lame, hurled themselves
at the black biplane.

Motors roaring wide open, pilots tense at the triggers, the avenging
army craft arrived just as Charlie nosed the tri-motor down for a
landing.

Mrs. Van Verity Vanness watched the scene with startled eyes and Jane's
heart pounded doubly fast.

The bandit plane was trapped between the army ships. Bullets ripped
through the wings of the black craft as the pilot tried desperately to
maneuver into position where the gunner in his forward cockpit could
get his weapon into action.

"What does it mean?" gasped Jane's passenger.

"It's a bandit plane that shot down a mail ship early yesterday in
southeastern Iowa," explained the stewardess.

"But why was it following us? This plane had no mail."

"It had you, which was vastly more important."

"Ransom?"

Jane nodded.

"How long have you known we were in danger?"

"Ever since we caught sight of the black plane. We had a description of
it at Omaha and were warned by radio to be on the lookout."

"But you didn't say a word to me."

"There was no need to alarm you."

The army planes were closing in on their quarry, darting in and out as
the pilots directed blasts of fire at the bandit craft. The aerial
desperadoes knew that they could hope for no quarter and they made one
final attempt to escape, heading their plane in a mad dive toward one
of the army ships.

But the dive laid them open to the fire of the second army flyer, and
he plunged down from above, his machine gun spitting flame. Bullets
traced through the wing of the black biplane, shattering the propeller.
Then the left wing of the biplane tore loose and the ship fluttered
aimlessly for a moment before nosing down for the final plunge.

Mrs. Van Verity Vanness cried out in horror and Jane placed her hands
over the older woman's eyes. Finally the passenger turned from the
window and looked at Jane.

"You're a brave, sweet girl," she said. "Now I think I'll rest again."

Neither one mentioned the aerial duel they had witnessed as the special
roared on to the pace of its quickened motors.

Jane prepared breakfast and while her passenger sipped the hot
chocolate, the stewardess went up to the pilots' cockpit.

"Some dog-fight," said Charlie Fischer. "Those army boys showed up just
in time."

"I suppose I should say it was terrible," said Jane, "but knowing what
those bandits would have done to my passenger, I feel they got just
what was coming to the