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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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