CHAPTER VII
_The Flight to Green Falls_
The first thing that Linda thought of when she opened her eyes thefollowing morning was the glorious fact that she was now a real pilot.She could take her plane anywhere--to Green Falls, to her father'sranch in Texas, wherever she wanted to go--and nobody could stop her.The freedom of the world and of the skies was hers.
But she had no intention of taking it any farther than the Spring CityFlying School that day. She would spend the morning there, watching oneof the licensed mechanics give it a thorough inspection, in readinessfor the flight to Green Falls on the following day.
She wished that it might be Ted Mackay who would go over the plane. Shehad such confidence in his knowledge, his thoroughness. Besides, itwould be fun to spend the morning with him, asking him questions, andtalking things over.
Naturally, that was impossible. When Linda reached the field she foundthat Ted already had gone, and a number of changes had been made. H.B. Taylor was now first-ranking instructor, and the young man who hadbeen acting as office boy, or orderly, or whatever they chose to callhim, had passed his course and was promoted to the rank of instructor.Another man took his place--an older man this time, and Linda thoughtprobably it was the poor fellow who had been having engine trouble withhis shabby coupe the preceding day. Everything seemed different, andLinda was somehow glad that she was leaving. The place would never bethe same to her without Ted Mackay.
About noon she received the mechanic's O.K. upon her plane, and flewhome in time for lunch. Her aunt had finished packing, and was asexcited as a child about going to Green Falls, and again taking uptheir customary social life among their friends.
"I have bought a new flying suit for you, dear," she said to her niece,as the girl entered the library. "Unwrap it and see how you like it."
Linda eagerly unfastened the strings and lifted out a pair of whiteflannel knickers, with a jaunty blue sweater and helmet of knittedsilk, just the color of her eyes. The whole costume was charming, anda lovely change from the dark riding breeches she had been using forflying.
"It's perfect, Aunt Emily!" she cried, realizing for the first timethat she had never cared for what she was now wearing. "And it was sosweet of you to think of getting it for me!"
"I never could see why girls have to look masculine," replied her aunt."Of course I can understand that skirts are impractical, but they makethese suits so pretty now-a-days. And I want you to look nice the veryfirst minute you arrive at Green Falls. First impressions are always soimportant and there is sure to be a crowd there to greet you."
Linda was only too delighted to wear it the next day, which dawnedclear and warm for her flight. Miss Carlton left early in the morning,by train, so that she would be at Green Falls in plenty of time towelcome the flyers.
Ralph came over for Linda about half-past nine. Carrying their lunch,the young people started on their first real adventure in the air.
The young man, too, wore a new suit of spotless white flannel, and,as they walked, tall and slender and straight, they made perhaps thebest-looking pair of flyers in America. But neither was conscious ofthat; both were too much excited about their first trip in the air togive even a passing thought to their appearances.
"Are you sure that you have the precious necklace?" asked Linda, asthey made their way across the field in back of her house.
"Yes, indeed," answered Ralph. "I went to the safe-deposit vault thismorning to get it. That was one reason why I didn't want to startearly. I had to wait for the bank to open."
"Kit would be horribly disappointed if we didn't bring it," returnedLinda. "I honestly think she loves those pearls as much as I do my'Pursuit'!"
"Queer taste," remarked the boy. "If I had them, I'd sell them and buya biplane!"
"Of course you would," said Linda approvingly. "Even if you do insistupon talking baby-talk!"
"Baby-talk?"
"Certainly. 'Buy a biplane'--sounds like 'Bye, Bye, Baby,' doesn't it?"
Ralph smiled, but they both forgot immediately what they were saying,for they were beside the plane now, ready to start on their flight.Linda was not at all nervous about the journey, only thrilled andhappy. She climbed into the cockpit with the same assurance that sheentered her car, and her take-off was just as easy, just as natural. Itseemed now as if she piloted the biplane by instinct; with the surenessof a bird it rose into the air to a gradual height of fifteen hundredfeet. For she had been cautioned again and again that there was safetyin height.
They flew along without any attempt at conversation, for it wasdifficult to hear above the roar of the motor. But Linda was sohappy that she hummed softly to herself, and most of the time shewas smiling. Ralph, with a map in his lap, kept a close watch on thecompass.
For some time they did not see any other planes in the sky, and thenat last one came into view. As it drew closer, it occurred to Linda towonder whether she was being followed.
"Who do you suppose that is?" shouted Ralph, above the noise of themotor.
"I think it's somebody from our school--maybe Taylor," she replied."Perhaps Dad ordered them to follow us--for safety--or maybe it was TedMackay's idea."
As the plane drifted off to one side, they thought no more about thematter. But it was noon now; the sun stood high overhead, and both ofthe young people were astonished to find how hungry they were.
"I want to try a couple of stunts before we eat," Linda told Ralph."You're game, aren't you?"
"Surest thing!" replied the boy, with delight. "We've got plenty ofheight--and a spectator too, for that matter." The other plane had justcome back into sight.
Linda's eyes were shining with excitement, yet inside she was perfectlycool. Hadn't she made inside loops and Immelman turns often at school,and didn't she know exactly what to do? With perfect poise, she swungthe plane into a loop, and completed it without any difficulty. Pleasedwith her success, she tried it again and again.
"You must think you're Laura Ingalls!" shouted Ralph, catching hisbreath. "Trying to beat her record?"
"Hardly," smiled Linda, for the famous aviatrix he mentioned held therecord at that time with nine hundred and eighty consecutive insideloops, at a speed of four and a half loops a minute.
The plane was righted now, but Linda suddenly noticed that Ralph wasacting awfully queer, hanging over the side, and hunting franticallyin the pockets of the sweater which he had put over the seat. Shebelieved he must be ill; certainly his face was ghastly white.
"Ralph!" she cried, fearfully. "What's the matter?"
"I've lost the necklace!" he screamed in terror. "Must have fallen outof my pocket!"
"Oh!" wailed Linda, aghast at the meaning of his words. "Are you sure?"
"Positive!"
"Then we'll land immediately. We're over a field, so we ought to beable to find it. Now--keep your eye on the compass!"
Gradually, and with easy skill, she turned the biplane into the windand descended, finally coming down into a large flat field, evidently apasture ground for some horses. Ralph was the first to jump out.
"We went a little south to land," he said, "so it must have dropped upthere."
"Was it in a box?" questioned Linda.
"Yes, fortunately. A white velvet box, inside a larger pasteboard one,with three rubber bands around it. That ought to make it easier tofind."
Linda, however, had her doubts; the field was so big! Besides, whatproof had Ralph that he had lost it at that particular minute--whenshe was making her loops. She remembered that he had taken off hissweater an hour ago, when he felt too warm, and had carelessly hung itover the side, forgetful of the precious box in its pocket. That wasthe trouble with being so rich! Many times she had noticed how heedlessboth Kitty and Ralph were about valuables.
They walked silently across the field, their eyes on the ground, theirminds filled with remorse. Ten minutes passed, and they had not foundit.
"Let's go back and eat our lunch," suggested Ralph, consulting hiswatch. "It'
s almost one o'clock, and we'll feel better if we eat. Afterall, we have plenty of time--Green Falls is only about twenty milesfarther. We could search all afternoon, if necessary."
"Yes, only Aunt Emily would nearly die of anxiety. She'd be sure we hadbeen killed, if we didn't arrive before supper."
They went back to the plane and took out the dainty lunch which MissCarlton's cook had packed that morning for them. But, hungry thoughthey were, the meal was not the pleasant picnic they had been hopingfor. Both were too unhappy to enjoy what they were eating.
Presently the noise of a motor overhead attracted their attention, and,looking up, they saw a plane in descent. When it was low enough toidentify, they knew that it was the one that had been following them.
"It's the 'Waco' from our school!" cried Linda. "I recognize it now. Hemust think we're in trouble. I wonder who's piloting?"
The plane made a rather poor landing at the far end of the field,perhaps half a mile away. They could distinguish a man getting out ofthe cockpit, but of course at that distance they could not identifyhim. However, he seemed to be coming slowly towards them.
As he advanced nearer and nearer Linda noticed that he wore an ordinarysuit of clothing--not a flyer's uniform, and he kept his hand in hispocket. But she still did not recognize him--unless he was that newman the school had taken on the preceding day. Once he stooped over,as if he were picking something up, and Linda's heart beat wildly withhope. Could it be that he had found the necklace? Apparently, though,it was only a plant that he had pulled up by the roots, for when hestraightened himself, he seemed to be examining its leaves.
"In trouble?" he shouted, as soon as he was within hearing distance.
Ralph jumped up and ran towards him, shaking his head in the negative.
"No trouble with the plane," he replied. "But we've lost a littlebox--with a necklace in it. You haven't seen it, have you?"
"Why, yes," answered the man slowly, "I did pick up a box." And heput his other hand in his pocket, and drew out the very article.Fortunately it had not been broken; even the rubber bands were stilltightly around it. He handed it to Ralph.
"Oh, thank you a thousand times!" cried Linda, too relieved to believeher eyes. "The necklace was a graduation present to this man's sister,and she values it very highly!"
"Well, if that's all, I'll be off," said the man, as he watched Ralphput the box into his pocket.
"No, I must reward you," insisted the boy, taking out a twenty-dollarbill. "And by the way, you're from the Spring City Flying School,aren't you? We recognized the plane."
The other nodded, and seemed in a hurry to be off. Already he wastwenty feet away.
"It was awfully nice of you to follow us, and look after us," calledLinda, "but really we don't need protection. We're getting alongfinely!"
But the man was running now, and could hardly have heard what Linda wassaying. In a couple of minutes they heard the motor start, and with aclumsy take-off, the plane ascended.
"A queer cuss," remarked Ralph. "And I can't see that he's much of aflyer. You and I are both better--by a long shot.... But anyhow, we'vegot the necklace!" He put his arms around Linda and hugged her, and shewas too happy to protest. What a miracle it was to have found it!
"That will teach me a lesson," said Ralph, as he helped Linda gather upthe lunch. "I'm going to be more careful now. I've put the necklace inmy most inside pocket!"
"And I'm not going in for any more acrobatics for a while," added Linda.
They climbed into the cockpit, and started the motor without wastingany more time. Half an hour later they made a graceful landing at GreenFalls' Airport, for a group of a hundred spectators to witness andadmire.