woman sighed. "I was afraid that would be your answer and you
are probably right. But I've grown dreadfully fond of you. If there is
anything I can do at any time, don't hesitate to call on me."

"Thank you," said Jane.

The plane rolled to a stop in the Newark hangar of the Federated line
and a huge limousine with two motorcycle officers flanking it, drew up
to the cabin door.

"Good-bye, my dear," said Mrs. Van Verity Vanness as she stepped into
the limousine to be whirled away toward New York to the tune of
screaming sirens.

Jane was a little breathless. It had been such an exciting trip all the
way from Cheyenne. Now she wondered just when she would start back. An
official hurried toward her.

"Reporters are almost tearing the waiting room to pieces," he said.
"They couldn't see Mrs. Van Verity Vanness but they insist on talking
with you. You'd better tell them what happened this morning."

"But I don't know what to say," protested Jane.

"Just answer their questions."

In the waiting room a dozen men of assorted ages, and three women,
awaited Jane. The moment she entered they started firing questions at
her.

"How had Mrs. Van Verity Vanness acted when the bandit plane swooped
down on them? How had Jane felt? What had she served her passenger at
mealtime? Had Mrs. Van Verity Vanness commented on the financial
situation?"

It was a steady barrage and Jane's head whirled as she tried to answer
them all. Finally she threw up her hands and sank down in a chair in
despair.

"Can't you see I'm all tired out?" she cried. "Please let me alone."

She buried her head in her arms and her body shook with the sobs of
nervous exhaustion for the strain of the long flight and caring for the
wealthy passenger had been more than Jane had realized.

"She's a plucky kid," she heard one reporter say as the newspaper
people trooped out of the room.

In a few minutes Jane felt more composed and she went into the
operations office.

"What time do I start west?" she asked the chief dispatcher.

"All of the space is taken until the 8:18 west in the morning. You'd
better take a cab to a hotel and get some sleep."

Then Jane remembered that she was without funds. It was their first pay
day in Cheyenne, but she was hundreds of miles from there.

"I guess I'll just wait here until the plane goes," she said.

The dispatcher was busy and failed to notice Jane's fatigue or he might
have guessed that she was in an embarras