Motors roaring wide open, pilots tense at the triggers, the avenging army craft arrived just as Charlie nosed the tri-motor down for a landing.
Mrs. Van Verity Vanness watched the scene with startled eyes and Jane’s heart pounded doubly fast.
The bandit plane was trapped between the army ships. Bullets ripped through the wings of the black craft as the pilot tried desperately to maneuver into position where the gunner in his forward cockpit could get his weapon into action.
“What does it mean?” gasped Jane’s passenger.
“It’s a bandit plane that shot down a mail ship early yesterday in southeastern Iowa,” explained the stewardess.
“But why was it following us? This plane had no mail.”
“It had you, which was vastly more important.”
“Ransom?”
Jane nodded.
“How long have you known we were in danger?”