“With apologies for overhearing a private conversation,” said Captain Riley, “speaking of getting a new plane, why don’t you enlist as an aviator?  I can use you very nicely and would like to have you here.  How would a second lieutenancy strike you, Jewel?  I can arrange it for you very easily—­and let me tell you something:  Before many months roll by it will be a matter of patriotism to serve your country.  We shall be at war before long, unless I miss my guess.  Better come in now.  You—­your being married will not interfere, I should think—­seeing you intend to continue flying, anyway.  I wonder, by the way, why I am not invited to be present at that wedding?”

“Well, good golly!  You’re invited right now, if you mean you’ll go.  Mary V will be one proud little girl, all right.  And say, Captain, of course I’ll have to talk it over with Mary V first, but that offer you just made me sure listens good.  I tried to enlist—­that’s what I wanted all along—­but I was turned down.  But if you’ll say a word for me—­”

“Your Mary V is wanting,” Captain Riley grinned.  “And if I may judge from the brief conversation I had with her over the ’phone just now, we had better be on our way!”