Jack Wright - Famous Flyers and Their Famous Flights

“In the meanwhile Wilbur Wright hadgone to France, where he participated inmany flights, and won the hearts of theFrench people by staying in the air for anhour and a half. At the end of the year,1908, he stayed in the air over two hours.

“The Wrights were showing what theycould do. Flying became the rage. Societytook it up, and traveled to the Wrights tosee their planes. But the Wrights, no moreimpressed by this than they were by anythingelse, kept right on working. Theywere financed by a group of able financiersin the United States, and founded the WrightAeroplane Company for the manufacture ofplanes, and they were content.

“After 1909, their point proved, theWrights did very little flying. They spenttheir time in engineering problems, makingimprovements on the planes that they weredesigning and manufacturing.

“They did some more experimenting withgliders, but this was in order to perfect theart of soaring.

“In May, 1912, Wilbur Wright died, andbroke up the famous partnership that hadexisted for so many years. Since his deathhis brother has lived quietly. He has notflown, and has acted as advisor to his companyas they turn out more and more modernplanes. He is one man who has lived to seea thing that he started himself grow intoa blessing to mankind. And if the airplaneisn’t that, I’d like to know what is.”

“I think so,” said Bob.

“Who are you to think so?” asked Bill, sitting up very suddenly.

Bob was non-plussed for a moment, butthen saw that his uncle was joking, andlaughed. They were interrupted by the ringingof the doorbell.

“Well,” said the Captain, “who could beout in weather like this?”

They heard the front door open, voices, and then the closing of the door. In a shortwhile the footsteps of Mrs. Martin soundedon the steps, and she entered the library.

“A telegram for you, Bill,” she said, andhanded it to him. “My, you three look cozyup here. I suppose you’ve been yarning, haven’t you?” She gave her brother a playfulpoke.

Captain Bill, who had risen when his sistercame in, offered his chair before he openedthe telegram. “Join us, won’t you, Sis?”

His sister laughed. “I really can’t go beforeI see what is in the telegram,” she said.“Of course, I suppose I should be polite andpretend not to be interested in it, but I am.We all are, aren’t we, boys?”

Bob and Hal grinned.

“Well, then,” said Bill, “I guess I’ll haveto see what’s in it.” He opened the telegram, and glanced hurriedly over it. “Pat’slanding tomorrow,” he said. “He wants usto be out at the airport to see the Marianne come in.”

“Hurray!” shouted Bob, and went into awar dance.

His mother looked at him tolerantly. Shewas used to Bob’s antics. “What time isPat coming in?” she asked.

“He didn’t say. In fact, that’s all he didn’tsay in this telegram. But I guess he’llstart out about dawn and get here aroundnoon. Anyway, we’ll be going down to theairport tomorrow morning to look around.We’ll stay there until that Irishman rollsin.”

“What will you do about lunch?” askedthe practical Mrs. Martin.

“Why, we’ll eat at the airport restaurant,”said Bill. “Don’t worry about us, Sis.”

Mrs. Martin looked dubious. She glancedat Hal. She knew that Hal’s mother likedto supervise her son’s meals, and did notcare to have him eat at strange places. Mrs.Martin felt that it would be a shame to spoilthe expedition for such a trivial reason, soshe said, “I have an idea. I’ll pack a lunchfor all of you tonight, and you can take itwith you tomorrow. How will that be?You can eat it anyplace around the airport.It’ll be a regular picnic. There are some niceplaces around the port that you can go to.How about that?”

Bob answered for them. “That will begreat. Gee, Bill, do you remember the picnicbaskets that Mom can pack? We’re inluck.”

“Do I remember?” said Bill. “How couldI forget? You fellows had better be up prettyearly tomorrow.”

“You bet we will, Captain,” said Bob.

Then Hal said, “I guess I’d better be going.My mother will be wondering if I’mnever coming home. I hope that I can comewith you tomorrow.”

“Hope you can come with us? Why, ofcourse you’re coming with us. We won’t gowithout you,” Captain Bill said explosively.

“I’ll see,” said Hal. “I’ll ask Mother.Maybe she’ll let me go. But anyway, I’lllet you know. I’ll put up the flags in theworkshop window. All right?”

“Sure,” said Bob, and walked out withHal. He saw the boy to the door, andwarned him again to be sure to come.

When the two boys had left the room,Captain Bill turned to his sister. “Say,” hesaid, “do you think that Hal’s mother reallywon’t let him come, or is the boy lookingfor a way out?”

“Why, what do you mean?” asked Mrs.Martin.

“Just this,” said Bill, and puffed vigorouslyon his pipe. “I’ve been watching theboy, and I think that he’s afraid.”

“Afraid of what?”

“Afraid of actually going up in an airplane.I feel that a change has come overhim since there has been an actual chanceof his learning to fly,” explained the Captain.

His sister looked pensive. “But he’s alwaysbeen so interested in flying. That’sall the two of them ever talk about.”

“Perhaps. When there was no immediatechance of his going up in a plane. Now thatthere is, I think he’d like to back out.”

“There is his mother to consider, ofcourse,” said Mrs. Martin. “She would undoubtedlyobject very strenuously if hemerely went to the airport. You must rememberthat he’s all she has. She’s alwaysso careful of him.”

The Captain snorted. “Too careful,” hesaid. “She’s made the boy a bundle of fears.Bob has helped him get over some of them, but I think that they’re cropping out now.It will be very bad for Hal if he funks this.I think that it will hurt him a great deal.If he succeeds in overcoming his fears nowfor once and for all, if he learns to go upin a plane, even if he may never fly onehimself, he will be a new boy. He’ll neverbe afraid again. But one let-down now, andhe will be set way back – even further backthan when Bob first met him.”

“I think you’re right, Bill,” said hissister. “But what are we going to do aboutit?”

The Captain shrugged his shoulders. “Ithink the best thing to do with the boy isnot to let him know that we know he’safraid. Treat him just as if he were thebravest lad in the world. I’ll take careof that. But I can’t take care of his mother.I never was a lady’s man,” smiled CaptainBill. “You’ll have to attend to that.”

Mrs. Martin’s brow wrinkled. “I thinkyou’ve taken the easier task,” she said witha wry smile. “I’d much rather teach a boyto overcome his fears than teach a motherto overcome hers. But I’ll try,” she added, and hoped against hope for success.

Bob burst into the room. “How aboutsomething to eat?” he said. “I’m starved!”

“As usual,” said his mother. “I wouldlike to hear you just once complain aboutbeing not hungry.”

“All right, mother,” said Bob. “If youwant to hear me complain about that, youjust feed me a good dinner now, and I’ll domy best to complain about being not hungry – afterI finish it.”

“You’re an impossible son,” said his mother, but smiled fondly at him. She reallydidn’t believe it.

Whether secret springs were put into operationby Mrs. Martin that afternoon ornot, nevertheless Hal was able to join theparty going to the airport early the nextmorning. It was a beautiful morning. Ithad stopped raining, and the sun, comingout strong and bright, had dried everythingso thoroughly that only an occasional puddlehere and there on the road showed thatit had rained at all. The drive to the portwas pleasant, too; the port being about amile out of town, and at least five milesfrom the Martin home.