The Sky Trail

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The story of the flying reporters and their successful effort to breakthe ice jam which threatened Auburn was the front page news the nextday. Tim and Ralph collaborated in writing the story of their nightflights and the managing editor wrote a front page editorial praisingthem for their heroism and devotion to duty.

  A telegram from the mayor of Auburn, in which he expressed theappreciation and gratefulness of the residents of the village, was alsoprinted in a box on the front page.

  Dan Watkins, the veteran chief of the copy desk, smiled at Tim when thefirst edition came off the press.

  "Looks like you and Ralph have just about monopolized the front page,"said the gray-haired copyreader.

  "I'd just as soon not be there," said Tim.

  "I know, I know," said Watkins, "but it is all fine advertising for the_News_. Wonder if you chaps will get a raise or a bonus."

  "I wasn't looking for either one when I decided to make the attempt,"said Tim. "I only thought of those poor folks in the valley who werefaced with the loss of their homes if the jam broke."

  "I know you weren't looking for personal gain or glory," replied thecopyreader, who had long been a friend and valued adviser of Tim's. "Youdo what you think is right; that's one reason why you are invaluable tothe _News_. Last night the managing editor paced the floor every minuteyou were in the air. Keep at it, Tim, and one of these days you'll bethe managing editor of some large paper."

  After the noon edition was on the press the managing editor summoned Timand Ralph to his desk.

  "What about the condition of the _Good News_?" he asked Tim.

  "You'll have to pay for a complete repaint job, Mr. Carson," said Tim."The ship was badly scorched and smoked up when we got caught in theexplosion over the flaming oil tanks. It ought to have the riggingthoroughly checked to see that nothing was sprung in the hard flying Idid the rest of the day."

  "All right, Tim," said the managing editor. "You and Ralph take theafternoon off, go out to the field, and get a crew started on therepainting. Never can tell when we'll need the plane in anotheremergency and it has become invaluable."

  "Then the stories we've uncovered in the last year have justified theexpense of the plane?" Tim asked eagerly.

  "No question about it," replied the managing editor. "You have done farmore than either the business manager or I expected and your aviationcolumn is one of our best news features. The only thing I worry about isthat you boys will crash one of these days."

  "Don't worry about that," put in Ralph. "There is little danger for wehave a good ship and we try not to take unnecessary chances."

  Tim and Ralph went to the administration building when they reached theairport. They found Carl Hunter in his office.

  "Hello, heroes," he called, whereupon Tim and Ralph gave him agood-natured pummeling that left them all breathless.

  "Now that the cyclone is over," smiled the field manager, "I suppose youwant something."

  "You're right for once," said Tim. "We want you to put a crew onrepainting the _Good News_ and checking up on the rigging. Carson saidto get it done in a hurry for we may need the ship at any time."

  "I had a hunch you'd breeze in sometime today with a request like that,"replied the field manager, "and I'm one up on you. A couple of paintersare waiting in the hangar now. Same color job as before?"

  "The same," said Tim, "and I hope this one will last longer than the onewe scorched off."

  "You may not be so lucky the next time you start flirting with burningtanks of oil," warned Hunter.

  "There won't be any next time," promised Ralph. "We've had our fill ofthose thrills. No more dodging a chunk of steel that's intent ondestroying us. Honestly, I lived a whole lifetime in that split second."

  Hunter and the young reporters left the administration building andwalked to hangar No. 5. The scorched and blackened plane that reposedinside was hardly recognizable as the _Good News_.

  Hunter gave his instructions to the painters and they started cleaningthe wings and fuselage preparatory to repainting the plane. Severalmechanics were summoned and they set about the task of making a thoroughcheck of the motor and the rigging of the _Good News_.

  When they left the hangar and started back for their car, a raw, wetwind cut through their clothes.

  "Feels like another blizzard is getting ready to descend on us,"remarked Ralph as he scanned the sky.

  "Weather report says 'continued cloudy'," replied the field manager,"and I'm hoping it's right. Another blizzard would raise havoc with us.Everyone of our planes is carrying its capacity of mail and we're makingevery possible effort to keep on schedule."

  "Ralph is inclined to be pessimistic today," laughed Tim. "He's alwayspredicting a blizzard or cloudburst."

  A clerk ran out of the administration building and called to them.

  "You're wanted on the telephone," he told Tim.

  The flying reporter hurried to answer the summons. When he rejoinedRalph several minutes later his face was grave.

  "Something's in the wind," he said. "Carson just phoned from the officeand wants us to go to town as fast as we can."

  "Have any idea what he wants?" asked Ralph as they climbed into theroadster which had brought them to the field.

  "Not a glimmer," replied Tim. "There is something mighty mysterious. Hetalked so low I could hardly hear what he said. We're not to go to theoffice. Carson will meet us in room 309 at the Hotel Jefferson."

  "Sounds like secret service," said Ralph.

  "That might not be so far wrong," replied Tim thoughtfully.

  Fifteen minutes later the reporters entered the Hotel Jefferson and madetheir way to the third floor. They stopped at the door of room 309 andTim knocked.

  The door was opened by the managing editor of the _News_, who motionedfor them to enter the room.

  There were two men beside the managing editor in the room when Tim andRalph entered. They were strangers to the reporters and they waited forCarson to introduce them.

  "When I introduce these men," Carson told his reporters, "You'll knowwhy I had you come to the hotel."

  The managing editor turned to the older of the strangers, a heavy-set,gray-haired man whose eyes were of an unusual, penetrating blue.

  "Boys," he said, "I want you to know Col. Robert Searle, head of thestate police department."

  Tim and Ralph felt their pulses quicken as they heard the name of thevisitor. The managing editor turned to introduce the second man, who wastaller than Searle and younger by several years.

  "And I also want you to know," went on the managing editor, "Captain NedRaymond of the bureau of investigation of the state police."

  Tim and Ralph acknowledged the introductions and sat down on the bed.They waited for the managing editor to continue.

  "These men have called on us for assistance," explained Carson. "I wantthem to tell you their troubles and the final decision on what you dowill be up to you."

  Colonel Searle moved restlessly.

  "I've heard a great deal about you boys," he said "especially inconnection with the Sky Hawk. You did great work there but I thought youwere older."

  "An older man wouldn't be as fast, as alert, as Tim and Ralph," saidtheir managing editor.

  "Perhaps you're right," agreed Colonel Searle.

  "Captain Raymond and I are playing a hunch," he went on, "and we haveboth agreed that if this hunch comes true we are going to need your aid.The airplane has placed an entirely new means of escape in the hands ofcriminals and we must be ready to combat this. With the present economypolicy of the state legislature it would be impossible for us to securefunds for the training of our troopers as pilots or for the purchase ofan airplane. For that reason we came here today to appeal to yourmanaging editor."

  The head of the state police paused for a moment.

  "Interested?" he asked.

  "Go on," chorused Tim and Ralph.

  "What we have in mind," continued Col
onel Searle, "is deputising you twofor special service. If any emergency arises in which we need anairplane in this section of the state, you would be available. It wouldalso insure your paper of being in first on big news stories."

  "If Mr. Carson is favorable," said Tim, "you can count on Ralph and me."

  "Just a minute," put in Captain Raymond. "One thing more. There has beena change in the political set-up in Dearborn and as a result manycriminals are going to be driven out of that city and forced to otherfields. It will be natural for some of them to transfer their activitiesto this state. If they come, as we confidently expect, they will be moredangerous than the average bandit. And remember, the Sky Hawk is gonebut some of his men are still alive. Through special police channels wehave learned that several of them have banded together again and havebeen operating in and near Dearborn. If they decide to come back thisway your mission might be doubly dangerous."

  "They couldn't be any worse than the Sky Hawk," said Ralph.

  "In that case," said Colonel Searle, "I consider it an honor and aprivilege to appoint you as special and secret members of the statepolice."

  Captain Raymond produced the records which Tim and Ralph were to signand in less than five minutes they were in the state police.

  Colonel Searle gave them identification cards and the small gold eaglewhich also indicated their position.

  "We may not need you," said Captain Raymond, "but if things come out asI predict, it won't be long before part of the Sky Hawk's old gang willbe back. The Hawk is gone, thanks to you boys, but the memory of hismethods and daring lives on in the minds of the men who associated withhim."

  As the newspaper men prepared to leave, Colonel Searle added a finalword of caution.

  "Remember, not a word about our meeting here to anyone. If it becomesknown in any way, that we have enlisted you as special agents, it mightexpose you to needless danger. That's why we had you meet us hereinstead of in your office."

  Tim and Ralph were the first to leave room 309. In spite of theirexcitement they did not speak until they were back in their car wheretheir conversation could not be overheard.

  "What do you think of it?" asked Ralph.

  "Looks like the state police are expecting serious trouble and aregetting ready for it."

  "You mean the Sky Hawk's old gang?"

  "Exactly."

  "I thought they were through when we got the Sky Hawk," said Ralph.

  "I had hoped so," said Tim, "but I guess it was too good to be true. Ifthey do come this way, they won't have any love for us."

  Ralph looked down at the little gold eagle in the palm of his hand.

  "At least we'll have the power of the state police behind us," he said.

  "And we'll probably need it," added Tim.