by B. M. Bower
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
OVER THE TELEPHONE
"Hello?" cried Johnny, wondering vaguely who could be calling him fromSan Diego. "Oh--who? Mary V! Why, good golly, where did you comefrom? . . . Oh, you did? . . . Say, that was some bronk-riding I didup there among the clouds--what? . . . Oh, yes, I just happened to feelthat way."
In the U.S. Grant hotel Mary V was talking excitedly into the 'phone."I don't know why I happened to drive down here, but I did, and I justgot here in time to see you come flying over and then you did all thoseflip-flops--Johnny Jewel, do you mean to tell me _that's_ the way youhave been acting all the time?"
"Oh, no--I happened to have a fellow along that I wanted to give him atreat!"
"A _treat_! Do you call that a treat, for gracious sake? What are youdoing over there? I want you to come over here just as quick as everyou can, Johnny. Bland is here; I brought him down with me becausehe's a very good mechanic and besides, he was very much worried andtrying to find you, so I thought he could help, and he did. He saw theThunder Bird come sailing overhead before I noticed it, for I wasdriving, and a street car was hogging the crossing and trying to headme off, so I didn't happen to look up just then. And when I did--why,Johnny, I thought sure you were coming right down on top of us! Didyou do that deliberately just to scare me, you bad boy? Now you comeright over here just as quick as ever you can! I am sure I have beenkept waiting long enough--"
"You have," Johnny agreed promptly. "I'm coming, Mary V, and when Iget there you're going to marry me or I'll turn the town bottom sideup. You get that, do you? Your dad ain't going to head us off thistime, I've made good, and doggone him, I can pay that note and haveenough left over to buy me an airplane, or you an automobile or both,by golly! And tell Bland I'll make it all right with him, too. Ikinda left him in the lurch for awhile, but I couldn't help that. I'vebeen thinking, Mary V, what I'll do. I'm going to give Bland theThunder Bird. Doggone it, he's done a whole lot for me, and I guesshe's got it coming. There's planes here that can fly circles aroundthe old Thunder Bird, and I'm going to have one or break a leg. I'll. . . What's that? . . . Oh, all right, I'll come on and do my talkinglater. Being a government line, I guess maybe I'd better not hold thistelephone all day. Sure, I'm crazy to see you! All right, all right,I'm coming right now!"
"With apologies for overhearing a private conversation," said CaptainRiley, "speaking of getting a new plane, why don't you enlist as anaviator? I can use you very nicely and would like to have you here.How would a second lieutenancy strike you, Jewel? I can arrange it foryou very easily--and let me tell you something: Before many months rollby it will be a matter of patriotism to serve your country. We shallbe at war before long, unless I miss my guess. Better come in now.You--your being married will not interfere, I should think--seeing youintend to continue flying, anyway. I wonder, by the way, why I am notinvited to be present at that wedding?"
"Well, good golly! You're invited right now, if you mean you'll go.Mary V will be one proud little girl, all right. And say, Captain, ofcourse I'll have to talk it over with Mary V first, but that offer youjust made me sure listens good. I tried to enlist--that's what Iwanted all along--but I was turned down. But if you'll say a word forme--"
"Your Mary V is wanting," Captain Riley grinned. "And if I may judgefrom the brief conversation I had with her over the 'phone just now, wehad better be on our way!"
