The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-05-19

again addressed them; but In q voice
which told that he, too. was not with
out sympathy
admiral" he said. order all your
men to 60 below decks. We have
been. loallng all day. and will have
to speed up now. 1t will be death to
stay exposed"
Aroused from their last look ut the
YakumO. they were amazed at this in.
formation. but complied: and before
the last Ian had crowded down the
c0mpani0nways the wind began shrill-
ing about their ears. Away through
the night with sudden velocity shot
the radioplanes ut = speed which
would bring them to the coast long b.
fore darkness had ceased. In al the
American feet there was not Q man
who did not know that Lake Wash
ington ut Seattle was their destina-
ton. Its landl0cked sides. guarded by
towering hills and giant forests, and
overlooked by q splendid city. was to
be the prison of the enemy's craft.
Its length. its breadth. and its depth
we're sufficient to float the combined
navies of the world.
Their flight was well timed; for It
was still dark when they swan down
through the air over the waters which
were to reclasp the ships of Japan IN
their usual environment. The Norma
swOOped lower and lower. decreased
the speed of her descent. passed over
West Seattle on it's little peninsula.
the quiet Puget sound with its long
wharves, and then gently settled
above the placid lake. Slowly. like
water fowl wearied of fight and seek
ing it's ease, it approached the sur
face. and with infinite care rested Its
burden, until the Ito was again afloat.
Norma, at her chosen post of duty.
put out a tired hand to a controller.
gently moved it a notch, turned on
the current which made the radio
plane a lOdestone of terrific power.
threw another switch as the admiral
beckoned. and then, with great sigh
of relief, felt the machine lift itself
into the air. 1t came to a stop. and
through a port, by the admirafs side.
she watched that procession of dull
red lights emulate her example. Ship
after ship was released. and invariably
the signal came flashing to the eyes:
Deposited without accident" There
was another quick interchange Of or
ders: the Norma turned her beak to-
ward the stars of the southeast. gath
cred Roadway. and led her followers
back through the night in homing
fight to the key which had seen their
creation.
The admiral gave great sigh OF sat
isfaction for work well done, and
stretched himself out on a settee to
rest looking curiously as he did SO at
the supple figure in the hood which
for nearly "a hours had steadily led
him on to victory. He called to her,
and tried to induce her to accept re-
lief: but she declined with a weary
smile, saying: NO. not until We get
home. 1t will be but little while
now"
Something in the words she had
thOughtlesSly used recalled her own
heart longing. What were the
achievements of war. the inspirations
of conflict. or the glOries OF triumph.
in comparison with peace, love and
home? With an indefinable sense of
great yearning she thought that Guy
was on the sea, going away from her
and her people, and even In the heart
of the radioplane which was canceling
space at the rate of 500 miles an hour
the distance between them seemed In
Life was made up OF
good-byes! And so in a reverie of
bitterness she chung to the hood and
fought against fatigue. until. as the
was upon them. she sent the
craft to rest in front of the shops
where their return had been anxiously
Overcome with WEAKNESS.
and feeling throughout every fiber Of
her body the snapped tension of sud-
den relaxation. she staggered through
the port into the fresh air of the dawn.
From every direction men were run
hfhS Ahouiy " SuiIouAu tuCuI. ouV
even the Columbia was landing men
upon the shores, who Joined in the
rush. The limping old admiral stood |
in the door. when Roberts. supported |
by two surgeons. appeared. Norma |
clasped him in her arms and burst into
nOiseless. nervous sobs. which he mis- |
Failed! You failed. my daughter"
he asked fOrlOrnly, while the men |
waiting for news crowded forward to
hear the answer 1t was given by |
Bevins.
Failed nothing, We cleaned them |
Dut and landed them where we started |
10 without the loss of life.'
Those still aboard the Columbia
needed no messenger to bring the
news. The workers of the plant burst |
into q frenzy of exultation The ad.
niral stilled them with an appraised
hand
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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