no more reason for a girl to learn the engine of an airplane, than for her to know the engine of an automobile. You can't often fix things up in the air anyway."
Linda shrugged her shoulders; she had no desire to get into an argument. But neither had she any intention of giving up her cherished ambition. Ted Mackay, that wonderful young pilot who had taken her for her very first flight, and who had later rescued Louise and herself from the wilderness, was firm in the belief that this was the next step for her to take.
"Then I nominate Miss Hulbert," said Kitty, immediately. "Now don't forget, Bess, you said you'd consider it!" She looked imploringly at the older girl; it was plain to be seen that she admired her tremendously.
Without further discussion the nomination was made unanimous.
Jim Valier suddenly stood up and stretched. He was so tall and thin that he had been nicknamed "String Bean," and everybody said he was the laziest member of the crowd.
"I'm all tired out with this hard work," he announced. "Let the president do the rest – appointing committees, and what not. Now Kitty, when do we eat?"
Everybody roared. Intimate as they all were with Kitty Clavering, Jim was the only one who would have asked such a question.
"We ate everything they had in the house last night at the party," snapped Dot Crowley.
"Where are your manners, Jim?"
Laughingly, Kitty rang the bell and the usual refreshments appeared. While they were eating, Linda and Louise had drifted off to a corner of the room, away from Bess Hulbert, whom they both disliked, and Linda was showing her handkerchief to several of the girls and telling where her father had gotten it. Turning about to put her tea-cup on the tray, she saw Bess beside her, listening intently to her explanation.
"May I see it?" she asked, rather abruptly.
"Certainly," replied Linda, surprised that a girl like Miss Hulbert would care for such a dainty thing.
"You said outside of Montreal, didn't you?" she inquired. "I believe I know the convent you mean. 'Our Lady of Mercy,' isn't it?"
"Yes, I believe it is," answered Linda. "Why?"
"Oh, nothing. Only I've been there – I know Canada pretty well."
"Fortunately you don't have to go to Canada to get one. My father is buying them for the finer stores all over the country. You can get them almost anywhere – in any of the big cities."
Miss Hulbert raised her eyebrows.
"Quite an idea," she remarked. "Nobody ever would think of making money from nuns!"
It was an insult, of course, to her father, and Linda would have replied, but just at that moment Lieutenant Hulbert clapped his hands for silence.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" he shouted. "May I say something?"
"If we can go on eating while we listen," said Jim.
"You've had enough, String Bean!" put in Dot. "Go on, Lieutenant Hulbert. All the important people are listening."
"I have an exciting piece of news," explained the young officer. "A wealthy woman by the name of Mrs. Rodman Hallowell has just offered a prize of twenty-five thousand dollars to the first girl, or girls, who fly from New York to Paris, without a man's accompanying them. You know, of course, that this has never been done. Maybe such an undertaking is beyond this club, but anyway it's something to keep in mind. You can never tell how fast you'll progress, once you start flying."
"Oh, Bess!" cried Kitty. "Why don't you do it?"
"I would," replied the girl, coolly, as if she were sure of her ability, "if I had a suitable plane. But there's no use attempting it in the poor old boat I fly."
"Everybody says nobody but Sis could make it go," put in Lieutenant Hulbert, proudly. "It's one the Army gave up."
"I understand its temperament," explained his sister. "It's a Jenny – but somehow I manage her. And I never went to a ground school, either," she added, to Linda.
"Maybe the club could finance you," suggested Kitty. "Think of the honor it would mean to us!"
"That's awfully sweet of you, Kitty dear. But we'll talk about it later. Nobody will be trying for the prize over the winter, and by spring we'll see how our finances are."
Linda sat perfectly still, drinking in every word. Oh, if she could only win that prize! She and Louise! But how could they hope to, against such an experienced flyer as Miss Hulbert? What a bitter pill it would be to swallow, to watch her money going towards helping a girl like that to win! If it were even Dot, or Kitty – any one of her real friends!
Scarcely knowing what she was doing, she said good-by to her hostess, and followed Louise out of the house.
Chapter IV
The Ground School
"I certainly don't care for that woman!" announced Louise emphatically, as she got into Linda's roadster.
"Miss Hulbert?" inquired her chum.
"Yes. You might think she were the one and only queen of the air! And it's all so silly. Imagine Lindbergh or Amelia Earhart talking like that!"
"Still, she has a lot of experience on all of us," admitted Linda. "But I don't believe what she says about ground schools. Why, Ted Mackay – "
"Have you heard from him lately, Linda?"
"About a week ago. He wants us to go to a school in St. Louis, where he says they give a most thorough course."
"Sure it isn't because that will be near Kansas City – where he is?" teased Louise.
"Oh no, I wouldn't believe that of Ted. He is seriously interested in my career – yours too, for I told him that you might go with me."
"Might!" repeated Louise, settling back in her seat to enjoy the ride, for it was a lovely day, and there was no top over the car. "Nobody could stop me now – after this afternoon! We're going to beat Bess Hulbert to it, and get that prize!"
"Lou, if we only could! You know how I've talked of flying the ocean before. Are you still game?"
"Absolutely! But we wouldn't dare take a chance in your Pursuit, would we?"
"No, of course not. What I'd like to get is a Model J Bellanca – it's made especially for that purpose. Take off early next May – the very day Lindy flew, if the weather happens to be right."
"Where would we ever get the money for such a plane?" asked Louise, incredulously. "It would cost thousands of dollars."
"Yes, I know. I talked to Daddy this morning, and if he decides to let me try it, he won't mind the money. But don't breathe a word of this to anybody! I wouldn't want Miss Hulbert to hear of it; she'd only make all manner of fun of us."
"Suppose she should get that prize," remarked Louise. "Can you imagine her in Paris, Linda? Representing American Girlhood! Why, it might start a war with the French!"
"Now, Lou, you're exaggerating too much. She isn't as disagreeable as all that."
"She is. She's even worse. But of course
