Fischer whistled softly. "Well, you certainly are a cool pair.
I hope you're assigned to my crew."

They finished breakfast and the chief pilot walked with them to the
nearby administration building.

The field was roaring with activity. Planes were at the ramp being
loaded with mail and express, ready for swift dashes to almost every
point of the compass. Passengers were saying hasty farewells to
friends, and porters, laden with baggage, hurried from taxis to the
planes. It was a fascinating picture and Jane knew that she would
thoroughly enjoy being a part of it.

Chapter Five

With Flying Colors

Charlie Fischer took Jane and Sue up to the second floor of the
administration building. They entered a broad hall with chairs ranged
along each wall and in every chair was a girl.

Jane's heart sank for she knew instantly that every one of them was
there to apply for the position of stewardess. Sue looked at her and
somehow managed a brave smile.

"There's going to be plenty of competition," she whispered.

Charlie Fischer glanced at the double row of girls waiting to be called
into the office of the personnel director.

"Wait here," he told Jane and Sue. "I'll see if we can't manage to slip
through ahead of the rest."

Jane and Sue sat down in the last two chairs along the hall and Jane
looked at their competitors. The girls were all about her own age, most
of them very attractive to look upon. They were trim and capable and
had the calm bearing which their training had instilled.

A secretary came down the hall, taking the names and addresses of each
girl. Finally she reached Jane and Sue and they gave their names.

"What is your Chicago address?" she asked.

"We just arrived," explained Jane, "and hope to see Mr. Speidel this
morning."

"I'm afraid you won't be able to see him today. There are all those
girls ahead of you," the secretary advised.

Jane's spirits ebbed but she went on determinedly.

"I have a letter here from the supervisor of nurses at Good Samaritan
hospital at University City," she said. "Mr. Speidel wrote to her
asking that she recommend several girls for this work."

"Yes, I know. Mr. Speidel wrote to a number of supervisors. Almost
every girl here has her recommendation from a supervisor, but I'm
afraid you'll have to wait your turn."

The secretary returned to her desk at the head of the hall and several
minutes later the first two girls at the head of the line were c