Famous Flyers

It was a beautiful morning. It had stopped raining, and the sun, coming out strong and bright, had dried everything so thoroughly that only an occasional puddle here and ther

exactly on schedule. Smaller planes were flying about above the airport, and on the ground mechanics were working over several planes that needed overhauling. Captain Bill wanted to go first to the administration buil

l, if that didn't look like-" he began, then turned and went on into the building. "Looked like an old flying buddy of mine. But of cour

e yourself, some day, b

t to see you again!" Headlund and Bill had flown together in France, and although they had kept in touch with each other a few years after they

for you, Headlund," said Bill. "Her

oys g

ss, turned again to Bill. "Do you

aid Bill. "He's flying the old

oincidence, too. Do you know who wa

olly, I thought I recognized that fac

, with the pilot's seat up front-a beautiful job. Listen, Hank's gone down to the hangar now

he old skinny marink would have put on all that poundage? Old Hank fat! And flying in a cabin plane. Come on, fellows, we've got to go down there and se

ong it until they came to the last hangar. A beautiful plane, black and al

ed Bill. "Anybody he

lasses at Bill and the boys. His face registered no sign of recognition at first. Then suddenly it lighted up, he rushed forward, and gripped Captain Bill's hand i

in his now well-padded ribs. "One question at a time, Hank. What are

u first," l

ther's story. Hank had done well as the manager and later as president of his father's steel plant. Prosperity had ironed out the wrinkles that had always twinkled a

See how comfortable it is. Say, this is some differe

said Bill. This meeting with Hank was bringing back

here we can talk in

uxurious. Along both sides were upholstered seats, covered with multi-colored cushions. There were built-in fixtures, and eve

he cabin. "Gee, they're soft," said Bob. "I could ri

our manners

said. He had really forgotten that Hank Brown was an

o take the plane up on its l

?" said Bill.

e to come back all alone. I've been intending to go back to take a look around ever since I've been back in America, so I thought I'd take the opportunity of getting over there now with her. I wouldn't take the plane. I won't need a big ship like this. If I want to fly I can pick up a little French or German bus. So I'm putting old Liz

ent. "Take her up, Bill go on," he squeale

ake it for granted that he wanted to go up, too. And Hal, although he was by this time frightened

the ground, gradually gaming momentum. Finally it rose into the air. Bill handled the huge ship as though it were a toy. Higher and higher it rose. Bob, looking out o

e shouted at the top

al rather anxiously. He thought that maybe the boy was go

standing stil

ur uncle is a great one for

re going back. In a short while Bill had brou

it?" he said, turning ar

!" sai

He said nothing, and waited fo

you used to in the old days,"

ship," said B

impulsively, "how would you lik

an Bill. He thought, the same old Han

it up to the Canadian cabin if you want to. Then a perfectly swell vacation plan won't be entirely thrown away. H

zy about the idea. But I don't s

retty decent to me in other times, r

it," s

n a Boche when the Boche was all but steppin

ripped with bullets, but ready to go right out again with the next patrol. Then one day he got his, and there wasn't a man there that wouldn't have given everything he had to save him, either. He'd gone up after a German that nobody seemed able to down. Lufbery climbed up to get above him, a

haw," he explained, "was coming back from his regular patrol, when he suddenly came face to face with three German planes. One of them maneuvered to his left, the second to his right, and the third dove below him to fire up. Well, Bill had to think fast, and he did. He si

and ripped into Thaw for all he was worth. But one lucky turn, one accurate shot, and Thaw had him. Down went his plane. Thaw,

must have been great fu

with a baby in swaddlin

ou know I mean if

the far-away look that meant another stor

st modest fellow in the world, either, and made a great to-do about everything he did. But he sure did plenty of damage to the Germans. Joe Wehner wa

d their lines to observe what was going on in the American lines. Of course, the information they got caused plenty of harm, and anybody who shot down a Drachen was doing a lot of good. But the

hat might come to attack him. If one hove in sight, Wehner would go for him and engage him while Luk

he gallant Wehner had fought his last fight. One of the Fokkers downed him. Luke, who saw what had happened to his pal, left the remaining balloon and furiously charged the Fokkers. He fought like mad, zooming, diving, spurting fire into those German planes. Two of them

down in flames that day, when his own plane was so badly crippled, and he was so badly wounded that he was forced to land. He wouldn't let them tak

lying that you wanted, Eddie was the man to give it to you. He had a bag of tricks that would get any pursuit plane off his tai

ought to be glad that they didn't have to fly those old buses that we used, though. The new planes are great to fly. You two are going to have a grand time. I'd rather fly than travel any other way. But I don't thi

-fish?" la

f the place for me. In fact, there's no town for a hundred miles around. About the only practical way of getting there is by plane. Just think, old man, all of that beauty and solitude going begging. You can get right back to nature there, liv

there as a favor to you, are you? Because if you are, you're crazy. It's certainly not you who should be doing the begging. We ought to be d

en you're going t

befriended in France, when he had been just a young fellow himself, but not so green as the other. Then he said, "What do you s

s manners just in time, and was watching Bill to see how they should respond to Hank Brown's generous offer. But now that h

and pleased by

rned to Hal. "

more fired with ambition, now that he was safely on the ground, was almost as enthusiastic. "But," he s

k's hand. "We'll take it, old sco

landing field, and there you are. I'm going to be in town for two weeks, so you can come up any time to make arrangements. O.K.? Now I've g

d like fragile toys, to huge biplanes; and in a growing impatience with Pat's delay. Finally a tiny speck appeared on the horizon, but the three of them had been disappointed so often that they did not dare

to meet two pals of mine." He introduced Bob

obably once been red, but which was now brown, with a little gray at the temples; a young face-it was impossible to tell ho

s of theirs for years, "They'll make good flyers if they're not

to make you work very hard. But let me warn you that he's trained army

at the Marianne. She was a beautifully

, and was pleased. "How about ta

was delighted that their old pal had turned up, and decided that they would have to have a re

ways decided things that way, but nobody resented his high-hand manner, since he looked, and was, the sort of man who could make good on any job he undertook. "Well, Bob, my lad," he said,

," sa

's an open cockpit you're sitting in," he s

round. "They seem

hop in," P

day than he had been by his first. He waved his hand to the Captain and Hal

" shou

ft from the earth; there was a bump-they hadn't quite cleared; Pat speeded up, until Bob, looking over the side of the cockpit, could see the gro

ed down. The airport looked as it had from the other plane. Now he had more of the feeling of flying. There was a sudden bump. The Marianne dropped suddenly. Bob felt as though he were in an elevator

b was frightened, but then realized that they were gliding down. Every now and then Pat turned on his engine again. Bob, looking over the

e motor was still roaring in Bob's ears. He pulled off the goggles

said the Captain. "

uting?" la

" said th

d to Hal. "Well,

ever since Bob had taken to the air. "Don't you think it's rather la

Hal's heart, and who was getting hungry anyway, said, "Lu

to it,"

d get you," lau

ent over to the automobile that the Captain had parked. They decided, on Bob

e Captain. "You can start y

ready to listen. I think I know

inning, always,"

picnic, and settled back contentedly in the lon