“I’ve got some spare clothes,” suggested Hunter. “Some of them belong to 'Tiny’ Lewis but they’ll keep you warm at least.”
The young reporters laughed at the thought of wearing “Tiny” Lewis’ flying togs. “Tiny,” was the exact opposite from his name. He was as round as a barrel and not much over five feet six in height.
The boys followed Hunter back to the administration building and made their way to the pilots’ room. Hunter opened several lockers and finally found the clothes he sought, heavy fleece-lined coveralls especially designed for cold weather flying.
When the boys had donned their ill-fitting clothes they looked like a pair of aerial scare crows for their legs projected awkwardly from the suits, which were far too short for them.
“Throw a couple of robes over your legs and you’ll be all right,” suggested the field manager.
“Not for me,” grinned Tim. “Ralph can bundle up all he wants to but I’m not going to have a blanket tangled around the stick just about the time I have to get into action.”
When the boys returned to No. 5 hangar the mechanics had the Good News warmed up and on the line.
The managing editor looked at his watch.
“Just a few minutes after one-thirty,” he said, half to himself, half to his star reporters. Then aloud he said, “You won’t be able to get to Auburn, snap your pictures and get back here in time for the city final. However, if you get some good shots we’ll put out a five o’clock picture extra so step on it all the way.”
“We’ll be back in less than two hours,” promised Tim. “Wouldn’t be able to do it with the old motor in the ship, but with this new power unit we’ll do 180 an hour steady over and back. The trip is about 125 miles each way and with the time it takes for the pictures we’ll make it in two hours easy.”