But whether the old J-l Standard was a lucky bird or not, possession of it began to stir in Hal Dane a slow, subtle change. Ownership of a plane of his own awoke in him vast longings and hopes. In spare moments he was always tinkering lovingly around the old bus, seeing if a wire tightened here didn't make her wing edge better, or if a heavier wire coil above the landing gear didn't make her taxi along sweet. Now and again when he had a spell off from carnival work, he took the "J" up on long, high solo flights.