Linda Carlton, Air Pilot. Lavell Edith

and excitement, everybody wanted another dip to cool off. It was six o'clock by the time they all piled into their cars, and half-past when Linda reached home.

      Hoping to find her father, as she had been hoping every day that week, she dashed up the steps quickly, merely waving good-by to her companions as the sports car shot from the driveway. And then, miraculously, she saw his beloved face at the door!

      "Daddy!" she cried rapturously, rushing breathlessly into his arms.

      He was taller than Linda, with a straight, lithe figure like that of a much younger man. His hair was dark, with just a little gray at the temples, and his skin deeply tanned from his out-door life. A sort of habitual smile played about his lips, as if he had made up his mind to find life pleasant, no matter what came.

      "My dear little girl!" he said, quietly, patting her hair. "Will you forgive me for coming a day too late? Your Aunt Emily tells me that both Commencement and class-day are over – and you are an old Grad now!"

      "Yes, but I don't mind, Daddy, so long as you came today!" she replied, squeezing his hand. "Maybe it's better this way, because I've been so rushed lately that I wouldn't have had much time to see you."

      "You must tell me all about everything," he said, drawing her arm through his, and leading her down the steps of the porch. Of course he thought he meant what he said, but Linda knew from experience that if she did tell him, he wouldn't be listening. A dreamy expression so often came into his eyes when she chattered, and she would wonder what he was thinking of. Strange lands – or his ranch out west – or perhaps her mother?

      "Where are we going?" she asked. "I really ought to dress for dinner, Daddy. You know what picnics are."

      "Yes, To be sure. But I want to show you your graduation present."

      "My present?" There was excitement in her tone; it was sure to be something wonderful – and unusual. All the girls were wild with envy when Kitty Clavering received a real pearl necklace from her father. All – except Linda. She had no desire for pearls, or for any jewelry, for that matter. She had known that her father's present would be much more thrilling. At least – if he didn't forget!

      "You didn't think your old Dad would forget you, did you, Honey?" he asked.

      "No – no – of course not… But, Daddy, where is it? Why are we going out back of the house?"

      "We have to walk over to our big field across the creek," he explained, mysteriously.

      "The big field? Why?.. That's a hot walk, Daddy. No shade at all! If you want a nice walk, we ought to go in the other direction, down towards the orchard, where there are some trees."

      "Trees are the one thing we don't want," he replied, solemnly. "You're going to hate trees, after you get my present, daughter."

      "Hate – trees?" Linda's eyes were traveling all over the landscape, scanning it in vain for a clew. And then, as they mounted a slight incline, the thing came into sight. The marvelous, wonderful present! Too good to be true! Her heart stopped beating, her legs shook. She clutched at her father for support.

      A beautiful, shining airplane! A superb Arrow Sport! The very kind she had been reading about, had been longing some day to possess! And even a hangar, to keep it in safety!

      "Daddy!" she gasped, hoarsely.

      He was watching her face, rapturously.

      "You like it?"

      "Oh!" she cried, wrapping her arms around his neck, and suddenly bursting into tears. "How could you know that I wanted it so much?"

      He patted her hair, a little embarrassed by her emotion.

      "I just tried to imagine what I would want most if I were your age… You know, dear, you're your father's own girl! You look like your mother, but you're much more like me… A strange mixture…" He was talking more to himself now, for Linda was almost running, pulling him along excitedly. "Feminine beauty – with masculine ambition…"

      But Linda was not listening. She had reached the plane now, and was walking around it, enthralled. Touching its smooth surface, to make sure that it was not only a dream. Dashing back to hug her father, and then climbing into the cockpit, to examine the controls, the instruments, the upholstery. If she lived to be a hundred years old, no other moment could hold greater happiness than this!

      Her father smiled softly in satisfaction. He wanted her to have all the happiness that he had somehow missed. Money couldn't buy it for him; but money spent for his daughter could bring it to him in the only possible way now.

      "You're not a bit afraid?" he asked, though he knew from her shining eyes that his question was unnecessary.

      "Dad!"

      "And now the question is, who can teach you to fly? Unfortunately, the man who brought it here for me couldn't stay, even to explain things to you – although of course there is a booklet. But I understand there's an air school here at Spring City…"

      "Yes! Yes!" she interrupted. "I've been there – been up with one of the instructors. Can we drive over for him tonight?"

      "My dear, you can't take a lesson at night," he reminded her. "You know that."

      "Oh, of course not!" she agreed, laughing at her own folly. "But tomorrow?"

      "Yes, certainly. At least we can see about it. You have to pass a physical examination first, I understand."

      "And I want to take the regular commercial pilot's course, Daddy! I want to go to the bottom, and learn all about planes, and flying. May I?"

      "I don't see why not… You needn't stop for the expense."

      Linda blushed; she hadn't been thinking of the expense – she never did. But perhaps she ought to now, for the plane must have cost a lot of money. At the present, however, something else was worrying her.

      "It was the time I was thinking of," she admitted. "Aunt Emily wants to go away in a week or so. And oh, Dad, I just couldn't bear to leave this!" There were actually tears in her eyes.

      "Of course not, dear. Well, we'll see if we can't compromise with your aunt. Stay at home the rest of June and July, be content with a private pilot's license for the present, and then go away in your plane in August. Wouldn't that suit you?"

      "To the ground – I mean to the skies!" corrected the happy girl.

      "And now we must get back to dinner," he reminded her. "Aunt Emily's waiting."

      Solemnly, tenderly, as a mother might kiss her baby, Linda leaned over and kissed the beautiful plane. Then giving her hand to her father, she walked back to the house with him in silence, knowing that now her greatest dream was fulfilled.

      Chapter IV

      Summer Plans

      The news of Linda's magnificent present spread like wildfire. She never knew how it got about, for she didn't call anybody. In fact, she would have preferred to keep it a secret for that evening at least, and just spend her time over the booklet, talking things over with her father.

      But of course the rest of the crowd couldn't understand that. These young people, who saw their parents every day of their lives, just couldn't believe that a normal fun-loving girl like Linda would prefer a father's society to theirs. They didn't know that Linda had always longed to know him better, to understand him, to talk over with him her greatest dreams and ambitions. Because there had been nobody to talk to in that intimate fashion. Aunt Emily never had understood her, and never would. The kind-hearted woman saw, of course, that her niece was pleased with her graduation present, but she could not realize the girl's overwhelming joy in the possession of a plane. To her, even a string of imitation pearls would have been more desirable.

      They talked their plans over at dinner, Linda's father taking her side in urging that the vacation be postponed until August.

      "You don't mind, do you, Emily?" he asked his sister.

      "Well, I can't say I don't mind," she replied, a little sharply. "But of course I wouldn't spoil Linda's fun. But I am wondering whether you have been wise, Tom. Linda is tired out; instead of going to school