“Not in this first trip,” said Tim. “I’ve got to fly fast and far and the less weight the faster I’ll go. When I’m ready to start for Auburn again I’ll need you. In the meantime you see that we have at least a dozen flares ready to take with us for it will be midnight or later by the time we reach the valley again.”
Ralph promised to have the parachute flares ready and then followed the managing editor to one of the New’s cars. An extra was being held up for the pictures in Ralph’s camera and after all his duty was to the paper first.
Tim turned the Good News over to the Mechanics for refueling and went over to Hunter’s office to get warm and map out the course of his next flight.
The field manager unfurled a roll of maps and helped Tim check his plans.
“You’re going to get plenty of hours in the air today,” he grinned.
“I know it,” smiled Tim, “And only a little more than three hours ago I was grumbling because there wasn’t more chance for any flying assignments this week.”
Tim took a ruler and laid out his course, an air line from Atkinson to Fort Armstrong, the nearest army post. It was a good five hundred miles and with certain weather ahead Tim knew that he would have to count on three hours for the flight. He should be at the army post by seven o’clock. If he allowed himself one hour at the post he ought to be able to start back around 8 o’clock. Three more hours and he would be back in Atkinson at 11 o’clock. A stop to pick up Ralph, make final arrangements and then into the air again for Cedar river valley.
Every minute counted and after carefully checking his course Tim hurried back to his plane.
“Aren’t you going to telephone the Fort you’re coming?” asked the field manager.
“Carson promised to do that,” replied Tim. “I’ll need his political pull to get the material I need at the Fort. You phone Carson when I take off. Have him tell the army people I’ll drop in on them about 7 o’clock, wind and weather allowing.”