The Flying Reporter

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Had not Handley wired the managing editor about the perilous trip Jimmy was making, and had not that enterprising individual gotten into touch with the Airways Weather Bureau and urged its personnel to do everything possible to insure Jimmy's safety, the tale would probably never have been known i

or was merely a mask he wore. He was fond of Jimmy. He had been truly worried about his flying reporter. He understood Jim

ight in hand, and had done all he could to help his pilot get through. By telephone he had been kept informed of the lad's progress, and he had even been in conversation with the field worker at Ringtown. That was how he

ng something, on accomplishing something, on getting ahead and climbing up, that he had little time to think about the things he had done. What interested

several occasions; he transported photographs himself; and he did one or two little tasks of reporting. But things moved so slowly for several days

a great dam had burst in northeastern New Hampshire. A town had been partly wiped out by the wall of water that pour

t would be utterly impossible to get one of his own men there in time to get a story for the next day's paper. He would have to depend upon local correspondents. Fortunately the Press had a correspondent at Berlin, which was not many miles di

uld take off at daybreak and get up there as quick as you can. The place is in the very peak of the State. It's the northernmost town. We will get the general story through the A. P. and I have sent our Berlin correspondent. But we wa

op at Springfield for the night. I know the way well. I could go all the way, but I don't know anything about the airports up in the White Mountains. I

at ought to get you back here by late af

his job. There was plenty of time, and the work ought to be easy. But Jimmy already knew enough about newspaper work to understand that one can never tell what will develop in any st

lue inverted bowl of the heavens seemed immeasurable. Myriads of stars hung in the firmament. So clear was the atmosphere that they made the night luminous. Indeed, the s

y giving expression to his mood. But when he remembered that he was a fully accredited member of the staff of a great newspaper, and saw that it would not

go. He could make it easily in an hour, and in much less time if he chose to do so. But there was no call for haste, and Jimmy didn

from Newark to Boston. Ahead of him he could see revolving beacon after beacon, at ten-mile intervals, as one sees street lamps stretching along a city boulevard. The way wa

y he could see the familiar landing field, where the pilots stop to pick up mail. It was all aglow with its encircling white boundary lights, its green lights that show the descending pilot the best way of app

not play, at least he could express his feelings by extending this wonderful flight a trifle. He wondered where he should g

l, but he thought he would fly over the lad's home and take a look at the region. He liked it greatly, and it held pleasant memories for him. If he could not see Carl he could at least drop him a note, saying that he had passed

e moon, and the brightly lighted memorial bridge that crossed it. At a distance rose the high tower he had had in mind as a guiding light, with its great lamp glowing

oot of it he saw a long line of lights that marked the country highway. Here and there shone the lamps of snug little homes. On the slope of the mountain scattered lights betrayed the presence of other country dwellings. If he kept straight on, Jimmy would have to fly right over the mountain. But just now he had no intention whatever of

it was a little difficult to pick out one particular house, when he had visited the neighborhood only once and had never seen the region from the air. So he had to

little homes tucked away in little farms on the wooded side of the mountain

wn eyes. But a second glance told him he was not mistaken. The flames grew swiftly in intensity, and leaping tongues of fire were soon shooting from several window

ign of life. He glanced at his clock. It was almost ten-thirty. "All abed and sound

n the barnyard, Jimmy saw cattle. Then he knew the place was occupied. Now he saw a dog running about excitedly

lanced about to see if there was a field handy where he could land. It was some distance to the neare

ip shot earthward like a meteor. She gained tremendous speed. Jimmy flew her straight at the blazing house. When he was so close it seemed as though he co

again he zoomed up over the housetop. His engine, racing at full speed, set the mountain to echoing with mighty rever

All the while his engine was thundering at high speed. Round and round he circled, watch

s at last awake. Jimmy drew a breath of relief and instantly lifted his pl

e folks. Perhaps the barn and the live stock could be saved, even if the dwelling w

he field he could dimly discern on a little ridge of land a great barn with a huge silo. A low white dwelling rose between it and the road. The sight reassured him. The field must be a smooth mowing. He felt certain now that he could land in safety. He circled, so as to approach the field again from the lower end, dropped a flare, switched on his landing lights, and came down sharply over the trees

arachute like a flash. But already near-by

y in it was sound asleep until I woke them a moment ago. They nee

a lad who had just c

wn the highway, then turned into a wood road t

ove was rosy with the flames. Showers of sparks could be seen shooting skyward. The wood road appeared

ilding. The first floor was a mass of flames, and the fire was rapidly eating its way to the roof. The owner had escaped, with his wife and two chil

was no apparent way to reach the lad. The father was part way

both be hurt. There must be some other way." His mind was wor

long ha

," said Jimmy. "We ca

led to the lad in the window to catch it, and threw the stone up to him. The first attempt failed. Jimmy threw the stone up again and the lad caught it. Jimmy tied the twine to the hay rope. Fearful lest

but hurry," he said. "I

The lad disappeared within the attic, dragging the rope behind him. In a moment he reappeared at the window, slid out over the sill, and on down to the ladder. He had fastened t

astonishment. The lad who had just slid down the rope was Carl Dexter, Jimmy's old friend in the Wire

recognize you. I didn't know your father, either, but that is not strange. He has grown a beard since I saw him. I suppose I have grow

terrible to see you under these circumstances

aid Jimmy. "We've got to try to save th

had been formed. Water was being thrown on roof and wall. The dwelling was absolutely doomed. In the end, after a

o tell Carl how he happened to be flying in the neighborhood and how he discovered the fire. Suddenly h

. I could slip right back there and maybe he'd never know the difference. But here's a story. It's a good story, even if I did have a part in it. The Press ought to have it. Maybe we can scoop the other New York papers on it. I'm going to shoot it in

l pull on some trousers and--By Jove! I don't own any trousers. They are all burned up. I

heets to the operator as fast as they were written, with the injuncti

of the Morning Press plane, flying over Wilbraham, had noticed flames issuing from a hillside home; how the pilot had awakened the sleeping inmates by diving at the house with roaring motor;

pped up there. I forgot to get the name of that farm boy.

r message. It was to

editor got into touch

lood," he said. "It's even bigger than I though

you are willing. It's the lad we just saved from the fire. He'

an who can help yo

ou go on up to New Hampshire with

t home, I'll go gladly

ephone. "I think it is all r

that we get the story and get it in plenty of time. And don't forget that we want good pictures. They are more important than the story. We'll get a story from the