The Flying Reporter

by Herbert Strang

  CHAPTER XII

  Jimmy Lands a Job for Johnnie

  When Jimmy had finished writing his story, after a fast trip back to hisoffice, where he arrived well ahead of his deadline, he reported to themanaging editor.

  "Well, I see you got here in time anyway, Jimmy," smiled that official."Your photographs are fine, but they are a little small. Why didn't youuse your regular news camera?"

  "I didn't take the pictures, Mr. Johnson. Johnnie Lee took them. He hadto use his own camera because I was miles away, at Easton. He got thestory, too, and he got the details in fine shape. If it hadn't been forJohnnie, I guess I'd still be at the mine."

  "This sounds interesting. How did your young friend get into the affair,anyway? Tell me about it."

  "There isn't much to tell, Mr. Johnson. When I landed at Easton, anddidn't see Handley anywhere, I suspected I might have to wait some timefor him, so I called Johnnie up at his home. By good luck he was rightat hand. He lives within two miles of the wrecked mine. I asked him tosee what he could do for me. He skipped right over in his car, got thephotographs, rounded up the only man who escaped from the mine on hisown feet, and had the whole story in hand when I reached there. Heintroduced me to this survivor, who is a foreman in the mine, and so wasable to give us such a comprehensive description of the place. ThenJohnnie took us both back to the mine, so I could see the place and thecrowds for myself. The foreman got me an interview with the minesuperintendent. And by the way, the superintendent had just refused totalk to Rand."

  "Rand, eh? So he's working on this story." The managing editor's eyesnarrowed to mere slits. He looked at Jimmy intently. "You don't suppose,Jimmy, that Rand----"

  "Yes, sir, I _do_ suppose so," interrupted Jimmy. "I'd be willing to betmy last nickel that it was Rand who tricked me into landing at Easton.You know the paper he works for has a plane at the same field where wekeep ours. I didn't see Rand at the field before I took off, but Ibelieve he was there. And I believe that in some way he got wind of thefact that you had ordered me to Shenandoah. I have no proof of that, andI don't see how I can get proof. He might easily have picked up the factfrom employees about the field. My mechanic knew that you wanted me tomake the trip. He told me so the instant I got in from my flight out tosea. He might have mentioned the matter to other people about the field.Of course everybody soon knew about the disaster, and it was a safe betthat I would have to fly to the scene. Rand would know that."

  "Yes, or some one may have tapped our wire. Or some one may be payingmechanics at the field to keep tabs on you. I know of at least onenewspaper in this town that wouldn't be above such work. You just watchyourself, Jimmy. Keep your eyes and ears open and see if you can't findout more about this matter. Everything turned out well this time, butyou won't always have a Johnnie Lee on the spot to pull you out of ahole."

  "That's what he did, Mr. Johnson. Johnnie pulled me out of a great bighole. I might have rounded up the story after I got there, but I couldnot possibly have gotten the pictures also. It grew dark soon after Ireached the mine. Johnnie made a fine job of it. I believe you will sayso, too, when you read his story."

  Just then a copy boy thrust some proofs into Mr. Johnson's hands.

  "Here it is," said the managing editor. "Now we'll see what your storyis like."

  "It's really Johnnie's story, Mr. Johnson," protested Jimmy. "Pleaseread it and see if you don't think Johnnie has shown enough ability nowto start in as a cub."

  Mr. Johnson smiled. "What a fine world it would be, Jimmy," he said, "ifwe all had such loyal friends as Johnnie Lee has in you."

  Then he began to read, and the expression on his face showed well enoughthat he was interested. When he had finished, he laid down the proofs."It's a good story, Jimmy," he said. "Then does Johnnie get his job?"demanded Jimmy.

  "You are nothing if not an ardent partisan, Jimmy. I hadn't any idea ofemploying Johnnie; but he has been so useful to us that if he wants tocome on here and start in as a cub, at the lowest salary we pay cubs,we'll give him a chance. I somehow have a feeling that he has good stuffin him."

  "Indeed he has, Mr. Johnson. You'll never be sorry you hired him. Whendo you want him to report for work?"

  "There's no hurry, Jimmy. I'll drop him a line in a few days. I want himto understand exactly the terms on which he comes and the amount of payhe will receive while he is learning his job."

  "Thank you ever so much, Mr. Johnson. I'll do all I can to help him makegood." And Jimmy walked out of the managing editor's office as happy asa lark. Altogether, it had been a mighty good day for Jimmy.

  "It's an ill wind that blows nobody good," he thought. "If Rand hadn'tpulled me down at Easton, Johnnie would never have gotten this job. Itjust seems to me as though most of the things that look likedifficulties when they occur are really opportunities. It's been thatway with me more than once. The main thing is to keep a stiff upper lip,use your head, and just keep on going. I'll try to remember that thenext time I get in a pinch."

  Jimmy went back to his ship, to see that she was put in shape forinstant use again. He was very happy. Not only had he made good againfor himself, but he had helped his old friend. He had secured for himthe opening that Johnnie so much desired. He wanted to write to Johnnieand tell him about the situation, but he decided not to do it. "Mr.Johnson evidently prefers to write to him himself," thought Jimmy. "Idon't want to do anything that could possibly gum things up." So herestrained himself.

  It wasn't long, however, before Jimmy had abundant opportunity to tellJohnnie all about the matter. A new and important airport was to beopened in central Pennsylvania. Celebrated fliers by the dozens were tobe on hand. An attractive program of races and flying stunts had beenarranged, and the affair had been given great publicity. Mr. Johnsondecided to send a man to cover the story. Quite naturally, he selectedJimmy.

  "Go up there and get us a good story, Jimmy," he said. "If all thefliers are present who are advertised to be there, this will be a veryinteresting gathering. And by the way, I suppose you will fly out alongthe Air Mail route. If you do, stop at Ringtown and take Johnnie Leealong with you. I wrote him two days ago, offering him a job, and I justreceived his reply. He is eager to come. Pick him up and take him to theairport opening with you. I'll give you credentials for him. He canstart right in with you. And remember, I expect you to help him learnhis job."

  "Thank you, Mr. Johnson," replied Jimmy. "I'll do my very best to helpJohnnie. You won't be sorry you hired him. I'll pick him up as I flyout, and bring him back to the city with me."

  "That's exactly what I wish," replied the managing editor.

  So it happened that when Jimmy flew to the air races, he stopped atRingtown and picked up his old friend. Then the two flew on to theairport.

  The aviation meeting was all it had been advertised to be. Scores ofpilots were present, many of them famous veterans of the air. The edgeof the flying field was lined for hundreds of yards with ships that werecrowded so close together their wing tips almost touched. There wereflying machines of almost every known variety. Tiny Moth planes stoodwing to wing with huge tri-motored cabin ships that would hold a dozenpassengers each. There were monoplanes and biplanes, and even somegliders were to be seen. The Army and the Navy were represented byseveral fliers each. The planes of the latter instantly caught the eyeas they stood on the line in military formation, noticeable among allother planes for their blazing insignia on their wing surfaces. It was asight to delight a pilot's heart.

  Yet the ground show was nothing compared to the exhibition in the air.Aloft there was a constant stream of ships. Some were arriving, somedeparting, some were carrying passengers at so much a ride, some werestunting, and others were merely aloft for the pleasure of it. Then cameraces. The air was cleared of all other fliers, and the speedsters hadtheir innings. Back and forth they darted along a course many mileslong, one end of which was in the centre of the new airport. Around thestriped pylon they roared, some darting up
ward on the turn, othersroaring around on level keel. And so steeply were the ships banked thateach seemed fairly to be standing on one wing as it whirled around thepylon. It was a stirring sight.

  But the performance that stopped every heart and made every onlookerhold his breath was the parachute jumps. Jimmy and Johnnie had gonealoft again by the time the jumping started. Ever since Jimmy hadreceived the piece of Warren Long's parachute, he had felt a particularinterest in parachute jumps. He believed he could see the jumps betterif he were in the air, about on the level with the jumpers, than hecould see them if he were on the ground. Likewise, he wanted to get somephotographs of the jumpers, taken from aloft. So he and Johnnie had gonealoft once more.

  They flew along lazily, to the rear of the ship that held the jumpers.And they were a little lower than this ship. Jimmy wanted to see justhow the parachutes worked. He had selected an excellent viewpoint; forwhen the first jumper walked out on a wing of the ship and calmlydropped toward the earth, Jimmy could see his every movement. Downdropped the man, straight as a plummet, hardly moving his body or limbs,until he was well below the plane. Then Jimmy saw him reach for therip-cord, grasp the metal ring, and give it a sharp jerk. With aninstant response the covers of the parachute pack snapped open, thefolds of the white silk "umbrella" were caught by the wind, ballooningout and opening full with a crack that could be heard all over the hugeairport. The downward flight of the jumper was checked. With a jerk hespun upright, then settled toward the earth under his wide-spreadingcanopy. He landed safely, amid great applause. Johnnie got several finesnaps with the camera while the jump was taking place.

  Another jumper followed. This one elected to come down awhirling. Hestepped off backward, and went spinning toward the earth like a ball.When he pulled his rip-cord, his parachute pulled him upright with ajerk that, as Jimmy phrased it, must have splashed his liver against hisbackbone like a butcher throwing a slab of beef on the block. But thejumper landed safe and sound and appeared none the worse for hisexperience.

  The best performance--at least the one that most attracted thecrowd--had been reserved for the last. A woman was to do some stunts andthen put on a parachute and jump. She was a slender young flier, whomthe _Morning Press_ men had noticed at the hangar. She was clad in alight flying suit, and her short hair was bound tight with a broad redribbon wound about her brow.

  When she came out on the wing of the plane, preparatory to giving herexhibition, Jimmy could feel his pulse quicken perceptibly. The sight ofmen about to risk their lives had not stirred him so much. They werefliers, like himself, and every pilot expected that some day he mighthave to make the trip to the ground in a parachute. But to see a youngwoman risking her life, merely to make a show for a curious multitude,stirred Jimmy as it did others. He knew well enough that the crowd onthe ground was standing in breathless suspense. He flew his plane asnear to the jumper's ship as he dared, so Johnnie could get someclose-up snapshots.

  Jimmy watched the woman like a hawk. He noticed her every movement. Shemade her way along the wing of the plane. A rope ladder had beenfastened to a strut. This the woman untied and lowered. Then she swungover the edge of the wing and made her way down the rope ladder. She hadno parachute. Should she lose her grip or be jolted from the ladder shewould fall straight to earth and be crushed. Jimmy almost shuddered ashe looked at her. It seemed terrible to him that any one should risklife in this way. He could hardly bear to watch her. Yet he had comealoft to see the performance and he steeled himself to watch. He kepthis plane moving at the same rate as the exhibition ship but at a lowerlevel.

  Down the rope ladder came the young woman. This swung and swayeduncertainly in the breeze. At the bottom of the ladder was a strongmetal rung or crossbar. It helped to keep the ladder from blowingbackward too far. When the performer came to this metal bar she did notpause but grasped it with both hands and lowered her body into space.There she dangled, a thousand feet in air, with nothing between her andan awful death but her own good grip. Jimmy could feel chills of horrorrunning up and down his spine. He prayed that the air would stay calm.He could hardly bear to look at the woman when she released one handfrom the bar and swung for a moment by a single arm. It was too much forJimmy. He looked away.

  When he brought his glance back to the woman she had altered herposition. Now she was hanging by her knees, her head down, as the shipflew along. For several minutes she did acrobatic stunts at the end ofthe swaying ladder. And during all that time Jimmy was in a tremble. Butthe young woman was as steady as Gibraltar. She lost neither her nervenor her grip. Presently she climbed back up the ladder, rolled andfastened it to the strut, and then climbed to the upper wing, where shebraced herself and stood upright with nothing whatever to hold to, whilethe ship shot through the air at seventy miles an hour.

  Again Jimmy was in a fever of fear. If she slipped, if the plane plungedand threw her off her balance, if the air grew bumpy and tumbled theship about, there could be but one end to the exhibition. The youngwoman would be thrown off her balance and blown out into space. Oncemore Jimmy turned his look away. He could not bear to look at her.

  When he glanced again at the ship he was following he saw something thatelectrified him, that shocked him into instant activity. From thecrankcase of the ship ahead of him flames were leaping.

  Quick as thought Jimmy turned to his companion. "Get the tie rope," heshouted, indicating with a sweep of his arm where he kept the rope withwhich he tied his plane down when he had to leave it out over night.

  Johnnie had the long, strong rope out in no time. He knotted one end ofit fast in the cabin, so it could not get away from him. Meantime Jimmyopened his throttle and his ship darted upward and to one side. In amoment it was almost wing and wing with the exhibition ship.

  The other pilot glanced out and saw Jimmy's plane. Johnnie leaned from acabin window and began making vigorous gestures. He pointed to the womanon the upper wing of the exhibition plane. She was utterly unconsciousthat anything was wrong. Then Johnnie held up his rope and made agesture to indicate that he would try to pick up the woman on the planewing. For a moment the pilot looked at Johnnie as though he did notcomprehend. It came to Johnnie that the pilot did not yet know his shipwas afire. The flames were underneath the engine, and he had not yetnoticed them. Violently Johnnie gestured toward the crankcase. The pilotgot partly to his feet and peered over the edge of his plane. Instantlyhe saw what was wrong. Johnnie once more held up his rope and pointed tothe woman on the upper wing. The pilot nodded agreement.

  "He understands," shouted Johnnie.

  With a suddenness that almost threw Johnnie off his feet, Jimmy bankedhis plane and circled. In a moment he was once more to the rear of theexhibition plane, but now he was above it. The ship was flying slowly,on level keel. Very carefully, like a refueling plane about to fuelanother ship, Jimmy flew his craft over and a trifle ahead of the otherplane. Johnnie was watching carefully.

  "There!" he shouted. "You're just right. Slow her up a bit."

  Jimmy followed instructions. In a moment he was keeping pace with theother ship, but was slightly in advance of it. Johnnie leaned throughthe open window and started to lower the rope. The wind blew it almoststraight back. He drew the rope in and fastened the starter handle to itwith a loose knot. Then he leaned from the window once more andcarefully but swiftly lowered the rope.

  Meantime the young woman on the wing below him had been watching withcurious interest. She did not understand what was afoot. It was well shedid not. She might have lost her nerve. She caught the rope as it camelevel with her and held it uncertainly, meantime looking up at Johnniequestioningly. Johnnie saw that she did not comprehend the situation. Hepointed toward the blazing crankcase. The girl held fast to his rope andtook a step toward the leading edge of the plane wing. The moment shesaw the flames she shrank back in evident terror, and Johnnie's heartalmost stood still with fear lest she fall from the plane wing. But sherecovered her nerve in an instant. Grasping the starter handle, shequickly unt
ied it and laid it down on the wing. That one act toldJohnnie that she had a complete grip on herself. Otherwise she mightthoughtlessly have tossed it into the air. In a second the girl had therope around her body, just below her arms. She tied it tight, with knotafter knot. Then she looked up and nodded.

  Johnnie braced himself and began to haul on the rope. A foot at a timehe dragged the girl upward, while she clung with both hands to the lifeline. It was fortunate she was light in weight. Johnnie was working at adisadvantage. He could not get all his muscles into play. Yet slowly helifted the girl upward until she could grasp the window-frame. ThenJohnnie threw open the cabin door, which was immediately beside thewindow, and reached out and grasped the girl. At the same time she slidher foot within the cabin of the plane and pulled herself, withJohnnie's help, after it. Even above the roar of both motors Johnniecould hear the tremendous cheer that came up from the ground. Johnnieslammed the door shut and fastened it. Then he turned to the girl. Shehad slumped to the floor, as pale as death. But it was merely thereaction after her moment of peril.

  Meantime, Jimmy opened his throttle, pulled back on his stick, and shothis plane upward for hundreds of feet. By the time he leveled off, thepilot below him, who had seen a part of the rescue, had acted to savehis own life. The fire had spread rapidly. Flames were beginning toshoot into the cockpit. Adjusting the stabilizer of his ship so that shewas slightly nose heavy, the pilot headed his plane toward a near-bywoods. Then he stepped over the side, and a moment later was floatingsafely downward under his open parachute. He landed near the flyingfield, without a scratch.

  Seeing the pilot safe and the air clear, for the burning plane sooncrashed in the woods, Jimmy swooped down and landed in the middle of theflying field. His plane rolled rapidly toward the judge's stand and hetaxied it close to the railing that kept the crowd from the field. Adoctor and several officials rushed out to the ship to look after theyoung woman. She was still in a state of collapse. Carefully theyassisted her to the hangar and gave her the necessary attention.

  Jimmy was glad enough to have her off his hands. He was waiting for hisengine to cool a bit before cutting the switch. Then he intended tohurry to the telegraph station and send off a wire. His whole attentionwas now centered on the story he must send.

  What was his astonishment, then, when the crowd broke through thebarriers and a veritable mob came charging toward him as he stepped fromhis ship. For a second Jimmy was dumbfounded. He did not understand whatwas happening. But it did not take him very long to learn. As he andJohnnie stepped clear of the ship the crowd thundered up. A hundredhands were thrust out at them. A babel of voices arose in shoutedgreetings. Men and women swarmed about them, patting them on theirbacks, slapping their shoulders, and reaching for their hands. Thensomebody caught them both from behind, eager hands lifted them bodily,and in another moment they were riding from the field on the shouldersof sturdy men, while the crowd yelled itself hoarse.