CHAPTER XVI
_The Autogiro_
Linda Carlton had always been a girl of a single purpose. It was thischaracteristic that set her apart from Louise Haydock, from her othergirl friends--in fact, from practically all of her sex. In this she wasmore like a man, with a man's mind.
She never could see the advisability of mixing pleasure with work;when she was determined to accomplish or to learn something, nothingcould distract her. Now while she was bending all her energy to thewinning of her mechanic's license and the thorough preparation forher trans-Atlantic flight she grew impatient with even her chum fordesiring to lead a social life.
One cold night in February, when she was desperately trying toconcentrate on a treatise on airplane engines, Louise annoyed herexceedingly by moving restlessly about the bedroom and interrupting herevery few minutes with remarks and questions.
"I do wish you'd be more sociable, Linda!" she exclaimed, taking adance dress out of the closet, and surveying it mournfully.
"I'm sorry, Lou--I'm busy," replied her companion, without looking up.
"Well, just give me five minutes. Then I'll leave you alone."
"All right," agreed Linda, trying to be patient.
"Gaze on this dress, please. Don't you think it's an absolute wash-out?"
"I never heard of anybody's washing chiffon," remarked Linda,facetiously. "Why not try having it cleaned?"
"Don't be smart! You're wasting your precious time.... But seriously,Linda, could I or couldn't I wear it Saturday night to that dance Tedand his boy friend are taking us to?"
"I suppose you could. But why not send home for another?"
"There isn't time. Besides, I'd love something new.... Here's my idea,Linda. Let's take tomorrow off--entirely off--and go on a shopping bat.I'm positively sick for one!"
"For the love of Pete!" cried Linda, in exasperation. "You don't knowwhat you're asking, Lou. Tomorrow they're going to bring an _autogiro_to the school, and Mr. Eckers said there was some chance of my beingallowed to fly it!"
"Autogiro?" repeated Louise. "What's that?"
"You know, Lou! Get your mind off pink chiffon, and you'll remember.It's that new plane Cierva, the Spaniard, invented--with a windmillsort of thing on top--that can land and take off in a very small space.I'm just crazy to examine one and fly it myself."
Her companion assumed an air of resignation.
"Very well. If you want to go to that dance at the Aviation Clublooking like something the cat dragged in, you can! But I'm not. I'mgoing to get me some raiment."
"I don't want to go to the dance at all."
"What?"
"You heard me, Lou."
"Have you written that to Ted?"
"No. I didn't say positively last week that I'd go. And I haven't timeto waste on social correspondence. It's all I can do to get off myweekly letters to Daddy and Aunt Emily. You tell him."
"But Linda, Ted's boy friend won't have any girl!"
"You can manage 'em both. I've seen you take care of six or seven onSunday nights at home."
"That was different."
"Well settle it to suit yourself. Only, remember, I'm not going. I'llbe at the school all day Saturday and I'm not going to rush back to abeauty shop to get my hands and fingernails into shape for a dance. I'mstaying home!"
Speechless, Louise stood gazing at her chum in utter incomprehension.She was past understanding.
Thinking the conversation ended, Linda returned to her pamphlet. Buther room-mate had not finished.
"Linda, I want to ask you something--while we're on the subject of TedMackay, and these nice parties he is always planning for us. How muchdo you care for him?"
"Not a rap!" Of course that was not exactly the truth, for Linda didlike the big fellow immensely. But lately she had grown very tired ofhis regular week-end visits.
"Linda Carlton! You ought to be ashamed of yourself to say a thinglike that! After all Ted's done for you."
"Well, I guess I was exaggerating. But I'm fed up with him, Lou. I'mnot going out with him any more for a while. And that's that!"
"Do you mind if I do?"
"Certainly not. Go all you please, if you won't try to drag me in!"
Louise sat down, and fingered her dress nervously. There was one morequestion she just had to ask.
"Linda, will you tell me the truth about this: Would you mind ifI--I--cared a whole lot about Ted?"
At last Linda was interested. She closed her booklet, and turnedabout to face the other girl. Seeing how serious, how ardent, yet howconfused Louise was, she smiled warmly.
"I think it's lovely, Lou!" she assured her. "If you really care forTed--because I've known for months that he's head over heels in lovewith you. Nothing but the real thing could pull him away from hiswork." Her tone was that of a person much older. "I say, 'Bless you, mychildren!'"
Louise was at her side now, kissing her ecstatically.
"I was so desperately afraid you'd mind, Linda!"
Linda laughed at the mistake. It really was funny. Louise--usually sococksure of herself in everything--was so modest that she couldn't seeTed's very evident admiration.
"You're a goose, Lou, but a dear, foolish goose!" Her brow suddenlydarkened. "Does this mean you won't fly with me to Paris?"
"Oh, no! 'Course I'll go. I'm sure Ted wouldn't want me not to."
"I'm not so sure myself," muttered Linda, remembering how RalphClavering had tried to get her to give up the flight. Men were funnywhen they were in love, she thought; it did not occur to her that girlswere funny too.
Louise seemed perfectly satisfied, and did not open her mouth againthat evening until Linda put her work away and suggested that they godownstairs and ask for cookies and milk, which their kind landladyalways provided for them.
But Louise did not give up her decision about the shopping trip,and the next day Linda went to the ground school alone, to forgeteverything else in her admiration of the autogiro which had arrived.
It was a queer little boat, the motor in its nose, and an ordinarypropeller, just like an airplane. Its wings, however, were stubby, andthe strangest part of it was the windmill-like arrangement, or rotarywing, mounted right on the top.
Everybody at the school was gathered about it, eagerly examining it,when Linda appeared, and she lost no time in joining the group. Mr.Eckers was explaining its parts to the students.
"It really is remarkable," he was saying, "the way it can risevertically right over a given place. It can hover over a spot while itis climbing upward, and can land with almost no forward motion. Forthis reason a huge landing field is not necessary. I believe it is theplane for the city dweller."
"Everyone can keep an autogiro in his back yard," remarked one of thestudents. "And make his landing on a postage stamp! Believe--me--I'mgoing to have one! And I don't mean maybe."
Mr. Eckers continued his explanation, telling them that the autogirocould fly very low, only a few feet from the ground, and then he wenton to compare it with the helicopter, another new-fashioned inventionsomewhat similar.
When he had finished his remarks, he offered to take the studentsin turn for rides, and they all pressed eagerly forward. All exceptLinda Carlton, for she was too shy to make her wishes known. Besides,she felt that she did not have to tell Mr. Eckers; he would know howinterested she was.
But the time was too short, and the students too many. Closinghour arrived, and Linda had not had her flight. Stopping in at theinstructor's office at five o'clock, she told him wistfully that shehad missed out.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Carlton!" he exclaimed, in genuine regret. "Butthose boys acted just like children, pushing in the way they did. Neveryou mind, though, you'll get your turn tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" she repeated. "I thought the autogiro was to be sent toBirmingham, Alabama!"
"So it is. But after a little practice with it, I'm going to let youtake it."
"Me?"
"Yes, you! Because you are such a good flyer, and because you
are amechanic besides. There's another job at the end of the trip--takinganother plane--not an autogiro--to Nashville, Tennessee. All yourexpenses will be paid, and there will be twenty-five dollars in it foryou. Would you like to do it?"
"Would I?" cried Linda, her eyes shining with happiness. "I'd just loveit."
"Then you can make your plans."
"Could I--take Miss Haydock with me?" she asked, timidly.
"Why, of course. That will make it all the better. I think we can evenpay her hotel expenses, though of course she won't make any money. Itis because you are a mechanic as well as a flyer that you are in aposition to earn the money."
"Because I am a mechanic!" she repeated softly to herself. Her wish wasreally coming true.
"Be on hand at eight o'clock tomorrow, if the day is clear," theinstructor concluded. "And don't wait for that girl friend of yours, ifshe is late. She cut classes today--isn't sick, is she?"
"No," laughed Linda. "Playing hookey, I'm afraid."
"Just a typical girl," muttered the man. "We have 'em all the timehere--society dames, flying as a fad, school-girls, for the excitementof the thing, married women who are tired of housekeeping.... Thereisn't one in a thousand who takes it seriously, as you do, MissCarlton."
"Thank you, Mr. Eckers," replied Linda, blushing at his praise.... "Howlong shall I be gone--on this trip, I mean?"
"You ought to be able to get to Birmingham before dark tomorrow. Thenyou can rest tomorrow night, and start to Nashville Saturday--if theweather is O.K. But don't try to fly too fast with this other plane,and don't attempt it till the weather is perfect. The plane's in goodcondition, but it's an old one, and I wouldn't want anything to happento you. If you have to stay at Birmingham a week on account of fog, orsomething, it will be O.K. with me, and your expenses will be paid. Youtake a train back from Nashville."
"I'll get my map and directions tomorrow?"
"Yes. I'll have them here for you, all ready."
Linda went back to her boarding-house in an exalted frame of mind,singing as she entered her room. She found her chum equally gay,sitting on the bed amidst a pile of packages.
"Have a good time, Lou?" she asked, merrily.
"And how!"
"So did I! And I've got the best news yet. We fly an autogiro toBirmingham tomorrow."
"Who do?"
"You and I, Lou! Our expenses are to be paid, and we get twenty-fivedollars besides!" Linda did not add that it was she who was earning themoney, for she had already made up her mind to share it with her chum.
Louise shook her head.
"Not this baby!" she said. "Tomorrow's Friday, Linda. I might not getback in time for the dance Saturday night. No, my dear, I'm not takingany chances."
"Do you really mean that, Lou? Give up a wonderful trip like this, justto go to an old dance? You could wire Ted."
"But I don't want to, Linda. Why, my heart'd break if I couldn't wearthese new clothes I just bought.... Gaze on them! How about this cerisetaffeta? Would you ever think any trimming could be so clever? It'smade of feathers, you see--and look how the slippers match!"
Linda stood perfectly still, gazing at the finery without seeing it.
"You really won't go, Lou?" she repeated. "Even if I rush the trip?"
"Oh no, Linda, I couldn't possibly disappoint Ted."
Seeing that it was useless to try to persuade her, Linda rusheddownstairs and called Nancy Bancroft on the telephone, inviting herinstead, and this time she was gratified with an acceptance.