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CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I The S/zybird Hops Off . . 11
II Thwarted Plans . . . . . 21
III S/eybird to the Rescue . . . 33
IV Plots and Counter-Plots . . 45
V Captives in the Old Fort . . 59
VI The Menacing Stranger . . 7}
VII A Perilous Take-Off . . . 91
VIII Happy Landing . . . . . 107





12. Gypsies of the Air
Pulling back on the stick, Terry sent the plane
Zooming, one thousand feet, two thousand! Far be-
neath her she could see her father’s flying field at
Elmwood, and from that distance it looked as if the
hangars had been flattened against the ground. Be-
yond was the Sound, a broad strip of water
with what appeared to be toy boats on its glassy
smooth surface.
Far to the right were estates, wooded tracts of
land, small towns and villages connected by tiny
thread-like highways to the large city in the dis-
tance.
Terry loved to fly. She was never so happy as
when she was zooming to a lofty height.Her brown
eyes were glowing, her ivory skin was flushed to
rose as she handled the controls of her little plane.
Terry claimed that the higher she flew above the
earth, the better she could think and plan. But to-
day Terry’s brain was in a whirl. She could think of
a dozen different kinds of accidents, any one of
which might have happened to the boys.
Allan Graham and Syd Ames had started out on
the first lap of their transatlantic flight. They had
been reported all along the route until well over the
Canadian border. Then they had disappeared, been
swallowed up.


The S/tybird H01): Ofl 13
And at Dick Mapes Flying Field, their friends
anxiously awaited word.
Twelve hours overdue at Harbor Grace!
Then it was that Terry took her plane into the
clouds to think out a way to help. What could she
do?
Her white face told how much she cared for those
two young friends, her father’s first student-flyers.
At the thought that there might be two more names
added to the long list of missing aviators, Terry’s
heart sank with fear. She could see Allan’s tall fig-
ure, his clear blue eyes and his thatch of unruly
blond hair. Terry never knew how dear Allan was
to her until that report had come, “Missing!” And
Syd Ames had been like a brother to her. She liked
this boy with the laughing brown eyes. His fun-
loving disposition had saved them from utter de-
spair at times, when everything was going wrong. A
groan escaped Terry’s lips as she thought of these
boys who might at that very moment be lying
crushed and needing help. .
But Terry had not come aloft to moan over the
imaginary fate of her friends. She knew they must
have had an accident or they would have reached
the airport long before this. They might be injured.
What could she do? _


The Skybird Hops Ofl‘ 15
cottage adjoining the flying field where Dick Mapes
sat in a wheel chair. His face was deathly pale, stern
and drawn with suffering. His hands opened and
then clutched at the arms of his chair, nervously.
“Dad, dear,” said Terry, quietly yet with deter-
mination in her voice. “I’m starting out to find the
boys.”
Dick Mapes looked into his daughter’s face. He
seemed to be measuring the girl, deciding whether
she was equal to the task ahead of her. What he saw
assured him that Terry would not fail. He could
trust her not to take big chances. He held out his
hand.
“When do you start?” he asked.
“Within an hour!” said Terry simply. "Skybird
is in shape, I’ve been all over her!”
The father nodded his head. Between him and
Terry there was no need for many words. They un-
derstood each other.
“I wish to goodness Bud Hyslop hadn’t chosen
this time to go off on a vacation,” exploded Terry,
her big brown eyes snapping. “When we want that
fellow around, he’s never here, and when we d0n’t
want him he sticks like a burr. He isn’t much good
at any time but now he could take care of the field
while I’m away. I hate to leave you alone, Dad.”


16 Gypsies of the Air
“Don’t worry about me, Terry.” Dick put out
his hand and let it rest for a moment on his
daughter’s curly brown locks. “The boys’ safety is
more important than business. If they are in trouble,
they’ll need us. Why, oh why do I have to be tied to
this chair when. . . .!”
“Now Dad, just you thank your stars that youare
getting well! Six months ago it looked pretty hope-
less. Now the doctor says that inside of a year you
can walk and be back in the flying game again.
Think of that, Dad! Won’t that be fine?”
“Yes, I know, Terry, but it’s hard to sit here, just
a useless lump, when Allan and Syd are out some-
where. . . .”
‘Tm on my way, Dad. I’ll find them somehow.
Probably they have been forced down with engine
trouble. You know those boys are frightfully reck-
less.”
“Yes, that’s what makes me so worried about
them. I never could teach them to be cautious. If
it were you, Terry, I would feel almost certain that
you’d find a way out of your trouble.”
“Thanks, Dad!” The girl stooped and kissed her
father tenderly. Then with a smile she ran into the
house.
While Dick assented to Terry’s plan with very


18 Gypsies of the Air
was, she enjoyed the sport and was always ready to
follow Terry’s lead.
Terry’s decision to go north and hunt for the boys
did not come as a surprise to Prim. She had been half
expecting it. Her whole heart was crying out with
the need to do something for these boys whom they
loved, and now she wondered why Terry had not
thought of it at once.
Prim needed no instructions regarding her part of
the work to be done. A thermos bottle of hot coffee,
bandages and food were packed into the plane, then
Prim ran to get into her flying outfit. It was a jaunty
flying suit, a white fleece-lined jacket, and baggy
breeches, high white boots and helmet to match.
Prim was fond of dress and her white togs were al-
ways in order. Terry had chosen a more practical
outfit of brown leather. It was trim and smart and
Terry carried it well. She had style.
Terry had left the details of supplies to Prim,
knowing that her sister’s part would be done well.
She hurriedly examined her plane, looked over the
instrument board to see that everything was in
order, tested the engine, took on a supply of gas and
oil and in less than an hour was all set and ready to
go.
Alice Mapes could never see her two daughters


The Skyhird Hops O]? 19
take off without a feeling of dread. She had none of
the confidence of the flyer. Although she had flown
with her husband ever since her marriage she could
never be persuaded to take the controls herself and
learn to fly.
“Pm just an old fashioned housewife and why try
to make me into anything else?”she pleaded with
Dick when he tried to urge her. The fearlessness of
her modern daughters frightened her. She was al-
ways afraid when she was in the air, much prefer-
ring to stay on the ground.
Terry saw her look of anxiety now.
“Come on, Mother. Send us away with a smile. I
know you’re going to wish us luck, but we need
your confidence as well. We’re perfectly safe. And
remember, if there is any message for us, telegraph
to Harbor Grace.”
With a smile and a wave of her hand, Terry
stepped into the plane. Prim spun the propellor and
the motor roared. With a bound Prim jumped into
the rear cockpit.
Skyhird headed into the wind as she taxied along
the field and Terry, pulling back gently on the
stick, sent the little plane into the air. She circled
the field twice for goodbye, then she began to climb
and took her course northward.


zo Gypsies of the Air
Alice Mapes slipped into the chair beside her hus-
band. Her face was white. Her hands were trem-
bling.
“Do you suppose it’s all right for them to go?” the
mother asked, her voice husky with anxiety.
“I’d trust Terry anywhere in a plane,” Dick
Mapes answered confidently. “And if anyone can
find the boys, she can.”
Long after Skyhird had disappeared, Alice and
Dick Mapes sat gazing into the clouds, as if they
could follow their daughters all the way to their
joumey’s end.
Dick was calm and hopeful and patted his wife’s
hand reassuringly as she voiced her fears.
If the father could have foreseen the danger and
treachery that was awaiting the girls, he might not
have been so serenely confident of their success.


CHAPTER II
Thwarted Plans
DICK M1u>Es had stanted in as a flyer when the
game was new. For years he had been an air mail
pilot and then had established a field of his own for
training and commercial flying.
The Dick Mapes Flying Field began with great
promise, for Dick was acknowledged to be one of
the best aviators in the country and people had con-
fidence in him.
At first Dick had been terribly disappointed that
he had no son to follow him in his glorious profes-
sion. But on Christmas when Terry and Prim were
three years old, Alice had given them each a rosy-
checked doll while Dick had presented them with
toy airplanes. Terry took one look at the doll and
thrust it aside carelessly, but the airplane she hugged
in her tiny arms, and squealed with delight. The less
demonstrative Prim calmly laid aside the plane and
rocking back and forth sang a lullaby to her doll.
“Terry’s a chip off the old block,” said Alice with
a laugh. “You’ll be trying to make a flyer out of
her.”
7. I


Thwarted Plans 2 3
\
to it the way Terry does. I think Terry has a talent
for flying.”
Alice laughed heartily at this joke, for how could
Dick tell at that age whether Terry would be able
to fly a plane or not? _ .
But Dick was right. As the girls grew older,
Terry took to flying as a duck takes to the water,
but with Prim it was always hard work and while
she had done the necessary solo flying to entitle her
to a pilot’s license, Dick was never quite sure of
her. She did not love flying as Terry did. She had
an indifference to things that frightened him.
But to Terry it was the breath of life. She had the
air sense which her twin sister lacked.
At sixteen Terry not only was an expert flyer but
was a good mechanic as well. And in the venture of
the flying field, Dick called her his “right hand
man” and declared that she could do more work and
understod more about planes than Bud Hyslop, his
helper.
Allan Graham and Syd Ames had been Dick’s first
student flyers. And for that reason he felt as if they
belonged to him. Syd was an orphan, the son of a
flying buddy of Dick’s, and the boy spent most of
his time in the Mapes household.
Allan was the son of a wealthy business man and


Thwarted Plans 27
“That’s jealousy. It’s well known that Joe Arnold
is making a lot of money and will be a big man in
the aviation field some day. Think it over and don’t
let a big opportunity like this slip by. If you decide
to go in with Joe Arnold I’ll back you for any
amount you need, but I have no more faith in Dick
Mapes.”
Allan thought over his father’s refusal for a long
time then went straight to the point.
“\Vhat’s the matter with Dick Mapes? What have
you got against him? You seem to have no confi-
dence in him.”
“That’s right,‘ son. I have lost faith in him. I’ve
had some very unfavorable reports about him.”
“What have you heard?” Allan demanded. “It’s
only fair to tell me.”
“It’s something serious, you may be sure, or I
would never take the stand I do. But at the present
time I do not care to say what it is. Enough for you
to know is that he is incompetent.”
“That’s nonsense, Father. You know that his
record in the air service has been almost perfect.
This is the first serious accident. And it’s the first
plane he ever crashed since he got his license.”
But even Allan could not deny that since Dick
had established his field one thing after another had


28 Gypsies of the Air
happened that might have come from carelessness.
There had been minor accidents, forced landings
with engine trouble that had delayed delivery of
goods. A plane had burned on the field under sus-
picious circumstances.
Bennett Graham reminded the boy of these mis-
haps.
“But you know well enough that it was not from
any carelessness of Dick’s that the plane was
burned,” retorted Allan.
“Why wasn’t it? How do you explain the mat-
ter? You said yourself the circumstances were sus-
picious. How do you clear Dick of responsibility?”
asked his father. _
“Dick had nothing whatever to do with that fire.
And if he’d listen to me and discharge Bud Hyslop,
that good-for-nothing mechanic he has, there
wouldn’t be so many accidents. I’m certain of
that.”
“I’ve also made inquiries about young Hyslop,”
returned the father. “He’s a rough chap but I’ve
heard nothing against him. It looks as if your
friend Mapes was the incompetent one.”
“I know one thing,” declared Allan excitedly. “If
I were the boss out there, I’d fire Bud. He’s always
making trouble. I’m half afraid of what he may do


Thwarted Plans 2.9
next.” Allan stormed out of the room, angry and
disappointed. The boy could not bear to have his
friend Dick criticized, especially now that he was
down and out and needed him. Dick was the best
hearted man in the world and a real pal to all boys.
That accounted for his unwillingness to let Bud
Hyslop go. He kept hoping that with kindness the
boy could be persuaded to do his work properly.
Terry and Prim had never cared for Bud Hyslop
and it was due to Bud that Terry had become the
expert mechanic she was.
“Women haven’t any business around an air-
plane,” Bud had told Terry the first day he had
come on the field. “The kitchen is where they be-
long, and they should be made to stay there. And if
they must fly, let them do their own repair work.
That’s what I say, and I’ll stick to it.”
And stick to it he did, which made Terry take
up the challenge and getting into cover-alls, which
were soon well daubed with grease, she mastered
every detail of her plane. And she loved the work.
This was in the days when she had flown one of
Dick’s planes to which they had given the name of
The Crate. It was an old model, patched and re-
patched, but Dick declared that it was still a fine
craft.


30 Gypsies of the Air _

Terry and Prim had liked The Crate. It was an
old friend. But they were the proudest girls in
Elmwood when their father presented them with
Skyhird, the little blue-and-gold monoplane, a tiny
amphibian. This gift was a reward of merit. Dick
had been criticized for allowing his daughters to
spend so much time on learning to fly, so he had
talked it over with the girls and promised them that
if they led their class in at least two subjects and
graduated with honors they were to have a plane of
their own, and would be allowed to take out their
pilot licenses.
The girls buckled down to work and made good.
Terry led in three subjects and Prim was a close
second.
Their knowledge of planes stood them in good
stead. After Dick’s accident w_hen contracts did not
come, Terry took matters into her own hands and
advertised for women flying students. Dick from his
wheel chair directed the lessons and Terry demon-
strated and took them up for flying instruction.
This had come to be their chief source of income.
Allan Graham decided that he would make a
record by flying the Atlantic and in this way bring
distinction to Dick’s training school. And as a fa-
mous flyer, he would be able to draw down big con-
tracts for the field.


Thwarted Plans 31
Terry liked to teach others to fly but she had
higher ambitions than that for herself. She longed
to take that flight across the ocean, and there had
been a secret struggle as to whether she would start
out on her own or remain with her father in his mis-
fortune.
It was hard to give up all the time. She also had
the feeling that she could make more money by get-
ting out and doing something to bring her fame
quickly.
It was with a bitter heart that she listened to Allan
and Syd when they announced their intention to
make the flight to Paris. Terry hastened to her room
to fight it out with her rebellious heart. Why was
it that Allan Graham always got everything he
wanted? He and Syd both were lucky. All they had
to do was desire a thing and the way was smoothed
out for them to get exactly what they wanted,
while she only had to wish and all the powers in the
world combined to keep her from getting it, or at
least so she thought.
“I always have bad breaks! I’m out of luck!
Everything is against me!” she declared one day.
Yet when Allan and Syd leaped into their plane,
The Comet, ready to start out for their great ad-
venture, Terry bade them goodbye with a smile.
Not for worlds would she show anyone how much


32 Gypsies of the Air
she wanted to go. And she was especially careful
not to let her father get any hint of her disappoint-
ment.
Only Prim, her twin sister, guessed at the truth.
She was close to Terry in thought, and understood.
Slipping her hand in her sister’s, she said:
“Someday Terry, we’ll take that little jump to-
gether!” The forced smile left Terry’s face and
tears started to her eyes but only for a second.
Then she shouted as she waved her hand toward The
Comet:
“Goodzluck and happy landing!”
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CHAPTER III
Skybird to the Rescue
HIGH up near the clouds Terry kept her plane
at top speed. Now that she was on her way to find
Allan and Syd most of her nervousness left her. She
was hopeful. She even expected to hear when she
made her first stop for gas and oil, that the boys had
been reported.
But in this she was disappointed. “Still missing!”
said the manager of the field. “Nothing’s been heard
of them, and now I guess nothing will. They’ve dis-
appeared. They’ve crashed!”
Terry’ s heart sank. She looked at Prim, whose
anxious face was turned away to hide her feelings.
“Don,’t let us give up, Prim,” said Terry in a low
voice. “It isn’t as if they were forced down away
out at sea. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if they had
engine trouble and came down in the woods a hun-
dred miles from a telegraph ofiice.”
“Of course, I know,” replied Prim. “They” re
probably safe enough. I do wish 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 a smile to Terry’s face.
_ 33


Skyhird to the Rescue 35
.- _ ___.__s____’-
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sighted and picked up by a passing steamer. Yet
Prim watched the water for any sight of the wreck.
Straight over the vast waste land of Newfound-
land Terry kept her plane headed toward the dis-
tant airport. Great stretches of uninhabited coun-
try 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 the motor for a landing, the
plane bounced and jumped over the uneven ground,
threatening to tear the wheels off. But as soon as it
stopped the two girls sprang from the cockpits and
ran toward the stranded plane, 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 The Crate, her father’s old air craft
which Bud Hyslop had borrowed for his trip to
Florida. Yet Bud was nowhere to be seen.


36 Gypsies of the Air
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 well aware that
Bud hated the boys, they knew that he had done
them many a bad turn. And there was no likelihood
that he had flown from Florida in the time since the
boys were reported missing.
“What’s the answer?” asked Terry.
“Let’s find Bud Hyslop and ask him that ques-
tion,” replied Prim.
Terry made a quick examination of The Crate.
There was plenty of gas and oil. There was no leak
in the fuel tank. Terry got into the plane, and Prim
turned the propellor. The engine roared. It was
working perfectly.
Terry shut it off and remarked with a shrug,
“Well, one thing is certain. Bud wasn’t forced down
with engine trouble. It’s my opinion that he’s up
here on some mischief.”
“Terry,” said Prim quietly, “I don’t think any
more of Bud Hyslop than you do. But we oughtn’t
to accuse him before we are certain and I don’t be-
lieve he’d harm the boys in any way.”


Skyhird to the Rescue 37
“I’m not so sure, even about that. But what’s he
doing up here when he said he was going to
Florida?”
“I don’t know, Terry. Don’t let us waste time by
standing here thinking mean thoughts about Bud
Hyslop. We’ll never find the boys that way.”
“You’re right, Prim. Only I’m mad clear through!
Come on!” The girls climbed into the plane. There
was a brisk wind blowing and Terry headed into it
for a quick take off. Skyhird bumped over the rocky
field, then with a flirt of the tail, the little plane
cleared the boulders and nosed upward.
Terry and Prim looked around them for land-
marks in order to locate the position of The Crate
when they wanted it. She judged it was a mile back
from the rocky shore line of the island. A great cliff
rose like a castle. Stretching out from the summit
was a broad plateau. At its base was a collection of
fishermen’s huts. Consulting her map, Terry decided
that Harbor Grace was twenty miles away. She took
a straight course and half an hour later put her
plane down on the field in a perfect three-point
landing.
Before the girl could step from the cockpit a me-
chanic came toward her.
“Are you Terry Mapes?” he asked. “There’s a


40 Gypsies of the Air
Dick stared at the man for a full minute before
he could realize that Bennett Graham was accusing
"1 kidnap Allan and Syd? Why, what are you
talking about? Have you lost your reason?”
Suddenly Bennett Graham became calm. “Dick
Mapes, you may as well own up. 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 about this mat-
ter than I do.”
“What is your price, Dick Mapes? What do you
want? Is this your way of getting even with me for
withdrawing my support from your field?”
As Dick did not answer, the man went on, “I’ve
been hearing about you from different sources.
I’m on to you, and you must know it. Now tell me
where the boy is! I’ll pay you. Yes, even the fifty
thousand dollars, if you return him safely.”
“I don’t want your money that way, Bennett
Graham! And if I knew where Allan was, I’d tell
you.”
“Where’s Terry?” demanded Graham. “She
knows all about this deal. She thinks that fifty


Skybird to the Rescue 41
thousand dollars will finance the field here!”
“Stop! Not another word! Terry and Prim went
north to try to find your son and Syd Ames. They
started before they heard that the boys had been
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 get money out
of me. Don’t force me to have you arrested.” The
old man rose to his feet walked up and down ex-
citedly then came and stood over Dick’s chair.
“Where is Terry, I ask again?”
“I told you all I know. The girls started out for
Harbor Grace. We are expecting word from them
any time now.”
Suddenly the man turned to Dick. “If I give you
the money will you bring Allan back safely? Can
you be sure that your gang will not kill him?”
Dick’s eyes flashed with anger.
“Listen to me, Bennett Graham,” he finally said.
If I could get up from this chair you would never
dare to talk to me like this. I say again, I do not
know where your son is. Tell me exactly what you
have heard about me. Who has been talking? I must
know.”
But Bennett Graham was too agitated to be rea-
(1


42 Gypsies of the Air
sonable. His eyes flashed angrily. Rising he strode
without another word to his car. His lips were set in
firm determination. If Dick Mapes would not talk,
then the law must take its course.
“He’s hard hit, poor man,” said Alice Mapes,
coming on to the veranda in time to see_Bennett
Graham leave. “But you’d think by the way he
glared_at us that he thinks we kidnapped the boys.”
“That’s just what he thinks, Alice,” said Dick.
“He accused me to my face of kidnapping Allan for
ransom money. Fifty thousand dollars!”
Alice Mapes stood for a moment, as if in a trance.
She could hardly believe 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 Graham seems determined to ruin me.
Ever since my accident he is like a stranger. One
would think that he was my worst enemy.”
“Then let’s not have anything more to do with
the man,” Alice exclaimed angrily.
“That’s easier said than done, my dear. He has
threatened to have me arrested.”
“Let him try and see what will happen!” stormed
the woman. And an hour later she had sent the
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Plots and Counter-Plots 47
But Terry interrupted. No, let’s stick it out
as long as we can by ourselves. I don’t like to mix
with people.”
“You’d better get over that idea, Terry Mapes.
What’s the matter with you anyway, why don’t
you like everybody the way I do? And let me tell
you one thing right now. We may have to go down
there to find out about Allan and Syd——or we may
find Bud Hyslop there. There’s no telling. So don’t
you put on that superior air.”
“I won’t Prim, truly, I won’t. I guess it’s more
bashfulness than anything else. I really like people
but I never know what to say to them,” responded
Terry.
“Then think up a good line of talk right now,
and make it nice and friendly. We don’t want any
more enemies. Bud’s plenty!”
The practical Prim was already looking about the
plateau for a suitable place to build a fire. ‘
“Go get some dry twigs, Terry!” she said.
“Where will I find anything dry in this fog? Why
not use the alcohol stove?” asked Terry.
“We’d better save that. You don’t know how long
we’ll have to stay out here and in another hour
things will be still wetter. You can hardly see Sky-
hird now, the fog is so thick.”


54 Gypsies of the Air
“Such a life!” thought Terry. “I’m glad I’m not
Sally Wyn.”
Yet this was the only home that Sally knew. A
few minutes later she said, “I just happened to be
home this week. Mrs. Heron broke her leg and Mrs.
Armes, the lady I work for, let me come to help.”
“That’s nice!” said Terry. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Sally looked up quickly. Most people didn’t care
where Sally was. She was not used to appreciation
and now she wondered if Terry really meant it.
Sally smiled. Her whole face changed with that
smile. She was almost pretty, thought Terry.
Suddenly Terry jumped up. “Wonder why Bud
doesn’t come back,” she said in a whisper to Prim.
“I don’t trust that fellow. I think we’d better see if
our plane is all right,” Terry said aloud.
“Let me go up with you and see your plane,”
pleaded Sally. “I can be ready just in a minute, as
soon as I take this tea to old Nancy.”
“Take your time, Sally, we’ll wait,” said both
girls together.
A few minutes later the three girls left the cabin.
Outside they met Jim Heron, a tall, ungainly man
who glared at them with piercing eyes. He carried a
shotgun across his shoulder, which added to his
fierce appearance.


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6o Gypsies of the Air
through the narrow opening. “He’s grinning as if
he’d done something smart. That’s what makes me
wild. I hate to have anything put over on me!”
The girls stood with their arms around each other
as they watched Jim Heron whose broad grin dis-
played his brown snaggle teeth.
“I wish he’d scowl,” said Prim. “He doesn’t look
half as mean and sly as when he laughs. I wonder
what he’s thinking about?” ‘_
“I can tell you that!” exploded Terry. “He’s
thinking that we’re just a couple of dumb-bells,
walking right into the trap that he and Bud Hyslop
set for us. There is only one thing to do, Prim. We
must get out of here!”
“But how, Terry?” asked her sister anxiously.
“Don’t take chances. You know Dad wouldn’t like
that.”
“Well, what’s to prevent us from just walking
out past the old man? He wouldnit dare to shoot
us. It’s worth trying. Come on!”
“Don’t, Terry! Please don’t do that. It isn’t safe!”
“I’m going to try it, anyway. Now listen, Prim,
I’ll go ahead and you follow. Don’t lag, keep right
on my heels.”
With head held high, Terry walked boldly to the
door and threw it open.



Captives in the Old Fort 63
“Don’t cry,” Prim soothed her.
“I want to tell you. I want to talk about it.—
That terrible, terrible storm! Sometimes I dream
about it, even yet. And I see my father carried away
by a big wave when the ship smashed on the rocks.
It was horrible. I’ll never forget!”
Prim and Terry had tears in their eyes as the girl
continued.
“Mother and I were picked up by a lifeboat, and
brought to land. Then mother took pneumonia from
the exposure, and she died the next week. She had
a brother much older than herself, he was wealthy
but lived like a hermit, she told me. She wrote to
him asking him to look after me.”
“But how did you get in with Nancy Heron?”
asked Terry impatiently.
“She was looking after my mother and after her
death Nancy thought she saw a way to make some
money. She sent my mother’s letter with one of her
own to my uncle John Wentworth in Westhaven,
hoping that the rich old man would pay her for her
trouble.”
“What a terrible woman!” exclaimed Terry.
“How she must have loved money!”
“Yes, but it didn’t do her any good,” answered
Sally. “For the letter was returned unclaimed. No


66 Gypsies of the Air
an American you’d have no trouble in getting back
to your own country. Only how are we going to
prove that?”
“I can prove it,” said Sally. “I have a little box
of my mother’s things and my birth certificate is
among them. I was born in Boston.”
“Then everything is fine. And as soon as we get
the boys safely home, we’ll come up here and get
you. Let me see your birth certificate,” said Terry.
“I can’t now, Terry. It’s hidden so Mrs. Heron
can’t find it. Now that I bring her my wages she
wants to keep me. And she thinks if she could de-
story my birth certificate, I could never go back to
the States. That isn’t true, is it?”
“Of course it isn’t,” said Terry. “But I’d like to
see that paper just the same. It might help us find
your uncle.”
“All right, Terry, I’ll go and get it now.” The
girls watched from the tiny window as Sally slipped
out of the door, stood for a moment and talked to
Jim Heron, then started down the trail toward the
Cove. But once out of sight she took the opposite
course, climbing up the hill behind the town and
over to the next low ridge. Burrowed into the hill-
side was an old abandoned mine tunnel. Sally en-
tered the passage timidly. Far in the black depths


Captives in the Old Fort _ 71
with me. We’ll spend every cent of it on a good
time.”
“But what I want more than anything else is to
find out where those two flyers are, and why they
are held by Bud Hyslop,” said Sally. “Can’t you
make Bud talk when he comes back? I wish you’d
help me, Dan. It will mean a lot to me if I can help
these girls.”
“I’ll do what I can, I’d do anything for you.”
“All right Dan, that’s a promise,” and Sally
smiled up at the tall boy beside her, then hurried
away down the trail.
Once out of sight of Dan’s camp, Sally sat down
and opened the little copper box with its strange
markings. Her birth certificate was safe, and the
little bag of trinkets. She poured them into her lap.
A baby necklace of her own, her mother’s tiny gold
watch, and wedding ring, and a garnet necklace
and bracelet. Sally often looked at them and cried
over the trinkets, but today she smiled. She was
proud that she had something pretty to show the
girls.
Hastily putting them back into the box, Sally
ran toward home. The first thing she heard as she
came near was Nancy Heron’s voice. “Sally Wyn,
where are you? Get to work!”


72 Gypsies of the Air

" ' _""___‘_ -"Q
(!
_ She’s been calling you all the time you’ve been
away,” whispered Terry. “Did you get the birth
certificate?”
“Yes, here it is, Terry,” returned Sally.
Terry examined the paper. “It doesn’t tell much,
does it? Well, put it carefully away, Sally, and soon
we’ll get you out of here. Have patience.”
But Sally did not appear to be listening, her eyes
were bright as if she were burning up with fever.
Terry looked at the girl in surprise.
“What’s the matter, Sally?” she asked.
“I’ve got something to tell you. I know where the
plane is. I’ve found The Comet!”
“Sally!” Terry’s voice rose in excitement but
Prim laid a hand on her arm. .
“Hush, Terry! Everything depends on keeping
quiet.” She turned to Sally. “Where is the plane?”
“Over the hill a little ways. It isn’t far. It’s being
guarded by Dan Brent, that boy I was telling you
about,” whispered Sally, trembling with excite-
ment.
“But where are Allan and Syd? Did you see
them?” demanded Prim anxiously.
“They’re not there. Bud Hyslop has them hidden
away somewhere.”
“Did you tell Dan that Bud is a crook?” That


Captives in the Old Fort 73
he is keeping the boys hidden, hoping to get a re-
ward?” asked Prim.
“No, that would spoil everything. Dan thinks
they are bank robbers. Bud told them that he was
holding them for the law and expects to get a re-
ward.” .
“There, I just knew that Bud had fixed up a plot
against Allan and Syd, and that settles it! Doesn’t
Dan know where they are?” ‘
“No, he didn’t know but he’s going to try and
find out. He promised to help us.”
Terry turned to the girl impulsively. “Help us,
Sally, if you can. You and Dan will never be sorry.
we’ll do anything for you! Bud Hyslop has
kidnapped Allan and Syd and we must find
them at once!” |
Late that afternoon Sally slipped away once
more. She wanted to see Dan and find out if he had
heard anything further from Bud. As she neared
the C(mzet’s hiding place something. made her tip-
toe softly along the trail. When she came in sight of
the clearing she stopped short, with a gasp of sur-
prise. Two other planes were standing near T/oe
Comet. Sally crept close, keeping under cover of the
low growing bushes. Bud Hyslop and a stranger
were talking together a little apart from Dan. The


78 Gypsies of the Air
you girls hadn’t wanted trouble, you shouldn’t have
come all the way up here huntin’ for it. You should
have stayed at home where girls belong.”
Then Terry threatened him with the law, when
her friends found out what he had done to her, but
Jim Heron only sneered and showed his yellow
fangs. “Into the room you go!” he snarled. “I’m not
afeared of the law. In Fish Cove, I’m the law! All
the law there is!”
A glimpse of Sally’s excited face was the last
thing that Terry and Prim saw before the oaken
door closed on them and the key grated in the lock.
The next moment the sisters were facing each other
with puzzled and angry looks, for Sally’s voice came
to them through the closed door. She was saying to
Jim Heron, “That’s fine! Now we’ve got them
where we want them. You can have your night’s
sleep now. Just leave it to me; I’ll see that they don’t
escape.”
_ And Jim Heron growled in reply, “I’m going to
keep the key under my pillow tonight. You keep
watch, for if they do get loose, I’ll skin you alive.”
“So that’s that!” stormed Terry. “Sally’s our
jailer. And we thought we could trust that girl!”
Prim was on the verge of tears, and Terry con-
tinued wrathfully, “Aren’t we a couple of saps to


The Menacing Stranger 85
they made a parcel of the remaining food for future
use. If they escaped, they might need it badly.
After hours of suspense, darkness came at last
and then Terry whispered, “Let’s get out of here.
I’ll choke if I stay another minute.”
As Terry dragged the table under the trap door
and raised it, her sister cried, “Oh do be careful!”
but Terry answered, “Everything’s O. K. I’m on
the roof already. Throw me the rope and I’ll help
you up.” With a vigorous tug, she pulled Prim
through the narrow door. _
The girls breathed in the cool night air with re-
lief. The fog had lifted. Stars were shining over-
head. _
“So far, so good!” Terry whispered. “Now help
me fasten the rope to the chimney.”
Moving carefully on the steep roof, the girls
made fast the rope, then Terry let herself to the
eaves and looked over. It was a long drop to safety,
for the rear of the house was built above a ravine,
with only a narrow ledge of rock for a foothold.
Yet escape from the front was impossible. Joe
Heron might come out of the door and seize them.
“Are you game to try it?” asked Terry.
“I’m scared already, but I’ll go through with it,”
Prim replied.


86 Gypsies of the Air

ll! ‘J I
Im scared too. But its the only way,’ said
Terry.
“You’re never scared when you’re flying,” an-
swered Prim. “You do loops and side-slips and all
kinds of stunts, and you never seem to worry.”
“That’s different. In a plane I feel safe. I guess
it’s because I’m a born flyer. Come on, Prim, let’s
go!” _
“Wait, Terry. We must go down hand over
hand. Let’s tie knots in the rope for a hand hold.”
“Of course. Wasn’t I stupid to forget that!”
Hastily the girls tied big knots at intervals, then let
the rope down at the rear of the house. It seemed
like a terrible distance to the ledge, and the ravine
below it was dark and terrifying. Prim gasped:
“Oh, Terry. Let’s turn back. If you lose your
grip, you’ll be killed.”
But for answer Terry swung off, over the eaves
and began letting herself down, hand over hand.
Without the knots she would have been lost and
even as it was, the pain in her hands was terrible,
but in a minute her feet touched the ground, and
she gave a low whistle as a signal for Prim.
Terry waited for her sister with outstretched
arms, and Prim almost fell the last ten feet, sinking
limply into Terry’s arms.


CHAPTER VII
A Perilous Take-Of
TI-IE girls knew that Joe Arnold was an enemy
far more dangerous than Bud Hyslop or Heron,
for he was their superior in brains and experience,
and was quite as unscrupulous. Joe Arnold, they
knew was their father’s rival and would do any-
thing to injure Dick Mapes, to discredit him and
ruin his business. And now here was Arnold be-
fore them.
The sisters tiptoed back down the hill where they
could talk without being heard, taking Sally with
them. The three girls clung together. These were
desperate men, taking desperate chances, therefore
they might do terrible things, even commit mur-
der to get what they wanted.
There was silence for a long time then Terry
spoke in low tones. “Listen, Prim. I’m certain that
Skybird is all ready to take off. So is Joe Arnold’s
plane. But I must get the Comet.
“Terry, don’t be ridiculous. We can’t get any of
the planes with those men_there.”
“We’1l have to take a chance. We’ve got to do
it!” said Terry.
3)
9!


92 Gypsies of the Air
“But Dad says that there is never any excuse for
taking chances,” cautioned Prim.
“That’s all right. Dad will change his mind when
he knows what we know.”
“But what do you want me to do, Terry? I’ll do
anything you say!” agreed Prim.
“First, I want you to be game. I’m going down
the hill and take a look at The Comet and see if
there is plenty of gas and oil. Don’t speak, no mat-
ter what. I’_ll be all right!”
“I’ll be game, only I wish you wouldn’t go. It’s
too dangerous, Terry. Please give it up!” Prim
clutched her sister’s sleeve.
“Don’t hold me back, Prim. I’ve got to go! It’s
the only way out. Now that the fog has lifted,
everything is in our favor. It’s now or never.”
As Terry slipped quietly down the hill, Sally and
Prim returned cautiously to the crest where they
could see what was going on. Terry was gliding
about among the planes, keeping herself hidden
from the man, who was sitting with his back
toward her. Terry reached The Comet unobserved.
It stood to reason, she thought, that Bud Hyslop
would have the planes ready for a quick take-off
at any moment. With a tiny flashlight that she al-
ways carried in the pocket of her leather coat,


96 Gypsies of the Air
“All right, Dan,” said Terry quietly. “You go
and see if you can get the information out of this
man, Spencer. Here’s five dollars. Promise more, if
you have to and get back as soon as you can. We
want to take off in the planes before these men
wake up.”
The boy hurried away and in half an hour had
returned with the information. He also had the
five dollars which he offered to Terry but she re-
fused it. Old Spencer had taken the boys out to
Mackey Jones’ fleet and as Bud had short-changed
him he said _he’d have nothing more to do with the
scheme. And Dan could not persuade the stubborn
old salt to make the trip and bring the boys back.
“That’s all right, Dan,” said Terry. “Joe Arnold
might have caught on and beat him there. You
come along with us and we’ll fly out to that fishing
fleet and bring the boys back ourselves.”
“Gee!” exclaimed the astonished Dan. “I don’t
know about that! I’ve always wanted to go up in
one of them planes, but lots of them crash around
here.” _ _
“If We’re going to go, Terry, let’s get started. Joe
and Bud will be waking up soon,” said Prim.
Terry took command at once. “Now Dan, you’re
coming along! You have to! Go down there and get


roo Gypsies of the Air
Terry watched the men at work, Prirmsuddenly
ran to her sister thrusting a torn newspaper into
her hand.
“Oh Terry, read this. They’ve arrested Dad!
They are going to grill him to find out if he knows
anything about the kidnapping. Oh Terry, what
will we do?”
Terry’s face turned pale as death. Then deter-
mination to win once more came to her aid.
“Prim, there’s only one way in which we can
help Dad. We must get those boys back to Elm-
wood. Let’s go. Prim, you take Sally in The Ctmzet
and when you get one of the boys aboard make a
straight shoot home. Don’t even wait for me, if I
lag behind. Get back to Dad!”
The girls lost no time in getting their planes
started.
“You’re in luck,” cried Dan through the ear-
phones. “It’s not often that the sea is as smooth as
it is today. Sometimes the wind howls around here
like all furies-—that’s when some of the fishermen’s
boats get lost. And you’re in luck again because
Mackey Jones’ fleet is headed home.”
Terry kept her plane down toward the water and
a moment later Dan again called, ‘Tm sure that’s
Mackey Jones’ fleet below you.” Terry banked and


104 Gypsies of the Air
. ."The Comet!” cried Allan. “Terry Mapes where
did you get my plane?”
“I stole it!” she said with a toss of her head.
But that story can wait until later,—and Syd,
you’d better take the controls. Prim is tired out!”
“O. K. Chief!” Syd’s brown eyes were full of fun
once more as he gave a mock salute.
“And Syd, make a bee line for home. The plane is
all set, gas and oil and everything. Cur next stop
is The Dick Mapes Flying Field!”
“That’s the best trade I ever made,” said Mackey
Jones, as he pocketed the money.
The boys laughed heartily. “That’s what he
thinks of us,” said Allan as he settled in the seat.
With a wave of her hand to the fishermen, Terry
started her engine, throwing up a shower of water
in front of the plane as she gained speed for the rise.
Terry sent the Shyhird into the air, nose tilted
for a sharp rise. Then she levelled out and began
circling, waiting to be certain that Mackey Jones
was playing fair and would allow Syd to go with
Prim.
As she brought her plane once more over “the
fishing boats, Syd was climbing into the Comet.
The boy looked up and waved his hand to indicate
that everything was all right.
(!


A Perilous Take-Of ,1 05
Terry soared high into the air, straight up into
the glorious morning sunlight. She felt fine! She had
accomplished what she had set out to do. Allan and
Syd were safe.
And now for home!
(I
Finally Allan spoke. There’s another plane com-
ing our way. Maybe it’s our dear friend Bud Hys-
lop. Wants to see if I have been looked after prop-
erly!” said Allan with a laugh. “He’s so thoughtful
of my comfort!”
Terry glanced at the far speck in the sky. “It
may be an enemy.”
“That’s what I just said. It may be Bud Hyslop.
But I’m not afraid of that fellow.”
Terry headed her plane straight for Elmwood.
“We’ll get away from here,” cried the girl.
“What’s all the hurry! Let’s take our time and
enjoy the scenery,” the boy answered, still in a
happy mood.
But Terry was sending her plane forward with
wide open throttle. “We haven’t any time to lose,
Allan Graham. That plane is coming, and coming
fast. I can’t be sure who it is but I’ll make a guess.
It’s Joe Arnold! And he’s after us. He’s a dangerous
man! "


_
_ .


._______‘_r__-
_~‘


108 Gypsies of the Air
dollars for me!” cried Allan. “Gee, I never heard of
anything so funny in my life. And I never guessed
that I was worth fifty thousand dollars.”
“Poor Dad, it will be terrible for him. He isn’t
well yet,” said Terry. “And you know how they
question people in a case like this. They may even
give him the third degree!”
“But who is responsible for all this, Terry?
Surely no one believes it!” said Allan with a frown
of contempt.
“The newspapers said that your father believes
that Dick Mapes is the man who arranged the kid-
napping. They speak of Dick’s gang!”
“Terry, somebody’s crazy, but who is it? Let’s
head for home as fast as we can go. I’ll soon unravel
the mystery,” said Allan.
Ahead of them, far in the distance they could
see The Comet. Syd was evidently challenging them
to a friendly race.
“Now tell me what happened to you, Allan.
What’s the matter with your arm? Did you crash?”
“Nothing like that, Terry! The day we arrived in
Newfoundland, we got stranded in the fog, and
followed another plane that we thought had been
sent out from Harbor Grace to_guide us to the
airport. But when we landed and I walked over to
___


Happy Landing 109
thank the pilot for showing us a good field to land
in, I was face to face with Bud Hyslop. He pulled
a gun on us and said, ‘Hands up!’ in a businesslike
way. At first we thought he was kidding but we
soon saw that he was in earnest.”
“Bud Hyslop did that? Why he’s a regular gun
man. Then what did he do, Allan? Did he shoot
you?” asked Terry.
“No, he just shot in the air as a signal and soon
a man came running with a shotgun. In the fog he
looked like a giant.”
“That was Jim Heron,” explained Terry. “We’ve
met that man.—Go on, what next? How did you
hurt your arm?”
“I got into a little scrap. The old man grabbed
Syd and tied him up. Syd was no match for such
a gorilla. I got mad clean through to see them
rough-handle my flying buddy. I couldn’t stand it,
so I started something.” _
“I bet you did, Allan,” cried Terry. “And I
don’t blame you. I think I’d have done the same.”
“So I got fighting mad. Bud didn’t shoot after all,
but he reversed his gun and hammered me with the
bu-tt of it. Jim Heron joined in and the two of
them pressed me back to the edge of a cliff which
I couldn’t see in the fog.”


no Gypsies of the Air
((
Terry interrupted. They backed you over the
clifi! Oh Allan, it’s a wonder you weren’t killed.”
“I might have been if I hadn’t caught at a bush
and saved myself. It was just luck that I got off
with some bruises and a broken arm.”
“Then they took you out in a launch to _Mackey
Jones’ fishing fleet,” said Terry. “I know about
that.”
“How did you trace us, Terry?” asked Allan.
“How did you get wise to where we were?”
“That story can wait until we get to Elmwood—
until I’ve had a good long sleep.”
Allan looked at the girl anxiously.
“Terry, I hate this business. You’re tired out!
You’re all in and here I am not able to take the
controls.”
“Don’t worry, boy, I never felt better in my life.
I’m on the top of the world! I could do anything this
) '9!
minute. I d even feel able to tackle Joe Arnold.
If Terry had flung this challenge in Joe Arnold’s
face, hecould not have answered with more speed.
For out of the fog bank that hung over the sea,
Joe Arnold’s plane had suddenly appeared. It
swooped upon them without warning, driving so
close that Terry was thoroughly frightened. Two
men were in the plane that was bearing down upon


Happy Landing 1 I 5
that moment she heard Allan’s voice in the ear-
phones. “He’s coming, Terry. Behind us! And far
above.”
Terry’s heart sank. She nodded to show that she
had heard.
Then she began a slow spiral down. Allan held his
breath. Had the girl gone crazy? W_hat was she
doing?
Terry might have been having a joy ride, a romp
in the air, by the way she was banking so carelessly,
circling and levelling off.
Above, Joe’s plane had gone into a steep dive. It
was coming straight at Skybird and Terry seemed
to be making no effort to get out of the way.
Just as the powerful plane drew near, Joe Arnold
let out a burst of fire. Then he leaned far over to see
Terry’s plane falling in a mass of flames. _
But Skybird was not there. His fire had missed.
The girl had side-slipped and then straightened out,
while Bud at the controls had allowed his plane
to shoot past and into the bank of fog.
Terry made the most of that breathing time. She
did not wait to see whether Joe’s plane had dived
into the sea, but with throttle wide open she headed
for land.
The girl kept her plane high above the glistening


118 _ Gypsies of the Air
__-
toward the girl and took her hand. “Dad’s just as
sorry as he can be. Shake hands with him and let’s be
friends.”
Terry drew back, her heart was still bitter. Her
father’s face showed how he had suffered. It was
hard to forgive.
“And listen, Terry,” said Allan. “Dad says he’s
going to give you that fifty thousand dollars that
was asked for ransom. It’s for a reward.”
“No, he’s not!” snapped Terry. “I wouldn’t
touch his money!” Her face was scarlet, anger
blazed in her eyes. “There are two things that
money cannot buy! Loyalty and friendship!”
Bennett Graham sadly turned away.
“Some day Terry, I’ll prove my loyalty and
friendship. Just give me time.”
Terry’s heart softened at sight of the old man’s
sorrow. She turned and ofiered her hand.
“Then let’s begin right now,” said the girl.
“Now tell us everything that happened,” cried
Terry’s mother, hugging and kissing her daughter
in an excess of joy. “Goodness knows I never ex-
pected to see you come back alive, after all you’ve
been through.”
“Hasn’t Prim told you?” asked Terry. “She and
Syd have been here an hour.”
" _J.-Elli



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