Mattie looked at Sue skeptically.

"You don't seem to believe me," said Sue.

"Well, it's a good story," said Mattie.

Jane's anger had mounted steadily and it got away from her.

"That's enough, Mattie. We might as well have it out right now. I think
you're mean and small. You're doing everything you can to make it
unpleasant for Miss Comstock, and now you're insulting Sue, because you
know Sue is too even-tempered to fight back. Now just get out of here
and after this keep out of my way."

Mattie was furious and her face flamed with anger, but before she could
reply, Alice stepped in.

"What Jane said goes for Grace and me," she said. "The less we see of
you, the better."

"You'll all be sorry for this," flared Mattie as she slammed the door
and went into the apartment across the hall.

"I'm sorry this had to happen," Jane told the others, "but Mattie is
out for trouble and she's going to get it. From now on keep your eyes
open, for she'll trick you if she can."

The stewardesses soon settled into the routine of the flights from
Cheyenne to Chicago and return. It was interesting, pleasant work.

Jane banked the money she had received from the New York paper and from
Mrs. Van Verity Vanness and when Charlie Fischer asked her if she'd
like to take lessons in flying, she had the money necessary.

Charlie had a biplane at Cheyenne and between flights with the huge
Federated planes, amused himself by hopping around the countryside and
giving lessons to whatever pupils he could pick up. Of the
stewardesses, Jane was the only girl who decided to take lessons.

Whenever she and Charlie were at Cheyenne, he took her up for flights,
explaining the principles of aeronautics and letting her get the feel
of the plane. One afternoon they flew to Denver and back, and on
another occasion, went to Laramie.

Jane was blessed with air sense. When she had her hands on the control
stick, she could almost anticipate every movement of the plane and
Charlie praised her aptitude warmly.

The days rolled into mid-summer and July in Cheyenne was hot. It was
refreshing to seek the coolness of the upper air in the late afternoon
and Jane spent as much extra time aloft as she could afford. Then came
the afternoon for her solo flight. The government inspector arrived and
took his place in the rear cockpit.

Charlie Fischer looked up and grinned.

"Just forget the guy back there," he said, "and you'll get along fine."

Jane's t