yes. We’re still after them. But where -have you been in the meanwhile?”</p> -<p>“Flying around these mountains, without -any touch of civilization. I even made a search -on foot, but it proved to be a false clue that I -was following. But tell me the story, while we -take a walk over and examine my poor ship.”</p> -<p>Briefly Dot related the facts of the night-adventure -with Sprague and his wife, as the -three young fliers approached the burning -mass. The flames had somewhat subsided, and -only a smoking, blackened frame remained.</p> -<p>“Was it yours, Mr. Chase?” asked Linda -sympathetically, thinking how dreadful she -would feel if it were the Ladybug.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_138">138</div> -<p>“No,” he replied. “It belonged to the secret -service. It was an old boat, but I was fond of -it. And I’ve lost a lot of my things.... I -think,” he added, gloomily, “that I’d better -hunt about for some water, to put the fire entirely -out. I don’t want to start a prairie fire, -or whatever you call it.”</p> -<p>“Do you suppose there is a stream anywhere -about?” asked Linda.</p> -<p>“I hope so. If we’ve got to stay here for the -night.”</p> -<p>“Then come back to the Ladybug and get a -can to fill, in case you do find water. Bring -some back to us, if possible, and then we’ll give -you some supper. Real Mexican food—if you -like it.” It was Dot who made this offer, and -she winked slyly at Linda as she concluded.</p> -<p>The young man wandered off, and the girls -turned to their preparations for supper. The -food had already been cooked, so they decided -to eat it cold.</p> -<p>It was some time before Chase returned with -the can of water and the announcement that he -had found a stream, and had succeeded in putting -out the fire. He sat down gloomily beside -the girls, but he made no motion to eat.</p> -<p>“Don’t look so sad, Mr. Chase,” said Dot. -“They’ll give you another plane.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_139">139</div> -<p>“It isn’t that,” he replied, morosely. “It’s -my foolhardiness. When I think of what I did -to you, I’d like to shoot myself.”</p> -<p>He looked so pathetic, so utterly downcast, -that Linda didn’t know what to say. But Dot, -in her characteristic manner, tried teasing him. -Very solemnly she handed him Linda’s pistol.</p> -<p>“If you really want to shoot yourself, go off -away from us, where you won’t clutter up the -landscape!”</p> -<p>The young man laughed in spite of himself.</p> -<p>“Snap out of it, Bert!” she commanded, -using his first name on purpose. “And have -some of this delicious Mexican food. I don’t -know its name, but it tastes like week-old hash -to me.”</p> -<p>Smiling again, Chase accepted the paper -plate she held out to him.</p> -<p>“Just imagine, Bert,” Dot continued, afraid -to stop talking lest he become sad again, “that -we’re here on a picnic, with the autogiro, and -this delicious supper. And you’re lucky enough -to be the young man chosen—out of hundreds -of admirers of Miss Linda Carlton! Why, you -have no idea how many young men in this country -would give their best hats to have your -chance!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_140">140</div> -<p>Linda flushed at this remark.</p> -<p>“Now, Dot,” she protested. “You’re being -silly!”</p> -<p>“I am not. I’ll enumerate them, if you like. -There’s Ralph Clavering, and Harriman Smith, -and—”</p> -<p>“Hush, Dot!” cried her chum, putting her -hand over her mouth. “That’s about enough -out of you!”</p> -<p>Chase, who by this time was grinning -broadly, bowed in acknowledgment.</p> -<p>“All joking aside,” he said, “I realize what -an honor it is. And that’s just why I feel so -rotten about doing those two mean things to -you, Linda.” He was so in earnest that he did -not realize that he had used her first name. -“Accusing you of forgery the first time I saw -you, and then almost killing you. You, who -have never done anything wrong in your whole -life!”</p> -<p>“Come now, that’s putting it on a little bit -too thick!” remonstrated Dot. “Linda’s not -such a saint as that. I remember many a time -that she climbed cherry trees that didn’t belong -to her, and skinned out of school—”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_141">141</div> -<p>“That’s enough about me,” interrupted -Linda. “It’s getting so dark, I think we ought -to make our plans for the night.”</p> -<p>“I suppose we have to stay here,” remarked -Dot, with a sigh.</p> -<p>“Why the sigh?” asked Chase.</p> -<p>“Oh, I don’t care for camping out—in -Mexico.”</p> -<p>“I don’t blame you—after being chloroformed,” -sympathized Chase. “But you don’t -have to, tonight. For I found a straw-covered -shack over near the stream where I got our -water. You girls can have that. I’ll stay up -here, beside the autogiro.”</p> -<p>“You have redeemed yourself, Bert!” exclaimed -Dot, jumping to her feet, and shaking -his hand. “For one night at least, we’ll be -safe!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_142">142</div> -<h2 id="c11">CHAPTER XI -<br /><span class="small">FLIRTING WITH DEATH</span></h2> -<p>The little Mexican adobe house which Bert -Chase had discovered was the funniest Linda -and Dot had ever seen. A one-room affair, -with a slanting straw-covered roof, and no -windows. Only two doors, opening back and -front.</p> -<p>“I’d almost rather sleep under the stars,” -remarked Linda. “For there are probably all -sorts of bugs in the corners and cracks.”</p> -<p>Dot shivered. “Still, bugs are better than -bears and snakes, that might come wandering -down from those mountains,” she said. “And -besides, it would be ungrateful not to use the -house after Bert found it.”</p> -<p>“It will be protection from the sun in the -morning,” added Linda. “Because this Mexican -climate gets pretty hot.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_143">143</div> -<p>So, spreading their blankets on the floor and -propping the doors open with sticks, they lay -down on their hard bed and fell fast asleep, -not to awaken until quite late the following -morning.</p> -<p>“Fog again!” yawned Dot, as she finally got -up stiffly and walked to the door. “I’m sick of -these fogs.”</p> -<p>“It’ll probably clear up soon,” Linda reminded -her. “I’ve read that early morning -fogs are the common thing in this part of the -country.”</p> -<p>“Let’s hunt that stream Bert was talking -about, and get a good wash,” suggested Dot. -“Before we go back to the autogiro.”</p> -<p>They found it not far from the little house, -and although it was shallow and narrow, the -water was clear and refreshing. They felt -much better as they made their way back to the -spot where the Ladybug had landed.</p> -<p>For several minutes they could see nothing -because of the fog, and they began to feel -worried. Suppose something had happened to -Chase or to the autogiro during the night! -What a desolate place to be stranded!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_144">144</div> -<p>Before these dismal thoughts could really -take hold of them, they spied the dim outlines -of the Ladybug, shadowy in the fog. She was -still there! Their means of escape.</p> -<p>Dot placed her hands at her mouth, and gave -a war-whoop for Chase.</p> -<p>“Yo-ho-ho-ho-Bert!” she shouted.</p> -<p>“Yo-ho, girls!” came the reassuring reply. -“This way!”</p> -<p>Then they distinguished a fire, and a moment -later, came upon him, contentedly cooking a -fish.</p> -<p>“Where did you get it?” demanded Dot.</p> -<p>“Caught it. Early this morning,” he replied. -“I felt guilty about eating so much of your -food last night, so I tried to get a contribution. -That stream widens out about a mile below -your little house, so I went down and tried my -luck.”</p> -<p>“You’re a peach!” exclaimed Dot. “Because -all we have left is coffee and that terrible -Mexican bread. It’s a wonder they don’t learn -how to bake in Mexico.”</p> -<p>“It surely smells good,” observed Linda. -“How soon can we eat?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_145">145</div> -<p>“As soon as you girls make the coffee. I -brought up a fresh supply of water this morning. -We’ll boil some of it, to take along with -us for drinking, while we have the chance to -do it.”</p> -<p>It turned out to be a delicious as well as a -merry meal. While they ate, the fog gradually -lifted, bringing a clear, if hot day, for their -flight.</p> -<p>“We must be pretty near the coast of the -Gulf of California,” said Linda. “So I think -perhaps our best plan would be to fly across to -the peninsula. I have an idea that girl is going -to abandon the Sky Rocket as soon as she can, -for it’s pretty conspicuous.”</p> -<p>“What would she do to get away, if she -hadn’t a plane?” demanded Dot.</p> -<p>“Hide somewhere, or take a boat for South -America perhaps. Now that she and her husband -are out of the United States, it would be -easy enough for them to book passage on a -small steamer—without being noticed.”</p> -<p>“Is your autogiro in good condition?” inquired -Chase. “I mean—I didn’t damage it -yesterday, did I?”</p> -<p>“No. You know you never touched me. But -I’ll look her over before we start. And put in -that tank of extra gas I was carrying in the -passenger’s cockpit.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_146">146</div> -<p>“Perhaps I could help you?” suggested the -young man. “I don’t know much about the inside -workings of a plane, but maybe two heads -are better than one.”</p> -<p>Dot let out a peal of laughter.</p> -<p>“Linda is a graduate airplane mechanic,” -she said. “She is the only woman in the country -with a mechanic’s license!”</p> -<p>Chase stared in open-mouthed amazement.</p> -<p>“Whew!” he exclaimed. “I do take off my -hat to you, Miss Linda Carlton!”</p> -<p>“You’d better!” laughed Dot.</p> -<p>“Oh, don’t be so silly,” put in Linda, anxious -to be off. “Let’s all go over to the Ladybug -now.”</p> -<p>While Dot put the equipment into the autogiro, -Chase filled the gasoline tank and Linda -gave the boat a hasty inspection. Apparently -everything was ship-shape.</p> -<p>They climbed into the cockpits and Linda -started the rotors in motion. It was Chase’s -first experience in an autogiro, and he watched -her with absorbed interest. The ease with -which the Ladybug rose into the air seemed -nothing short of miraculous to him, accustomed -as he was to the prolonged taxi-ing of a -fast plane.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_147">147</div> -<p>With the aid of her maps and compass, Linda -was able to judge their location pretty definitely, -and she flew westward to the Gulf of -California, aiming to stop first at an airport to -make inquiries about the Sky Rocket, and to -refuel. They passed over the plateau, and -caught glimpses of several Mexican villages, -which, however, seemed too small to boast of -airports. At last, however, about noon, she -spotted a town of some size, with beacon sign-posts, -pointing to an airport. Here she made -her landing.</p> -<p>“We’ll be out of luck if they don’t speak -English,” remarked Dot.</p> -<p>“Don’t worry about that,” returned Chase. -“I can speak Spanish, and they all understand -that down here.”</p> -<p>But it wasn’t necessary, for one of the attendants -at the field spoke English perfectly.</p> -<p>“Have you seen a yellow biplane?” demanded -Dot, as the man came out of the -hangar. “A fast plane?”</p> -<p>The attendant nodded.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_148">148</div> -<p>“Yes,” he replied. “I did. We got a radio -yesterday, telling us to be on the look-out for a -stolen plane. I’m pretty sure I saw her yesterday, -but she didn’t stop here.”</p> -<p>“She wouldn’t,” remarked Dot, bitterly.</p> -<p>“What direction did she take?” asked Linda.</p> -<p>“Straight across the Gulf. Due west.”</p> -<p>“Due west for us, then,” announced Linda. -“Fill up my tanks, for we want to leave with -all possible speed.”</p> -<p>Inside of ten minutes they were off again, -more encouraged than they had been since the -beginning of their pursuit. It looked now as if -they really might catch those criminals.</p> -<p>In their eagerness to follow hot on the trail, -not one of the three fliers even thought of lunch. -Later in the day they were to regret this omission -sorely.</p> -<p>An hour of flying brought them to the coast, -but Linda did not stop. Out over the water she -flew, her heart beating rapidly with the expectation -of victory ahead.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_149">149</div> -<p>But in her excitement, she had not realized -how wide the Gulf of California was at this -southern part. Two hundred miles, at least, if -she kept her course straight. She had covered -only a little more than half of this, when she -saw to her horror that her main tank was exhausted. -Twelve gallons of gas in the -emergency supply, and almost a hundred miles -to go!</p> -<p>What a fool she had been, not to put an extra -tank into the cockpit! To think that after all -her experience, she should be endangering three -lives by her carelessness! To be forced down -in the water! To meet death in a way she had -not thought of, since her flight across the Atlantic -Ocean!</p> -<p>She slowed down her speed and gazed all -about her at the limitless expanse of water beneath -them. No land in sight—not even a boat -to which she could signal. Parachute jumping -would be of no use, and she did not carry life-preservers.</p> -<p>She glanced again at the indicator; conserving -gas as well as she could, it was nevertheless -rapidly disappearing. Ten minutes more, perhaps—and -then a watery grave! She grew panicky, -more for her companions than for herself. -She would have to tell them of their fate.</p> -<p>Trying to keep her voice from shaking, she -called into the speaking-tube:</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_150">150</div> -<p>“We’re out of gas. We have to come down. -Be prepared to jump clear of the ship!”</p> -<p>Chase and Dot looked at each other in incredulity. -The young man thought Linda was -joking, but the girl knew that it was not her -chum’s habit to make ghastly jokes. If Linda -said danger, she meant it. Desperately Dot -reached for the glasses and peered anxiously -about them in all directions.</p> -<p>Linda, her lips tight and her heart tense, continued -to guide the plane and to watch the indicator. -Five minutes more, perhaps—and -then—what? The hungry waves, tossing beneath -her, seemed to make their greedy answer.</p> -<p>A sudden hysterical cry from Dot sounded -above the roar of the motor.</p> -<p>“Land!” she shouted, wildly. “Bank to the -right!” And then, fearing that Linda had not -heard her, she repeated her message through -the speaking-tube.</p> -<p>Although Linda could still see nothing with -her naked eye, she did as she was told, thankful -that she was high enough in the air to gain -considerable distance by gliding. Two minutes -passed; the gas ran dry, but now the island -was in sight. By careful manipulation, Linda -thought she could make it.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_151">151</div> -<p>With a series of side-slips, she gradually -made her approach, coming nearer and nearer -to the land as she descended, until she was actually -over it. Then, with a dead-stick landing, -so much easier with an autogiro than with an -ordinary plane, she slowly came down on the -sandy soil of the beach!</p> -<p>“Oh, thank Heaven!” cried Dot, in an ecstasy -of relief. “A miracle, if there ever was -one.”</p> -<p>Chase said nothing for a moment; he was -speechless with admiration.</p> -<p>“Pretty tight squeeze,” admitted Linda, as -she wiped the perspiration from her face. “If -it hadn’t been for you, Dot, I’d never have -seen it.”</p> -<p>Still trembling from their experience, the -girls climbed out of the cockpits with Chase’s -assistance. At last the young man found words -to express his admiration to Linda. But she -was too ashamed of her lack of foresight to -accept any praise. She was still terribly vexed -with herself.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_152">152</div> -<p>“Now we’ll have to explore,” announced Dot. -“Do you suppose anybody lives on this island?”</p> -<p>“I’m afraid not,” replied Chase. “Or they’d -have been here to see us by this time. It looks -pretty barren and forsaken to me.”</p> -<p>“No trees! No shade at all!” added Dot.</p> -<p>Nothing, indeed, but a dry underbrush, and -the sort of weeds that grow in sandy soil. The -little group walked all around the island, and -found it to be very small. Probably it was not -even shown on most maps, though Linda did recall -seeing some dots in the southern part of -the Gulf. And of course nobody lived there.</p> -<p>Dismally they came back to the beach where -the Ladybug was resting.</p> -<p>“Is there any food left at all?” asked Chase, -trying not to appear too eager.</p> -<p>“Not a crumb,” replied Dot. “Though we -do still have about a gallon of water.”</p> -<p>“The first thing to do,” he said, “is to climb -up on the plane and hoist a signal of distress. -So we’ll catch a ship, if one goes past. If you’ll -get me something to put....”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_153">153</div> -<p>He glanced shyly at the girls. As they were -both in khaki flying-suits, there was no chance -of using a white skirt or petticoat, as he had so -often read of, in books about ship-wreck. But -Linda immediately procured a large square of -canvas which she kept on hand for repair, and -he did the climbing at once.</p> -<p>When he came down again, he produced the -fishing-line which he had improvised that morning -and set about to try to catch a fish. Linda -spent her time inspecting the plane, and Dot -went about gathering underbrush for a fire, in -case Chase was lucky enough to secure a catch.</p> -<p>Each of the three had taken a deep drink of -water, resolutely trying to stave off their hunger -by that means.</p> -<p>An hour passed, and another, without any -sign of a boat, and the girls began to wonder -whether they would have to spend the night on -this tiny island, without any food. They were -sitting back on the beach, near to the autogiro, -talking a little, and searching the waters often -with the glasses for the sight of a ship. The -sun was already low against the horizon.</p> -<p>“I wonder how far we are from the peninsula,” -remarked Dot. “Maybe we could swim.”</p> -<p>“Not on an empty stomach,” returned Linda. -“Besides, we must be pretty far. According to -my figures.... Oh, look, Dot!” She jumped -gaily to her feet.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_154">154</div> -<p>“What! A boat?” cried her companion.</p> -<p>“No. Only Bert—with a fish! But it surely -does look good.”</p> -<p>“Light your fire, Dot!” the young man called -as he approached. “The fish is cleaned—all -ready to fry.”</p> -<p>“You’re an ace!” returned the girl, looking -admiringly at the young man in his flier’s suit, -and his rumpled hair and cheery smile. How -different he looked from the first time the girls -had seen him—as a stern detective in Von -Goss’s office. It didn’t seem possible that they -had known him only a few days.</p> -<p>She lighted the fire, and half an hour later -they ate their scanty supper. If anyone had -ever told them that fish without any bread, or -even salt, would taste good, they would not -have believed it. But now they found it extremely -satisfying.</p> -<p>“I’m going right back again,” said Chase, -when they had finished eating. “If I have to -fish all night, I’m determined to get something -for your breakfast!”</p> -<p>“You—won’t—have—to,” announced Linda, -slowly, handing her glasses to Dot. “I’m sure -I see a boat!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_155">155</div> -<h2 id="c12">CHAPTER XII -<br /><span class="small">THE ENEMY PLANE</span></h2> -<p>The three young fliers stood on the beach, -waiting for the approaching boat in excited -suspense. She was nearer now; there was no -doubt that she was answering their signal.</p> -<p>It was a large, flat steamboat with wide decks, -which were packed with passengers who were -peering at the lonely little island, and waving -cheerily at the three survivors. It approached -rapidly; when it was within calling distance of -the island it stopped and let down a life-boat, -which two men rowed to the shore.</p> -<p>“Shall we all get aboard?” inquired Dot, -turning to Linda.</p> -<p>“I think I’d rather not,” replied Linda. “If -they can supply us with some food, I think I’d -better stay here. You see, I don’t like to leave -the Ladybug alone.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_156">156</div> -<p>“What do you suggest, Linda?” asked -Chase, as if he, too, considered her the guide in -this situation.</p> -<p>“That you go to the mainland, Bert—or to -the peninsula, whichever the boat happens to -be headed for—and bring me back some gas.”</p> -<p>“You mean leave you two girls here alone?” -he asked. “It’ll mean all night—before I can -get back.”</p> -<p>“Yes. Why not? We’ll be safe, unless a -shark comes to shore and bites us. But for -goodness’ sake, don’t forget us!”</p> -<p>“I’ll never forget you,” replied the young -man solemnly.</p> -<p>The life-boat had reached the island by this -time, and two men jumped out and leaped to -shore.</p> -<p>“This is wonderful of you!” cried Dot. “We -certainly are grateful.”</p> -<p>“Glad to do it,” replied one of the men, a -big, brawny sailor. “But do tell me what that -thing is.” He pointed to the autogiro. “It -looks like a plane, but I never seen a plane like -that before.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_157">157</div> -<p>“It’s an autogiro,” explained Chase. “And -we ran out of gas—almost dropped down in the -Gulf.... So, if you can take me to shore, I’d -like to get some and bring it back here.”</p> -<p>“Sure,” replied the man. “But what about -the ladies?”</p> -<p>“We’ve decided to stay here,” replied Dot. -“At least, if you can supply us with some food -to keep us till tomorrow morning. We’re nearly -starved.”</p> -<p>“Sure,” repeated the man, “anything you -say!”</p> -<p>Chase and the two sailors climbed into the -rowboat and pushed off immediately. Inside -of ten minutes they returned, bringing a box of -food with them, and a tank of ice-water.</p> -<p>“How much do we owe you?” inquired -Linda, taking a bill from her pocket.</p> -<p>“Nothin’!” answered the man. “The Captain -says it’s a present, with his compliments.”</p> -<p>“I think that’s awfully good of him,” said -Dot, lifting the lid of the box and peering hungrily -inside. “And it looks like real American -food, too. Biscuits—and ham—and eggs!”</p> -<p>“Mexican chickens lay the same kind of eggs -that American chickens do,” observed Chase, -dryly.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_158">158</div> -<p>“That’ll be enough out of you!” retorted -Dot, trying to look scornful, but laughing in -spite of herself.</p> -<p>“Be sure to get something to eat for yourself, -right away, Bert,” put in Linda.</p> -<p>“We’ll take care of that,” the sailor assured -her, as the men returned to the boat.</p> -<p>“And come back soon!” added Dot.</p> -<p>The rowboat went back to the steamer, and -the girls remained on the beach watching it, all -the while waving and smiling to their rescuers. -At last the steamboat pulled off, and disappeared -from view; then they returned to -their fire and built it up again.</p> -<p>“This is going to be a meal worth eating!” -exclaimed Dot, as she unpacked biscuits and -butter, ham, eggs, and coffee. “Even oranges -and bananas!” she added, hardly able to wait -until they should begin to eat.</p> -<p>They sat about their fire talking until long -after darkness came on, and the stars appeared -in the sky. Both girls felt happy now—only -anxious to be after their enemy again.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_159">159</div> -<p>“I’m so sorry for the delay,” remarked -Linda. “More on Mr. Eckert’s account than -my own. If I could only get his plane back, I -shouldn’t worry so much about that forged -check for five thousand dollars.”</p> -<p>“It’s the idea of what that girl got away -with that exasperates me,” said Dot. “Making -all that money on your name. It’s maddening.”</p> -<p>“But she’s sure to be caught sometime, by -the police. And then she’ll have to pay up.”</p> -<p>“Yes, but I want her caught soon—and by us, -if possible.”</p> -<p>“Well, tomorrow’s a new day,” said Linda -hopefully. “And you never can tell what will -happen. Now—let’s get some sleep.”</p> -<p>So, wrapping up in their blankets, they lay -down in the sand, far inland, lest the tide -should rise, and slept until the sun awakened -them. A delightfully cool breeze was blowing -from the ocean, reminding the girls of pleasant -days at the seashore.</p> -<p>“Only it reminds me more of that island off -the coast of Georgia,” returned Dot, when -Linda made this observation.</p> -<p>“It does look something like it. But oh, such -different circumstances now. We’re not Robinson -Crusoes here. We’ve got everything we -want—food, and the Ladybug, and Bert Chase -to rescue us.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_160">160</div> -<p>“Speaking of Bert,” put in Dot, “let’s get a -good swim before he gets back.”</p> -<p>They acted upon the suggestion immediately, -and enjoyed their dip immensely. What a thrill -it gave them to bathe for the first time in the -Gulf of California! Almost like going into the -Pacific Ocean. But they did not venture out -far, or stay long in the water. They wanted to -be all ready for Chase when he returned, so -that they could be on their pursuit again as -quickly as possible.</p> -<p>“I like your boy-friend, Linda,” said Dot, -taking up the conversation where they had left -it when they went in to bathe. “But it’s nice -to have him out of the way for a while.”</p> -<p>“I don’t see why you call him <i>my</i> boy-friend,” -returned the other girl. “He’s just -as much yours.”</p> -<p>“He is not! Haven’t you noticed how he’s -always watching you? As if he couldn’t take -his eyes from you. Pure devotion, I’d call it.”</p> -<p>Linda laughed and began to run a comb -through her wet hair, arranging the ringlets in -place. She had a lovely natural wave—a gift -which saved her a great deal of time at hairdressers’. -No matter where she was, or how -she was dressed, she always looked pretty.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_161">161</div> -<p>“I think you’re exaggerating, Dot. He’s -never said anything to make me think he especially -likes me.”</p> -<p>“All the more credit to him! But just the -same, I’ll bet Ralph Clavering wouldn’t feel -any too easy about him.”</p> -<p>Suddenly Linda sighed.</p> -<p>“What’s the matter?” demanded Dot. “That -wasn’t a sigh of hunger!”</p> -<p>“No, it wasn’t. The mention of Ralph made -me feel just a little bit homesick. Not for him -especially—but for the whole crowd, and for -Aunt Emily and Daddy. We’ve only been gone -about ten days, but it seems ages and ages!”</p> -<p>“Because so much has happened.”</p> -<p>“Yes, and because we have been in such -strange places. And the days have been long -too.”</p> -<p>“What do you suppose everybody is doing by -now?” inquired Dot.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_162">162</div> -<p>“Most of them are at college, I suppose. -Sue Emery and Sara Wheeler are rooming together. -And Jim and Ralph both must have -gone back. I don’t know about Harriman -Smith. The last letter I had from him, he said -he wasn’t sure whether he’d have enough -money.”</p> -<p>“He’s a nice boy,” was Dot’s comment.</p> -<p>“One of the best,” replied Linda, with unusual -enthusiasm for her. “But Dot,” she continued, -as they began to make their fire for -breakfast, “don’t you regret not going to -college?”</p> -<p>“No, not a bit. I get lots more thrills batting -about the country on adventures with you. -If I were at college, and learned that you were -suddenly off to California—or to the North -Pole, I’d be absolutely sick with jealousy. I’d -probably drop everything and go. And then, -of course, college would drop me.”</p> -<p>“You’re an old peach, Dot!” exclaimed -Linda, giving her chum a hug. “But some day -I ’spose I’ll have to lose you, as I did Lou. -Jim’ll decide that he just won’t wait any -longer, and you’ll be going up the aisle to the -tune of Lohengrin!”</p> -<p>Dot dimpled, but shook her head.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_163">163</div> -<p>“You needn’t worry about that, Linda,” she -said. “But if the time ever comes, I’ll tell -you what you can do: Get married yourself! -And then you’ll have a chum who won’t ever -desert you!”</p> -<p>“I’m not so sure about that—these days.... -Now, shall we have our breakfast?”</p> -<p>“I’m all for it,” agreed Dot, sitting down to -the pleasant meal they had just cooked.</p> -<p>The boat bringing Chase with the gasoline -did not arrive until eleven o’clock. It took -some little time to get the tanks of gasoline -into shore, for the men dared load only one at -a time on the rowboat. And Chase had brought -three.</p> -<p>“Greetings!” he called to the girls, as the -small boat approached. “You’re still alive? -Nothing happened during the night?”</p> -<p>Dot laughed merrily.</p> -<p>“You sound like Linda’s aunt, Bert. She -always expects the worst.”</p> -<p>“Well, I didn’t really think there was anything -much you girls couldn’t conquer. Only -something like a big tide, that would sweep the -whole island away.”</p> -<p>He filled the empty tanks of the autogiro, and -put the other two cans into the passenger’s -cockpit. As soon as the rowboat pulled off, the -young man turned excitedly to the girls.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_164">164</div> -<p>“I’ve got hot news!” he announced. “A -yellow biplane was sighted yesterday, flying -with all possible speed towards the Pacific -Ocean. I got that from Los Angeles headquarters -last night.”</p> -<p>Linda’s eyes sparkled with excitement.</p> -<p>“We’ll be right after them,” she said. “Oh, -if we’re only not too late!”</p> -<p>“It’s a peach of a day,” commented Dot. -“If it is hot.”</p> -<p>“Heat doesn’t bother me,” returned Linda, -climbing into the cockpit, and setting the rotors -in motion. “Get in—if you’re coming with -me!”</p> -<p>Linda gave her the gun, and the Ladybug -left the beach a minute or so later, soaring triumphantly -into the skies.</p> -<p>“We’re going to fly high, now!” shouted -Linda. “And we’re going to make speed!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_165">165</div> -<p>The outlines of the island faded and disappeared -from their sight; even the water was -lost to their view. The Ladybug flew as if she -were on a test flight, to prove her ability to -take part in any kind of service. Mile after -mile disappeared as Linda watched her instruments -and her map closely, for now she could -figure just about how far she had to go to reach -the coast of the peninsula. All the while Dot -scanned the air with the glasses, looking for a -flash of yellow in the sky.</p> -<p>“We are over an airport town now,” Linda -announced about one o’clock. “Shall we come -down for lunch?”</p> -<p>“No! No!” returned her companions. “We’ll -dig out something from the box, and eat as we -go. On to the coast!”</p> -<p>They continued onward for an hour or so, -landing once to refuel from an extra tank of -gas. Now Linda dipped lower, anxious to -watch the landscape, for she knew that she -must be very near to the Pacific Ocean. She -identified the roofs of a village—a little seaport -town, probably—and yes—there was the ocean -beyond!</p> -<p>“I’d go south for a while, Linda!” Chase advised. -“The report was that the Sky Rocket -was headed southwest.”</p> -<p>So Linda banked and directed her course -along the coast to the southward. Flying low, -and watching the ground for an airport.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_166">166</div> -<p>From the air they were able to identify scattered -seaside huts, and even fishing boats out -on the ocean. But no town of any size, and no -sign of an airport.</p> -<p>“We ought to land and make inquiries,” -Linda was thinking to herself, when Dot suddenly -let out a piercing scream. Terrified, -Linda looked all about her, thinking they must -be rushing headlong into some awful peril.</p> -<p>“I see the plane!” Dot cried, frantically. -“Over there on the beach—to the left!”</p> -<p>Linda peered out to the side her chum indicated, -but she could distinguish nothing but a -blurred outline of green.</p> -<p>“The Sky Rocket!” screamed Dot. “Bank -to the left!”</p> -<p>Though she still failed to see it with her -naked eye, Linda’s heart beat rapidly with the -thrill of success, and she took the direction Dot -indicated. She dipped lower, and banked to the -left, approaching the spot slowly. And then, -sure enough, she saw it for herself. The Sky -Rocket!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_167">167</div> -<p>The beach was wide and the plane stood -erect, as if all ready for a take-off. Suppose -it sailed off this moment! Before Linda could -get to it! The Sky Rocket was bigger, faster, -newer than the Ladybug—wouldn’t it be sure -to get away in a race?</p> -<p>While these thoughts were running through -her head, she kept her eyes glued upon the -plane, approaching it cautiously. Nearer and -nearer she came—but still the Sky Rocket did -not move. What was Sprague’s game now? -Would he wait for her to land, and shoot from -under cover?</p> -<p>Down—down the Ladybug came. To death? -Or at least a struggle? Reaching instinctively -for her revolver, Linda landed the autogiro on -the beach, about a hundred yards from the -enemy plane.... And—waited!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_168">168</div> -<h2 id="c13">CHAPTER XIII -<br /><span class="small">HOT ON THE TRAIL</span></h2> -<p>Chase, his hand on his revolver, climbed -out of the autogiro and slipped cautiously -around the side. He kept his eyes riveted on -the Sky Rocket, but there was no movement -whatsoever.</p> -<p>“They’re probably hiding,” he whispered, -as the noise of the rotors died out. “You girls -stay right here, and creep up on them.”</p> -<p>Dot and Linda did as they were told. In -tense silence they watched the young man advance -nearer and nearer to the Sky Rocket, expecting -every moment to hear a shot ring out -from the underbrush that grew along the -beach.</p> -<p>It was a deserted spot; there were no cottages -or boathouses about. The only sound -was the breaking of the waves, with monotonous -regularity, upon the shore.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_169">169</div> -<p>Chase got nearer and nearer; he actually -came up to the yellow plane, and peered all -around it. Still there was no sign of human -life anywhere. He looked into the cockpit; then -he sauntered towards the scattered bushes on -the beach, examining them with his glasses. -And still nothing happened.</p> -<p>Unable to bear the suspense any longer, the -girls came out from behind the Ladybug and -started to advance towards the Sky Rocket. -At the same time Chase, satisfied that the -enemy was nowhere about, proceeded slowly -back to meet them.</p> -<p>“We’re too late again,” he observed, gloomily. -“They’ve abandoned it, there’s no doubt -of that. Evidently got scared and decided to -leave it.”</p> -<p>Running up to the plane, Linda began to examine -it eagerly.</p> -<p>“It seems to be in good condition,” she said. -“And that certainly is a lucky break. If I -couldn’t get both, I’d rather have the plane -than the girl!”</p> -<p>Chase regarded her in amazement.</p> -<p>“But she has your money!” was his comment.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_170">170</div> -<p>“I know. But I care more about Mr. Eckert’s -plane—it’s worth a whole lot more than -five thousand dollars. And he was such a good -sport to lend it to me. I can just imagine how -dreadfully he’d feel, if he thought he’d never -see it again. I know how I felt when I lost the -Ladybug.”</p> -<p>“But where do you suppose they have -gone?” asked Dot. “The Spragues, I mean.”</p> -<p>Linda dropped down to a sitting position on -the sand and fished in her pocket for a map.</p> -<p>“They must have taken a boat from somewhere -near here,” she said. “So if we can -find out where we are, and the nearest seaport -town, we might be able to catch them before -they sail.”</p> -<p>“We’re pretty far south on this peninsula,” -put in Chase, looking over Linda’s shoulder at -the map.</p> -<p>“Yes, I think so.... You know what I believe -would be best, Bert? If the Sky Rocket is in -good condition—we’ll look her over in a minute -and find out—one of us could fly her south -along the coast, and another take the Ladybug -north. In that way we ought to pick up news -of our honeymooners pretty quickly.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_171">171</div> -<p>“Good idea!” returned Chase, immediately. -“Which plane do you want, Linda?”</p> -<p>“I think I’d rather have the Sky Rocket,” -returned the girl. “If you can manage the -Ladybug. Because if I should find out that -the Spragues have sailed somewhere in a boat, -I might like to pursue them. And the Sky -Rocket can go so much faster, and carry enough -gas for a trip across the United States.”</p> -<p>“It’s all one to me,” agreed Chase. “If -you’ll trust me with the Ladybug.”</p> -<p>“Certainly,” Linda assured him. “Now I -think I’ll go look the Sky Rocket over, and -tighten some of those wires that I see out of -‘stream-line’. That makes a lot of difference, -you know.”</p> -<p>Linda finished her job in less than an hour, -and after they had eaten the remainder of their -food supply, she gave Chase a few instructions -about flying the autogiro. Satisfied that he -knew how to manage it, the girls insisted that -he take off first, flying back north along the sea-coast.</p> -<p>“And when you’re through, you can park -the Ladybug at the Los Angeles airport,” concluded -Linda. “I’ll pick her up there, after the -girl has been caught—by us, or somebody else.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_172">172</div> -<p>She and Dot stood watching the young man -take off and soar into the air, until he was -finally lost to sight. Once again they were -alone, but with more hope of success than they -had had before. Now both planes had been regained, -and they had the Sky Rocket to rely on. -They felt, with it, that they had the world—or -better still, the air—at their command.</p> -<p>“There must be a seaport pretty near here,” -said Linda, as she and Dot climbed into the -powerful yellow plane. “If the Spragues -haven’t left from there, they at least ought to -be able to find out by wire what vessels have -left the coast.”</p> -<p>She flew straight down to Cape San Lucas, a -seaport town, which boasted of a sizable airport. -It was terribly hot here, when she -brought the plane to the ground; the heat -seemed to rise in waves to hit them in the face -as the girls climbed out of the cockpits. For -the airport was located behind the town, and -that morning no ocean breezes brought cooling -refreshment to landward.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_173">173</div> -<p>It was a large airport, and it kept attendants -who could speak all the principal languages. -The man who came forward, a dark Mexican, -surprised the girls by speaking perfect English.</p> -<p>Briefly Linda told him the facts of her story—about -the stolen planes, which had since -been regained, and the forged check for five -thousand dollars. But she said nothing about -the part in the talking-picture, or of the girl’s -having taken her name. There was no reason, -she felt, for emphasizing that point or drawing -publicity to herself.</p> -<p>“So we think this couple have sailed,” she -concluded. “Though under what name, we -don’t know. Probably neither Sprague nor -Bower, but something else, to fool us, and -throw the police off the track. Our first desire -is to find out what big vessels have left this -vicinity today or yesterday.”</p> -<p>“I’ll get in touch with the docks immediately,” -the man assured her. “Though I think -can tell you myself. A vessel named the -‘Mona’ left here yesterday for Hawaii. There -isn’t another until day after tomorrow, which -sails for South America.”</p> -<p>Linda’s eyes shone with excitement.</p> -<p>“Hawaii!” she exclaimed. “I always did -want to fly the Pacific!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_174">174</div> -<p>“You wouldn’t try it!” he cried, in horror.</p> -<p>“Why not?” she demanded. “It’s only a -matter of about two thousand miles—less than -a non-stop flight across the United States. And -I have a marvellous plane.”</p> -<p>“You mean—this?” he asked, pointing to the -Sky Rocket.</p> -<p>“Yes. She’s a marvel, even if she has only -one motor. She can make a hundred and fifty -miles an hour, and is equipped with all the newest -inventions and improvements.”</p> -<p>“I can see that.... But the danger—in any -kind of plane,” he remonstrated. “No woman -has ever attempted it, and plenty of airmen -have found a watery grave in the Pacific.”</p> -<p>“Well, some woman has to be first,” returned -Linda. “I’ll think about it, anyway. -In the meanwhile, I think I’ll go down to have -a talk with the men at the docks.... By the -way, have you an expert mechanic?”</p> -<p>“The very best!”</p> -<p>“Then please have him give the Sky Rocket -a thorough inspection. Doubly thorough, for -tell him what I am contemplating. And have -him take a look at the wireless that is already -installed. And fill her up with gas and oil.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_175">175</div> -<p>“O. K.,” agreed the man, shaking his head -as if he thought Linda were crazy.</p> -<p>“Oh, yes—and could you get me a rubber -life-boat?” she inquired.</p> -<p>“At considerable cost.”</p> -<p>“Well, get me one if you can, and have it -put in,” said Linda, as if she were ordering an -ice-cream soda.</p> -<p>“Then you really are serious about going?” -asked the man, unable to believe she meant -what she was saying.</p> -<p>“If I find good reason to think that couple -sailed for Hawaii,” she replied. “But not if -I don’t. It isn’t a stunt, you see.”</p> -<p>The girls left immediately in a taxicab for -the dock. Here they saw numerous small boats -and yachts, and it occurred to Linda to wonder -whether the missing couple might not have -gone off in a pleasure boat. But after all, they -couldn’t get far in the Pacific in a yacht, unless -it were one specially built for the purpose, and -the idea seemed improbable.</p> -<p>They made their inquiries about the couple -of a sailor.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_176">176</div> -<p>“Yes, there were several young couples -among the passengers that left for Hawaii yesterday,” -he informed them. “About thirty -passengers, all told.”</p> -<p>“But did one of the young couples look like -honeymooners?” demanded Dot.</p> -<p>“Can’t say as I noticed. But you can look -at the list of passengers in the office. That -ought to tell you.”</p> -<p>He led the girls through an open door, where -they found the book on the desk with the name -of the boat, the “Mona,” and the list. But, as -they had expected, neither the name of Bower -nor of Sprague occurred.</p> -<p>“If that girl were using her own maiden -name, we shouldn’t even know what it was,” -remarked Dot, gloomily.</p> -<p>“True,” admitted Linda, thinking how -strange it was that once again they were involved -in complications with a nameless girl. -But, unlike poor little Helen Tower, who had -been nameless because of a cruel accident -wherein she lost her memory, this girl was deliberately, -criminally, nameless.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_177">177</div> -<p>“Were there any couples in flying costumes?” -asked Dot, thinking perhaps that if -the Spragues had hiked from the plane, and -speed were their object, they wouldn’t have -had time to change.</p> -<p>But such a course would have been too obvious, -and would have given them away immediately. -As she expected, the sailor shook his -head to the question.</p> -<p>“Any with hand-luggage?” suggested Linda.</p> -<p>“Yeah. A couple of couples.”</p> -<p>“Now we’re getting there! Can you describe -them?”</p> -<p>“Can’t say as I could. Didn’t look at ’em, -to tell you the truth. Only I do recollect our -baggage man sayin’ he was gipped out of two -tips, so these two guys must of carried their -bags theirselves.”</p> -<p>“Let’s go see him,” suggested Dot.</p> -<p>“He’s a Mexican. Don’t speak English. But -maybe I can explain to him what you want.”</p> -<p>They walked about the dock until they found -a greasy-looking man who was sprawled on a -truck-van, smoking a pipe. The sailor explained -what the girls wanted, and the man sat -up and stared at them.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_178">178</div> -<p>Linda could hardly restrain a shudder. She -thought that she wouldn’t care about meeting -this man alone in the dark, or in the desert. -But he seemed pleasant enough. And, to their -delight, he gave them the information they -wanted. Pointing abruptly at Linda, he told -the sailor in Mexican that one woman looked -like that girl!</p> -<p>Before the latter had even interpreted his -meaning, Linda and Dot had jumped to the correct -conclusion and were wild with excitement. -Nothing could keep them back now, short of a -cyclone. If the weather held like this on the -morrow, they would be on their way to Hawaii!</p> -<p>“That settles it!” announced Linda. Then, -turning to the sailor, she inquired the exact -destination of the “Mona.”</p> -<p>“Honolulu,” was the reply.</p> -<p>“Then I’ll send a wireless there now,” she -said, and proceeded to write out a message.</p> -<p>“Hold all passengers of the ‘Mona’ for identification -at Honolulu dock. Two criminals -aboard.... Signed, Linda Carlton.”</p> -<p>“The Captain ought to pick up that message, -too,” she remarked, turning to Dot as soon as -the words had been sent. “And the thing for -us to do now, is to make sure that we beat that -boat to Honolulu!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_179">179</div> -<p>Realizing their need for rest and food, the -girls went back to their taxi and directed the -driver to take them to the best hotel the seaport -afforded. Here they engaged a room for -the night and proceeded to make themselves -comfortable. After they had their baths, they -stretched out on the bed in their room, shaded -and darkened by awnings from the hot sun, -and began to discuss the proposition seriously. -They realized now how suddenly they had -plunged headlong into what really might be the -experience of a lifetime—an undertaking that -took most fliers months and months to prepare -for.</p> -<p>“Do you think we ought to go, Dot?” asked -Linda, over-awed for the first time at the dangers -of the project, when she considered them -for somebody besides herself.</p> -<p>“I’m dying to go!” cried the other girl, her -eyes sparkling with anticipation. “There’s -only one thing that might hold me back.”</p> -<p>“What’s that? You mean consideration for -your parents?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_180">180</div> -<p>“No. They’d be willing to let me do anything -you considered safe. It’s just that if I -didn’t go with you, you could take a more experienced -flier in my place—or a mechanic or a -navigator. And that would be better and safer -for you.”</p> -<p>“Nonsense!” laughed Linda. “I can do -those things, and if anything goes wrong, you -can take the controls. You certainly fly well—I’d -trust you a lot farther than a good many -boys I know—like Ralph Clavering, for instance. -You’re air-minded—you have air sense, -to put it another way—and you never get -rattled. You can take charge if I want to rest—though -it isn’t nearly so far as Paris, and I -flew that alone.”</p> -<p>“That’s true,” agreed Dot. “It isn’t even -as far as if we were taking off from Los Angeles.” -She was pleased, more than she could -say, at her chum’s praise, for Linda Carlton -never said anything she didn’t mean.</p> -<p>“Yes, we’re a lot farther south than Los -Angeles—almost in a direct line westward.”</p> -<p>“Are you going to tell your Aunt Emily?” -inquired Dot, after a moment of silence.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_181">181</div> -<p>“No, I think not. I don’t believe I’ll tell -anybody except the people at this airport. -Then, if anything goes wrong, we shan’t have -a lot of unpleasant publicity. Besides, it’s all -the better for our cause to keep it a secret. -It’s not an aviation feat this time, like flying the -Atlantic. The main object is to catch those -two criminals.”</p> -<p>“Then we won’t call Spring City on the telephone?”</p> -<p>“No. Let’s send wires, assuring our families -of our safety, and telling them not to expect us -home for several days. That will put their -minds at rest, and won’t disclose anything.”</p> -<p>“What about food?”</p> -<p>“Enough for a day. I figure that if we start -before dawn tomorrow, we ought to land early -in the morning of the following day. So, while -I am mapping out our course, you can go visit -the chef and see about packing sandwiches and -fruit and coffee. That ought to be enough. -And we’ll eat an early breakfast before we -start.”</p> -<p>“What are the predictions for weather?”</p> -<p>“Favorable and warm.”</p> -<p>“It doesn’t seem possible that we’re going -so soon,” observed Dot.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_182">182</div> -<p>“It’s the way I like to do things,” returned -Linda. “With a snap—and we’re off! Let’s -have an early supper, about six o’clock, and get -in bed by nine. And leave a call for three -o’clock tomorrow morning.”</p> -<p>“Three o’clock! The time lots of young -people are getting home from dances!”</p> -<p>“Well, this is going to be more thrilling than -any dance you ever attended, Dot Crowley!”</p> -<p>“It’s going to be the thrill of a lifetime!”</p> -<p>“I hope it is. I really believe it will end -happily, or I shouldn’t be taking you along, for -I am the one who’s responsible. The Sky -Rocket can carry a good load, and we’re both -so light that I can easily put in a big extra tank -of gas for emergency, in case we get off our -course.”</p> -<p>“And if that runs out, or anything else happens, -we’ll go to sea in a rubber life-boat!”</p> -<p>“I hope we shan’t have to,” said Linda.... -“But now we really must get to work. I’m -going to get out my maps. It’ll be a pretty -hard job to locate those little islands in that -vast expanse of ocean.”</p> -<p>“If we only don’t run into a fog!” commented -Dot.</p> -<p>“But if we do, there’s the good old earth-inductor -compass to guide us. And besides, -our course lies pretty straight westward.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_183">183</div> -<p>For the next few hours the girls scarcely exchanged -a word, so busily were they employed -upon their duties. Dot sent the wires and interviewed -the chef of the hotel, and Linda -pored over maps and diagrams, running her -fingers through her hair, marking her course -with her pencil. At six o’clock she telephoned -to the airport with final instructions. Then, -dressed as they were, for all their dresses were -still at the Los Angeles hotel, they went down -to dinner.</p> -<p>The dining-room was warm in spite of the -fans, and it seemed exactly like midsummer to -the girls, although it really was October by the -calendar. But San Lucas was much farther -south than Spring City, Ohio.</p> -<p>There were not many people in the dining-room, -for it was an early hour to dine. How -thankful the girls were that they were not at -the Ambassador, crowded as it always was with -motion-picture people and visitors! They ate -their meal slowly, then retired to their room to -work quietly until bed-time.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_184">184</div> -<p>And so, at nine o’clock they prepared to go -to sleep, conscious that their next night would -probably be spent on the ocean—an adventure -which would either end in disaster, or would -make a story that would go down in history, of -the first young women to fly the Pacific Ocean.</p> -<p>Only time could answer that question!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_185">185</div> -<h2 id="c14">CHAPTER XIV -<br /><span class="small">OVER THE PACIFIC</span></h2> -<p>The gray dawn of early morning found -Linda and Dot at the airport of Cape San -Lucas, all ready to take off on their momentous -journey. More than two thousand miles -over the biggest ocean in the world, without a -single stop!</p> -<p>The Sky Rocket was already on the runway, -in perfect condition for the trip. Her high-powered -Wright engine was performing as excellently -as an expensive watch; her instruments -were in tune, her tanks filled. The wireless -had been tested, and found to be working, -and the rubber life-boat which Linda had -ordered was tucked away in the plane.</p> -<p>“What are the weather predictions for this -morning?” Linda inquired of the mechanic, as -Dot put the lunch into the cockpit.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_186">186</div> -<p>“Good for at least twenty-four hours,” he -replied. “But that’s not the only danger, Miss -Carlton.” He shook his head ominously. “This -is sure suicide,” he predicted.</p> -<p>“Why?” demanded Dot. “Isn’t the motor in -perfect condition? There isn’t anything wrong, -is there?”</p> -<p>“No. She’s O.K. Oiled her up a bit, and -tightened a few screws. It isn’t that. But you’ll -run into a typhoon, or lose your way—”</p> -<p>“It’s a pretty straight course,” said Linda. -“We’re on the Tropic of Cancer now, and -Hawaii is just a little below it. It looks like -pretty easy navigating to me.”</p> -<p>“You’re welcome to it. And—happy -landing!”</p> -<p>Linda and Dot lost no time in getting started. -Five minutes later the Sky Rocket was triumphantly -rising into the air, heading straight -towards the ocean. Over the weeds and rough -seashore growth on the beach, past the waves -breaking on the shore of the Pacific! The sun -had not yet risen, but it was light enough to -see where they were going. On they flew; now -the waves seemed higher, but the air was calm.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_187">187</div> -<p>There was little wind, so Linda continued to -fly low, so that they could make use of the -cushion of air on top of the water. And it was -thrilling to watch the ocean—more exciting -than seeing it from the deck of a boat.</p> -<p>“It does seem calmer than the Atlantic,” observed -Dot, in a loud tone. Seated side by side -as they were in the companion cockpit, it was -not necessary to use the speaking-tube, and for -this advantage they were grateful. “They say -that’s why it was called the ‘Pacific.’”</p> -<p>“It’s beautiful, anyway,” returned Linda, -admiringly.</p> -<p>On and on they flew, ever westward, as the -sun rose in its full glory behind them. Soon -the land was lost to view; there were no vessels -in sight—only limitless sky and ocean, and -two girls alone in that vast, empty universe. -But both girls were in high spirits; neither was -the least bit afraid.</p> -<p>Climbing a little higher, Linda opened her -throttle to its maximum, and found themselves -travelling at a speed of a hundred and fifty -miles an hour. The girls laughed and sang at -the joy of the exhilarating motion, but they did -not attempt to talk. There was so much to -think about—the fun of the flight, and the -triumph of landing in Hawaii, ahead of that -boat, the “Mona.” Oh, if they only made it!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_188">188</div> -<p>Water everywhere—and the sky overhead. -Noontime came, with the sun right above them, -and the girls realized that it had been a long -time since they had eaten. Dot made a dive for -the coffee and sandwiches, divided off as they -were in portions for lunch and supper and -breakfast, and both girls ate ravenously. When -they had finished she insisted that Linda take -a rest.</p> -<p>With a yawn and a stretch, Linda willingly -complied, and gave the controls over to the -other girl. It would afford her not only an -opportunity to relax, but a chance to study the -maps as well.</p> -<p>“We’ve covered eight hundred miles already,” -she shouted in Dot’s ear. “And we’re -sticking straight to our course.”</p> -<p>“How’s the gas holding out?” returned her -companion.</p> -<p>“Fine. I think we’ll have some left over, at -this rate.... Now Dot, if you’re all right, I -think I’ll take forty winks. Even that blazing -sun doesn’t seem to keep me from being -sleepy.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_189">189</div> -<p>The other girl nodded, and Linda slipped off -to sleep. Even the bumps in the air seemed to -have no effect upon her slumbers; for an hour -perhaps, she slept soundly, while Dot continued -on the flight. Then, all of a sudden she was -abruptly awakened by a terrified cry from her -companion. The plane was dropping—it seemed -to be diving right into the ocean—into the very -jaws of death!</p> -<p>For one brief moment Linda thought of the -life-boat, but that did not seem feasible now. Instinctively -she grabbed the stick, and pulled it -back sharply. The Sky Rocket wobbled almost -on the surface of the water, and at that very -moment a hideous, terrifying shark poked its -head above the surface!</p> -<p>For one awful second death stared them in -the face. Not the easy death of drowning, but -a horrible torturing agony at the jaws of a -ferocious fish. The plane seemed to hover uncertainly -for a moment; then with a sudden -lightning speed it gathered control and started -to climb upward—to safety!</p> -<p>Linda let out a gasp of relief, and Dot sobbed -in contrition as the Sky Rocket soared into the -air.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_190">190</div> -<p>“I don’t know how I could have done it,” -wailed Dot. “All of a sudden, it seemed as if -we were headed straight for the ocean, and -nothing could stop us. If you hadn’t taken hold -that very instant, we’d have been killed.”</p> -<p>“It was a lucky escape,” returned Linda. -“And from now on we’ll make it a point to fly -higher, even if we can’t use the wind to such -advantage, as we could right over the water.”</p> -<p>The afternoon passed, with the motor still -functioning perfectly. The wind increased -somewhat, but not enough to disturb Linda -greatly. She was continuing to fly high, for she -didn’t want to run any risk of hitting that deep, -terrifying ocean again. A little before sunset -they sighted a ship.</p> -<p>“I’m going a little lower,” she shouted to -Dot. “Get your glasses. We’ll see whether -that’s the ‘Mona.’”</p> -<p>“It is!” exclaimed Dot, a few minutes later. -“I suppose we’re too far south to meet the -regular Los Angeles-Hawaii lines. But we must -be following about the same course as the -‘Mona.’”</p> -<p>“Keep a watch-out for the girl-friend!” advised -Linda.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_191">191</div> -<p>Down they glided, keeping the ship in sight -until they were about a hundred feet over the -water. It was a small boat—not nearly so large -as the regular San Francisco-Hawaii line; and -they could see the people hurrying to the deck, -peering through their glasses, and waving and -shouting in greeting. Dot, too, did her share -of the searching.</p> -<p>“I don’t see them,” she said.</p> -<p>Linda looked intently, but she could not distinguish -the passengers’ faces. However, she -did not think it was likely that Sprague or his -wife would be waving to them. They would -surely recognize the plane.</p> -<p>“Probably they’ve been keeping off the -decks,” she said. “Hiding, as much as possible, -without arousing suspicion.”</p> -<p>“Maybe the girl’s seasick,” observed Dot. “I -only hope she doesn’t pass out and get buried -at sea, before we ever have a look at her, or a -chance to collect that five thousand,” remarked -Dot.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_192">192</div> -<p>Linda regained her height, and sped onward, -determined to get to Hawaii well in advance of -the boat, and to lie in wait for the criminals. -The blood was rushing through her veins, and -she was thrilled with the chase, but she resolutely -kept calm. The worst of the trip—the -black night—was ahead of her, and she needed -every ounce she had of energy and nerve.</p> -<p>The plane was still doing well over a hundred -miles an hour, and going forward with mighty -gains, eating up the miles. The sun set and -once again the girls ate some sandwiches and -drank more coffee.</p> -<p>“I’m almost afraid to offer to take the controls -and let you rest,” said Dot, humbly. -“After the way I fell down before.”</p> -<p>“It was the Sky Rocket that did the falling,” -laughed Linda. “But I guess that wouldn’t -happen again. You’ll stay up high, I’m -thinking.”</p> -<p>“You’ll trust me again?”</p> -<p>“Certainly, Dot. Don’t be so foolish. Besides, -I want to do a little calculating.”</p> -<p>Relaxing back in her seat, Linda consulted -her maps and her sextant, when suddenly she -heard a queer noise. The motor was knocking -in a strange, ominous way that almost made the -girls’ hearts stop beating. Was it going dead? -Panic-stricken, Dot looked down on the ocean, -hoping that she could see the “Mona,” or some -other ship that might rescue them, and Linda’s -thoughts turned to the wireless.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_193">193</div> -<p>The tapping was growing worse; the engine -seemed to be dying. Linda racked her brain -for a reason; surely the gas hadn’t given out. -Telling Dot to keep on guiding the plane, she -examined the feed-valve. And here she located -the trouble!</p> -<p>A broad smile of relief spread over her face. -“I can fix that, easily,” she assured her companion. -“Just hang on for a couple of -minutes.”</p> -<p>She was as good as her word; soon the knocking -ceased, and the engine was running as -smoothly as when the Sky Rocket left Cape San -Lucas. And Linda herself was back at the controls, -urging Dot to avail herself of a nap while -she had the chance.</p> -<p>It was entirely dark now, and the stars were -shining in the sky, and reflected in the ocean, -making a beautiful picture for the girls as they -flew on. Phosphorescent lights, too, played -through the water, reminding Linda of the -dangerous life beneath.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_194">194</div> -<p>Towards ten o’clock, while Dot was taking -her nap, they had one more terrifying experience. -Suddenly, for no reason at all, they -started to fall. Yet the engine was not dead, -nor was their motion slow enough for a stall. -There was only one explanation, of course: an -air-pocket. Down, down they came, like an elevator -whose cords have been broken. Dot -wakened up with a scream and the beads of -perspiration stood out on Linda’s forehead, for -she believed that this time the sea was really -about to swallow them.</p> -<p>But she had been flying high, and this proved -to be her salvation. She tried banking the plane, -first on one side and then on the other, breaking -the fall, but making both herself and Dot -dizzy with the sickening motion. Her head -swam; she hardly knew what she was doing, -and there was the black water beneath them. -But at last a current of air swept under the -wings, assuring her that she was out of danger -once more. Making a sharp turn away from -the air-pocket, she found her plane responding -to the stick as she started to climb back again -to the height she had lost.</p> -<p>The girls breathed freely again, and Dot, now -wide awake, produced coffee from the thermos -bottle, for they felt in need of a stimulant. But, -as the plane flew fearlessly on, and the flight -again became monotonous, Dot fell asleep once -more, and Linda continued, waking and -watchful.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_195">195</div> -<p>She watched the stars fade gradually from -the sky, and the first gray light play over the -sea. Tensely alert, she glanced eagerly at her -speedometer. If her calculations were correct, -there were only three hundred miles more to -go!</p> -<p>It was considerably lighter when Dot finally -opened her eyes.</p> -<p>“Fine companion I am!” she exclaimed, in -shame. “To go to sleep like that. Leaving you -as lonely as you were on your Atlantic flight!”</p> -<p>Linda reached over and touched her hand -affectionately.</p> -<p>“Don’t you believe it, Dot!” she said. “It -makes a big difference, having you here.... -And if you’re awake now, I’d like to have you -take control. I want to do some figuring. Now -that we’re getting so near, I want to locate the -islands. Suppose we’d miss them, after coming -all this distance!”</p> -<p>“Suppose we would!” repeated Dot. “And -never realize it till we landed on the coast of -Australia!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_196">196</div> -<p>“We’d know it before then. Our gas would -give out somewhere in the middle of the ocean.”</p> -<p>“Well, we’re not going to miss them!”</p> -<p>It was, as Linda said, one of the most difficult -parts of the flight, to locate those tiny dots of -islands in the vast expanse of ocean. But Linda -was a good navigator, and she made her calculations -correctly. They were, she discovered, -only about fifty miles off their course—an error -which was easily remedied, since their gas -supply was adequate.</p> -<p>“A hundred miles more!” she announced, -when she finally resumed control. “Now we can -watch for the sea-gulls!”</p> -<p>Nearer and nearer to their destination they -came. Now Dot spied some fishing craft with -her glasses, and that fact told her that the shore -must be near. Her excitement was so intense -that she could hardly sit still. The end of her -first ocean flight! Her first landing from over -the water!</p> -<p>“We’re coming!” she shouted, in wild -exultation.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_197">197</div> -<p>Linda was almost equally thrilled, although -her pulse was calmer. It had been less terrifying, -less difficult, less nerve-racking than the -solitary, long flight over the Atlantic. But she -was nevertheless excited.</p> -<p>Now the cliffs rose from the ocean, and the -waves broke against the shore, showing their -white-caps. And, as if to stage a dramatic -arrival, the sun rose in all its glory, shedding -its beams over the land and water.</p> -<p>The green island of Molokai was beneath -them!</p> -<p>But this was not their destination, and Linda -pressed on.</p> -<p>“Aren’t you going to land?” cried Dot, in -disappointment.</p> -<p>“No,” returned Linda. “We are making for -the island of Oahu. I must come down in -Honolulu.”</p> -<p>On they flew, past Molokai, directing their -course southwest, over the indigo waters of the -Pacific, now so beautiful in the sunlight, then -swinging north towards the capital city of the -Hawaiian Islands. Now they saw speed boats -and launches on the waves; they passed the -great Diamond Head, and Waikiki beach, and -hovered at last over the Rogers Airport on the -coast.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_198">198</div> -<p>“Honolulu!” cried Linda, joyously. “We are -here!”</p> -<p>As the girls looked beneath them, it seemed -for a moment as if the airport were a bed of -flowers. Garlands of leis and gardenias filled -the air with a strange and wonderful fragrance. -Then, as Linda dropped lower, she realized that -these flowers were all in the arms of people -standing about the ground. People of every -race and color.</p> -<p>“Who are all those people?” demanded Dot. -“Do you suppose there’s been an accident?”</p> -<p>“Oh, I hope not!” replied Linda. “I’ll keep -on flying over the field until they scatter. I -mustn’t hurt anybody.” She brought the Sky -Rocket lower, and gave a signal that she wanted -to land.</p> -<p>But already policemen were busily pushing -the crowd back, making a clear runway for the -plane. When Linda thought it was safe, she -gracefully glided to the ground.</p> -<p>Even above the noise of the engine, the girls -heard the wild shouts of the multitude.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_199">199</div> -<p>“Hello, Linda Carlton! Hello, Dot Crowley!” -seemed to rise from every direction, and flowers -were strewn in their path. “Welcome to -Oahu!”</p> -<p>The girls stared at each other a moment in -consternation, not understanding how these -people could possibly be informed of their -names. But only a moment, for the crowd -rushed in, and it took all the policemen’s efforts -to hold them in check. A small and select group -of half a dozen or so were admitted close to the -plane.</p> -<p>From this group, a couple of young fliers -stepped forward and lifted the girls right out -of the cockpit.</p> -<p>“Congratulations to the first girls to cross -the Pacific!” they cried, as they put garlands -of leis around their necks. Then, with Linda -and Dot on their shoulders, high over the heads -of the crowd, the boys carried them to a waiting -car.</p> -<p>“Aloha!” shouted everyone as they passed. -“To our heroines of the air!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_200">200</div> -<h2 id="c15">CHAPTER XV -<br /><span class="small">THE ISLAND OF OAHU</span></h2> -<p>“But how did you know about us?” gasped -Dot, as she found herself miraculously seated -in a shining, low car at the edge of the flying -field. “We didn’t tell anybody about it.”</p> -<p>Both the young men grinned broadly.</p> -<p>“A special late edition came out last night -with the announcement,” explained one of the -boys. “A Los Angeles paper. And every newspaper -in the United States and Hawaii will run -the story this morning. Besides, a ship you -flew over yesterday sent a radio that you had -been sighted!”</p> -<p>The car moved slowly through the space -blocked off by the policemen, and Linda and -Dot smiled and waved to the crowd as they -passed.</p> -<p>“Where are we going now?” asked Linda.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_201">201</div> -<p>“To the Governor’s mansion. There’s a big -breakfast waiting for you. Then there will be -a reception tonight. Did you know that you -will receive an award of ten thousand dollars, -to be shared between you?”</p> -<p>Linda and Dot looked at each other in amazement. -They had undertaken the flight with no -thought of glory or reward, and they were winning -applause from the whole world. It was -nothing short of miraculous!</p> -<p>But what would their own relatives think? -Miss Carlton, and Mr. and Mrs. Crowley—and -Linda’s father, who hadn’t even been informed -of the project? Was it too late now to send -them telegrams?</p> -<p>“We each get five thousand dollars?” repeated -Dot, incredulously. “But why? Who is -giving it?”</p> -<p>“A wealthy woman in Honolulu promised -that amount some time ago to the first woman -to fly to Hawaii from the coast of America. The -only point she stipulated was that there was to -be no man in the plane. So, if two girls made -the flight, she said she would divide the prize.”</p> -<p>“So you’ll get the five thousand back that -you lost, Linda!” exclaimed Dot. “Now you -won’t have to catch that girl.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_202">202</div> -<p>“But I’m going to catch her,” Linda insisted. -“Not for the money, especially, but because -I’ve made up my mind to do it.”</p> -<p>The automobile threaded its way through the -streets of Honolulu, on to the Governor’s mansion. -Here the girls were received with the -greatest cordiality by the chief executive’s -wife. A lovely breakfast, to which all the important -aviators of the island were invited, was -served on the wide veranda, and a suite of -rooms had been set aside for the girls’ visit.</p> -<p>“I suppose you will want to take a nap first,” -said their charming hostess. “Then, after you -have rested, perhaps you would like to go down -to our beach and bathe.”</p> -<p>“We’d love it!” cried Dot, eagerly. “Think -of the thrill of going in bathing in October!”</p> -<p>“Then this evening,” continued the older -woman, “is the banquet, followed by a reception -in your honor at the hotel. And Mrs. Dinwitty, -the donor of the award, will present you -with your checks.”</p> -<p>“It’s all just too wonderful!” exclaimed Dot. -“But what shall we do for clothes? We can’t -attend receptions in flying-suits!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_203">203</div> -<p>“I’ll see that they are provided,” promised -the other. “We have marvellous shops in our -city, and now that I know your sizes, it will be -easy enough to order a supply.”</p> -<p>As soon as she had left them, Linda went to -the telephone in her room.</p> -<p>“I must call the police before we go to -sleep,” she said to Dot. “We might miss our -criminals.”</p> -<p>The reply, however, was reassuring.</p> -<p>“The ‘Mona’ doesn’t dock till noon tomorrow,” -an official assured her. “And we have -detailed men to help you. We got in touch with -the Los Angeles police after we got your wireless, -and we made out a warrant for the arrest -of the girl. We’ll call you when the ship docks.”</p> -<p>Reassured now, and at ease for the rest of -the day, the girls slept all morning in the beautiful -bedroom set aside for their visit, and after -luncheon they were driven to the famous Waikiki -beach, and lay on the sand and later rode -the waves of the Pacific on the long, narrow -boards which they had so often seen pictured -in the movies. There was so much to do and -see and enjoy that they wished that they might -spend at least a month in this Paradise of the -Pacific, as the Hawaiian Islands are so often -called.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_204">204</div> -<p>“It’s hard to think of crime and criminals in -a spot like this,” remarked Linda, as she lay on -the sand and gazed at the deep blue sky above -her. “I purposely haven’t mentioned them to -our hostess—because I didn’t want to spoil -things. Today has been so perfect.”</p> -<p>And perfect it continued to be, until the girls -finally closed their eyes in sleep that night. The -dinner and the reception were gorgeous affairs, -yet the kindness of the Governor and his wife -prevented them from becoming stilted and formal. -Even Linda felt no embarrassment when -she was called out and presented with the -check. For Dot was at her side, equal to the -occasion with a clever little speech of acceptance -and thanks.</p> -<p>Excitement had kept the girls going during -the first day, but the next morning reaction set -in and they felt as if they wanted to sleep forever. -Their thoughtful hostess, realizing just -what they had been through, decided not to -have them wakened. Telegrams and flowers began -to arrive, but she saw no need of disturbing -Linda and Dot. She did not know that they -were counting on meeting the ship that was -scheduled to dock at noon.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_205">205</div> -<p>At last, however, Linda opened her eyes and -reached for her wrist-watch that lay on the -tiny table between her bed and Dot’s. It said -twenty minutes after twelve!</p> -<p>She picked it up and examined it closely, -unable to believe her eyes.</p> -<p>“Dot!” she cried. “We’ve overslept! Do you -suppose the police have called? And we’ve -missed them?”</p> -<p>“Missed—who—whom—I mean?” inquired -her companion, sleepily.</p> -<p>“The couple we’re after! Sprague and that -girl! Oh, Dot, wake up!”</p> -<p>“What shall we do?” asked Dot, realizing at -last the seriousness of the situation.</p> -<p>“Get dressed at once!” replied Linda, as she -rang the bell for the maid.</p> -<p>Almost miraculously the latter appeared in -answer to the summons, with fresh sports-clothing -for both the girls. And bringing telegrams -and boxes of flowers.</p> -<p>“Have the police telephoned?” asked Linda, -to the maid’s amazement.</p> -<p>“Police? Oh, no, ma’am. There’s been some -calls for you, but not from the police. Are you -expectin’ them?” She eyed the girls suspiciously, -as if she thought they might be criminals.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_206">206</div> -<p>“Yes,” replied Linda, her fingers already on -the telephone, giving the number to the -operator.</p> -<p>“This is Linda Carlton,” she announced. -“Has the ‘Mona’ docked yet?”</p> -<p>“No, ma’am. But she’s due any minute now, -and the Chief gave me orders to call you. We’ve -got a warrant ready for Mrs. Leslie Sprague—is -that right?”</p> -<p>“That’s it!” replied Linda, grinning with -satisfaction. “And we’ll be right over—so hold -all the passengers until we get a look at them.”</p> -<p>“O.K., Miss Carlton. See you later!”</p> -<p>Linda replaced the receiver, and turned to -the maid, who was still awaiting her orders.</p> -<p>“Do you think we could have our breakfast -right away—and then have a car take us to the -flying field?” she asked. “Please ask your -mistress—and tell her that it’s terribly important.”</p> -<p>“Aren’t you even going to read those telegrams?” -inquired Dot, a trifle disappointed. -After all, it was her first big air triumph, and -she wanted to enjoy the victory to its utmost. -But, instead, Linda must be rushing off immediately.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_207">207</div> -<p>“When we come back!” returned the latter, -as she put on the pretty white linen suit with -which her hostess had provided her.</p> -<p>Dot sighed, and proceeded to dress. There -was no stopping Linda, once she had made up -her mind to do something.</p> -<p>“I could go alone, Dot,” Linda remarked, as -they started for the dining-room. “Then you’d -have a chance to enjoy yourself this afternoon.”</p> -<p>“No,” replied her chum. “It isn’t going to -take long, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world. -You know how I despise that man Sprague—I -want to gloat over his capture.”</p> -<p>They ate a hasty meal that was both breakfast -and lunch, and got into a car with a native -chauffeur, that was waiting for them in the -driveway. A few minutes later they arrived at -the dock, just as the passengers from the -“Mona” were about to be discharged.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_208">208</div> -<p>It would have been difficult to press through -the crowds of native children, with their -flowers of welcome for the arriving visitors, -had the girls not had the aid of the Chief of -Police. Clearing a passage for himself and his -companions, he led them right on board the -“Mona.” The Captain came forward to meet -them, beaming proudly at the two brave aviatrixes, -as he shook their hands.</p> -<p>“Congratulations, Miss Carlton and Miss -Crowley!” he exclaimed. “You did a valiant -thing!”</p> -<p>“Thank you so much,” replied Linda, -modestly. She had no desire to talk of her -flight over the Pacific; her one absorbing interest -now was the capture of the girl whom she -had pursued so far.</p> -<p>“Stand here,” continued the Captain, “and -you can watch the passengers as they go by.”</p> -<p>Two by two the people on board the “Mona” -walked over the gangplank to the pier, as Linda -and Dot, their hearts beating fast with excitement, -peered intently into their faces.</p> -<p>A dozen couples hurried by, then three lone -passengers straggled along as if in no haste at -all. But still no girl that even remotely resembled -Linda. And no sign of Leslie Sprague.</p> -<p>“Is—that—all?” faltered Linda, unable to -believe that they really had not come.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_209">209</div> -<p>“Here’s one more couple. They’re still awful -seasick,” explained the Captain, and Linda and -Dot strained their necks to catch the first -glimpse of these last people, just emerging -from the cabin.</p> -<p>But their hopes were immediately dashed to -the ground. The couple were elderly; their -hair gray, their faces wrinkled.</p> -<p>“Maybe it’s a disguise,” whispered Dot, -suspiciously.</p> -<p>The Captain shook his head.</p> -<p>“No. I know these people well. Cousins of -mine, by the name of Rankin. Lived on Oahu -all their lives.”</p> -<p>Linda heaved a deep sigh of disappointment.</p> -<p>“And you’re sure that’s positively all the -passengers who sailed from Cape San Lucas?” -she asked.</p> -<p>“All except a couple that docked at the island -of Lanai. A planter who lives there part of -every year—and often makes the trip. I know -him well—have brought him across half a -dozen times. He had a new bride with him this -trip.”</p> -<p>“A new bride!” repeated Linda. “Did she -look like me?”</p> -<p>The Captain regarded her closely.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_210">210</div> -<p>“Believe she did.... But that man’s not a -criminal. He couldn’t be the fellow you want.”</p> -<p>“Well, whether the man is or not, the girl -is!” cried Linda. “What name did they give?”</p> -<p>“Steve Long is the man’s name. He didn’t -have to give it—I know him.”</p> -<p>“Light hair—light moustache?” she questioned.</p> -<p>“Sissy-looking!” added Dot.</p> -<p>The Captain smiled.</p> -<p>“That must be your man,” he agreed.</p> -<p>“So we have to fly to Lanai,” muttered -Linda, turning to the Chief of Police. “Can you -help me out?”</p> -<p>“You mean go with you?”</p> -<p>“No, not necessarily. I’d rather not overload -the plane.... Isn’t there somebody on the -island who would help us?”</p> -<p>“Of course there is. I can send a wireless to -our agent over there, and you can report to -him. He can give you native police, if you need -them. And give you the warrant for the -girl’s arrest.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_211">211</div> -<p>They completed their arrangements, and had -the chauffeur drive them immediately to the -airport, where the Sky Rocket had been resting -since their landing the preceding morning. -Here they dismissed the car, asking the driver -to make their explanations to his mistress, -assuring her that they would be back in time for -dinner. Linda then went in search of her -plane.</p> -<p>“What sort of shape is she in?” she asked, -as she spied the Sky Rocket in a hangar, with a -mechanic beside her.</p> -<p>“Fine!” replied the man. “We did some -overhauling on her yesterday—a few minor repairs, -and filled her up with gas and oil. She’s -fit as a fiddle now.... But why? You girls -aren’t thinking of flying back over the ocean, -are you?”</p> -<p>“No!” laughed Linda. “Once is enough. But -we want to go to one of the islands—Lanai, to -be exact—to do some scouting. We’re after a -criminal.”</p> -<p>“A criminal?”</p> -<p>“Two criminals, rather. Forgers—thieves. -They came across on the ‘Mona,’ and we -thought they’d dock here—but they got off at -Lanai instead.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_212">212</div> -<p>“By heck!” exclaimed the mechanic in -amazement. “What will modern girls take up -next?”</p> -<p>“Can you tell us what that island is like?” -asked Dot.</p> -<p>“Well, it’s not like Oahu,” he replied. “Not -a place that tourists visit much. No hotels and -stores—or cities. Mostly pineapple plantations -there—not many white people, except some of -the owners.... But I’ll get you a map, and -show you just where to land if you want to go -to the agent’s office first. He can tell you all -about it.”</p> -<p>He disappeared into an office, and returned -with the map in question, marking the best spot -on the beach for Linda to make her landing. -Then he had the Sky Rocket pushed out on the -runway, and the engine started.</p> -<p>“Watch the planes that arrive and leave -here,” Linda shouted into his ear as she -climbed into the cockpit.</p> -<p>“I’ll be on the job!” the man assured her. -“And happy landings to you!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_213">213</div> -<p>The Sky Rocket taxied along the runway, and -left the ground a minute later, as if it, too, were -eager to be in the skies again, on the chase. -Over the beach of Waikiki, past Diamond Head, -southeast over the Pacific Ocean again, Linda -directed her course, sure that at last she was -within sight of her goal.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_214">214</div> -<h2 id="c16">CHAPTER XVI -<br /><span class="small">MISSING!</span></h2> -<p>The girls had been away from Spring City -for ten days when Mr. Carlton, Linda’s father, -returned from his trip abroad and arrived at -his sister’s home, expecting, naturally, to see -his daughter.</p> -<p>“Hello, Emily!” he exclaimed, walking in as -he so often did, without any notice, and kissing -his sister nonchalantly, as if he had been absent -a week instead of six months. “Where’s -Linda?”</p> -<p>“Hollywood,” was his sister’s reply.</p> -<p>“No!” exclaimed the man, in a tone of deepest -disappointment. It had always been a -matter of extreme satisfaction to him that -Linda had never been carried away by the lure -of fame and fortune, and accepted a motion-picture -contract.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_215">215</div> -<p>“Don’t look so horrified, Tom!” laughed Miss -Carlton. “I only wish she were safely acting -for the movies. Instead of that, she’s chasing -wildly around Mexico after a couple of -criminals.”</p> -<p>“Mexico!”</p> -<p>“Yes. And I’m so afraid of bandits there.”</p> -<p>“Now, Emily, you’re judging Mexico by the -movies. That sort of stuff has gone out long -ago. Mexico City is as civilized as New York.”</p> -<p>“Mexico City—yes. But that isn’t where -Linda’s telegram is from, and that isn’t where -she’ll be. Trust her to find some lonely wilderness! -Oh, I’m so worried. In fact, I’m packing -now to go out to Los Angeles.”</p> -<p>Her brother sat down and lighted a cigarette.</p> -<p>“You might as well tell me the story,” he -said.</p> -<p>Miss Carlton made it as brief as possible and -showed her brother the telegrams she had received -thus far. The man listened quietly, more -worried than he cared to admit to his sister, -but then and there he decided to go with her.</p> -<p>He would have preferred to fly by the commercial -air-line, in order to save time, but since -Miss Carlton stubbornly refused to get into a -plane, he agreed to take the fast train on which -she had already engaged passage.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_216">216</div> -<p>A few hours later, just as they were about to -leave the house, a very excited young man -rushed into the living-room, without even waiting -to ring the doorbell. It was Ralph Clavering, -who always had the right to come and go as -he pleased.</p> -<p>“I’ve just heard the news about Linda and -Dot!” he exclaimed. “And so Jim Valier and -I are flying to the coast in my autogiro immediately.”</p> -<p>“What news?” demanded Miss Carlton, -turning pale. Did he know more than she did—and -had something terrible happened to her -darling niece?</p> -<p>“About chasing off to Mexico. Dot’s mother -showed me the telegrams. Believe me, I’m -scared this time. Those girls may be dead by -now.”</p> -<p>“Now—now—Ralph, please be a little more -tactful!” urged Mr. Carlton. “Don’t scare my -sister to death with your gloomy conjectures.”</p> -<p>“I’m scared to death myself,” muttered the -boy, sullenly. “That’s why I’m going. There’s -nobody out there to help her—not even Ted -Mackay, or that young reporter that saved her -from burning to death. I’ve got to go!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_217">217</div> -<p>“Of course, that’s fine of you,” agreed Mr. -Carlton. “But don’t get all worked up about -it. I’m betting on Linda and Dot every time!”</p> -<p>“How about your college work?” questioned -Miss Carlton.</p> -<p>“I can’t be annoyed with classes when my -best girl’s in danger,” replied Ralph. “And -Jim feels the same way about Dot.”</p> -<p>“We’re just ready to go too,” announced -Miss Carlton. “But not by plane.”</p> -<p>Ralph smiled; he did not need to be told that.</p> -<p>And so that morning in early October four -people departed from Spring City to go to the -rescue of those two daring young fliers, who -never expected help from anyone.</p> -<p>When the news came that Linda and Dot had -safely reached Honolulu, Ralph and Jim had -already arrived at the Los Angeles airport, and -Miss Carlton and her brother were well on their -way to the West.</p> -<p>Their train had stopped at Santa Fe for a -few moments, and newsboys were shouting the -story.</p> -<p>“Two girls fly the Pacific!” they screamed. -“All about the flight to Hawaii!”</p> -<p>Mr. Carlton looked at his sister.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_218">218</div> -<p>“Could it be Linda and Dot?” he demanded.</p> -<p>Miss Carlton nodded.</p> -<p>“Of course. They would. I knew it. The -Pacific Ocean would be too much of a temptation -to Linda, once she was out here. I’ve been -fearing it all along.”</p> -<p>“But you don’t have to fear it any longer—if -it really is they who did it. It’ll be over by -now—and the danger past.”</p> -<p>He stepped to the platform and bought a -paper. And, sure enough, his daughter’s and -Dot’s pictures stared at him from the front -page.</p> -<p>There was no hiding his pride now. His eyes -shone with happiness; he looked like a small -boy who sees his favorite pitcher win a baseball -game.</p> -<p>“Look! Look! Emily!” he cried, as he came -back to her chair. “Read what it says for yourself!” -And she noticed that his hands were -actually shaking.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_219">219</div> -<p>A wave of pride and admiration surged over -Miss Carlton as she read about the two dauntless -girls. The first of their sex to make this -flight over the gigantic ocean—from the United -States to Hawaii. They had evidently made up -their minds in a hurry, and had not told anyone -except the people at the airport from which -they took off.</p> -<p>But the feat had evidently not been accepted -so casually by others, for already, they read, -the girls were being feted. Entertained by the -Governor of Hawaii—a reception planned in -their honor—and five thousand dollars apiece -to be presented to them!</p> -<p>“And to think we came out to rescue them!” -laughed Miss Carlton.</p> -<p>“I wonder what Ralph and Jim will think of -this news,” remarked her brother.</p> -<p>“Ralph will probably be jealous because he -didn’t make the flight with Linda—instead of -Dot. But Jim will just be filled with admiration.”</p> -<p>“I like Jim,” observed Mr. Carlton.</p> -<p>“Yes, so does everybody,” agreed his sister. -“He’s so good-natured, even if he is lazy. But -he’s really true-blue, all the way through. And -if Dot marries him, she’ll certainly keep him -stepping.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_220">220</div> -<p>“Do you still want Linda to marry Ralph, -Emily?” inquired the other. “I remember -how excited you were at her graduation, because -he had evidently fallen so hard for her. -With all his wealth and social position.”</p> -<p>The woman smiled a little and shook her -head.</p> -<p>“I’ve learned my lesson, Tom,” she said, “in -this year and a half since Linda’s been out of -school. I had expected her to have a year of -parties—to ‘come out,’ you know—and then -marry some nice young man. But Linda has -plans of her own, and I realize now that I might -as well save my time as to try to arrange anything -for her.... And, as for wealth and -social position—well, they simply mean nothing -in her life. Besides, she doesn’t need them; I -can see that. Linda could go anywhere, be -accepted at Court, if she wanted to, because of -what she has accomplished herself.”</p> -<p>“I’m glad you’ve got so much sense, Emily! -Lots of women of your age wouldn’t see that -at all.”</p> -<p>“I didn’t at first. But I do now. And so I -think, when she marries, it must be somebody -as big as herself. It won’t be Ralph Clavering—unless -he does cave-man stuff, and actually -kidnaps her.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_221">221</div> -<p>“Even then, she’d probably find a way to escape. -She always does get out of the most -difficult situations.”</p> -<p>“Yes. When Linda marries, I think it will -be love at first sight—on the spur of the moment, -just as she evidently decided to take this -flight to Hawaii. It will seem to her to be the -one, the only thing to do—and she’ll do it. I’m -sorry, for I’d love a big wedding for her—she’d -make such a beautiful bride—but I’m not going -to count on it.”</p> -<p>Mr. Carlton nodded approvingly. Like most -men, he couldn’t see the use of the big fuss a -formal wedding entailed. But though he knew -Linda was tremendously interested in aviation, -he didn’t want her to miss the happiness that -marriage would bring her. His own had been -blissfully happy during its short duration, until -his wife died at her baby daughter’s birth.</p> -<p>“Yes, Linda will decide for herself,” he muttered. -“I only hope that the man will be -worthy of her.”</p> -<p>“He couldn’t be. No mere man could possibly -equal Linda,” remarked Miss Carlton.</p> -<p>“How you love to tease, Emily!” retorted -her brother. “But I guess you’re right at -that.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_222">222</div> -<p>The rest of the journey seemed longer than -ever, now, to the impatient couple who longed -to be with the girls to celebrate their great triumph -with them. Never did a train seem to -move so slowly. But at last it arrived at Los -Angeles, about seven o’clock of the night on -which Linda and Dot came down in the wilds of -Oahu, at the cabin of their enemies.</p> -<p>“We’ll take a boat to Honolulu tomorrow,” -announced Miss Carlton. “I only wish we -could take it right away—if there were only -one sailing.”</p> -<p>From out of the crowd on the platform two -young men, hatless and sun-burned, edged their -way toward the Carltons. Both were tall, so -that they could easily be seen above the heads -of the other people around.</p> -<p>“Greetings, Miss Carlton!” called Ralph -Clavering, before he had even reached them. -“We’ve got bad news.”</p> -<p>“Bad news!” repeated Mr. Carlton, in consternation. -“But we read in the papers that -the girls arrived safely in Honolulu!”</p> -<p>“Yes. They did, sir. But they’re lost again!”</p> -<p>Miss Carlton seized Ralph’s arm, to steady -herself, and looked into his face.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_223">223</div> -<p>“You’re not joking, Ralph? You wouldn’t—joke -about a thing like this?” Her voice was -trembling.</p> -<p>“Indeed I’m not, Miss Carlton,” replied the -boy, earnestly. “I’m worried sick.”</p> -<p>Mr. Carlton, however, looked less troubled -than his sister.</p> -<p>“No, I know you’re not joking, Ralph,” he -said. “But you probably are exaggerating. -You always see the black side of everything. -You and my sister are just alike.... But let’s -go over here and sit down, and suppose Jim -tells us the story.”</p> -<p>They went to one of the waiting-rooms in the -station and sat down together, Miss Carlton -struggling hard to get herself under control. -Suppose Linda had taken it into her head to -fly back—and she and Dot were now lost at the -bottom of the Pacific! Suppose—But Jim was -already explaining.</p> -<p>“Well, we don’t know much that you haven’t -read in the papers,” he began. “The girls -went to the dinner and the reception in their -honor last night, and were staying at the Governor’s -mansion. We were going to sail for the -island this morning, but there was no boat till -tomorrow, so we called them on the telephone.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_224">224</div> -<p>“That was about eleven o’clock this morning, -and we were told that they were still asleep. -We phoned again at one, and they had gone out.</p> -<p>“So we sent a couple of telegrams and -waited. We asked them to call our hotel here -at Los Angeles. But by seven o’clock there -was no message, and we sort of got mad. At -least, Ralph did. I thought maybe they had too -much to do, but Ralph thought some new bird -like that Englishman Linda fell for last summer -was taking her time, and he resented it.</p> -<p>“But I persuaded him to give them another -chance, and we phoned again. This time the -Governor himself talked to me. And he was -really scared.</p> -<p>“It seems Linda and Dot had gone to the airport -right after they got up about noon, and -had taken the Sky Rocket for a flight—”</p> -<p>“The Sky Rocket?” interrupted Mr. Carlton. -“Has Linda a new plane?”</p> -<p>“Temporarily—yes. The Ladybug is here -at Los Angeles.... But that’s another story.... Well, -anyhow, the girls promised to be back -early, for a dinner that had been planned in -their honor but they haven’t been heard from!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_225">225</div> -<p>“Murdered! Attacked by some half-breeds, -of course!” cried Miss Carlton. “And no man -with them to protect them!”</p> -<p>“Nonsense, Emily!” returned her brother. -“They probably ran out of gas—or damaged a -wing. Or had a missing spark-plug. Linda will -fix that, and those two girls will show up tomorrow -morning.”</p> -<p>“I wish I could think that, sir,” said Ralph. -“Gosh, if I only had my bug over there on that -island! But I haven’t the nerve to fly it.”</p> -<p>“No, don’t!” pleaded Miss Carlton. “It -would only add another disaster to our troubles. -No, we’ll sail together tomorrow morning.”</p> -<p>“In the meanwhile, let’s go to our hotel and -wash and have dinner,” suggested Mr. Carlton. -“Then things may look brighter. I positively -refuse to worry till I have just cause!”</p> -<p>“Wise man!” commented Jim Valier, as he -picked up Miss Carlton’s bag.</p> -<p>So the little group had dinner together at -the Ambassador, waiting all the time tensely -for news. But none came. And the newspapers -duly reported the story that the dinner for two -famous aviatrixes had been postponed!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_226">226</div> -<h2 id="c17">CHAPTER XVII -<br /><span class="small">CAPTURE</span></h2> -<p>The flight across the Pacific from Oahu to -Lanai took less than two hours. Early in the -afternoon Linda brought the Sky Rocket to a -landing on the beach of the lonely island, near -to the spot indicated on her map.</p> -<p>“That must be the agent’s shack over there,” -she said, as she and Dot climbed out of the -cockpit. “I hope he’s there.”</p> -<p>The girls walked along the beach a short distance. -How different it was from Waikiki! -How deserted! Yet just as beautiful in the -bright sunlight. Before they reached the shack, -however, a man in a linen suit came out to meet -them.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_227">227</div> -<p>“Miss Carlton and Miss Crowley, I suppose?” -he inquired, holding out his hand. He -was a pleasant-faced man of middle age, with -a tanned complexion and eyes as blue as the -waters of the Pacific. “My name is Jardin. I -have the wireless from Honolulu.”</p> -<p>“Then you know all about us,” said Linda. -“Can you take us to Steven Long’s plantation?”</p> -<p>“Yes, I can. But it doesn’t seem possible -that that man is a criminal. What are the -charges against him?”</p> -<p>Briefly, Linda told the facts of her story.</p> -<p>“But those are all charges against the girl,” -Jardin pointed out. “You haven’t anything -against Long.”</p> -<p>“He stole two planes,” insisted Dot.</p> -<p>“You mean his wife stole them. I don’t -think that man can fly.”</p> -<p>Linda and Dot looked at each other in disappointment. -How awful it would be if they -couldn’t bring Sprague to justice! For they -believed that he was responsible for the whole -affair.</p> -<p>“Well, we’ve got plenty against the girl—if -she is the one you’re seeking,” concluded Jardin. -“So I’ll get my runabout and drive you -over to their plantation.”</p> -<p>“Wait!” interposed Dot. “A plane’s coming! -Who can it be?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_228">228</div> -<p>“Probably only some of the coast guards,” -explained Jardin, gazing up at the approaching -monoplane. It was the type used by the U. S. -fliers in their patrol about the islands.</p> -<p>Nearer and nearer it whirred; a moment later -it swooped down on the beach a short distance -from them. The pilot climbed out of the cockpit, -and the girls, recognizing him instantly, -uttered a wild cry of joy. It was Bertram -Chase!</p> -<p>“Bert!” they both cried at the same time, as -he rushed forward and seized their hands. -“What miracle brought you here?”</p> -<p>“I found out about your flight at the Honolulu -airport,” he replied. “You might know -I’d come after you, no matter where you went!”</p> -<p>“But what are you doing in Hawaii?” demanded -Dot.</p> -<p>“I sailed from Los Angeles the very night -I left you—after I put the Ladybug into the -airport. We’re on the track of a counterfeiter, -and a clue pointed to Honolulu. Money turned -in at a bank there. So I was sent to Hawaii. -Lucky break for me!” He looked admiringly at -Linda.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_229">229</div> -<p>“That’s great!” exclaimed Dot. “Leave -your plane here and come along with us in Mr. -Jardin’s car. We think we’re going to nab -Linda’s double at last.”</p> -<p>Mr. Jardin took the wheel of his runabout -and Linda sat beside him. In the rumble-seat -behind, Dot and Bert Chase laughed and talked -excitedly of the adventure.</p> -<p>Over the beach, through lanes that could -hardly be called roads, the little car threaded -its way into the heart of the island. Fifteen -minutes later, within sight of a low, straw-covered -bungalow, it came to a stop.</p> -<p>“This is Long’s place,” announced Jardin. -“Do you all want to come in with me?”</p> -<p>“Certainly,” replied Dot, her eyes sparkling -with anticipation.</p> -<p>Along a path overgrown with ferns and -flowers, in thick profusion, the little party went -single file to the veranda of the bungalow. Not -a person was in sight; the place looked empty. -Had Sprague and his wife run away again—or -were they only hiding?</p> -<p>Jardin stepped boldly up to the door and -rapped. A native boy answered his summons -in a minute or two.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_230">230</div> -<p>“Meester Jardin,” he said, with a grin of -welcome.</p> -<p>“Is your master about?” asked the agent.</p> -<p>The boy nodded and beckoned for them to -come inside.</p> -<p>The room to which the door opened was deserted. -A plain, bare room, with only a few -rough chairs, a table, and a hard cot. Not exactly -the kind of place a woman would enjoy.</p> -<p>“I get him,” said the boy, indicating for the -visitors to be seated, and going out of the front -door again.</p> -<p>Linda and Dot sat down upon the hard -chairs, but Chase wandered aimlessly around -the room, examining its scanty contents with -curiosity. Another native boy came in with a -pitcher of water, and Jardin inquired for Mrs. -Long.</p> -<p>“She sick,” he explained, briefly, pointing to -another room beyond, and he, too, disappeared.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_231">231</div> -<p>They drank their water, and waited tensely. -Why didn’t the man come? Did he suspect -something? Chase continued to walk about the -room, peering with interest, at the closed door -where the girl was supposed to be lying, stopping -now at the table beside a window, and -picking up a little tool that looked like a nut-pick, -that was lodged in a crack between the -table and the window-sill.</p> -<p>“What’s that, Bert?” asked Dot idly, not -because she cared about knowing, but just for -something to say.</p> -<p>“Looks like a dentist’s drill to me,” remarked -Jardin, with a shudder.</p> -<p>But Chase was holding it up, examining it -closely, his eyes staring with unbelief. He had -made a discovery!</p> -<p>“I’m going to investigate this place!” he announced, -putting the little instrument into his -pocket. “See you later.” And he went out of -the front door.</p> -<p>“Now what do you suppose—?” began Dot, -but she stopped abruptly, for at that moment a -door at the back opened and Long came into the -room. He, like Jardin, was wearing a linen -suit, and a big hat, but there was no mistaking -the man. As Linda and Dot had insisted, he -was none other than Leslie Sprague!</p> -<p>If he was startled by the sight of the two -aviatrixes, he did not betray the fact by his expression. -Whatever he felt, he covered his surprise by a grin.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_232">232</div> -<p>“Afternoon, Jardin,” he said, calmly shaking -hands. “How are you?”</p> -<p>“Afternoon, Long,” replied the agent, looking -questioningly at the girls.</p> -<p>“How do you do, Mr. Leslie Sprague?” -asked Dot, triumphantly.</p> -<p>Sprague shrugged his shoulders and laughed.</p> -<p>“A name I used in connection with moving-pictures,” -he explained to Jardin.</p> -<p>“Where is your wife, Long?” asked the -agent, desirous of getting this business over as -quickly as possible. “If she is the girl these -young ladies believe her to be, we have a warrant -for her arrest.”</p> -<p>“Poor Fanny’s sick,” replied Sprague. -“Too bad to arrest her now, when she feels -so rotten.... Besides, it was only a prank.” -He looked understandingly at Jardin.</p> -<p>“A prank!” repeated Dot, in disdain. “A -prank to steal two planes, chloroform both of -us, and forge a check for five thousand -dollars!”</p> -<p>Sprague laughed uncomfortably.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_233">233</div> -<p>“You must be mistaken, Miss—er—Manton.” -He remembered Dot’s assumed name, -and took pleasure in using it. “Probably Mexican -bandits did that.”</p> -<p>“Mexican bandits can’t fly planes!” returned -Dot, defiantly.</p> -<p>“We will have to take your wife, Long,” interrupted -Jardin. “Go in and get her.”</p> -<p>“Can’t we arrest him?” demanded Dot, resentfully.</p> -<p>“I don’t see how we can, until we have something -more definite,” replied Jardin, who was -evidently an easy-going person, who hated to -suspect anybody. “We can hold him as accessory -while his wife is being tried....”</p> -<p>He stopped abruptly, for Chase suddenly -opened the door and walked into the room, -dragging a man with him. A hard-looking -fellow, with a sullen expression and a slinking -gait.</p> -<p>“I have found my counterfeiter!” Chase announced -triumphantly to Jardin. “And this is -his accomplice!”</p> -<p>Still holding the man by the arm, the detective -swung about and pointed his finger at -Sprague.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_234">234</div> -<p>“Steven Long is the criminal the U. S. Government -has been searching for for a year! -Long, alias Logman, alias Sprague—” He -stopped, and laughed. “To think that I saw -this man in the studio of the Apex Film Corporation—even -tried to help him out—and -never knew who he was! The joke is on me!”</p> -<p>“But you’ve got him now!” cried Dot, unable -to restrain her delight.</p> -<p>All eyes were turned upon Sprague. He was -not laughing now. Rather, he was cowering, -deathly pale, holding on to a chair for support. -He did not even demand how Chase had discovered -his secret. But Jardin asked immediately.</p> -<p>“It was this little instrument I picked up out -of the crack,” explained the young detective, -producing the tool that resembled a nut-pick. -“I recognized it as an engraver’s tool. I wondered -why it should be here. And then I had -an inspiration to search the place. Where -could a counterfeiter work better than here on -this lonely island? Under the guise of a pineapple -planter?”</p> -<p>“But is that all the proof you have, Chase?” -demanded Jardin, impatiently.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_235">235</div> -<p>“Not by any means. That was only the beginning. -I wandered about the place till I -found another shack, hidden almost completely -by camouflage. But I got in. And caught this -fellow—” he shook his captive’s arm—“in the -act of engraving fifty-dollar bills!”</p> -<p>Deliberately, then, he reached into his pocket -for two pairs of handcuffs, which he calmly -proceeded to fasten upon the wrists of the two -men. A tense silence lasted while he performed -this operation, a silence which was suddenly -broken by the hysterical wail of a girl.</p> -<p>In a second the closed door of the bedroom -was flung open, and Linda’s double dashed into -the room. Sobbing with fright, she threw herself -at Linda’s feet.</p> -<p>“I didn’t know I was married to a criminal!” -she wailed. “Oh, this is the end—the end of -everything! I wish I was dead!”</p> -<p>Leaning over, Linda gently raised the girl to -her feet, and for the first time, looked into the -face of her double. The same blue eyes, and -blond, curly hair; a nose not unlike her own, -and a lovely, flower-like complexion. But oh, -how different she looked, with that expression -of terror and misery on her face, and the tears -streaming from her eyes! Like Linda, and yet -totally unlike her!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_236">236</div> -<p>“Sit down,—Fanny,” whispered Linda. -“And try to control yourself.”</p> -<p>The girl did as she was told, and Chase -turned to Jardin.</p> -<p>“Let’s take these men away in your car, Jardin,” -he suggested. “And come back for the -girls. We’ll send a wireless for a boat to come -over from Honolulu and put them into the jail -there.”</p> -<p>“Is that all right with you, Miss Carlton?” -inquired Jardin. “Can you manage Fanny till -we get back?”</p> -<p>“Yes, that suits me,” agreed Linda.</p> -<p>“Do you want to say good-bye to your husband, -Mrs. Long?” asked Chase.</p> -<p>“I never want to see him again!” was the -impassioned reply. “I hate him!”</p> -<p>So the four men went out, leaving Linda and -Dot alone at last with the girl who had made -so much trouble for them. The girl who had -pretended to be Linda Carlton!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_237">237</div> -<h2 id="c18">CHAPTER XVIII -<br /><span class="small">FANNY’S STORY</span></h2> -<p>The three girls sat silently for a few minutes -after the men had left. They heard the -car start, and Fanny heaved a sigh of relief.</p> -<p>“Of course you hate me,” she said, in a pathetic -voice, turning her face towards Linda. -“But I don’t believe you can hate me half so -much as I hate Les!”</p> -<p>Both Linda and Dot looked at the girl in -surprise.</p> -<p>“But you didn’t have to marry him!” Dot -pointed out.</p> -<p>“I know. But I hadn’t found him out then. -I—I didn’t know anybody could be so awful!”</p> -<p>Linda stood up.</p> -<p>“Suppose,” she suggested, “we go outside -where it is so much more beautiful—and hear -your story, Fanny. I’d like to know just what -did lead up to your pretending to be me.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_238">238</div> -<p>The girl jumped to her feet. She didn’t seem -sick at all now; in all probability it had only -been nerves.</p> -<p>“Wait,” she said. “I want to get you something -first.” And she disappeared into the -bedroom.</p> -<p>In a moment she returned, carrying a heavy -bag in her hands.</p> -<p>“It’s your money, Linda,” she said. “That -check I cashed. Les made me get it in gold—I -guess he didn’t want the bank numbers traced. -Anyhow, I hid it, and never let him have it.”</p> -<p>And she dropped the bag at Linda’s feet.</p> -<p>“Why, thank you, Fanny,” said Linda, in -surprise. “I’ll just leave it here till Mr. Chase -comes back for us.”</p> -<p>“Aren’t you going to count it?”</p> -<p>“Oh, no. I believe you,” replied Linda.</p> -<p>Tears came into Fanny’s eyes. She seized -Linda’s hand gratefully.</p> -<p>“It’s sweet of you to say that,” she said. -“But you better not leave it here just the same. -You can’t trust those native boys.”</p> -<p>“True,” admitted Dot, and picking it up, she -carried it for Linda out of the bungalow.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_239">239</div> -<p>The girls walked along the path and settled -themselves on the ground amongst the bright -flowers and soft ferns. Now that Fanny had -stopped crying, it was astonishing how much -she resembled Linda. Both Linda and Dot -watched her intently, eager to hear her version -of the story.</p> -<p>“Well,” she began, finally, “I’ll tell you first -of all that I’m an orphan. I was brought up in -a children’s home—I don’t remember my parents -at all. But I had a pretty good education, -and took a business course after I finished high -school. My first job was with an airplane construction -company.”</p> -<p>“Yon mean you had a flying job?” interrupted -Linda, with interest.</p> -<p>“No. I was a stenographer. But the boss -did give me a chance to learn to fly—on the -side. But there wasn’t any hope of a job in -aviation—I just worked inside the office for -twenty-five dollars a week. And, like every -other girl in the world, I never had enough -money.”</p> -<p>“Where did you work?” asked Dot. “What -city, I mean?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_240">240</div> -<p>“San Francisco. That was the trouble, I -suppose. Too near Hollywood. I got the craze -to go into pictures. Everybody told me I was -pretty—and other girls succeeded—so why -shouldn’t I?”</p> -<p>“Naturally,” commented Dot.</p> -<p>“Well, I had some money saved up,” continued -Fanny, “and I tried to register at all the -studios as an extra. But I soon learned how -impossible it is to get into the movies in times -like these. I couldn’t land a thing—not even a -part in a crowd!”</p> -<p>“I’ve heard they’re using old actresses and -actors for those parts—people who used to -be stars—and even ex-directors,” remarked -Linda.</p> -<p>“It’s true! And even some of those people -can’t get anything at all! People with years of -experience go absolutely broke!... Well, my -money dwindled and dwindled until I finally -met Mr. Sprague. Not in a studio—but at a -party. That was last June—only a little while -after you made your famous Atlantic Ocean -flight.”</p> -<p>Linda nodded, wondering whose idea the -masquerade had been. She asked the question.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_241">241</div> -<p>“It was Mr. Sprague’s,” replied Fanny. -“He saw the resemblance immediately to your -newspaper pictures, and when he found out I -could fly a plane, he told me I ought to cash in -on it. I thought he was only joking, but he told -me he was serious, and explained how you had -refused movie contracts at enormous salaries.... -Well, he kept after me, and when I found -that I wasn’t getting any parts, and that my -money was all gone and even my old job in San -Francisco, I gave in and promised to try it.</p> -<p>“Les planned everything—even rehearsed -with me how I was to talk to Mr. Von Goss. -And it was he who pushed through the aviation -picture.</p> -<p>“Mr. Von Goss was lovely—he never asked -me for any proofs of my identity at all, just -signed me up for the picture, and it was Les -who made me insist on the enormous salary. I -acted stubborn, like Greta Garbo, and I got it.</p> -<p>“And then Les proposed to me. Told me -that he’d invest my money, and give up his job -at the studio and come over here to Hawaii to -live after we were married. He said he had a -plantation here, and that I’d never be discovered -as the girl who pretended to be Linda -Carlton. Oh, Les can be very charming if he -tries, and he made me think we’d live on this -island paradise in a perpetual honeymoon.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_242">242</div> -<p>“Then you had no idea that he was also involved -in anything that was crooked?” asked -Linda.</p> -<p>“No. Absolutely none. I just thought that -the masquerade was a clever trick, that -wouldn’t really hurt anybody, because you had -refused movie contracts.... Well, to get back -to the story.... Everything went well till you -girls appeared. Of course we were prepared -for that—Les had thought it all out ahead of -time, in case you ever did show up. I came -back to Los Angeles, as you know, in a hired -plane, and was just about to land when Les -gave me the pre-arranged signal not to come -down. You remember—waving his hat on the -field?”</p> -<p>Linda nodded, though she had hardly noticed -it at the time.</p> -<p>“I flew off and landed an hour later at Culver -City. And he pushed the rehearsals right -through, and the next morning he told me to go -right to the Los Angeles airport and demand -your autogiro. We’d only borrow it, he said, -to get away. I believed him, and did it, for I -was anxious to be married and out of the country. -We flew to Mexico, as you know, and got married.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_243">243</div> -<p>“And I guess you know the rest. How we -circled about you when we found out you were -chasing us—and how we changed planes. But -you don’t know that Les made me fly that Sky -Rocket at the point of a pistol. He seemed to -change then and there into a demon, and he had -me frightened to death. Of course I realized -what a horrible mistake it had been to marry -him.</p> -<p>“Then he seemed nice again when we sailed -on that boat, but when I actually saw you girls -fly over the Pacific Ocean, it was too much for -me. We recognized the Sky Rocket, and knew -you were after us. I wanted to give up then, -but Les said nobody would ever find us here at -Lanai....”</p> -<p>“But didn’t you know that he was a counterfeiter, -after you lived here?”</p> -<p>“No, of course not. I never knew till this -afternoon. Of course I’d often seen that man -before—the one that the detective caught—but -I thought he was just the overseer. Les has -always been away from here most of the time, -so he needed somebody to manage the plantation.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_244">244</div> -<p>“Is there much of a plantation?” asked -Linda, suspiciously.</p> -<p>“I guess not,” admitted Fanny. “We do -raise a few pineapples. But I never saw any -great quantities. And there are only a couple -of native boys working here.”</p> -<p>“Well, you won’t have to worry about your -marriage, anyhow. So long as Sprague married -you under a false name, and in Mexico besides, -I guess it can easily be annulled. You -won’t have to see him again.”</p> -<p>Fanny was silent, worn out with the tension -of telling her story. Stretching back, she -buried her face in the ferns. Linda and Dot -looked at each other in hopeless dismay. Here -was the girl whom Linda had threatened to -prosecute to the uttermost, completely in her -power, and she felt only sympathy for her!</p> -<p>“You poor kid!” said Dot, feelingly, as if -Fanny were years younger than she was.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_245">245</div> -<p>“Oh, I know it’s my own fault,” said Fanny, -with a suppressed sob. “It was acting a lie in -the beginning. But I never dreamed it would -lead to anything like this. I thought if you—the -real Linda Carlton—ever did appear, I’d -just hand over the money, and maybe you’d -give me back part of it for my work in the -picture.”</p> -<p>“I suppose,” said Linda, “that we have to -learn for ourselves that deceit never pays. But -somehow, I can’t be hard on you, Fanny. And -I’ll tell you why. It’s because of the very first -thing you told us—that you are an orphan. It’s -so much more difficult if you haven’t parents to -teach you. I—haven’t a mother—but I have a -wonderful father and a loving aunt.... So, -somehow, I just feel as if I hadn’t the right to -judge you....”</p> -<p>Without raising her head from the ground, -Fanny groped blindly for Linda’s hand. And -found it and pressed it gratefully.</p> -<p>The sound of a motor in the distance made -the girls glance towards the lane. The car was -returning.</p> -<p>“What are you going to do with me?” asked -Fanny, plaintively.</p> -<p>“Take you with us, of course,” replied -Linda. “You can fly with Mr. Chase.”</p> -<p>“And—when we get to Honolulu—shall I -have to go to jail?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_246">246</div> -<p>Linda hesitated a moment and looked at Dot. -But her companion, usually so relentless in seeing -that justice was done, had evidently softened -too. She, also, felt a great sympathy for -Fanny.</p> -<p>“I don’t think so,” said Linda. “I think -you’ve suffered enough, Fanny. You’ve returned -my money, and both planes, and if you’ll -return Mr. Von Goss’s—”</p> -<p>“I can’t!” interrupted the girl. “Les took -that.”</p> -<p>“Well, he’ll be made to return it. So—if -you’ll promise to be good, I think we’ll let you -go free—if Mr. Chase can fix it up with the -police.”</p> -<p>The girl’s blue eyes opened wide with appreciation.</p> -<p>“You really mean that, Linda?”</p> -<p>“Yes, I do.”</p> -<p>“Oh, you are wonderful! So generous! So -clever, too!” She lowered her eyelids. “And -to think I ever dared to pretend I could be -you!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_247">247</div> -<p>Linda flushed in embarrassment at this -praise—from the girl she had been regarding -as her worst enemy. Luckily she did not need -to say anything, for the car had stopped now, -and Jardin, who had returned alone, was -getting out.</p> -<p>“I left Chase with the two prisoners,” he -explained. “Now you girls climb in.”</p> -<p>“Oughtn’t we to say something to the native -boys who work here?” asked Fanny.</p> -<p>“I’ll come back and talk to them later,” replied -Jardin. “After Long tells me what he -wants to do with the plantation.”</p> -<p>The ride back to the beach consumed only -fifteen minutes, but Linda realized when she got -there that the afternoon was gone. So much -time had been spent at the plantation, waiting -around, first for Sprague, and then for the return -of Jardin. Though it was still bright sunlight, -her watch indicated six o’clock.</p> -<p>“We had better send a wireless to our hostess,” -she said to Dot. “To let her know that -we can’t be back in time for dinner.”</p> -<p>Her chum nodded dismally. Another festivity -passed up! But it had been worth while -this time, for at last their purpose was accomplished.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_248">248</div> -<p>Linda proceeded to send the wireless from the -Sky Rocket, and then returned to the agent’s -shack, where Chase was still sitting.</p> -<p>“Will you take Fanny,” she asked, “and -when you get to Honolulu see whether you can -have that warrant for her arrest nullified? We -are dropping the charges.”</p> -<p>The young detective stared at Linda in incredulous -amazement.</p> -<p>“You don’t really mean it?” he gasped.</p> -<p>Linda laughed.</p> -<p>“I do, though. Fanny returned the money—and -is sorry, so we’re forgiving her. That’s all -there is to it.”</p> -<p>“You stand there and tell me you’re letting -that girl off, after flying four thousand miles, -over land and ocean, to capture her?” he demanded.</p> -<p>Linda nodded.</p> -<p>“But why?”</p> -<p>“Because Linda’s a Christian!” retorted -Dot, exasperated at the delay. “But I warn -you, Bert, I won’t show Christian spirit -towards you, if you don’t stop talking and get -a move on pretty soon. Do you realize we’re -starved—and we’ve got almost two hours’ -flight before we get any food?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_249">249</div> -<p>Chase grinned, and started towards the door.</p> -<p>“If you’re willing to wait an hour,” suggested -Jardin, “I can take you all to my bungalow -for supper.”</p> -<p>“No, thank you, Mr. Jardin,” replied Linda. -“We want to be on our way—and fly while it is -light. We’ll set off immediately. Fanny, you -go with Mr. Chase. Come on, everybody!”</p> -<p>“What’s your other name, Fanny?” asked -Chase, as the group walked along the beach to -the planes.</p> -<p>“Preston,” replied the girl, with a sigh of -relief at the thought of dropping the name of -Sprague—or Long—forever.</p> -<p>The Sky Rocket took off first, and five minutes -later Chase’s monoplane left the island. -Within sight of each other, the two planes flew -across the Pacific in the glorious light of the -sunset, and arrived at the Honolulu airport -without any disaster, a little after eight -o’clock.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_250">250</div> -<h2 id="c19">CHAPTER XIX -<br /><span class="small">CONCLUSION</span></h2> -<p>Leaving the planes at the airport, the four -young people ate supper together at a quick-lunch -restaurant in Honolulu. Here they discussed -their plans concerning Fanny Preston.</p> -<p>Linda insisted that the girl live at one of the -smaller hotels, on some of the gold pieces -which she had returned that afternoon, and -though Fanny protested, she had no money of -her own, and no place to go, so she finally had -to agree. In the meantime, Chase promised to -work for her release.</p> -<p>“And then we’ll take you back to Los Angeles -with us when we go,” Linda concluded. -“And try to find you a job.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_251">251</div> -<p>There were tears in Fanny’s eyes when Linda -and Dot finally left her at the hotel and took a -taxi to the Governor’s mansion. Here they -offered profuse apologies to their hostess—apologies -which she dismissed with a smile. -She was delighted to learn that the counterfeiting -menace had been checked, for news of -this crime had been in the papers for more than -a year. She felt that Linda and Dot had -helped in a big service for both Hawaii and the -United States, but the girls insisted that the -honors were for Bertram Chase.</p> -<p>“Now for our telegrams!” exclaimed Linda. -“Oh, I do so hope there is one from father!”</p> -<p>“I received one from your father, Miss Carlton,” -announced her hostess. “From Los Angeles. -He and your aunt are sailing tomorrow -for Honolulu. And two young men are with -them—I have forgotten their names.”</p> -<p>“Was one of them Jim—I mean James—Valier?” -asked Dot, eagerly.</p> -<p>The older woman smiled.</p> -<p>“I believe so,” she said. “And a Ralph somebody. -Would that be right?”</p> -<p>“Absolutely,” agreed Dot, with immense -satisfaction.</p> -<p>“So, in view of that news,” continued the -Governor’s wife, “I think we will plan a big -dinner for the night they arrive. It takes four -days, you know, from Los Angeles. I hope -we can keep you amused until then.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_252">252</div> -<p>“Oh, we love it here!” cried Linda. “It’s -the most beautiful spot in the world!”</p> -<p>So, although Linda was anxious to see her -own family and the two boys, the time nevertheless -passed pleasantly. They went to the -famous Waikiki beach every morning, and -swam in the water that seemed like velvet, or -rode in the launches and speed boats. After -luncheon they drove about the beautiful island -visiting the marvellous aquarium, with its gorgeous -fish of all colors and descriptions, or -viewing the mountains and the coral formations; -and in the evening they would watch the -glorious sunsets over the ocean and then dance -or bathe in the moonlight. One lovely afternoon -Linda and Dot took Fanny and flew to the -island of Kauai, and saw the Waimea Canyon -and the Barking Sands, and the rocky, jagged -cliffs, and the beaches and parks in all their -beauty. And one evening Bert Chase went -with them on another flight, for he had managed -to have his stay at Hawaii extended, since -he had successfully completed his work.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_253">253</div> -<p>And so the great day came when the boat -from Los Angeles docked at Pearl Harbor. -Linda and Dot were at the wharf half an hour -before it was scheduled to arrive, so impatient -were they to see their folks from home.</p> -<p>A great surging joy swelled up in Linda’s -throat at the sight of her father as he came -forward to meet her. It was so suffocating that -for a moment she couldn’t say a word of greeting. -Breathless, she flew into his arms.</p> -<p>“Daughter!” he said, in a tone filled with -emotion.</p> -<p>“Daddy, darling!” she managed to stammer, -and then, recovering herself somewhat, she -kissed her aunt and shook hands with the boys.</p> -<p>“Congratulations, congratulations, and then -some!” exclaimed Jim, to both of the girls.</p> -<p>“It was great, Linda!” cried Ralph.</p> -<p>“‘Linda and Dot,’ if you please,” corrected -Linda. “Dot did every bit as much as I did!”</p> -<p>“In fact, I flew nearer the ocean,” added her -chum, mischievously. “So near that I almost -drowned us both!”</p> -<p>“Don’t tell us about the dangers—now that -you have miraculously escaped with your -lives!” begged Miss Carlton, with a shiver.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_254">254</div> -<p>And then everybody talked at once, asking -questions, making explanations, accounting for -all the time since they had seen each other. -The girls drove right to the hotel with the -party, and here Linda dragged out Fanny and -introduced her, much to Miss Carlton’s amazement. -And then she actually asked her aunt to -look after the girl for the rest of the visit, until -they should all go back to Los Angeles together.</p> -<p>The dinner at the Governor’s mansion that -night was another gorgeous affair. All the -celebrities of the island were invited, as well as -Linda’s friends. Even Fanny Preston was included, -and Bertram Chase was accorded a seat -of honor on Linda’s right, with Ralph Clavering -on her left—an arrangement which made -Ralph exceedingly jealous, for Chase managed -to absorb most of her attention.</p> -<p>“I want you to go into the secret service, -Linda,” he said, earnestly. “You’d be a marvellous -detective. Have you signed up for -anything for the winter?”</p> -<p>“I had expected to teach,” replied the aviatrix. -“But I guess it’s too late for that.”</p> -<p>“No, no, don’t do that.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_255">255</div> -<p>Chase wasn’t eating at all, instead he was -fumbling with his fork, as if he were terribly -nervous. Linda noticed his queer actions, and -wondered what could be the cause of them, for -he had always seemed to have such easy, pleasant -manners. But his next question, abrupt as -it was, offered the explanation.</p> -<p>“It’s a funny place—and a funny time—to -ask you, Linda,” he began, very low “but I’m -so afraid you’ll fly away and I’ll never see you -again.... You see—I’m crazy about you. I -love you! I want you to marry me, and fly -everywhere with me!”</p> -<p>Faltering as his speech was at first, he ended -it very fast, as if he had to finish with one -breath. Out of the corner of her eye, Linda -could see his hand trembling; this fearless flier, -who dared all sorts of dangers! Why, he -seemed to be afraid to look in her face!</p> -<p>Linda, too, was embarrassed; she didn’t -know what to say. She liked him so much that -she couldn’t bear to hurt his feelings, yet marriage -was out of the question at this time.</p> -<p>“I appreciate it a lot, Bert,” she finally replied, -softly. “But—I couldn’t. Not now, anyway,” -she added, so as not to seem too abrupt. -“But there’s no reason why you shouldn’t see -me often. Distance isn’t anything to fliers. -And I’ll talk to you later about the secret -service.” She paused, nodding in Ralph’s direction.... -“This impatient boy on my left is -having a fit. I must talk to him now.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_256">256</div> -<p>She turned to the latter, sulking as usual.</p> -<p>“Old friends are a nuisance when we have -a new crush, aren’t they?” he asked, bitterly.</p> -<p>“Ralph, behave yourself!” she commanded. -“Don’t spoil my party by getting peeved!”</p> -<p>“I’m sorry, Linda,” he said, penitently. “I -didn’t mean it. Only I just know that guy has -fallen for you. What was he talking to you so -long about?”</p> -<p>Linda blushed. “He wants me to go into -secret service flying,” she explained.</p> -<p>“He would! And then get you to marry him!”</p> -<p>Linda laughed, as if to imply that what Ralph -suggested was nonsense. If he only knew how -near to the point he had come!</p> -<p>“Well, are you going to do it?” he persisted.</p> -<p>“I don’t know. First I’m going to get my -Ladybug at Los Angeles—and fly home!”</p> -<p>“Ladybug, Ladybug, fly away home!” quoth -Ralph.</p> -<p>“We will!” promised Linda, smiling. But -she did not say how long she would stay there.</p> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="sc">The End.</span></p> -<h2 id="tn">Transcriber’s Notes</h2><ul> -<li>Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.</li> -<li>Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged.</li> -<li>In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.)</li> -</ul> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Linda Carlton's Hollywood Flight, by Edith Lavell - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LINDA CARLTON'S HOLLYWOOD FLIGHT *** - -***** This file should be named 53337-h.htm or 53337-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/3/3/53337/ - -Produced by Rick Morris, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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