Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1909-03-27

VINO is gong 10 manure Her nc
queried. glancing at the hood.
II am" she replied. as quietly as II
answering a query of no moment.
He held out his hand and shook hers
warmly.
From away in the outer distance,
where the angle was not too sharp to
prevent it's elevation, came the sullen
report OF gun, and a she'll flew past
at such close range that its screaming
came to them through the thickness
of their plate and the open upper
ports, sounding it's challenge and de-
fiance above the droning hum of the dy-
namos. The girl glanced apprehensively
upward, but the admiral continued his
calm inspection of the Japanese feet.
Again from a vessel closer at hand
came a series of sharp reports. The
radioplane felt shivering impact, and
careened slightly in answer to its
force. The admiral was hurled
against her metal side, and one Of the
engineers seized rail to prevent be-
ing thrown headlong against the ma
chinery.
They're trying four-inch shells on
us! are they?" shouted Bevins. We'll,
We'll put an end to that right now!"
He sprang to the signal box, and
Norma, reading his intention, hurried
to her post in the hood He ordered
the other craft to increase speed and
traverse circles till he should notify
them which war vessels of the feet be-
meath were to be their individual prey.
Now the small shells were fairly rend-
ing the air around them. The sharp
clang Of metal against metal and
quick explosion told that hits were be-
ing made, and through the ports the
radioplanes which suffered could be
seen to rock convulsively when struck.
The air seemed whining with death
which was clamoring for admission to
its prey Shot and shell swept through
space but higher and higher scared
the radioplanes, while the old war dog
studied the formation of the fleet be-
low.
"My God! Seventeen is hit. Sew
enteen is hit" screamed the lookout,
and the admiral and Norma stared
through side port.
In long, weird, dizzy circles, like a
wounded man striving to recover his
balance, radioplane was dropping
slowly down toward the waters, in.
effectually fighting to regain its bal.
nnce. The four-inch shells had done
no damage; but the far outlying
cruiser had made an accidental hit
with a heavy gun. Zigzagging here
and there in erratic swoops the radio.
plane continued to plunge. From the
waters below came the sounds Of ex.
ultant cheering. The enemy were gain.
ing heart. They had found what they
believed to be chance for hope and
an invulnerable spot in the Ameri.
cans armor. Norma started back to
her levers; but the admiral called
excitedly:
Look, look! Good boy, Nineteen!
Good bOy!"
Again she looked through the port,
and was transfxed with the daring at.
tempt of another radioplane. Nine.
teen, with its big white letters blazing
in the light, had taken a swift down.
ward shoot
ITS Jenkins! It's Jenkins" Norma
called in excitement, knowing that the
little scientist was manning the hood
of that craft.
Then before she could say more,
Nineteen's object was made plain. The
great radioplane shot to a lower alti.
tude than that of its crippled fellow,
dove here and there like bat, caught
a simultaneous speed, and rounding
upward in deft swoop poised itself
firmly beneath the lower plate of Sew.
enteen. For an instant the two, locked
together and overweighted, slid slowly
downward through the air, and then
Nineteen seemed to gather itself, came
to stop, hesitated for a moment, and
began steady upward movement.
AS If divining its purpose, two other
radioplanes swooped down toward the
stricken monster till their sides
touched, and then, like group of war.
riors carrying wounded comrade
from the field assisted the ascent into
the upper void. Focusing their fire on
the group, the Japanese made il
target, and the scream of shot and
shell broke into pandemonium until
the air around was churned as by de.
mons wrath.
Up-up they went till they were
mere specks against the dome OF
the heavens, where they were beyond
range and in the profound silence OF
solitude. The others of the fleet, led
by the Norma, fastened to soar to
ward them; but before they could gel
within speaking distance the wireless
brought to all radioplanes this mes
sage:
Seventeen was struck by a ten-incb
shell directly below her dynamos. The
jar caused a temporary break which
cut off the current for a short time
This is nearly repaired. No damage
of consequence has been done, and
she will report for duty within two
minutes"
Bevins and Norma looked at eact
a.uN