Flying the Coast Skyways; Or, Jack Ralston's Swift Patrol

ech Ha

business, the warmer it gets!" Perk exploded, banking on the s

when we find ourselves neck deep in the mixup, you'll be looking back, and smiling at what you're saying now. From

aid Perk, grimly. "Huh! sometimes I get to thinkin' what happened up in that Hole-in-the-Wall outlaw

ll the news that was contained in that letter

ily; "it'll amuse me while I'm awashin

partment, evidently so that he coul

mmandeer into the service-half a dozen fighting men, heavily armed, and prepared for anything that might com

nally the pilot set them down exactly on the smooth landing field the gang used when working their old wreck of a ship, carrying the packa

ed thirty feet high with a mass of rocks, thrown down by the tremendous force of the bomb you exploded when we cleared out; and some of the cabins and huts

nd his staff. Then they amused themselves by climbing to a five hundred foot ceiling, and making a target of the hut where the work had been carried on. Our friend in L.A. went on to assure me

n we sure did a natty piece o' work up there in that God-forsaken neck o' the woods. Seems like life has got som

ally along the risky line of business we're engaged in. So we've got to take things as th

g his face and neck with the course huck towel, as he loved to do on

ey will," said Jack, promptly enough, showing th

forgot to lay in some tooth-paste, an' I'm kinder used to

ch he was inordinately proud, as Jack had occasion to know full

, so as not to be caught napping. "Like as not you'll find a drugstore handy to the hotel, and can get what you want easily enough. I'd rather you didn't go f

ht well. When I was over in France, helpin' run that sausage balloon we used for observation purposes, it allers gimme a wonderful thrill jest to see six Heinie ships takin' off, intendin' to ketch us guys 'fore we could d

d. Jack noticed that after the other entered the room his first act was to most carefully lock the door; and there was something significant about this action, so forei

paste, did you

face. "Found there was a drugstore right handy; an' seein' I was thirsty I jest stopped ov

the other, and noting how a grave look had succeeded the humorous one. "Su

tion to, bein' wrapped up in my own affairs jest then. I'd raised the glass to take a fust sup when I done heard some

or he stopped just then, and eyed his companion eagerly, as if tickled t

en after all the party at the soda counter wasn't quite a

haow he ever got wise to the fack,

hat did you do th

I needed 'bout half a minute to git a grip on my senses; so I tilted up my glass, an' swallered a few times;

him?" demanded

along, an' in course he done heard me order my drink; so if I tried to play that dumb trick, as haow yeou tole me

led amia

go ahead and let me know what followed; because I've already guessed the man at your elbow must

2

ers of the