Page:Air Service Boys Flying for France.djvu/15

10 learn to fly was rapidly becoming a fever in the veins of a multitude of daring young Americans; and when the time came for Uncle Sam to need a host of skilled aviators thousands would eagerly avail themselves of the opportunity to serve their country in that fascinating if dangerous way.

Tom had finished his work for the day, and, as Jack was also through, the two walked away in company, to change their clothes at the hangar where they kept their street garments. A mechanician took charge of the airplane, and would see that it was properly cleaned, as well as restored to its shed until heeded again. These men took the place of hostlers at the training camp, doing all the ordinary repairing, and fetching the planes out for the fliers when needed.

Later on the two young fellows left the field and proceeded toward the station where they could take a car for town, where they had a room.

"Please don't forget," remarked Jack, as they were riding toward the town they called home in those days, "that you promised to let me know what your bad news was. I saw you get the letter, and at first hoped you'd heard something from that steamship company you wrote to. Was it really from home, and did