Page:Flying Death.pdf/98



was a long, narrow table set on the mountain edge of the terrace and half shaded, already, by the trees at the foot of the slope. Six chairs backed the lake and seven faced it. Bane pre-empted the central one of these and established Helen Lacey at his right; he sat her father at his left with Boggs beyond.

Pete, he placed directly opposite himself; and me two places away from Pete. The languid, green-eyed Gessler girl lounged between us.

"You must have jumped cleverly," she promptly opened the table conversation, complimenting Pete and surprising him.

"Jumped?" he asked; and she made her comment definite.

"With the parachute."

"Oh," said Pete. "Well, I got off."

"You're the first who did," she continued in the same flattering, deliberately drawling