Linda Carlton, Air Pilot

by Edith Lavell

  CHAPTER XI

  _An Anxious Day for Linda_

  Never in her life did Linda remember being so exhausted as she had beenon the evening of her flight to Green Falls. With her Aunt Emily's helpshe had somehow gotten into bed, and eaten the supper of milk-toastwhich the maid had brought to her.

  Inside of an hour she was fast asleep, not to awaken until eleveno'clock the following morning, although her aunt, still a littleworried about her fainting, was in and out of her room three times. Itwas upon the last occasion that she finally opened her eyes.

  "Oh, such a good sleep, Aunt Emily!" she murmured, contentedly.

  "Do you feel better, dear?" inquired the other.

  "Just fine, thanks. And hungry."

  "I'll have Anna bring you up some fruit, and then you can have lunchwith us. Or would you rather have a regular breakfast in bed?"

  "Just the fruit, please, Aunt Emily," replied Linda. How kind, howthoughtful, her aunt always was! No real mother could ever be more so."You are so good to me, Auntie!" she cried, impulsively catching theolder woman's hand.

  "And you're always so appreciative, dear," responded her aunt,affectionately. "I don't think most young girls are like you. They justexpect their parents to do everything. Older people like thanks."

  "I guess everybody likes to be thanked, when they deserve it...." Shejumped out of bed, and slipped into a chiffon negligee that hung overthe chair. "And now I'll hurry with my bath!"

  "Yes, dear--because your father arrived yesterday, after you had goneto bed. He'll be here for lunch, but he has to leave right aftersupper."

  "Is he downstairs now?" asked Linda, excitedly.

  "I don't know whether he has come in or not. He went somewhere withRalph this morning."

  "With Ralph?"

  "Yes. Something about the theft, I believe.... Well, dear, I'll send upsome raspberries--or would you rather have cantaloupe?"

  "Cantaloupe, I think, Aunt Emily," replied Linda, as Miss Carlton leftthe room.

  Some of the happiness with which Linda awoke seemed to vanish at heraunt's statement about her father and Ralph. She had forgotten for themoment about the necklace--that airplane accident, and the shock offinding Ted Mackay. What could it all mean? Was Ted really involved inthe affair?

  By this time her father must know about him, since her Aunt Emily saidhe was with Ralph. What were they up to now? If Ted really were inleague with the thief, would they put him in prison too? She hated thethought of such a thing--it did not seem possible. Surely, there mustbe some explanation. All of a sudden she longed fiercely to see theboy, to hear the story from his own lips. But he was in a hospital,unconscious--perhaps dying!

  Anna came in with the cantaloupe as Linda finished her bath, and shesat on the edge of the bed to eat it. She made a pretty picture, hersoft curly hair damp from the water, her cheeks pink with color afterthe cold shower, her charming blue negligee wrapped about her slenderfigure. She looked like a lady of leisure enjoying her late breakfastas if it were a regular thing; not an aviation student who arose everymorning at seven o'clock and put in a hard day's work at school.

  When she entered the living-room, she found her father there waitingfor her. She was all in white now, white linen sports suit, and whiteshoes. He held out his arms invitingly, and she leaped gracefully intohis lap.

  "Daddy dear!"

  "Linda!"

  "You didn't mind my not waking up for supper last night, did you?" sheasked, after she had kissed him. "I would have been too tired to talk."

  "Of course not! It was the wisest thing to do. Sometimes when you forceyourself to keep awake after a strain like that, you find you cannot goto sleep again. But you're rested now?"

  "Fresh as a freshman," she replied, laughing.

  "And I'm mighty proud of my little girl," he added, affectionately,"for passing your examination and flying all the way up here withoutany mishaps."

  Linda's face grew sober, and her eyelids fluttered.

  "But--I didn't, Daddy. You--you heard about the necklace?"

  "Yes. That was too bad, but I can't see that it was in any wayyour fault. You'd be a queer flyer if you didn't want to test yourknowledge."

  "Then you don't really blame me?" she asked eagerly. Her father'sapproval had always meant so much to her.

  "Of course not. It was the boy's carelessness. He agrees with me, andso do his father and mother. I went over to see them last night."

  "Ralph hasn't heard anything more, has he?" she asked anxiously. Howshe longed for news of Ted! But she was afraid to mention his name toher father.

  Mr. Carlton, however, answered her unspoken wish.

  "No," he said. "We drove over to see Mackay at the hospital thismorning, and tried to talk to him. But he wouldn't admit a thing. Hebecame hysterical when we accused him, and the nurse had to ask us togo away. We're as much in the dark as ever."

  Linda got up quietly and went over to a chair. Somehow she wouldn't siton her father's lap when he held such widely different opinions fromher own. But Mr. Carlton did not seem to notice that she had gone. Hesat perfectly still, thinking.

  "You really believe Ted--Mr. Mackay--had a part in the horrible thing?"she asked, dismally.

  "I don't think there is a doubt of it."

  "But how do you explain the fact that he was shot? Surely, if he andthis thief were working together, one wouldn't shoot the other!"

  Her father shook his head, and smiled indulgently. What a child shewas! What did she know about the wickedness of criminals?

  "I'm sorry to tell you, dear, that in spite of that old proverb aboutthere being honor among thieves, there isn't much. They are so utterlyselfish and unprincipled that if one finds that his pal is getting thebetter of him, he doesn't hesitate to wound--and oftentimes kill--theother. If Mackay was making off with the necklace, and this otherfellow saw that all his work had been for nothing, one could hardlyblame him for shooting.... No, I'm afraid that doesn't prove a thing."

  Linda sighed; everything seemed hopelessly black for Ted.

  "Will they put him in jail?" she asked.

  "Whom?"

  "Mr. Mackay."

  "Of course, when he is well enough. Our detectives will see to that.We can't actually convict him till we have more evidence. But we canforce him to tell what he knows about this other thief."

  A lump came into Linda's throat, and she felt as if she couldn't talkany more. For the time being, even her interest in her plane was gone.It had brought so much unhappiness--first to Kitty, and now to TedMackay.

  She was thankful when her aunt came into the room, to take her mindfrom her morbid thoughts. At the same time, Anna announced luncheon.

  "What are you planning to do this afternoon, dear?" inquired her AuntEmily, as she ate her iced fruit-cup. "Because I want part of yourtime."

  "Certainly, Aunt Emily. But tell me, have you decided you would like togo up in the Pursuit?"

  "No, no--nothing like that. I want to live a little while longer,dear--Green Falls is so pleasant! But, seriously," she added, "I dowant you to do something for me. I want you to try on your costume forthe Midsummer Ball. I had to order it without asking you, dear, for ofcourse you were too busy learning to fly, and it hadn't come when weleft Spring City. But I think it is very charming--and I hope you willlike it."

  "I'm sure I shall. But, Aunt Emily, I could have worn my flyer's suit,and saved you all that trouble."

  "You're going to get tired enough of that suit, attractive thoughit is. Besides, everybody would know you. And I like you to lookespecially pretty--in fluffy, feminine things. I have chosen thecostume of Queen Mab for you."

  "Oh, that will be adorable!" cried Linda, her eyes sparkling withpleasure, for she too loved dainty things.

  "And may I see you when you are trying it on?" put in Mr. Carlton "Yourmother once wore something like that in a fairy play--and she was verybeautiful. I'd like to see whether you remind me of her."

  "Certainly, Daddy. I'll put it on right after lunch
. And then I'll dowhatever you want. Take you up for a ride, if you would like it."

  "I think you're too tired for that," he replied. "No--I'll wait tillthe next time I come. Besides, the mechanics ought to have a chance togo over your motor before you fly it again. Don't forget the promisesyou made to me."

  "I won't forget, Daddy. I'll telephone over to the airport thisafternoon."

  "By the way, daughter, have you ever tried jumping with a parachute?Did they make you do that at school?"

  At his question, Miss Carlton suddenly stopped eating and gazed at thegirl in terror. Surely Linda would not do such a hazardous thing asthat!

  "Yes, Daddy," replied Linda, blushing, for she did not want to sayanything about her jump with Ted Mackay. "Lieutenant Kingsberry himselfwas with me. Mr. Taylor didn't want to let me try it--I don't thinkhe has much use for girls who want to fly--so I went straight to theLieutenant. He went up with me himself."

  "Wasn't it a dreadful experience?" asked her aunt, with a shudder.

  "No--not terrible at all. I felt a little queer before the parachuteopened, but after that it was delightful. Just softly floating downfrom the skies. I loved it."

  "Well, I'm glad you did it," remarked her father. "Because now youwon't be afraid if you ever have to."

  "I am hoping I won't have to--with my Pursuit. Not that I'd be afraid,but because it would be the end of my plane. Think of just leaving italone, to crash!"

  "It would be too bad, of course--but I could buy you another plane. Wecouldn't buy another daughter, could we, Emily?" he asked his sister.

  "Don't talk about it!" begged Miss Carlton, miserably.

  "All right," agreed Linda. "Suppose Daddy tells me what he would liketo do this afternoon--after I try on the costume."

  "Sure you don't want to be with your young friends?" he inquired.

  "I'll have all the rest of the summer for them."

  "Then let's go for a little drive in your roadster. Out to some prettyroad. And come back in time to go swimming with your crowd."

  "I'd love that, Daddy!" she exclaimed. Then, turning to her aunt, "Butis my car here, Aunt Emily? Did Thomas bring it up all right?"

  It was strange indeed, that she had forgotten to ask about it. Alwaysbefore she had driven it herself, while Thomas, the chauffeur tookcharge of her aunt's limousine. This time he had hired a friend todrive the other, and brought hers himself.

  "Yes, he drove it up yesterday," replied her aunt.

  The hours that followed would have been very pleasant for Linda, hadshe not felt underneath her cheeriness, a growing anxiety about TedMackay. After their little outing, she and her father put on theirbathing-suits and joined the group at the lake. In the diving, theracing, the polo game, Mr. Carlton proved a match for the young people;indeed he was the ringleader in suggesting tricks to the more daringmembers of the crowd. Even Louise, who had always stood somewhat in aweof him because he was sterner than her own parents, had to admit thathe was a good sport.

  Ralph, who had not counted upon seeing Linda until evening, wasdelighted to find her at the lake, and tried immediately to date her ashis partner for the canoe trip of the evening. But Linda shyly refused,telling him that her aunt was one of the chaperons, and the onlypartner she was willing to have. She shrank from the thought of talkingto Ralph about Ted, or the robbery; she decided not to see him alone.

  Early after supper Mr. Carlton departed in a taxi, and Linda and heraunt drove over to Louise's bungalow to join the group for the canoetrip. There were a dozen young people besides themselves, and Mr. andMrs. Haydock, too. Six canoes had been chartered.

  "Canoeing will seem kind of tame after flying, I guess," remarked DotCrowley, as the young people walked over to the lake. "By the way, howsoon will you take me for a fly?"

  "Anybody might take you for a fly," remarked Maurice Stetson. "You buzzaround so!"

  Linda smiled, but she answered Dot's question immediately. Maybe thelatter was as keen about airplanes as she was herself! You never couldtell.

  "In a few days," she said. "For the time being I want to hold myselfand my plane in readiness to chase that thief--if we ever get thechance!"

  "You still worrying about those pearls?" inquired Maurice, lightly.

  "Naturally," answered Linda.

  "Well, I command you to forget it. Kitty'll soon get over it. Anybodyas beautiful as Kit is, doesn't need pearls. Besides, when she marriesme, I'll buy her a bigger string!"

  "You mean _if_, not _when_, don't you?" countered Kitty. But she wasevidently in high spirits again, thanks perhaps to the young man whomade no secret of this adoration.

  There wasn't much opportunity for conversation, however. Jim Valier hadbrought his mandolin, and from the moment when the canoes pushed offuntil they were tied at the opposite side of the lake, where the youngpeople made a fire and toasted marshmallows, everybody sang. Lindanaturally joined in with the music, but only with her lips. Her heartwas still heavy with the misfortune the preceding day had brought.

  On the way home she made up her mind to telephone the hospital thefollowing morning. At least she could inquire about Ted--and maybe--oh,how she hoped it would be possible--she could speak with him, andhear from his own lips the explanation of his connection with theunfortunate robbery.