Jimmy hardly knew whether to be pleased or sorry. He would be glad enough of Handley’s help. Even the two of them could not clean up the story in the short time Jimmy would have at the scene of the disaster. But now that Jimmy saw an opportunity to help his friend Johnnie Lee, he rather regretted that Handley was to join him. They could hardly bother with Johnnie now.
These thoughts went through Jimmy’s mind in an instant. They did not prevent him from answering promptly the Morning Press message. He put his mouthpiece to his lips and said: “Jimmy Donnelly talking to the New York Press. I have your message about Handley and will wait for him at Easton.”
When Jimmy reached that city, it looked for a little time as though he would not be able to keep his word. It hardly seemed possible to make a landing. But west of the city Jimmy found some fields and got down safety, though he had a scare when he saw a fence loom up suddenly before him. His plane struck sand and came to a stop within ten feet of the fence.
Jimmy hopped out of the ship and looked about him. Handley was nowhere in sight. “He’ll have to come along pretty soon if we are to get the stuff back to New York in time,” thought Jimmy. “I wonder if there is anything I could do to help matters.”
He thought of Johnnie Lee. “If I could talk to him,” muttered Jimmy, “I could put him right to work.”
With Jimmy, to think was to act. Not far away was a house. Jimmy raced over to it, and was rejoiced to see that telephone wires ran to the house. He knocked at the door. A pleasant faced woman answered his knock.
“Good afternoon,” said Jimmy, politely. “I need very much to use a telephone. May I use yours?”
The woman looked him over. “I take it you are the pilot of the plane that just landed,” she said.
“I am,” said Jimmy, “and I am in a trying situation. It will help me greatly if I may use your phone.”
“Go ahead,” she said. “You are welcome. I’ll be glad if it will help you.”