Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PERIL OVER
THE AIRPORT
BY HELEN WELLS
________________________________________________________
To
MATTIE F. MCFADDEN
President, Women Fliers of America
with thanks and fine help
CONTENTS
________________________________________________________
CHAPTER
PAGE
II
FIRST STEP
13
III
28
IV
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
44
55
VI
HARUM-SCARUM
71
VII
91
VIII
CODE LETTER
104
IX
THE TATTOO
115
129
XI
O SOLO ME-O
147
XII
162
XIII
185
XIV
208
XV
223
XVI
238
CHAPTER I
12
CHAPTER II
First Step
plans.
Tactics. Ill have to win Dad over. But how?
Professor Barr, who taught economics at State
University thirty miles away, had objected when
Vicki left college. He had objected when she wanted
to become a flight stewardess. The time Vicki was
assigned to Mexico, Professor Barr objected so
strongly that she nearly didnt get to Mexico. It took
a dozen people to rescue her. Becoming a private
pilot was her least old-fashioned move yet.
If he werent my dad, Id say hes a plain
nuisance. I mean, a plane nuisance. Hah, a pun.
Perhaps shed announce the big news this evening
after dinner. Certainly shed never risk it when her
father was hungry and probably a little irritable.
Ginny came home an hour later. She gave a yelp
of joy at seeing the unwonted amount of luggage in
their room and seized Vicki in her sunburned arms.
You arent leaving tomorrow as usual! Well
have time to go fishing and fix my hair and drive out
to the Jacksons farm for a fried chicken dinner
Sure. Of course we will. Everything. Calm
down, baby. Vicki smiled affectionately at her
younger sister.
Ginny had the same crystalline blond coloring as
Vicki, the same clear features. To look less
utilitarian and exactly like her graceful sister, she
needed only to grow a few inches taller and a few
15
pounds lighter.
Lemonade, their mother called. Here on the
terrace. Lemonade and cookies.
Ginny eyed Vicki. How come?
Yes, thanks, Mother. Be right down, Vicki
called back. Uhhow come what, Ginny?
Will you please stop hedging? Ive spent a hard
afternoon chasing a little amoeba under my
microscope.
We-ell. Vickis soft blue eyes danced. Ginnys
probing eyes sparkled right back at her with
complete understanding. Impossible not to share a
secret with Ginny; they were a team. Coax me,
Vicki said.
Were keeping Mother waiting, Ginny said
righteously.
Very well, dont coax me. Vicki linked arms
with Ginny and they started down the stairs. Keep
quiet about it, though? Im going toahlearn to
fly. As the words came out she felt her face tingle.
Then I am, too! Ginny announced.
Wha-a-at? Vicki hadnt expected this reaction.
Two bombshells? The Barr household might blow
up. You have to be at least sixteen, honey. Of
course, if you really mean it
Yes, I do. I know, about being too young. But I
could do ground school studies, Ginny said eagerly.
And, Vic, Ill help you in every way I can. Youll
16
need it.
Friend. Vicki squeezed her sisters solid little
hand. But I didnt know you, too, wanted
Dying to do it. Its my dream.
We may be able to help each other, Vicki said.
As soon as they were settled on the terrace Vicki
broke the news to her mother. She was startled at
first and offered a few misgivings. But Betty Barrs
heart was not in her objections. Id like to learn to
fly, myself. I admit, Vicki, that I expected you to
graduate to thissooner or later. After exacting a
promise from Vicki to take no foolish chances, her
mother beamed.
Vicki was extremely pleased. Still, she did not
feel sure enough of her ground to inquire about Bill
Avery. Not yet.
Now I only have to tackle Dad, Vicki said.
Only? Ginny gasped.
Imagine! Fly your own planeVicki, if you
dont get your license, Ill never forgive you, her
mother said.
Mrs. Barr, with Ginnys assistance, brought Vicki
up to date on news of their friends, the rock garden,
and Freckles alliance with the Walkers cat next
door. From the flagstone terrace, which faced away
from the road, Vicki could look down on the broad
back lawn with its birdbath and fruit trees, down the
wooded hill and across the lake. This summer she
17
20
together than six miles. But does Bill own all the
land right up to Coreys land, Dad?
Yes, and how do you happen to know so much
about airports and flying, young lady? Isnt one of
you enough?
Then Ill be able to see both fields on the same
trip, Vicki said hastily. Where is this fabulous
Corey on view?
Ginny said that if Vicki went to Guy Englishs
party on Saturday at the country club she probably
would meet Mr. Corey. But how can Guy invite
you if he thinks youre in Hawaii or
At that moment Mrs. Barr declared the
mosquitoes were eating her alive and suggested that
they adjourn to the house. There Vicki decided to
break the news, but Mr. Barr retired behind a
newspaper. She would have to bring the matter to a
head. As soon as tactical, too, because Dean had
written The telephone rang and Ginny rose to
answer it.
Vicki! Telephone for you. Ginny glanced in
their fathers direction. Its Bill Avery.
Oh, yes, Vicki said nonchalantly as she strolled
weak-kneed to the telephone. Probably wants to
know when Ill start my flight lessons.
Victoria! her father protested.
Now, Lewis, their mother said.
Victoria! You could at least talk this over!
24
27
CHAPTER III
Whore you?
Vicki jumped. A small barefoot boy about five
years old was standing as close as possible beside
her, just under her elbow. He stared at Vicki out of
round solemn eyes, then thought for a while, leaving
his mouth open.
Im Freddie.
Hello, Freddie. Im Vicki. Where is everybody?
Im here, the child stated. My mamas at
home. Shes makin spaghetti things with points on
em. Have you got chewing gum?
Vicki took a piece from her shirt pocket and
found another piece in the pocket of her plaid slacks.
Freddies smile nearly split his face when she gave
him the chewing gum. He shoved both pieces in his
mouth at once.
Wheres Mr. Avery? Vicki asked.
Freddie was unable to speak with all that chewing
gum in his small mouth. He shrugged, combed his
hair with his fingers, and ran off.
A roar and a cloud of dust in the side road filled
the air. A small open yellow car streaked along, tore
up to the taxi strip at sixty miles an hour, then
braked to a screaming stop just short of the airstrip.
The driver swung his legs over the low car door and
jumped out, wiped his hands on his stained work
trousers, and grinned cheerfully at Vicki.
Hi! You Vicki? Youre right on time. Oh,
29
did not dare say more. Bill Averys ears and face
flamed red with embarrassment.
This place sure was a wilderness. You shouldve
seen me and a rented tractor trompin out the northsouth runway and the northwest-southeast runway
while a couple of cows watched. Tractor shook my
kidneys loose, I swear, Bill said cheerfully. I was
still shakin when I built the hangar.
Vicki gave a low whistle. Bill wasnt joking when
he said he built this business out of nothing but his
broad back and two hands and flying know-how.
You built that big hangar yourself?
With Dwights help. We chopped down the trees
on this land, sent em to a sawmill, got em back as
boards, and in a month up she went. I rigged up a
swingin rope from a rafter so I could put on the
roof. When you havent any money, you have to
figure out all kinds of ways to get things done.
Vicki looked with more respect at the hangar. Just
a big barnlike structure, with one side open to the
weather, and a dirt floor. A covey of small planes
were parked in there. The hangar was a monument
to Bills determination. She certainly would like to
help anyone as independent as Bill Avery. Vicki felt
a little ashamed of herself for being critical because
this place was down at the heels. Why, it wasnt
finished yet . . .
Bill sensed the genuineness of Vickis interest.
36
hand
Vicki was so hurt that for a moment she could not
speak. Her work with people, and her secondary job
of representing aviation to the public, amounted to a
great deal more than this boy gave credit for. Vicki
remembered her father last evening scornfully
describing fliers as narrow. He had been right.
About all Bill understood was torques and ailerons
and manifold pressure. Vicki said so and wished she
hadnt started to like him so well.
Bill whistled. Whered you learn all those
technical words? He grinned mischievously at her.
Holdin the passengers hand when the plane goes
over a bump. Dressed up pretty all the time, keeps
her plushy plane cabin in apple-pie order.
Seems to me this field could stand a little applepie order, Vicki snapped. Its good business to be
orderly and efficient.
Bill groaned. You sound like my sister. I guess I
must be a hopeless mess.
Quickly Vicki said she hadnt meant that, and that
they both were being pretty silly. They exchanged
uneasy smiles and Vicki suggested that Bill start the
lesson.
All right. Tell me, he said, what makes an
airplane fly?
Vicki offered an explanation. Bill Avery listened
in a sort of polite astonishment, blinking his eyes.
39
them as Bill started the engine. Over the noisy putput of the engine Bill shouted for Vicki to rest her
feet lightly on the duplicate pedals, then he slammed
the door shut. Vicki scarcely noticed that the planes
wheels had left the ground until she felt the motor
pulling hard, like your heart beating when you run
uphill. They rose steeply and fast. The altimeter
needle showed they were up to seven hundred, eight
hundred, now a thousand feet. Bill leveled off and
shouted to Vicki, over the engine noise, to look
down.
We seem not to be moving!
Thats because we have nothin to measure our
movement against. Look at the air-speed indicator!
Ahead of her Bill moved constantly in his seat as
he made small delicate readjustments. Again and
again he touched the stick between his straddled
knees; put his hand briefly on the throttle; his feet
moved lightly on the pedals; now and then his left
hand reached up to the ceiling to turn a little crank
the trim tab.
All this time Bill shouted explanations over his
shoulder but Vicki shouted him down
Its just marvelous! I never dreamed of anything
so wonderful! Big ships, Deans small but old
plane, couldnt touch thisthis airy cradle.
Bill Avery beamed at her over his shoulder, still
gently touching the stick, trimming the tab with a
41
righted the ship and they went floating into the sun,
Vicki shouting:
Its marvelous! And its not hard, is it?
Even from the back of Bills head, Vicki knew he
approved of her. When they came down she was
breathless with delight.
Ill give you a real lesson next time, Bill said,
helping her out of the plane. We wont count this
onejust an introduction. Vicki, I just have to see
Dwight and theres his car. Come along.
Think Ill make a flier? Vicki asked, trotting
after him.
You bet you will! Anyone who loves it that
much But Bills expression had changed. He
broke into a run toward a quiet-looking young man
who was just getting out of a dilapidated car. He
turned around to beckon Vicki and she saw how
worried he looked.
Something was wrong
43
CHAPTER IV
Unfinished Business
54
CHAPTER V
business advice.
Lets settle for a quick cup of coffee.
The restaurant was still wet with mortar and paint
but a sandwich counter was open. Vicki
remembered Ginny and vowed that Avery Airport
would have a food service, too. Bill absent-mindedly
agreed.
Ill bet, Vicki said, Mr. Corey would come
over for a cup of coffee.
Sure he would. Bill slapped down some coins
on the counter. What a guy! Come on, we have to
hurry. No one at home field.
Bill hustled her around steel skeletons of
buildings to Hangar No. 3. He took a moment to
admire a private Cessna. It came from Chicago, he
said. He showed Vicki where to look for the license
number NC (for National Craft) followed by a
number.
They entered the immense hangar where
coveralled mechanics on stepladders were repairing
a transport plane. Bill saw his cargo plane and his
face righted. H ran toward the big two-motor craft.
Hi, Spin! Hows she behavin?
Runs like a sewin machine, a flat voice
answered.
A slight, short young man boosted himself down
from the planes nose. He had jet-black hair and a
cross expression. We gave your DC-3 a complete
64
70
CHAPTER VI
Harum-Scarum
Vicki and Bill Avery had sat down beside the cub, in
the blowing grass and sun, while Bill taught her
some essentials of flight theory. A lone plane in the
air, he told her, was supported from the ground by a
solid complex of weather towers, machine shops,
radio beams, searchlights, and highly skilled
personnel.
Never forget that, Bill said. Pilots get too
cocky. Spin Voight can tell you
Always check your plane before goin up.
Always! Dont spin that prop until youre plumb
sure the plane is in A-1 workin order.
Im no mechanic, Vicki said, worrying a
puffball.
Not necessary. Ill show you. Dont leave the
ground unless youre sure, understand? Always
check! Always! Now stand up and put your hand on
the winghere. They squinted in the sun. That
movable section is the aileron. Thats what makes
71
odd?
Ahhhno. Deals are often introduced and
prepared by representatives. Then later the
principals step in.
I see. Vicki was still not satisfied. Well, thank
you very much indeed, sir.
Then Vicki marched off to the family car, and
was driven to St. Louis for the St. Louis-New York
run.
It was a singularly dull assignment. Vicki had the
night ran, and her only interesting problem was how
to keep herself awake in the darkened plane while
her passengers slept.
When she arrived at the New York apartment not
a single one of her fellow stewardesses was at
homeall were out on flights. Vicki gazed forlornly
at the empty beds. Mrs. Duff, their roly-poly
housekeeper, made pop-overs to console Vicki, but
it was no fun eating them without the other girls.
Dean, newspaperman Pete Carmody, nobody at all
was around. New York was beginning to fill up with
summer visitorsthe regulars were away. Vicki was
lonesome. She flew several Federal flights between
New York and Washington, pinch-hitting on the
vacation schedule. Every glorious June day she
longed to be back in Fairview, doing her own flying
in Bills two-seater plane. That is, if Land and Sky
had not already put Bill out of business. Poor Bill!
89
90
CHAPTER VII
answer.
Iahwonder if we couldnt pack the orchids
in a different way? Bill shot a miffed look at her
but Vicki demurely lowered her eyes. She hadnt
nursed these orchids in cool water and niter for
nothing. Late yesterday afternoon Dwight Mueller
had told her, when delivering this truckload of
tissue-paper-wrapped blooms, how to take care of
orchids before and during flight to the city market.
And what a lot of care it involved! Sufficient air,
coolness, darkness. Vicki loved handling these
fragile and exquisite living things. Bill was too
rough with them. Dwight had tied some of the
orchids into cartons for shipment but Vicki figured
out a way to repack them safely into smaller boxes.
That way, she continued, directing her question
to the CAA man, wouldnt we have room left for
another part payload? Maybe Bill could put a couple
of seats back in and take a passenger or two up to
Chicago with him? She hoped that in her eagerness
to help she was not being tactless or bossy.
I think Miss Barr is right. Why not at least try
it?
Aw, its gettin late. Have to get upstairs.
You shouldnt leave your packing until the last
moment, Mr. MacDonald commented. Bill glanced
at Vicki and flushed.
Uhjust in case it works, BillI ought to tell
95
oil.
Mmmm. Youre not so wild, after all, Lewis
Barr said grudgingly. But wild enough.
Afterward, as Vicki and Ginny showed him the
shadowy garden, Bill wiped his face. Whew! Vicki,
that was a worse ordeal than when I went into a
tailspin to get out of a storm in the clouds. Hope my
answers satisfied your dad. You know, I do my desk
work at night. And I told Spin Id be back by ten.
The next day at the airfield, as usual, Spin kept
silently to himself and to the hangar. Vicki avoided
him, since he was so hostile to her. No need to invite
trouble.
Spin isnt so bad, Ginny insisted as she brought
out two cushions for Vicki, one to sit on and one to
put behind her in the Cub. He plays a lot with
Freddie. The small boy and Ginny were by now
firm friends.
Ginny was right. Vicki could see, as she walked
toward the hangar, Freddie poking around in Spins
tool chest and wearing one of Spins long-billed
cotton caps. Spins face, as he watched Freddie, was
coldly amused.
Good morning, Spin, Vicki said. Bill says
would you please taxi the Cub out to the flight
line?
Spin gave her a surly look. Why cant you taxi
it? Youre a pilot these days, aint you?
100
Fee. You have such lots and lots of land here, you
could afford itthink of the millions of private
pilots whod come and buy gas!
And maybe buy sandwiches, said Cookie
stubbornly.
Bill pretended to hold his head. Im overrun by
women, he groaned. All of them with business
brains like sharks! Ginny, youre doggone right. The
word would get around fast about no tie-down fee
fliers are here today, in San Anton tomorrow.
Thats every fliers pet gripe. This is a new angle
that ought to pack em in!
103
CHAPTER VIII
Code Letter
108
CHAPTER IX
The Tattoo
128
CHAPTER X
146
CHAPTER XI
O Solo Me-O
butterfly.
As she taxied up to the apron, Bill tore across the
grass to her, opened the plane door, and hugged her.
Good girl! I knew you could do it! He kissed
her enthusiastically and the kiss landed on her chin.
Vicki sat there in a happy daze. Good for you! I
told Spin you could do it!
Only then did Vicki see a stretcher and a first-aid
kit waiting at the edge of the runway, and Bills car
with its motor left running, and Ginnys face dead
white. How ridiculous of them to have been so
worried! As a matter of fact, it was Ginny and not
Vicki who needed to have a bottle of spirits of
ammonia held under her nose.
Bill wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
Just one thing, honey. Dont flirt with stalls, please,
until youre a more experienced pigeon. You nearly
gave us all heart failure.
Pooh, said Vicki. It was nothing. She was
fibbing slightly; her fears were almost but not quite
effaced.
Ginny came over and gravely shook Vickis
hand. Youre a pilot, Ginny said, aviationese for
praise.
Vicki pulled off her long-billed cotton cap and
her curls tumbled onto her neck. Whew! This is the
biggest day of my life! Unexpectedly Ginny
grabbed her by her shirttails. With Bills big office
150
for Spin. Vicki would have left Bill and his airfield
then and there, except that she hated to walk out on
Bill when he was under the influence of someone as
dubious as Spin Voight. Maybe she could open
Bills eyes. For Vicki was convinced that todays
accident was no accident at all. Spin had
deliberately tampered with Bills cargo plane.
What a coincidence that the DC-3 should
conveniently break down just on the particular
morning that the orchids were flown to Chicago
and Spin knew the orchids were always packed on
Monday and Friday, that Vicki always helped pack
them, and that on Friday Bill usually took her along.
What Spins motives were she did not knowunless
it were to get rid of herself. She knew too much. Just
by the way, Spin could have killed Bill, too. That
was Bills my friend Spin!
An hour later Bill stomped into the office and
said to Vicki in a deadly still voice:
Did you telephone Dwight Mueller that his
orchids are still sitting here on my field?
Certainly not!
Well, someone did. Always a few busybodies
hangin around an airfield! I dont care which one of
our visitors it was, what I mind isDwight just
drove over here, mad as a hornet, and told me he
thinks Im a rotten careless flier. My friend
Dwight! Hes withdrawin his orchid cargo from this
159
161
CHAPTER XII
tattoo.
Yeah, its sort of unusual. He held out his arm
under the electric light so Vicki could have a good
look. How different from that cagey Spin! He was
flattered at a pretty girls interest, and with Vickis
adroit questioning, he poured out the entire story.
I guess youll think I was pretty wild, but we got
so pent-up in wartime that we had to have some fun,
or wed bust. Le Fort smiled apologetically at
Vicki. Most of us didnt do anything really bad, not
like a fellow like Darnell, we only
Darnell!
Yeah. Ray Darnell. Ill never forget him. He was
a bad one. But as I said, we did a lot of crazy stuff
when we got leaves. One time we went explorin an
old wreck of a castle in the woods. Another time we
had a heck of a good time in the local village. Some
fellows wed thought were missin came back safe
and we celebrated. Anyhow, all of us marched into a
tattoo shop and told the man to fix us up with a
a
A souvenir, a design, Vicki supplied.
Thats it. Took the man so long, only three of us
waited around and had it done. Darnell and a fellow
named Curtis and me. Now look here at my arm.
The plane stands for the Air Force, the serpent was
the insignia of our outfit, and see, heres the town
and the year.
180
184
CHAPTER XIII
I certainly will!
Wha-a-at? came out of the telephone.
I said Spin will receive your message, Mrs.
Keene. . . . Youre welcome.
When Spin returned to the field, Vicki relayed the
message as matter-of-factly as if shed never heard
of Land and Sky, Inc. Nor ever connected it with
Corey. The mechanic glared at Vicki and stalked
into the hangar without saying a word.
But if looks could kill, Id say Spin just
murdered me! Vicki told Bill.
Bill said coldly, Nobodys forcin you to
continue at Avery Airport if you dont like the
people here.
But dont you see? If Land and Sky is Corey,
then heres signs of collusion between Spin and
Corey! She had not yet ventured to tell Bill of a
connection between Spin and Darnell.
No, I dont see, Bill said shortly. Your
imagination is runnin wild.
Vicki was at her wits end. She didnt want to
desert Bill; anyone as blind and pigheaded as that
needed a friend despite himself. She didnt want to
change to a new flight instructor, now that she
neared the date for taking the license examination.
Daily she soloed within the practice area.
Bill was teaching her to read a pilots air chart as
they flew overland in the trainer. He warned her
186
sale!
The airline official sat back and stared for several
minutes out the high window. Vicki felt sick. Who
was this man Hood? Who was his employer
Smithson of Land and Sky, who privately offered
Bills field for sale? Without authority! She had long
suspected Corey of being connected with Land and
Sky, but she never had been completely certain.
Whoever Hood and Smithson were, they must know
Avery Airport wasnt for sale or could easily find it
out. Otherwise, they were plainly crooks. Another
alternativean ugly onewas that Corey and
Smithson were connectedthat Corey had told
Smithson hed soon put Bill out of business with the
injunction, so lets go ahead and sell Avery Airport
to Trans-America for a fat price. As for wanting to
sell Corey Field as well, that made sense. Corey
would be eager to unload his own airfield which was
losing money. If she knew Corey, he probably had
some devious scheme in the back of his mind to
regain control, sold or not sold, once Trans-America
acted to throw the two airports together.
I see. I see, Mr. Bateson was muttering. Not
very pleasant, is it? Well, Miss Barr, Im glad we
sent Hood packing. I felt no confidence in the man.
What he didnt seem to realize is that TransAmerica is an airline and it does not buy or operate
airfields.
200
EKLLI
ILLKE
207
CHAPTER XIV
logbook.
With a little polishin off youre qualified to take
your privates test! What are you lookin so glum
about? You ought to be proud and happy!
Vicki told him of seeing Spin and Corey together
at Greensville Airport.
What of it? Spin took my car to go over to
Bloomington, to borrow a piece of farm machinery
for Dwight. Weve been tryin to get over there and
pick it up all week. I spose Spin figured hed drive
a little further and take a look at Greensville Airport.
He never saw it before.
I suppose Spins meeting Corey over there was a
coincidence? They had an awful lot to say to each
other.
You cant prove anything just because you saw
em together.
After that day, Vicki worked in dead earnest on
the code letter. She showed it, in their blue room, to
Ginny who could not make sense out of it, either.
Vicki studied what she had so far. First, the original
message:
YENOM EROME SUDLU OCGNI YRTPE
WYAWE HTNIS ILRIG NOOSE CNAHC ONXXX.
EKLLI
money.
MONEY EMORE ULDUS INGCO EPTRY
EWAYW SINTH GIRLI ESOON CHANC XXXNO.
ILLKE
but strict.
Corey and Spin-Darnell were in her thoughts
constantly. She kept the code note, and its
deciphering, in her pocket for safekeeping. She was
only waiting for Bills return to show it to him.
As for the impatient Wing Scouts, Vicki simply
could not give them any time now. Ginny
sympathized and held a preliminary meeting at The
Castle. Vicki often spent her lunch hour out on the
flight line, munching a sandwich while giving her
student Ginny a cockpit check-out.
Vicki still felt she needed to practice in the air.
She still had a few precious days free from her job,
so she flew every day she could. Her purse grew
thin, but Vicki figured it was worth it.
She took the Cub out alone one overcast morning.
Bill, who had returned just an hour ago, spun the
prop for her. It was Spins day off. The mechanic
could not be spared on Sundays or even Saturdays,
when the airport was busiest.
Watch the weather, Vicki, Bill warned her.
Before it starts to storm, you turn around and sit
down. I mean sit down on the earth, you landlubber!
Thats a dirty-lookin sky.
Okay, boss. Vicki smiled, waved, taxied, and
up she went, rising into the sky.
The air felt surprisingly cool this morning, and a
little rough. Autumn was on its way, all right. She
218
222
CHAPTER XV
road.
Ginny, are you willing to do a dangerous
errand?
You know Im not going to say no.
I know! The sisters smiled at each other. First,
I want this note delivered to Mr. Corey, in person, at
once, at Corey Airportnot by you nor by anyone
who knows us. I think a telegraph company
messenger would be best, or theres that messengerand-delivery service on Vermilion Street. Heres a
dollar.
Never mind, thanks. I brought some money with
me. May I see what you want delivered?
For reply Vicki unfolded a code note, on ordinary
lined notebook paper. She and Bill had typed it on
his old typewriter while Spin was downtown. This
faked code note looked very much like the one
Freddie and Ginny had originally found, and it read:
ESLER OEMOC TNEGR UYTRI HTTHG IETHG INOTR
AGNAH YREVA ENOLA EBLLI KCIUQ NOSRE PNIUO
YEESO TTOGX.
asked patiently.
Vicki produced the envelope Spin had lost. I
think so, she said. Out of the envelope, which was
postmarked Fairview, she drew a check. She
moved in front of the headlights of Judge Englishs
car to read it. It was payable to Spin Voight, drawn
on a South Fairview bank, on a check printed for
Land and Sky, Inc.and it was signed J. R.
Smithson. Yes, Mr. Mac, I believe we have
important proof. If youll give me one more day, Ill
be able toto reveal something pretty astonishing.
Will you all excuse me until then? Come on, Ginny,
lets go home.
237
CHAPTER XVI
But you will be. Vicki lost her temper. Ill tell
the truth and nobodys going to silence me! Im
going to tell the whole truth, so help me!
The Judge rose. Perhaps we had better hear this
testimony in my chambers, under oath and in the
presence of a stenographer. The Judge dominated
by moral force. Im sorry, Andrew, but you will
have to ask your guests to enjoy your hospitality
without you. Bill, call the steward. Mr. Corey will
relay the message and his regrets.
The four of them, in strained silence, drove
downtown to the Judges chambers. There Judge
English summoned Mr. MacDonald, the Fairview
police chief, and the court stenographer, assuring
Mr. Corey that his lawyer was welcome to be
present if he could be located by telephone. These
peopleexcepting the lawyer who could not be
found at oncewere no sooner assembled than the
police detective rapped and came in.
Some news, sir. Spin Voight was just picked up.
In Chicago. He abandoned Averys yellow car about
five oclock this morning and was caught around
noon trying to steal another car. The Chicago police
are flying him down here right away. He handed
the Judge a sealed note.
Vicki watched Corey during this announcement.
He changed color but maintained his poise. He even
managed to look indifferent.
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