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Show Sally of Sky Alley, By Verm Brown CHAPTER THIBTT rrVI Colonel Wadaworth fidgeted about Apparently he had something on his mind which he wanted to say. "You know that Yvonne I greatly opposed to any suggestion I have for a winter flight," be said, clearing his throat. Joe'a face was a mask. Hutch was embarrassed and trying to hide his embarrassment. Sally alone seemed to have a tongue. "I know aha la. Colonel; aha has talked to me a lot about M," the girl aid, and honestly enough. That Yvonne had pleaded with Sally to keep Colonel Wadaworth from making mak-ing such a plan, waa something which need net be Included in the present conversation. SALLX MAKES A CONDITION "She la absurd about thla plan," the husband said in an irritated voice. "I cannot understand her. 1 know she's grown fond of you, Sally, and I know he Is fond of Hutch, but surely she must see that fliers must fly, )ust as palntera must paint . and writers write." v Colonel WsOworth shrugged his shoulders. "Just as I, myself, must manage things. That's my vice, managing thing. Yvonne aaya." Joe in his heart aald: "You might tart on hert" But he held his peace and listened. "Since aha facia this way. I suggest we aay nothing about the flight until it la announced In the newspapers a week before the hop. No use in worrying worry-ing herl I'm sure you'll all agree." They all agreed. Joe and Hutch thankfully, Sally with a feeling of annoyance. an-noyance. A they waited. Colonel Wadaworth retired into an inner office to dictate a few last letters, leaving Hutch, Joe and Sally alone together. They were silent for a few momenta mo-menta and Joe kicked Sally's foot twice under the table. She did not respond to the signal, so Joe took matters into his own hands. "Sally haa something to say to you, Hutch, old man," he remarked. Sally flushed, then threw up her head and looked the pilot straight in the eye. "Hutch, I'm thrilled about this flight and I know you can make it," she said firmly. "There ia only one thing. I insist, if I'm going wth you, and you certainly need a copilot, thai you go on the wagon for surd from now until we take oft I'm not being be-ing nasty or trying to dictate," she added as Hutch msde an impatienl gesture. "I Just want to be sure ol my neck. You know. Hutch, dear, you can't fly and drink both. Please be a 'square shooter' aa you uaed to be, and promise me you won't do any drinkine." Tm on the level this time. I'll get those bonds and give them to you. It'a what 1 owe you. I mean It. Unbelieving. Sally aat down at the big table and wrote him check for her last 400. t . t "It's all I have Hutch," she said In a low voice. "I've worked hard for It" And she handed him the check, Hutch put it quickly away. He grabbed one of Sally's hands and queeied it hard. People were coming, com-ing, Joe and Colonel Wadaworth. "Yvonne ia on her way up," Colo, net Wadaworth aaid. "Where do you people want to eat?" Just aa he spoke, Yvonne the ' beautiful cam into the room and turned the cold, dignified office into a place of light and color as though the sunshine had suddenly coma loom behind a cloud. The four already in the room looked at her, each with different thoughts. Hutch and Colonel Wadaworth openly adored her. Joe waa disapproving disap-proving but admiring. Sally waa full of hate and bitterness. Yvonne hsd always been kind to Sally, but of late there had been an open hostility between them. For Yvonne had never forgiven Cerda for refusing to do her portrait, and now he waa painting Sally. It waa a bitter pill for Yvonne. And Yvonne did not choose to be ignored by any. body, certainly not for this little brown-eyed flierl "What? Ia the altting over?" aha asked, and only Sally could detect the drop of acid In her voice. "All over and nearly finished. He's showing It soon. I'm anxioua to see It," Joe answered for all of them. ON THE WAGON He did not add that he was already thinking of buying it, perhaps for the metropolitan modern wing, if it were aa good aa he thought It waa going to be. Yvonne threw her silver fox furs on the table and lit a cigaret "Where do you want to eat, Yvonne?" Colonel Wadaworth asked. "I know a grand new club where there's slick champagne," ahe aald en. thuiisitirelly. "What do you aay?" Sally did not apeak. Joe made a protesting gesture. Yvonne looked at Hutch. He met her eyea squarely. "Nothing doing, Yvonne," he said firmly. "I'm on the wagon until New Year's eve. No faking. I really am!" He smiled at her pleadingly. "So please eat some place where they aren't serving anything to drink." Colonel Wadaworth waa beaming ; on Hutch. That'e the boy," he cried. "You make me very happy when you talk 1 like that! We'll go over to my club." Yvonne'a eyea met Sally's. It was just a casual glance to these three man wno stood beiora them, out each woman knew what waa in the other's mind. Sally's eyea were pleading. Yvonne'a Inscrutable. They were deep and green and willful. In that brief glance, new declaration of war waa made. The armufVe was off, but. for the first time, Sally felt that ahe had a fair chance for victory. Te Ba Ceatinaed Teaaerrow (Copyright by Public Ledger -TOUE BIO CHANCE" Hutch's eyes blazed for a moment Ho looked at Sally's taar-fllled eyes, but the fact that Sally waa absolutely in the right about the matter did not ease the situation any. Then the old Hutch. Hutch the pilot. Hutch who had fought elements and winds, poor motors and creaking struts, suddenly came to the surface. "Sally, you're right," he said suddenly. sud-denly. "I know that I promise." He gave her his hand. "X ask only one dispensation. That's New Year s eve. A fellow ought to be allowed to get drunk on New Year's. That la two weeka before the flight and I'll go right back on the wagon." "YouH keep your word to me?" Sally pleaded. Joe stood looking out of the window. win-dow. The very toner of Sally's voice aa ahe pleaded with Hutch stabbed him. Just aa Joe felt he was making headway with Sally, something like this came and his hopes were dashed to the ground. Sally forgot Joe's presence, everything. every-thing. In the moment "Hutch, it's your big chance," Sally was saying. "There's been a lot of talk about your drinking and not flying. I've been scared something would get Into print You know it and I know it I'm aura Hilary Johnson knows the real reason you didnt fly the Boston Derby, and If he does, ao must some of the other boys. That's why I want you to make this venture a auccesa. It will square accounts with everybody." Hutch turned Impatiently. "I wish - folks would mind their own business," he mapped. "I've risked my neck again and again, and what did I get but lot of patting on the back. Are thev lust waitina for me to erack upT" I "You got quite a lot of money, Hutch," Sally aaid gently. "Doesn't that compensate a little? ' And certainly cer-tainly you were glad enough to have fine ships to flyl'r TM BEOKt- -A lot of good it did me to get the money! he groaned. "Sally, I'm absolutely ab-solutely broke right now!" "Hutch, you're gambling again." Sally'a shoulders drooped. "I ve got to do something for excitement!" ex-citement!" Hutch protested. "You won't let me drink. Yvonne has a fit if I fly, so what ia a fellow to doT" Certainly you picked an expensive way out!" Joe aald auddenly, from the window. They had forgotten bis existence aa they talked. Just then Colonel Wadsworth'a secretary sec-retary called Joe Into his brother's office for a moment. When he had gone. Hutch turned nervously to Sally. "Sally,' he began, "you'll think Tm a terrible rotter!" Sally sighed inwardly. Sha knew what thla preface meant During the last weeka ahe had been "loaning" Hutch larger and larger sum of money. Her salary had been Increased three time since she had hopped the Boston derby and won it Sha had also won some special purses during November. No-vember. Sally shuddered aa ahe thought of the money she had earned which had gone the way of the gambling table. "You're borrowing money of Yvonne all the tune, too," Sally accused, ac-cused, "I'm not!" lied Hutch. "And you've got money from Joe. too. I know it," Sally countered. "And probably from Colonel Wadaworth." Hutch waa. sullen. "How much do you need this time?" Sally aaked. "I need $300. I've got to have It, Sally. I'm In a lot of trouble. I hocked some bonds and I have to have that money to save them. If I don't get it, then there's $5000 gone!" "Sally's hand trembled. She had Just $600 In her savings account She should have had $300 at least It had all gone the way of the gambling table. "Hutch, I wish you'd believe me when I say I don't care ao much about the money. But what'a the good? It will )ust go. Some gambling house will take it" "Sally, this la a promise," Hutch said, hia voice breaking aa he talked. |