LITMIR.BIZ

      At home the very next week, I had a charter to El Paso, Texas for a businessman and his companion, a lady friend. They stayed overnight and I flew them back home. There was a lot going on in the back seat, I couldn’t see but I heard a lot of laughing and strange noises. The guy tipped me well and told me to keep mum, if ya know what I mean.

      The next weeks really dragged while I was waiting for my return trip to San Diego. The day finely came. I had purchased a new flying outfit, boots, pant boots, the spitting image of a pilot of the times. I was a happy young guy singing to myself all the way to San Diego, I sang ever love song I could remember.

      At San Diego, I circled the airport several times, just to let Allie know I was arriving. I set the bird down as gently as a mother caressing her baby.

      Before I could taxi to a tie down spot, Allie was running along beside my ship, waving with both hands. She was in my arms before the prop stopped spinning. We sat in the plane talking, hugging and kissing for most of an hour that day. I got to tell ya, I felt I was the luckiest guy in the whole world to have this beauty in love with me.

      After greeting all the people at the airport, Jack wasn’t there; Allie and I went to get a bite to eat at the Diner, the little blond gal took our order. She said, “I think Allie is in love with you, she talks about ya all the time.”

      “I hope so.” That made me happy.

      The little gal said, “If you have any doubts, look me up.” She gave me a big smile and walked away.

      Allie didn’t take kindly to the girl’s advances. “She’s got some nerve trying to steal my boyfriend. Right here in front of me.”

      I said, “Haw, she’s just teasing and making conversation.”

      Allie was mad. “She better watch out and so should you.”

      I laughed and told her. “No one can ever take your place.”

      She put out both her hands to me, I gave her mine. She pulled me over the top of the table to give me a big wonderful wet kiss on my lips.

      That evening we took in a movie show at the Bee-U Theater. The movie was King Kong. Allie acted scared and held onto me all thru the show, I knew she was kidding. A gal who can fly like she can is not going to let a silly movie freak her out.

      Later in the car she told me she wanted to hold on to me as she said she was in love. She said she wanted to make sure I was for real.

      Back at the airport office Smiling Jack was there. We talked late into the night. Jack told about barnstorming around the country and how he had worked for Hollywood pictures. One of his best friends, Ormer Locklear, had been killed doing a stunt for a picture. He talked about Ormer and what the man had done for thrills in his barnstorming days. Jack said that Ormer was the first to walk on the wings; he transferred from plane to plane, hung off the wings and landing gear without a parachute. Jack told us there will never be another like him. I could see Jack admired the man and missed him. Jack seemed sad to talk about Ormer. Jack said barnstorming still was a good way to make money. People like to be thrilled.

      He said, “Taking passengers up is a good money maker.” He was looking forward to the next summer to get going on a tour.

      I slept in the office that night and dreamed of Allie and barnstorming. I was awake on and off all night, I was wondering if I could do the things with an airplane Jack had talked about.

      At sunup Allie was setting on the cot when I woke up. I got a great good morning kiss. We had breakfast at the diner and a long talk about our future together. She had it all planned out. “We’ll buy a big airplane and charter together and make lots of money. This depression will soon be over and everyone will want to fly, it’ll be great to fly with you.”

      I told her she is my whole future, flying or not. “I love you and I want to be with you all the time.” How great it was that she wanted me.

      This wonderful time had to come to an end and it did, too soon to suit me. Allie had left in her car to run an errand for Jack.

      The doctor and his family showed up around nine a.m. We were loaded and ready to taxi to the runway when Allie showed up. She came running over and banged on my side window. I opened the window and stuck my head out, she gave me a goodbye kiss on the lips and yelled, “Phone me when you get home, I have to know you’re safe.” I waved and shook my head yes.

      I taxied to the runway and gunned the Stinson into the air, she lifted off like a bird on the wing. We headed east toward home.

      The doctor sat beside me and asked about Allie. The engine makes a lot of noise so we had to talk pretty loud, I know his wife heard our conversation. I told him I was going to marry the girl, but I didn’t want people at home to know just yet. He said he would keep my secret. He told me my girl was a beauty. Of course, I agreed.

      When we landed at home, Uncle Bob was there and told me he had charters lined up as far as the eye could see. My Uncle was one good hustler, no wonder he was a rich man.

      All that winter I stayed in the air most of the time, I must have gone to or crossed over thirty states.

      On one trip, I flew a party of hunters to Colorado for big game, another party to Texas to hunt birds. All the men were nice to me except two state reps. I flew them to the state capital. We hit some rough wind and got bounced a bit. The two men said I was a bad pilot and would not recommend me to anyone. What can you expect of a couple democrats?

      In December I flew two well-dressed men to Chicago. We arrived just as a big snow storm hit, I want-a tell ya, I was lucky to find the O’Hare airport. Somehow I had a guiding angel that day, the whole country was socked in and I got a break in the clouds just in time to get landed. I could see both guys were sweating heavy, I acted like it was nothing, but I’ll tell ya, I said a few prayers that time before I got on the ground.

      The airport was snowed in, I couldn’t get off and the airport authority wouldn’t give me clearance

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