Gypsies of the Air

by Bess Moyer

  CHAPTER III

  _Skybird_ to the Rescue

  High up near the clouds Terry kept her plane at top speed. Now thatshe was on her way to find Allan and Syd most of her nervousness lefther. She was hopeful. She even expected to hear when she made herfirst stop for gas and oil, that the boys had been reported.

  But in this she was disappointed. “Still missing!” said the manager ofthe field. “Nothing’s been heard of them, and now I guess nothingwill. They’ve disappeared. They’ve crashed!”

  Terry’s heart sank. She looked at Prim, whose anxious face was turnedaway to hide her feelings.

  “Don’t let us give up, Prim,” said Terry in a low voice. “It isn’t asif they were forced down away out at sea. I wouldn’t be a bitsurprised if they had engine trouble and came down in the woods ahundred miles from a telegraph office.”

  “Of course, I know,” replied Prim. “They’re probably safe enough. I dowish they had a radio on their plane. In my heart I feel as if nothing_could_ happen to Allan and Syd.” Prim’s comforting words brought asmile to Terry’s face.

  “All right, let’s go!” she said impulsively. “We’ll find them.”

  As Terry climbed once more into the air, sending her plane zooming fora high altitude, she thought of her own hopes. How different this tripto Harbor Grace was from the one she had mapped out for herself.Instead of a triumphant, adventurous flight that might bring her fame,she was simply out scouting to find her friends. Always duty stood inher way. She allowed her mind to play with the idea that she and Primwere on their way to Europe, she yearned for the applause of the crowdthat would welcome her back to her own country.

  Above the rugged wilds of Canada, Terry brought her plane lower andPrim kept her eyes strained toward the ground, hoping to see thestranded _Comet_. But there was no sign of a plane. Flying low over avast forest, Terry circled back and forth, fearing to see a tangledmass of wings in the tree tops.

  “Let’s go on to Harbor Grace. Perhaps there is word from them now,”cried Prim through the earphones.

  Far below them now was the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It was hardly likelythat the boys had been forced down there. They would certainly havebeen sighted and picked up by a passing steamer. Yet Prim watched thewater for any sight of the wreck.

  Straight over the vast waste land of Newfoundland Terry kept her planeheaded toward the distant airport. Great stretches of uninhabitedcountry spread out below them, marshes, forests and rocky hills.

  “Look Terry! Is that a plane? Down there in that rocky field?”

  Terry made a steep dive. She circled and banked over the rugged land.“I see it. It is a plane! Oh Prim, I do believe we’ve found the boys!”From the air they could not be sure whether anyone was near the plane.Terry circled low to find a safe landing place. As she shut off themotor for a landing, the plane bounced and jumped over the unevenground, threatening to tear the wheels off. But as soon as it stoppedthe two girls sprang from the cockpits and ran toward the strandedplane, frightened at what they might find.

  Prim was ahead and let out a sharp cry.

  “Oh, what is it, Prim? What’s the matter?”

  Then Terry stood speechless, for the plane beside them was _TheCrate_, her father’s old air craft which Bud Hyslop had borrowed forhis trip to Florida. Yet Bud was nowhere to be seen.

  What did it mean?

  “What’s _The Crate_ doing up here when Bud went south with it?”exclaimed Terry indignantly.

  “Perhaps Bud came up to find the boys, the same as we did,” said Prim,but the girl did not believe her own words. Both of them were wellaware that Bud hated the boys, they knew that he had done them many abad turn. And there was no likelihood that he had flown from Floridain the time since the boys were reported missing.

  “What’s the answer?” asked Terry.

  “Let’s find Bud Hyslop and ask _him_ that question,” replied Prim.

  Terry made a quick examination of _The Crate_. There was plenty of gasand oil. There was no leak in the fuel tank. Terry got into the plane,and Prim turned the propellor. The engine roared. It was workingperfectly.

  Terry shut it off and remarked with a shrug, “Well, one thing iscertain. Bud wasn’t forced down with engine trouble. It’s my opinionthat he’s up here on some mischief.”

  “Terry,” said Prim quietly, “I don’t think any more of Bud Hyslop thanyou do. But we oughtn’t to accuse him before we are certain and Idon’t believe he’d harm the boys in any way.”

  “I’m not so sure, even about that. But what’s he doing up here when hesaid he was going to Florida?”

  “I don’t know, Terry. Don’t let us waste time by standing herethinking mean thoughts about Bud Hyslop. We’ll never find the boysthat way.”

  “You’re right, Prim. Only I’m mad clear through! Come on!” The girlsclimbed into the plane. There was a brisk wind blowing and Terryheaded into it for a quick take-off. _Skybird_ bumped over the rockyfield, then with a flirt of the tail, the little plane cleared theboulders and nosed upward.

  Terry and Prim looked around them for landmarks in order to locate theposition of _The Crate_ when they wanted it. She judged it was a mileback from the rocky shore line of the island. A great cliff rose likea castle. Stretching out from the summit was a broad plateau. At itsbase was a collection of fishermen’s huts. Consulting her map, Terrydecided that Harbor Grace was twenty miles away. She took a straightcourse and half an hour later put her plane down on the field in aperfect three-point landing.

  Before the girl could step from the cockpit a mechanic came towardher.

  “Are you Terry Mapes?” he asked. “There’s a telegram here for you.Please call at the office!”

  Terry and Prim ran toward the office of the airport. “They’re safe!I’m sure of it! I could scream with joy!” said Terry.

  Tearing open the telegram she read:

  THE BOYS HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED FOR LARGE RANSOM. TROUBLE HERE. COME. ALICE MAPES.

  “Kidnapped! Now we understand! Bud Hyslop is at the bottom of thisbusiness, you can be sure of that,” stormed Terry, as she made her wayback to the plane.

  “But what does mother mean by ‘trouble here. Come’?” asked Prim. “Doyou suppose Dad is sick? Maybe we’d better start home right away,Terry.”

  “If Dad were sick, Mother wouldn’t just say, ‘trouble here,’ she’d sayvery decidedly, ‘Your father ill, come at once!’”

  Prim laughed and the nerve tension relaxed. “I guess you’re right,Terry. She wouldn’t beat about the bush where Dad is concerned. Thenwhat does she mean? What can be wrong?”

  But neither of the girls foresaw that their father would be suspectedof the kidnapping and that their absence from home would be taken as asign that they were mixed up in the plot.

  When Bennett Graham received a ransom note, telling him that his sonhad been kidnapped and demanding the sum of fifty thousand dollars,the man was almost beside himself with anxiety. Threats were madeagainst the two boys and Graham was making arrangements to have thesum paid over. Then he received a mysterious telephone message whichhinted that Dick Mapes and his daughter, Terry, were responsible forthe kidnapping. He was told that Dick Mapes was in with a gang ofcriminals and that they would stop at nothing.

  It was well known that Dick was having a hard time financially, thathis doctor bills had taken every cent he possessed and that he neededmoney desperately at this particular time. To Allan’s father thisseemed motive enough for the kidnapping.

  Bennett Graham snapped the receiver of his telephone into place andwithout waiting to think things over calmly he raced his car towardthe Dick Mapes Flying Field.

  Here he found Dick in his wheel chair and before the cripple couldspeak, Allan’s father burst out with a storm of abuse.

  “Where is my son? You kidnapper!”

  Dick stared at the man for a full minute before he could realize thatBennett Graham was accusing him.

  “_I_ kidn
ap Allan and Syd? Why, what are you talking about? Have youlost your reason?”

  Suddenly Bennett Graham became calm. “Dick Mapes, you may as well ownup. Of course I know you couldn’t go out and kidnap the boy yourself.But your gang!”

  “My gang! The only gang I have is your son and his friend Syd Ames.They are good boys and I’m proud of them. No one feels worse aboutthis matter than I do.”

  “What is your price, Dick Mapes? What do you want? Is this your way ofgetting even with me for withdrawing my support from your field?”

  As Dick did not answer, the man went on, “I’ve been hearing about youfrom different sources. I’m on to you, and you must know it. Now tellme where the boy is! I’ll pay you. Yes, even the fifty thousanddollars, if you return him safely.”

  “I don’t want your money that way, Bennett Graham! And if I knew whereAllan was, I’d tell you.”

  “Where’s Terry?” demanded Graham. “She knows all about this deal. Shethinks that fifty thousand dollars will finance the field here!”

  “Stop! Not another word! Terry and Prim went north to try to find yourson and Syd Ames. They started before they heard that the boys hadbeen kidnapped.”

  “Listen here, Mapes, for the last time I ask you to bring back my boy.I’ve been told that Terry and Syd Ames are both in this scheme to getmoney out of me. Don’t force me to have you arrested.” The old manrose to his feet walked up and down excitedly then came and stood overDick’s chair.

  “Where is Terry, I ask again?”

  “I told you all I know. The girls started out for Harbor Grace. We areexpecting word from them any time now.”

  Suddenly the man turned to Dick. “If I give you the money will youbring Allan back safely? Can you be sure that your gang will not killhim?”

  Dick’s eyes flashed with anger.

  “Listen to me, Bennett Graham,” he finally said. “If I could get upfrom this chair you would never dare to talk to me like this. I sayagain, I do not know where your son is. Tell me exactly what you haveheard about me. Who has been talking? I must know.”

  But Bennett Graham was too agitated to be reasonable. His eyes flashedangrily. Rising he strode without another word to his car. His lipswere set in firm determination. If Dick Mapes would not talk, then thelaw must take its course.

  “He’s hard hit, poor man,” said Alice Mapes, coming on to the verandain time to see Bennett Graham leave. “But you’d think by the way heglared at us that he thinks _we_ kidnapped the boys.”

  “That’s just what he thinks, Alice,” said Dick. “He accused me to myface of kidnapping Allan for ransom money. Fifty thousand dollars!”

  Alice Mapes stood for a moment, as if in a trance. She could hardlybelieve Dick’s statement. Then she burst into an hysterical laugh.

  “Of all the ridiculous things I’ve ever heard, this is the limit!_You_ a kidnapper! That’s a joke!”

  “I’m afraid it’s not a joke, Alice,” replied Dick. “Bennett Grahamseems determined to ruin me. Ever since my accident he is like astranger. One would think that he was my worst enemy.”

  “Then let’s not have anything more to do with the man,” Aliceexclaimed angrily.

  “That’s easier said than done, my dear. He has threatened to have mearrested.”

  “Let him try and see what will happen!” stormed the woman. And an hourlater she had sent the telegram to Terry demanding that she return.

  And Terry and Prim, reading it through in Harbor Grace and knowingwhat they did about Bud Hyslop, decided that they must stay on. Budwas a treacherous enemy. They might have trouble, but when the livesof Allan Graham and Syd Ames were at stake, they had no choice. Theyhad to see it through.

  Terry’s answer to her mother’s telegram was flippantly worded in aneffort to cheer her up.

  EVERYTHING JAKE HERE. HAPPY OUTCOME OF TRIP EXPECTED. TERRY.

  Little did the girl realize that the foolish message was to be takenas an acknowledgment of guilt and would bring still further suspicionand suffering upon her father.