The Picture Show Annual (1930)

40 Picture Show Annual THE DANGER GIRL (Continued from pafe 38.) But 1 thought she said. " 1 mean, I know that Mr. Lascell won't work with doubles at any price. How are you going to fix it ? " 'That's the whole point." said Ouval. " I'll talk him over afterwards. The trouble is to get him to do his share first. I've been thinking it out. I want him to go up with you m the passenger seat behind. Then, when you re up, the second plane will give you a signal and you II do your stuff. " Without Mr. Lascell knowing ? " the girl broke out fearfully. " But Mr. Duval, that s certain death. " " Nonsense ! Why should it be ? He'll be told to fly at a certain altitude at a certain pace. We shall make him think it's for the cameras in the third plane." The girl's first impulse was to refuse. Duval, who did not do the stunts himself, had no idea how dangerous were the incidents which he devised. Then a thought occurred to her which she could not resist. After this stunt Laurie would have to know that she was not quite a useless member of the community. He would see for himself that she had her place in it, just as he had his. The temptation was too much for her. " Very well," she said. " I'll do it." The day of the dreaded adventure arrived. Duval came hurrying up to her as soon as she appeared m the vicinity of the hangars. It's all O.K.," he murmured. " Laurie thinks you're taking Paula's place whilst we take some of the shots. I've told him she s laid up with a chill and that you're just going for a quiet cruise round. I've insisted that you're both to have parachutes on your backs—that's to protect you. you see. Good luck. " Averil said nothing. She crossed over the landing- ground to where Laurie was already standing by the aeroplanes. They " took off " badly, being struck by a gust just as they were leaving the ground. Averil's confidence in Laurie as a pilot, however, grew. It was quite evident that he knew what he was doing. The other two planes followed them, the one bearing the cameras circling over their heads, the " enemy " just below. After what seemed hours of waiting, the plane below them gave the signal for which Averil had been waiting. Gritting her teeth, she took her courage in both hands, and rising in her seat, began her perilous climb. She caught a glimpse of Laurie's expression as he saw her reflected in the windscreen in front of him. a look which was at first sheer horror and dismay, followed by a sudden light of understanding as he saw how he had been tricked and what she was about. " Keep steady ! " she screamed through the roar of the engine. Footholds had been prepared for her so that she could get down under the plane in readiness for her drop. Nevertheless, her position was perilous in the extreme. The v«nd. which deafened and blinded her. seemed to be in danger of wrenching her hands and feet from their grip on the machine. Beneath her she could just see a frantic signalling from the other aeroplane. For some moments she did not understand. Then her eyes fell on something that made the blood roar in her head. In taking off, the under-carriage and landing wheels had been damaged, or»e of tltem carried away entirely. In a moment she realised what those frantic signals meant. If Laurie attempted to land he would crash horribly. There was no way of letting him know what had hapjsened—no way at all, unless sAe cotdd get back The descent had not been easy, but the return journey seemed an impossibility. With a superhuman effort she hauled herself up until she managed to get a foot into one of the iron grips. Even then her perils were not over. She felt as if her wrists must break, but she forced herself to go on, struggling wildly for the next foothold and then the next. The last effort, as she pulled herself over the side of the plane once more, was terrific. She shouted to Laurie, straining to make her voice carry above the howl of the wind and the roen of the engine. " Landing carriage gone. Jump for it. Parachute." It was some time before she could make him under- stand, but at last he nodded. She signalled for him to go first. He refused, but then, when he saw that she wished it, he climbed out of his seat, hesitated for an instant, and then jumped clear. The next moment she. too, was in the air, falling, falling, into the green depths miles below her. She felt as if her head would burst. The rush of air was suffocating her. She snatched at the string of her parachute and went on falling down—down. When she opened her eyes she was lying upon a bank of heather surrounded by the film folk. She became aware that her head was upon somebody's knee. She looked up cautiously. It was Laurie. He was bending over her, his eyes fixed up>on her face. She tried to smile at him and he lifted her up very gently and carried her out of the crowd. Presently he set her down again in the cushions of one of the many cars that had been rushed from headquarters. He climbed in beside her. I'm sorry, " he said suddenly. " I've been hearing all about you. I never felt such a fool in my life. Can you forgive we ? " Averil snuled at him. " Of course, " she said softly. He took her hands and looked down into her eyes. If you hadn't come back I'd have crashed, " he said steadily. " Why did you come ? " The girl met his gaze, and whether he saw it in her eyes, or whether he guessed it, or whether the truth that he had known for a long time suddenly came home to him. she never knew, for he caught her in his arms and held her close. After a moment he hesitated and looked down at her. " Would you laugh at me if I told you something ? " he said. I—I've never kissed a girl like this before—meaning it. you know.* Averil stirred. I—I believe you." she said weakly, and her bright eyes were full of laughter and a new tenderness. Aaron Duval has had to find a new " Danger Lady ' —but he has a new star to compensate him. THE END