“In that case,” smiled Tim, “I wouldn’t be surprised if you had a couple of reporters spending their vacations with you this summer.”
“Nothing would please me more,” said the genial ranchman, “and be sure and drop in whenever you fly this way.”
“Thanks for all you’ve done,” said Tim, “and if we can ever do you a favor, don’t hesitate to call on us.”
With the air mail pouches in the forward cockpit Tim headed the Good News for home. The headwind slowed him somewhat but even with that handicap he was back in Atkinson by mid-afternoon.
A special section of the air mail eastbound had just come in and the salvage mail was placed aboard it to continue the journey to eastern cities.
When the air mail had taken off, Hunter turned to Tim.
“I’m writing a complete report and forwarding it to headquarters,” said the field manager. “It was certainly great of you and Ralph to help out as you did. Lewis might have died and Mitchell certainly would have had a rough time of it before we could have reached them if you fellows hadn’t volunteered.”
“We’re always ready in an emergency,” said Tim. “Besides, we got some dandy stories for the paper.”
“The company will reward you in some way,” said Hunter, “And they won’t be stingy about it when they read my report.”
“Don’t lay it on too thick,” urged Tim.