Harrison Bardwell - Airplane Girls and the Mystery of Seal Island

Copyright, 1931
by
THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO.

PRESS OF
THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO.
CLEVELAND

I say, Berta, thought you were going to do some work for that Mr. Howe of the Federal Service. Did it fall through?

Havent heard much more about it, Harv, Roberta answered her brother, as she poured maple syrup over a serving of piping hot pancakes. Her mother came in at that moment with a replenished bowl of oatmeal, and she paused with an anxious glance at her young daughter.

Hope you do not hear anything more about it, dear. I feel that your activities in helping clear up the mystery at Lurtiss Field placed you in any number of very dangerous situations. Being a pilot is hazardous enough without adding to the difficulties by running down air-gangsters of any kind, she said soberly.

Perhaps Mr. Howe has discovered that he does not require your services. In work of that nature very often, when men on the job think they have struck a hard snag, something comes up suddenly which clears the matter so they do not require outside assistance, remarked Mr. Langwell, then smiled at his wife. As a maker of pancakes, my dear, you draw first prize. The only drawback to such a breakfast is a mans limited capacity.

You arent announcing that you have been limiting yourself! Roberta laughed.

No, that isnt my claim, but I have to confess that my limit is in sight, he told her.

Tough luck, Dad. Now, I am only getting well started, Roberta said, then added to her mother, If you drew prizes for all the good things you cook you would have to have a museum for them as large as Colonel Lindberghs in St. Louis.

Second the motion, Harvey put in, then went on to his young sister, Whos the lady you have been piloting along the coast the last couple of weeks? Larry Kingsley told me shes got loads of money and has taken to taxiing about in the air with no particular objective.

Oh, that is Mrs. Pollzoff. Her husband used to be in the fur business and when he died she sold her interest to a big syndicate, she told me, because she knew there wasnt much chance of her making a success against such competition. She is keen on aviation, and bought herself a plane but has never been able to get a license. I asked Mr. Trowbridge and he said he thought it was because she showed very little judgment in an emergency; she cracked-up three times, and they forbade her to fly alone.

I should think they would, Mrs. Langwell exclaimed indignantly.

Thats all I know about her, except that she is madder than a dozen wet hens at the government for depriving her of the right to fly; and she seems to be interested in fishes.

Fishes?

Yes. She always carries a wonderful pair of glasses, and when we are over the water orders that I fly low and as slowly as possible while she examines the deep. I have to keep my eyes on the board, so I havent been able to look at what attracts her attention especially, but a couple of times she has seemed very pleased over what she examined, and appears to admire the schools of fish we have followed a couple of times. Guess its a hobby of hers, and she hasnt anything special to do, so she rides it

Or rides the air, Harvey laughed.

Are you children riding in with me? Mr. Langwell asked. The time is getting short.

I am, Dad, thanks. If you will take me as far as the subway in Jamaica, Ill land just in time for class, Harvey answered.

Phil will be here to pick me up, thank you, Roberta replied, so, as the meal was finished, and the last pancake had disappeared, they left the table to start on the days occupations. Harvey raced up the stairs, three at a jump, while his sister gave her mother a hand straightening the dining room as she waited for Phil Fisher to take her to the flying field.

I hear the motor, my dear, Mrs. Langwell interrupted. Youd better hurry.

Hes early this morning, but probably he has something to do before schedule. The girl hastened with her own preparations so that when the young man appeared at the door she was properly helmeted and all ready to take the air.

Top of the morning to you, Phil called cheerily. Your esteemed passenger wants to make an early start, so the boys will have Nike warmed up for you and you can start as soon as you get to the field.

Its mighty good of you to come and fetch me, Roberta smiled at the presidents son, who had not so many weeks before gone through a series of exciting, dangerous air-adventures with her. But those things were all in the days work and belonged to the past; the new day awaited them.

It isnt much of a hop, and as Mrs. Pollzoff has all the earmarks of being a good customer, she must be humored, Phil grinned. Just the same, Im glad they wished her on you and Nike instead of the Moth and yours truly.

Well, its no particular fun piloting her. I wish shed decide she wants variety, and give you all a chance at the job, Roberta told him. They were making their way to where the Moth, Phils own imported machine, waited to leap in the air with them. I say, when is Mr. Howe going to start that investigation he spoke of a few weeks ago. Heard anything about it?

You are not so fed up on Mrs. Pollzoff that you want to get away from us all, are you? he demanded.

No, of course not, but I was wondering what his plan was and what happened to it, if anything, Roberta answered.

Glad to hear you do not want to leave. Gosh, to lose our only girl sky-pilot would beunthinkable; but, come to think of it, Howe came to the house to see Dad one day last week, perhaps they are getting it fixed up for you to take on the job. I heard the Old Man say the Federal representative would be at the office today, so perhaps youll get some information. Here we are. They reached the plane and Roberta climbed into the seat beside the pilots, adjusted straps and parachute, while the young man gave his machine a thorough looking-over then took his own place.

Any idea what its all about?

A small one. Several governmentsours and a couple of others, are trying to trace down illegal seal fishing; catch the lads who dont follow the rules. Contact. They were off, and Roberta inquired no more about the government work because Phils account of it sounded quite as tame as piloting Mrs. Pollzoff. Presently the Moth dropped out of the sky, landed near the office of the Lurtiss Airplane Company and a bit later the girl sky-pilot presented herself at the private office of Mr. Trowbridge for whom she worked when she first joined the organization as a secretary. Mr. Wallace, one of the special instructors, was already there, and when Roberta entered, they both rose to their feet to wish her good morning.