later the transport, coming low and fast, roared into
view. Not more than five minutes was between the planes now and still
no village had been sighted. The distance between the planes was
vanishing like magic when Jane caught sight of a trail of smoke out to
sea. It was a desperate chance but worth it.

Banking the seaplane sharply, she sped away from the coast with the
transport diving at an angle to cut her off. It was going to be close,
but Jane pushed the throttle wide open and somehow the little craft
found an added ten miles an hour.

The outlines of the ship appeared. It was low and rakish and painted
grey, but whatever it was, it looked like a haven. A cry from Sue drew
Jane's attention from the pursuing plane.

"The coast guard!" shouted Sue and Jane's heart leaped. She dove for
the ship, waving frantically. Above her the transport circled, afraid
to follow.

Jane, too elated to worry about the hazard of landing the seaplane,
made an almost perfect descent and taxied alongside the coast guard
vessel, which had been brought to a halt. Officers and men lined the
rail for it was seldom that two girls and a boy appeared in a seaplane.

Jane stood up and cupped her hands.

"Can you take us aboard? We've got Jackie Condon, the missing film
star."

"You've what?" roared the amazed commander.

Jane repeated her message and a boat was dropped by the destroyer. It
came alongside the seaplane handsomely, took the mooring line, and
towed the plane up to the destroyer. Jane went aboard and told her
story to the astounded commander. The radio cracked out the good news
that a whole nation had been waiting to hear. Then followed directions
intended to bring the apprehension of Bardo and his band of kidnapers.

The destroyer, en route to Alaska, turned about and with funnels
trailing heavy ribbons of oily smoke, sped toward Seattle under forced
draft. Jane and Sue looked over the rail at the mountainous coast line
of British Columbia. In less than a week, they would be back on the
transcontinental, settling into their routine work.

"Know what day this is?" asked Jane.

"Our first anniversary," smiled Sue. "We joined the airways just a year
ago. Think how much has happened?"

"Just think how much more can happen in the coming year," replied Jane,
wondering vaguely what new adventure might be ahead of them.

THE END

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jane Stewardess of the Air Lines, by
Ruthe S. W