eft the waiting room.
Two stars appeared to be descending out of the west and the hulk of a
great tri-motor biplane drifted into the brilliant light of the field.

The plane settled gently and rolled smoothly along the crushed-rock
runway. Its motors boomed as the pilot swung it into the hangar.

Jane and Sue looked at the big ship apprehensively. It didn't seem
possible that the three motors could lift the great plane off the
ground and hurl it through the air at two miles a minute.

The ground crew wheeled the portable steps up to the cabin and the
pilot and co-pilot came down. They were young, clean-cut chaps.

The pilot hastened into the operations room to obtain the latest
reports on the weather between University City and Chicago while the
co-pilot supervised the refueling.

Jane saw the baggage cart wheeled alongside the plane and their bags
disappeared into the forward hold. Then the night manager was at their
side.

"You have seats eight and nine, which places you together on the right
side of the ship. This way, please."

The girls followed him across the concrete floor and into the spacious
cabin. Lights inside were turned low for several of the passengers were
dozing.

Jane was amazed at the roomy interior. Along the right side was a
double row of comfortable reclining chairs, very much like those in a
railroad coach. There was a single row along the left side, with the
aisle running the length of the cabin. Overhead were baggage racks for
parcels and wearing apparel and there were individual lights for each
chair.

A shaded light in the bulkhead ahead revealed two dials, one marked air
speed and the other altitude. A door led forward to the baggage and
pilot's compartment while a door at the rear opened onto a tiny pantry
and a lavatory.

Jane counted the seats. There was room for fourteen in the cabin and
counting themselves, twelve passengers were now aboard.

Chairs eight and nine were almost at the rear of the cabin and Jane and
Sue settled into the seats. The night manager handed them each a small,
sealed envelope.

"Here's your traveling packet of gum and cotton. Better put the cotton
in your ears. The noise is a little bad the first few minutes. If you
think the altitude will affect your ears, chew gum while you're going
up. Will you want a blanket so you can sleep?"

"I should say not," replied Sue. "I'm going to see everything there is
to see."

The pilots re-entered the plane an