“Just forget the guy back there,” he said, “and you’ll get along fine.”
Jane’s throat tightened. Going up with a government inspector was quite different from going up with Charlie,
She opened the throttle and the biplane shot across the sun-baked field. Jane was glad the other girls were out on the line, for it would be embarrassing to come down and face them if the inspector should turn her down.
She lifted the biplane into the air and got altitude in easy circles over the airport. Then she started through the routine. As the thrill of the flight got into her blood, she forgot the inspector in the rear cockpit and gave her every energy to piloting the plane. With grace and skill, she directed the maneuvers until the inspector reached ahead, tapped her on the shoulder, and nodded toward the ground.
Jane cut the motor and they drifted down. Charlie Fischer was the first to reach the plane.
“How about it?” he asked the inspector.
“Just about perfect,” smiled the government official.
“Then I’ll get my license?” Jane asked breathlessly.
“There’s no question about that. I’m giving you an exceptionally high rating. Your license will be through shortly.”
It was another ten days, before the precious card with her license arrived from Washington and Jane showed it proudly to her roommates.