Charlevoix county herald., 1909-03-20
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what then? Are there any who can
work the radioplanes?
yes, by nightly flights we have
trained crews for all and more than
we have built"
'But there should be some expert
guiding mind who knows the secret of
the craft
Father had intended to accompany
them and himself direct the leading
radioplane in case of attack"
The president threw up his hand in
a gesture of hopelessness. The time
for attack was fast approaching, and
could not be postponed on account of
the inventors illness. Norma, who
had been standing beside a window,
confronted the worried head of the
nation.
you forget" she said, chat l have
youth, strength, will and knowledge.
Neither my fathers nor my country's
cause shall suffer-
He walked across the room, tower.
ing above her in ungainly strength,
deeply into her eyes. You mean"
That if my father is too i'll to go, |
myself will fight the Japanese. / my
self will give what expert advice is
needed, and will demonstrate to the
others what must be done in battle"
dependent upon her, pride in her ia.
Their, and Americanism, she was ready
to accept the responsibility, even
though it might cost her life.
They stood in silence, holding each
others hands. He. stopped over her,
his sad eyes filled with an admiration
which was akin to veneration, and
kissed her.
Joan Of Arc! Joan of Arc!" he
whispered, and said no more.
She had been told that a train
awaited. Together they walked to the
door of the presidents study through
the halls, and to the outer portal. I'm
needing those who were near, he
caught her hand and held It to his
breast, looking once more into her
eyes.
God bless and keep you, my child!
he said, and abruptly turned back to
his seclusion, his head dropped for.
ward between his massive shoulders
and his arms swinging loosely at his
sides
The day was not yet done, and be-
fore the next had dawned came the
announcement that the Hawaiian is.
lands had also been surrendered to
the foe. The coterie of men within
the secret held their meeting and con
graduated each other that orders had
been obeyed, no defense made, and
loss of life obviated. But the public
must be pacified. The swift converting
of congress, its authorization OF the
administration to act, and the appeas.
ing notice to the public that a well.
defined policy was being pursued, fol.
lowed one after the other, but still
were not understood.
Night and day now the president
and his associates toiled and planned
Report after report came to them, I'm.
til they knew that the hour to act had
come. The spell of seeming lethargy
was at an end, and with unprece.
denied swiftness the Gordon was
thrown round the nation, its ports
closed, and its communication shut
off save through channels of the secret
service, which was intensely active.
Time was computed to the minute
and when the fleet of conquest sailed
from Japan the very latitude and
longitude of the point where it was
to be met were communicated to the
headquarters in Florida, where had
been renewed energy.
Hence It was that, as darkness once
more mantled that isolated spot, a
strange scene was witnessed. 1t was
the departure of that invincible
squadron of the air for the scene oil
battle. Night after night they had
unanswered, till those who manned
them were masters of their craft and
of the new form of signals which were
to be used in case of emergency. Every
detail was complete, every possible
precaution was taken to avert acct
| dent.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)