Adventure Magazine Cover, June 18, 1921 — page 31: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

When Good Fellows Get Together again, speed nearly gone, and landed without a bounce. The first De Haviland landed as the Fokker reached the line, but the applause drowned even the roar of the Liberty. It had taken, perhaps, three minutes for the whole exhibition, but what a three minutes for those watching landsmen! Tex was rolling a cigaret as Beers reached his side. | ‘First time I ever see a ship backed up!” grinned the newcomer. MacDowell, lounging easily against the fuselage, lighted his cigaret and then wiped some of the oil from his face with his hand- kerchief. ; “It’s like handling a feather to fly this baby,” he said and started to answer a frantic summons from the big car which held Natalie. ‘Seen you in at the Del Norte,” Beers, walking along beside him. in there tonight, maybe.”’ Tex grinned, even teeth flashing white across his oil-blackened face. “Sure. Ill be looking for you,” swered. ‘““My suspicions of Beers sure got no set- back through his last remarks,”’ ¥ex solilo- quized gleefully as he approached Natalie’s party. ‘‘Ayres is sure an angel in overalls to put me wise.” remarked ‘See you he an- rN OUTBURSTS of enthusiasm from raw his friends greeted him. Even Ran- : som joined in with congratulatory remarks. “Shucks, that Fokker flies itself,’ Tex said, smiling at Natalie, whose eyes were still ablaze with excited admiration. He did not show the sudden embarrassment that came over him. “If you people would like to see the ship Dave and I would be tickled to death to show you her points,” he said, looking at Ransom. “Let’s do it,” exclaimed the good-looking Miss Bennett, who was at'the wheel of the car. The little group got out and made their way toward the little gray scout. ‘Tex, you and Dave are coming to the Bennetts’ tonight for dinner, and then to the theater,’’ Natalie told him. _“T sure hate to disobey orders, beautchous gel, but I e’en must,” Tex replied. Natalie stopped in her tracks and looked at him accusingly. 2I “Has: your refusal got anything to do with—Davee” . “Not a thing!” the flyer assured her. “Tt’s just something I’ve got to do tonight, Natalie. If you won’t get all fussed up about it and should happen to invite me some other night while we’re here I’d sure like to come.” Natalie was not satisfied, but said noth- ing more. Dave was pointing out the ex- tremely thick entering edges of the Fokker wings as they rejoined the group, hiding very successfully the fact that he bad never been close to one before. Even to an ama- teur, the strength of the one-section wings, tubular iron bracing struts and the similarly constructed engine bed, was obvious. “Greatest ship ever built, so far,” Tex told them. ‘‘Handles as if it had brains built into it.” As one of the white-flanneled youths learnedly expounded the German appella- tions on the instruments in the cockpit MacDovéll got a chance to speak to Dave. ‘When you get in tonight, you might ask at the desk where I am,” he said. ‘Unless I’m badly mistaken I’ve been talking to a gazaboo that’s had an earful from Fitz- patrick. Of course I’d never have thought of it if it_hadn’t been for Ayres, but if you want to see the fun in case there is any I’ll be sure and leave word where I am. I’d like to have you sit in.” Ransom’s sensitive, mobile face went red. ‘“‘I—I’m sorry I’ve made that date, but I don’t see how S “Don’t think of breaking it, old man. Probably nothing will come off anyway, but there’s a chance.” “But if you have any suspicion of any- body, you can steer clear of them anyway. I don’t see——” “Tf there’s anything I admire to see, it’s the biter get bitten,” drawled Tex. Ransom had no chance to ask for further details, for the others joined them to go back to the car. As they walked back the din of auto horns, the roaring of the De Haviland motors and the hurly-burly of a crowd’s disintegration made conversation impossible. If he could have guessed what was in MacDowell’s mind he would have been a very much surprized young man, for Tex was planning to stick his head in the lion’s mouth—on the chance of swallowing the lion. COmicloo c\ ) ©