Suddenly the field burst into a flood of blue-white brilliance as a great searchlight came on. Like a ghost, the huge, twin-motored plane glided down its invisible path and settled easily onto a runway, little clouds of dust coming up from the crushed rock as the machine touched the ground.
With its motors roaring a lusty song of power, the monoplane waddled toward the concrete ramp. The pilot swung it smartly about and the ground crew blocked the wheels and rushed the landing stage up to the cabin door as the pilot cut the motors. The propellers ceased whirling just as the stewardess opened the door.
“There’s Dad!” cried Helen and she ran toward the plane with Janet at her heels.
Chapter XII
ON THE STAGE
Henry Thorne was the first passenger to alight from the east-bound plane. Tall, well-built, with a close-clipped mustache and iron gray hair that curled a bit around his temples, he was a man’s man.
Helen threw her arms around her father and he gave her a tremendous hug.
“Golly, I’m glad to see you, hon,” he said. “Where’s mother?”
“She’s coming. She couldn’t run as fast as I,” explained Helen, breathless with excitement.
Mrs. Thorne, her face flushed with happiness over her husband’s coming arrived and they embraced affectionately.
Then Mr. Thorne saw John Hardy and Janet and her mother.