Chapter XV
Sunny Hills
The girls' visit with the elderly couple at the hotel at Kansas City was restful, but uneventful. As soon as they arrived, Linda telephoned to her aunt over long distance, and made a satisfactory report. Dinner and the movies occupied their evening.
Early the next morning they bade their host and hostess a temporary farewell – for they were scheduled to return in a couple of days – and took a taxi to the airplane company where their Arrow was being kept.
"It's a little cloudy, girls," observed Mr. Jordan as he came over to meet them. "But I don't think it will actually storm before night. Are you going far?"
"To a place called 'Sunny Hills'," replied Louise, producing her map. "In Colorado."
The man studied it for a few minutes, and then pointed out their best course.
"And your plane's O.K.," he added. "She certainly is a neat little boat."
"I'm fond of her myself!" replied Linda, her eyes shining as they always did when she spoke of her most precious possession.
"And have you had any word from Mr. Mackay?" asked Louise.
"Yes. He's coming back today," answered Mr. Jordan. "I sent a plane for him, with the letter you suggested. The pilot wired last night that he arrived safely, and both men would be back on the job tomorrow."
"He didn't say anything about the detectives?"
"Not a word."
"Then everything must be all right!" breathed Linda, with a sigh of relief.
"Well, good-by," concluded Mr. Jordan, as the girls stepped into their plane. "And fly carefully. That's rather lonely country you're passing over."
"But the skies are safe!" returned Linda, as she started her motor.
It was indeed a more desolate stretch of land than any they had flown over before. The girls noticed this as they sped on, the miles piling up in rapid succession.
This time they carried no lunch, for they had hesitated to ask at the hotel, and as the hours passed, they grew very hungry. Moreover, the sky was so cloudy that the sun was totally obscured, and they had to be guided entirely by instruments. Two or three times they seemed to get off their course, and it was almost five o'clock when they finally landed at an airport and inquired their way to Sunny Hills.
"It's about five miles north," they were told. "But wouldn't you rather leave your plane and taxi over?" their informer suggested.
"No, thanks," replied Linda. "Because we want to have our plane there, to use it if we need it, and to show to our friends. But we would love to have something to eat, if you can tell us where there is a stand for refreshments."
While the man was leading them to a sandwich booth, a mechanic came up and filled the plane with gas, and at Linda's request, looked it over hastily. Fifteen minutes later the girls took off again, having been assured that there was a field for landing at Sunny Hills, because, it seemed, the owner – or possibly the owner's son – had a plane.
As they descended over the field in back of the huge country house that was the home of the Stillmans the girls observed numerous people running out of the doors and from the porches to be on hand to welcome them. By the time they had landed, Louise counted seventeen.
"Hello, everybody!" she shouted, as the noise of the motor died. "Get our wire?"
"Surest thing!" answered a man of about thirty, tall and heavily-built, and smiling.
An elderly woman was pressing through the throng, holding out her arms to Louise.
"Aunt Margaret!" cried the girl, rapturously. "I'm so glad to see you! And I want to introduce my chum – Linda Carlton."
"I am more than delighted to meet you, my dear," said Mrs. Stillman, pressing Linda's hand – "I am proud to meet you!"
"Thank you," murmured the girl, her eyelids fluttering in embarrassment, for she felt that as yet she had done nothing to merit praise.
"And now I'll tell you everybody's name," continued the older woman. "Though I know you can't possibly remember them."
She proceeded to introduce her friends and her children – the latter all younger than Roger, the man who had first spoken to them, and evidently her oldest son. There were four small children among the group, two of them grandchildren of Mrs. Stillman.
"I want you girls to use my hangar," offered Roger, immediately. "My plane's away getting repaired. So shall I put yours away for you?"
"Oh, thanks!" replied Linda, gratefully. "It's so nice to find another pilot – to do the honors, and the work!"
As the happy, noisy group walked with the two girls back to the house, they asked all sorts of questions at once, about the trip, the plane, the relatives back home. Louise and Linda answered as fast as they could, but finally gave up, laughing in their confusion.
"Now everybody stop talking!" commanded Mrs. Stillman, and though her tone was jovial, Linda could see at once that she meant what she said, and that she was used to being obeyed.
"Our brave flyers must be awfully tired, and this is no way to treat them, before they have even had a drink of water. Elsie," she nodded to a girl about Linda's age, "I want you to take the girls to their room, and I'll send up their suit-cases and some iced tea. And then they are going to have peace until dinner-time!"
"Oh, Aunt Margaret, we're not so tired," protested Louise. Still, the thought of a cool shower, iced tea, and a few minutes for a nap was very pleasant.
Elsie and Louise, who had been great friends when they were younger, spending several long, happy summers together, were both delighted at the chance of renewing their friendship. Linda, too, found Elsie charming, and the three girls were soon chatting merrily over their iced tea.
"I want you to tell me the news of your family first," said Louise. "And begin in order, so Linda can get them straightened out. I mean – which ones are married, and which have children, and all that sort of thing."
"Yes, do," urged Linda. "I only know Roger – because he is a pilot – and you, by name."
A knock at the door interrupted them, and when Elsie answered it, two young men brought in the girls' suit-cases.
"The twins," explained their sister. "Dan and David. It really isn't hard to tell them apart, if you look closely."
"I remember!" cried Louise. "Your hair is curlier, isn't it, Dan? And David has a broken finger."
"Righto," agreed the latter, holding up his finger for inspection, and keeping his eyes on Linda. He had fallen for her charms already.
"You're excused," said Elsie, tersely.
"With many thanks," added Linda, graciously.
"Now begin over again," urged Louise, when the boys had gone. She began to open the suit-cases and to pull out the negligees, so that they could be perfectly comfortable.
"Well," continued Elsie, settling back in the pretty cretonne-covered chair that matched all the furnishings of the lovely, yet simple bedroom, "you know Aunt Margaret, of course. Those other two elderly women are friends – no need for you to learn their names.
"Of us, Roger is the oldest – he's thirty-one – and he isn't married. He's had dozens of girls, but I think he loves being a bachelor. He goes in for all kinds of racing – motorboat, automobile, and now airplane. And he adores young girls. You want to watch your step, Linda, for we're always expecting him to marry all of a sudden sometime. To somebody a whole lot younger!"
Linda smiled, and Louise shook her head knowingly.
"Linda's wise," she remarked.
"And Anita's the next oldest," went on Elsie. "I guess you didn't recognize her, did you, Louise? The stout woman, with those two children clinging to her."
"No, I didn't!" exclaimed her cousin. "But remember, it's been ten years since our family were here. I do recall her now – she was a High School graduate that summer. And so thin!"
"Well, she's fat now, and so is her husband. You'll see him tonight – they're spending the summer here. They have two kids… The twins come next – they're twenty-three, and then my other married sister Jennie. You remember Jen?"
"Naturally!"
"And I'm the baby!" concluded Elsie, cheerfully.
"But does that account for that whole crowd?" asked Linda. "Lou said she counted seventeen."
"Oh, the others were gardeners, and gardeners' children, and servants. There are twelve of us at dinner every night, with father and Anita's husband. And you girls will make fourteen."
"I always thought it would be wonderful to have a big family," sighed Linda. "My aunt and I live all alone, except once in a while when my father comes home."
"All the more reason why you should spend a couple of weeks with us!" urged Elsie, cordially.
"We'd love to, but we can't," answered Louise. "But we'll promise to come oftener, now that Linda has her Arrow."
"And that reminds me," put in Linda, "that we must call our folks."
Elsie handed her a telephone, which was on a little table beside the bed, and made her excuses and left them alone. It was almost time to dress for dinner.
Before the girls had answered the summons of the gong, the rain, which had been threatening all day long, came in torrents. But it did not dampen the spirits of the happy group that was gathered about the long table.
David Stillman, a starry-eyed young man with a serious expression, had managed to persuade his mother to let him sit next to Linda on her left, while Roger, the eldest, had naturally preëmpted the place on her right. The younger man, it seemed, believed her to be the ideal girl he had always dreamed of. He tried almost immediately to make her promise to play tennis with him, to go canoeing and swimming. Roger, on the other hand, saw two days' fun ahead of him, playing with the girls and the plane, and he made up his mind not to give his younger brother a chance.
Sizing up Linda immediately as a girl seriously interested in aviation, he began to talk on that subject, shutting out poor David completely. He told her about his plane, and the trips he had made, and the races he had won.
"But you are a new pilot, aren't you?" he asked her.
"Yes, why?" she asked. "Did I do anything wrong?"
"No, indeed! You fly like an old-timer. But what I mean is, you haven't gone in for any competitions yet, have you? Air-derbys, endurance flights – height records?"
"No, I haven't had time."
"But you will?"
"I don't know. I want to do something. But just what…"
"You have a wonderful opportunity," continued Roger. "Because you have ambition, and time, and youth – and enough money to back you." He paused to eat a generous slice of roast-beef. Unlike David, who was staring moodily at his plate and playing with his food, Roger ate with enormous appetite. "You see, the trouble with most of us is, that we haven't the time and the money. And the very rich are seldom ambitious."
"I am hoping to do something next year," Linda announced, slowly. "But not until I study some more."
"Wise girl!" was his comment. "I wish my kid brother – Dan – were of the same opinion. I can hardly keep him out of my plane – and he hasn't even a license. He's a perfect pest."
"Won't you please talk to me?" entreated a voice on the other side, and turning her head, Linda realized for the first time how she had been neglecting David.
"I'll give you all the rest of the dinner-time!" she said, laughingly. But the conversation at once became so general that she did not have a chance to keep her promise.
After dinner the rain abated, but nobody went out except Dan, who said he was always looking for adventure. But in such a crowd, they did not miss him; the young people danced and sang and played pool and ping-pong in the game-room.
They were just finishing some lemonade and cake which Mrs. Stillman had brought out for their refreshment, when a telegram arrived for Linda. Her mind flew instantly to Ted Mackay, wondering whether he had been arrested in spite of all her efforts to help him.
But the news proved worse than anything she had expected. It was from her aunt.
"Your father seriously hurt. Fly to ranch at once."
Helplessly, she handed the telegram to Mrs. Stillman, who read it aloud to the others. Heroically, Linda managed to keep from crying.
"Thank Heaven for the Pursuit!" cried Louise, who had her arms about her chum. "We'll get there in no time."
"Let me go with you," suggested Roger.
"No – thank you," stammered Linda, clinging to Louise. "I need Lou – more than anybody."
"Well, then, I'll map out your course for you," offered the young man. "It's strange country to you?"
"Yes. I've never been to this ranch before. Dad had another one that I used to visit, when I was a child." And she gave Roger the exact location.
Ten minutes later, with their arms still entwined, Linda and Louise went up to their room, having exacted a promise from Mrs. Stillman to waken them at five o'clock the following morning.
Chapter XVI
The Accident
At seven o'clock the following morning, after eating the hearty breakfast upon which Mrs. Stillman insisted, the girls entered the Pursuit, and taxied off, waving farewell to Elsie, Roger, and their hostess. Of the large family, only these three – and the cook – had risen in time to say good-by. Even David had overslept; but his eldest brother was on hand to help the girls get their start.
Fortunately, the rain was over, and both Linda and Roger believed that, barring mishaps, the flyers should reach their destination early in the afternoon. With this hope, both girls kept their spirits high; they refused to worry about Linda's father until they saw for themselves. For Miss Carlton was likely to look upon the dark side of things, and it was probable too that the help at the ranch were frightened by the accident to their employer.
Tears of gratitude came to Linda's eyes when she saw the enormous lunch which Mrs. Stillman had been able to provide at such short notice, and she did not know how to thank the kind woman or her son. So she merely smiled gratefully, and waved good-by.
Louise kept the map of their course in her lap, and for two hours they flew on, making no attempt to talk, but every once in a while pressing each other's hand in sympathy and affection.
As the sun was growing hotter and higher in the sky, Linda was beginning to wonder whether they were not somewhat off their course. She examined the map.
"We ought to be nearing that town!" she shouted, pointing to a spot which Roger indicated by a large dot on the map. "And I don't believe that we are."
"Fly lower!" suggested Louise. "Let's see!"
Cautiously the young pilot descended, but though both girls looked eagerly, there were no roofs or other evidences of a town. An almost continuous expanse of shrubbery seemed to cover the ground, and Linda did not care to land.
So she went higher again, and pointed her plane south, trusting that they were right.
For two hours more they continued to fly without seeing any of the landmarks for which they were so eagerly watching. Afterwards Linda remarked that she believed they had been going in a circle.
The sun was almost directly overhead now, and both girls were feeling hungry, for their breakfast, though substantial, had been an early one. They were just considering opening their box to eat, when Linda noticed a queer noise in the motor.
"Something's wrong, Lou!" she shouted, trying to smile as if she were not worried. "We'll have to land."
"Here?" gasped Louise, in horror.
"Yes. Watch the ground! We must find a good place."
Louise was gazing about at the sky and the horizon, when, turning around, she happened to glance at her companion's face. A set look had come into Linda's eyes, her lips were rigid. Uneven, yet deafening, was the threatening sound of the motor. Suddenly it let off a terrific explosion.
"Will we be killed?" screamed Louise, hoarsely.
Linda did not try to answer. She needed every ounce of brain power, of energy for the test that was ahead of her. She was working frantically with the joystick. So Louise too, kept quiet, and looked over the side of the plane – and prayed.
At first it seemed they were dropping terrifically; but gradually, frightened though she was, she could feel that some safety device was taking hold. The speed was lessening. Down, down they went, but more gradually now.
And then they were close enough to the ground to see it. A woods of stumpy trees stretched under them, but over to the right was a field. Would Linda be able to guide the plane there, or must they be dashed against the tree-tops, to meet a sickening death?
How would it feel to be dead, Louise wondered. And oh, her poor mother and father! Even in those few seconds, it seemed as if her whole life flashed before her, and although she was really a very sweet girl, she believed herself a monster of ingratitude. Not a bit like Linda – who was always thinking of her Aunt Emily and her father!
Linda, on the other hand, had no time for any such thoughts. She was working as she had never worked before, guiding her stricken plane. And – miracle of miracles – they were passing the tree-tops! They were over a field of weeds.
"Thank God!" cried Louise, reverently.
"Wait!" whispered Linda, not sure yet that they were safe.
The landing was not easy. The plane came down and hit the ground and bounced up again. Suppose it should pancake? Linda held her breath, suffering greater agony than Louise, who knew less of the dangers. But in a moment the valiant little Arrow came to a stop, in the shrubbery.
In a rapture of relief and thanksgiving, Louise grasped Linda and kissed her, while the tears ran down the young pilot's face. For a moment the girls sat thus in silent embrace, each too filled with emotion to speak.
"Come, let's get out, Lou," said Linda, finally, and shakily they both stepped from the plane.
"I wonder where we are," remarked Louise, trying to make her voice sound natural.
"We'll get out our maps and study the situation. But first let's eat. I'm simply famished. It must be noon at least."
They found upon consulting Louise's wrist-watch that it was ten minutes of one.
Resolutely deciding to be cheerful, they opened the hamper which Louise's Aunt Margaret had packed. What a delicious lunch!
There was a whole roast chicken, and tiny dainty lettuce sandwiches – at least a dozen of them. Pears and cherries, and lemonade in a thermos bottle. And a beautiful little layer cake evidently baked just especially for them, though how the cook had managed it, they had no idea. They spread out the paper cloth and attacked the food ravenously.
"It looks pretty desolate around here," remarked Louise, as she nibbled at a chicken leg. "I don't see a house in sight."
"Or a road either, for that matter," returned Linda. "I wish we could get to a telephone – and send a call for assistance."
They ate silently for a while. How good the food tasted! In spite of their distress and worry, both girls enjoyed that lunch.
"Have you any idea what is wrong with the plane?" asked Louise, as she broke off a piece of chocolate cake. "It was all right yesterday."
"Yes. That mechanic at the airport gave it a hasty examination. Funny he didn't notice anything so serious as this… Louise, do you suppose that Roger could have done anything to it?"
"No," answered Louise, thoughtfully. "No; I think Roger knows what he's about. But I have an idea, Linda."
"What?"
"Do you remember hearing a plane very close to the house when we were playing ping-pong last night?"
"Yes. I thought it was the air-mail."
"So did I. But I believe now it was the Pursuit – with Dan piloting!"
"Dan Stillman?"
"Yes. He's a regular daredevil. And you know Roger won't let him fly his plane."
A pained look came into Linda's eyes, as if she herself had been mistreated.
"Oh, Lou, that seems awful," she said. "He wouldn't do a thing like that, would he?"
"He must have. Remember, he went out right after supper. And he's so conceited. He wouldn't think he could hurt it. But I'll tell you how to find out – look at the gas. You remember you had her filled at that airport."
Holding their cake in their hands, both girls dashed excitedly back to the plane and looked at the dial which indicated how much gasoline was left. And, sure enough, the supply was running low! Too low to be accounted for by the flying they had done that morning. In fact, it was almost gone.
"You're right!" cried Linda. "Oh, Lou, now we're in a worse pickle than ever. We'll never get to Daddy!" The tears ran down her cheeks.
"Don't!" urged her chum, putting her arms around the other girl. "Don't give up yet! We'll find somebody – on some road – who will send a mechanic to us. And we'll be at the ranch before night!"
"I hope so!" replied Linda, bravely trying to keep up her courage.
They went back to the spot where their lunch was spread – luckily there was plenty left for supper, in case they needed it – and packed the remainder again. Then, arm in arm, they set out in quest of a road. They walked in an easterly direction; that much they knew from the sun.
What they saw appeared to be a flat country, without even any fences or signs of cultivation. Gazing off in the distance, they could faintly distinguish the outline of a house – but it might be five miles away, or it might be fifteen. Or it might not be a house at all; perhaps just some abandoned building or mill.
For half an hour they walked aimlessly onward, till they finally reached a dirt road.
"This is encouraging," said Louise, hopefully. "Let's drop down and wait here till something passes. We don't want to get too far from the plane – if we get out of sight, we might not be able to find our way back."
They sat down on some moss by a small tree and consulted the time. It was half-past two.
Everything was extremely still. No noise of motor or traffic anywhere. No voices. So strange after the places they were used to, for even Green Falls was noisy. And the birds were quiet, too – or perhaps there weren't many, for there were no big trees.
Linda yawned. "I'm so sleepy."
"Take a nap," suggested Louise. "You deserve one!"
"Hardly fair," returned the other. "Aren't you sleepy too?"
"Not so sleepy as you are. Go ahead! I'll wake you if anything comes along."
"And suppose nothing does?"
"Then I'll wake you anyway at three o'clock. We'll have to strike out in some other direction."
So Linda curled up and went to sleep, and Louise, yawning, wondered how she could possibly manage to keep awake. The whole atmosphere was so drowsy – and there was nothing to do.
"If only there were a place to swim," she thought, regretfully. "Cold water would make me a different girl!"
But there wasn't any water at all, as far as she knew; indeed, she and Linda didn't dare wash in the small supply they carried with them. For they might need it for drinking.
She never knew how it happened, but soon she too was peacefully asleep. For two whole hours both girls slept the dreamless sleep of fatigue. Then, at a quarter of five they were suddenly awakened by the rattle of an old, tumble-down cart, pulled by a haggard horse. The girls sat up with a start, and looked at each other and laughed.
Jumping to her feet in an instant, Louise ran hastily towards the driver. He was staring at them with great curiosity.
"We have been in an airplane accident, and we want to get to a telephone – " began Louise.
But the man only shook his head and grinned.
"Nicht versteh'," he replied, helplessly.
"He's a foreigner," said Louise, turning back to where Linda was standing. "A German, who doesn't understand English."
"I can speak German," said Linda. "At least, I had some, Freshman year. Let me try him!"
But already he was driving away.
"Wo ghen Sie?" called Linda. "Warte!"
He stopped driving, evidently amazed at her words, and pointed to the road ahead of him.
Encouraged by this display of intelligence, Louise jumped up on the cart, and waved her arms in the direction of the airplane, in the field half a mile away.
"We want help!" she cried. Then, turning to Linda, "What's the German word for help?"
"I don't know," answered the other girl. "But I think he understands. If he does meet anybody, I think he'd send them to us."
So Louise climbed down again, and waved good-by to the man as he continued on with his cart, and, faintly encouraged, the girls went back to the plane to eat their supper.