we’ll do everything possible,” Jane told him.
“The other passengers seem to be a little alarmed,” said Sue. “I’m going to tell them just what’s up.”
“Good idea. I’ll have the compresses ready when you come back.”
Sue went along the cabin and stopped to tell each passenger just what was the matter with the elderly man in No. 4. Everyone was sympathetic, but there was nothing they could do to help.
The girls made the stricken man as comfortable as possible and changed the cold packs frequently. It seemed to Jane as though the engines were droning along at a higher pitch and a glance at the air-speed indicator revealed that they were traveling 135 miles an hour.
They passed over Aurora and Jane knew they would soon be in Chicago. The co-pilot came back.
“How’s he getting along?” he asked Jane.
“He’s much more comfortable. Did you get a message through?”
“An ambulance is waiting at the field right now. Gosh, but I’m glad you girls were along. You ought to apply for jobs with the company. They’re going to put on a bunch of girls as stewardesses.”
“That’s just exactly why we’re on this plane.”
“Then this bit of first aid won’t hurt you in getting a job,” grinned the co-pilot.
He ducked back into the forward compartment and a few minutes later the plane swung over the municipal airport, Chicago headquarters of the Federated Airways.
Word had been flashed around the field that the incoming plane was bringing in a sick man, and the ship was given the right of way over all other planes.
Jane and Sue were too much interested in their patient to feel the slightest discomfort as the plane landed and rolled along the concrete ramp.
Sue hurried the other passengers out and an ambulance backed up to the plane.
“I’m deeply grateful,” whispered their patient, as he was lifted from the plane to the ambulance.
A white-garbed interne waved to the driver and with its siren clearing a path, the ambulance sped away.
Jane smiled at her companion.
“I wonder who he was? I forgot to ask his name.”
“I was too busy to think about that,” confessed Sue. “Perhaps we’ll see him again if we are fortunate enough to secure positions on the air line.”
The chief pilot of their plane paused beside them.
“That was fine, level-headed work,” he said. “You girls did exactly the right thing. I’m mighty glad the line is going to add a trained nurse as stewardess on all of the passenger runs. The co-pilot said you were going to apply.”
“We hope to see Mr. Speidel, the personnel director, today,” said Jane.
The chief pilot glanced at his wrist watch.
“It’s just seven-thirty. Mr. Speidel won’t be here for another hour. Tell you what. Let’s have breakfast together here at the field and then I’ll see that you have an interview with Mr. Speidel as soon as he reaches the field. Believe me, I’m grateful for what you girls did on the flight in.”
Jane hesitated a second, but Sue accepted enthusiastically.
“That’s fine. I’ve got to see that the ship is berthed properly. I’ll meet you in the waiting room.”
The lanky flyer hurried away and Jane and Sue went into the waiting room.
“Do you think we ought to have accepted the invitation?” asked Jane.
“Yes. If we get on as stewardesses, we’ll have to know all of the pilots fairly well. Besides, think what a free breakfast means to our slender purses.”
Jane smiled. “You would think of that.”
A few minutes later the pilot of their ship rejoined them.
“Say, I forgot to introduce myself,” he chuckled. “I’m Charlie Fischer.”
“And I’m Jane Cameron and my friend is Sue Hawley.”
“Now that everything’s in order and we know who’s who, let’s eat.”
The flyer led the way into the modernistic restaurant which adjoined the waiting room and they sat down at gleaming black and silver tables.
“The sky’s the limit,” advised their new friend and Jane and Sue added bacon to their usual breakfast of toast and fruit.
“Do you know very much about the plans for using stewardesses?” asked Jane.
“Only the talk that’s heard along the system. With passenger traffic getting heavier all of the time, some step must be taken to have a member of the crew in the cabin where the needs of the passengers can be looked after. I think selecting trained nurses is a mighty good idea.”
“Have any girls been hired?” Sue wanted to know.
“Not yet. I think today is the first on which Mr. Speidel is to have interviews with candidates.”
“Is he nice?” persisted Sue.
“He’s not half bad and I’m certainly going to give both of you the best possible recommendation. Have either of you flown much before?”
“This was our first trip,” said Jane.
Charlie 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 near-by 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
