Chapter Nine

At Mrs. Murphy's

Jane had secretly wondered just how she would feel when the plane soared into the sky. After the experience of the night before she feared that a numbing fright might grip her and she was greatly relieved when there was no feeling of apprehension.

Instead, she thoroughly enjoyed the smooth upward flight, the pulsating power of the great motors, and the panorama unfolding beneath. She turned to look at Sue. Her companion was gripping the arms of her chair tightly, her eyes bright and staring straight ahead. When Jane started to speak to her, she shook her head, but Jane watched Sue closely for the next few minutes.

Gradually Sue relaxed and a little later she leaned over and spoke to Jane.

"I was fighting down a little bugaboo of fear," she grinned. "I knew if I didn't conquer it all by myself, I'd never be able to do it. Now I'll never be afraid to fly anywhere and anytime."

Jane thought that statement was a little bold, but she hoped it was true.

Keeping to the right of the broad Platte, they sped westward with the speed indicator wavering between 115 and 120 miles an hour for there was only a slight head wind dropping down from the far-away Rockies.

North Platte appeared ahead and Jane consulted the map of their route. North Platte was a regular passenger stop, but they were running as a special, and the plane dropped over the southwestern Nebraska city. Here the Platte forked, one branch swinging northwest while the South Platte continued almost straight west.

The shining steel of the Union Pacific rails caught the sunlight far below and Jane saw the smoky plume of a transcontinental limited threading its way westward. The plane soon overhauled the train and left it far behind. They were too high for any of the girls to wave. The country became rougher, more desolate, and the few farms looked drear and beaten down by the buffeting of the elements.

They passed north of Sidney and not long afterward Jane knew they were in Wyoming.

It was just north of Pine Bluffs that Jane got her first glimpse of the Rockies. The air was clear and the visibility excellent. Far away to the west and south she saw the snowy summit of what she was later to know as Long's Peak and other lesser mountains reared their heads into view.

Jane touched Sue's arm, and called her attention to the beauty of the distant scene. Together they watched, breathlessly, the great vista of the mountains.

It was not long after that until a good-sized city came into view to their left and Jane, looking at the altimeter, knew the plane was nosing down. This, then, must be Cheyenne, the chief operating base for Federated Airways' transcontinental line and the city which was to be the headquarters of the stewardess service.

The tri-motor swung over the sprawling, one-time pioneer city and dropped down on the airport, which was a little more than a mile north of the city.

Jane was astounded by the size of the field and the largeness of the hangars which flanked the side nearest Cheyenne. At first glance it seemed almost as large as the field at Chicago.

They rolled into an immense hangar, behind which towered the brick building which housed the administrative offices of the Federated Airways. It was here that Jane and Sue were to go to school before they went into active service.

Miss Comstock led them through the waiting room, into the administration building and down to a new, one-story wing which had just been completed. Drawing a key from a pocket, she unlocked the door and turned to the girls.

"This new wing was built especially for the stewardess service. There is a classroom, a complete kitchen and commissary, lockers, lounging room and shower. I'm sure you'll like it."

Jane stepped into the lounging room. It was delightfully furnished in wicker and the walls were a soft grey with rose-colored drapes at the full-length windows which looked out upon the field.

The commissary, lined with cupboards for the storage of supplies, was in silver and blue, and arranged to gladden the heart of any girl. The sinks were of stainless steel and the large tables at which the lunches would be prepared were of a similar material.

They went on to the classroom, which reminded Jane of a similar room she had attended so many times at Good Samaritan. A score of study chairs were in the room and one whole wall was given over to a blackboard while on another wall was complete map of the entire Federated Airways system.

"We'll have our first class right now," said Miss Comstock, "since I want to give you instructions on obtaining rooms in Cheyenne."

The girls sat down, Sue, Alice and Grace grouped around Jane.

"As you know, headquarters of the stewardess service will be here," went on Miss Comstock, "and you are to regard Cheyenne as your home. It will be necessary for you to find suitable rooms and you will be required to pay for these out of your regular salary. However, when you are at the other end of your trip, the line will see that you are properly domiciled."

She paused for a moment as she picked up a sheet of paper from her desk.

"I have made a survey of rooms in Cheyenne," she continued, "and have approved all of the rooms listed below. They are in excellent homes, the rates are reasonable and I am sure you will find any of them pleasant. I want you to take the remainder of the day to locate your rooms and see something of Cheyenne. We'll start actual classwork tomorrow morning at nine o'clock. Now, if you will consult me individually, I will make room recommendations. Cars owned by the line will take you into the city."

Jane turned toward Alice and Grace.

"I think it would be nice if we could obtain two large rooms and you two would live with Sue and me. It might cut down our room rent and with four of us living together, some one would be home most of the time."

"My vote is yes," replied Grace.

"You can make it unanimous," smiled Alice. "I only hope we'll be assigned to about the same runs so we can be at home at the same time."

When Miss Comstock called her name, Jane stepped forward and explained their plan.

"Of course I have no objections," said the chief stewardess. She looked at the list of prospective rooms on the sheet of paper in her hand.

"I think I have just the rooms for you. Mrs. Dennis Murphy has two fine rooms and a sleeping porch adjoining. She is a widow and anxious to get roomers."

Miss Comstock wrote Mrs. Murphy's address on a slip of paper.

"Go there first. If you don't like Mrs. Murphy's, telephone me here and I'll give you some more suggestions."

The girls found a field car waiting outside the main entrance of the administration building and the driver sped them toward the city.

Mrs. Murphy lived on a side street in a square, two-story frame house. The yard was well kept and a broad, shady porch ran the full length of the front of the house.

"I'll wait until you know whether you're going to stay," said the driver.

Jane seemed to be the self-appointed leader of the group and she hurried up the walk and knocked at the screen door.

"Come in," called a cheery voice from somewhere in the interior. Jane hesitated for a moment.

"Go on in," Sue urged, so Jane opened the door and crossed the porch.

"I'm in the kitchen with me hands in bread dough," explained the voice, in a rich, heavy Irish brogue and Jane knew that Mrs. Murphy in person was at home.

A long hallway led past the living room and the dining room into the kitchen, a large well-lighted room.

Mrs. Murphy, buxom and ruddy of cheek, looked up as Jane entered. Her hands were deep in bread dough.

"Well, goodness sakes alive," she exclaimed when she saw Jane. "If I'd known it was a stranger, I'd have answered the door. I thought it was Mrs. McGillicuddy down the street, come to borrow something, for she's always running in of a morning, being short of this or that, and having to have a bit to get along until the delivery boy gets around."

"Oh, that's quite all right, Mrs. Murphy," smiled Jane. "I'm one of the new stewardesses for the Federated Airways. There are three other girls here with me. We're looking for two double rooms and Miss Comstock at the field recommended you."

"Now that's right nice of her. She was here last week looking at my rooms and seemed to like them real well. If you'll wait a bit until I finish kneading down the bread, I'll take you right up. Just make yourselves at home on the porch."

Jane rejoined her companions and informed them that Mrs. Murphy would be out as soon as the bread was safe.

Sue looked around the porch. Everything was well-worn but comfortable.

"After three years in a hospital this is luxury," she said, sinking down into a broad rocker.

"From the little talk I had with Mrs. Murphy in the kitchen and the smell of things cooking in her oven, I think this will be a grand place to live," said Jane.

"Maybe we'll be lucky enough to get some fresh bread and have bread and sugar," suggested Grace, looking longingly toward the kitchen.

In less than five minutes Mrs. Murphy, wearing a fresh apron, appeared from the dim shadows of the hallway. Jane introduced each of the girls.

"I'm happy to know you," Mrs. Murphy told them, and they felt that she really meant it. There was something homey and warm about Mrs. Murphy that touched the heart of each one.

She led the way upstairs and to the rear of the house where two adjoining rooms opened onto a large sleeping porch. The rooms were large and airy, the beds were comfortable and the furnishings, though plain, were adequate.

From the porch there was an excellent view of the distant mountains. Mrs. Murphy explained that the bathroom was just down the hall and that her only other roomer was the cashier of a downtown department store.

The telephone, ringing insistently, summoned Mrs. Murphy downstairs and gave the girls an opportunity to talk about the rooms.

Jane went back to the sleeping porch to enjoy the view of the mountains. Her mind was made up and she was quite willing to stay with Mrs. Murphy.

"There isn't a whole lot of closet room," said Grace, "and the furniture is rather plain."

"But the rooms are large and pleasant and the sleeping porch will be grand," said Sue.

Alice, who had been exploring the bathroom, brought back good news.

"The bath is fine. Lots of room, a huge tub with a shower, and two lavatories with plate-glass mirrors."

"Then I call for a vote," said Sue.

"Mine is yes," said Jane, returning from the porch. Grace, Alice and Sue added their approval as Mrs. Murphy came puffing upstairs.

"We like the rooms," Jane told her. "How much is the rent?"

"I've been getting $40 a month," said Mrs. Murphy, "but times as they are, I'll rent them now for $32. That would be $8 apiece and, of course, there's the privilege of doing your laundry in the basement."

"How about meals?" asked Alice.

"I haven't been taking boarders for a year, but I guess I haven't lost my hand at setting a good table. It could be arranged."

"Then I think the price for the rooms is fair enough," said Jane. "A driver with a field car is outside. We'll bring up our bags and our other luggage will have to be shipped in later."

By the time they had unpacked their bags, it was well past lunch time and the delicious odor of freshly-baked bread floated upstairs from the kitchen.

"That makes me realize that I'm really hungry," confessed Sue. "I wonder how far it is to the nearest restaurant."

From below came Mrs. Murphy's pleasant voice.

"Lunch is on the table, girls. It's not much, but it will save you a trip down town."

They trooped downstairs to find the dining-room table set with appetizing food. There was a large plate of bread, so fresh from the oven it was still warm, and a bowl of honey. Wisps of steam ascended from a large platter of hash at one end of the table while at the other was a bowl of fresh cottage cheese. A glass of milk was beside each plate and a platter filled with fruit centered the table.

"This is grand of you, Mrs. Murphy," said Sue.

"I'm going to have bread and butter and sugar," cried Grace. "It's been ages since I've had a treat like that."

Mrs. Murphy eased her motherly bulk into the chair at the head of the table and smiled happily at the evident relish with which the girls ate lunch. There was no question about their having found pleasant quarters for their home while in Cheyenne.