The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-03-21

1--WE may as well go back to the
time Of Ham as Baconi What you
drivin' at, anyhow
your pungent play on words
said Craighead, "giI os me joy. II
proves my power to corrupt. Last
springtide you'd have been in
capable of it. I'm driving at the
necessity of a trusty messenger
who will die rather than disclose,
will swallow blueprints to keep
them from the enemy, will explode
a magazine before admitting a
traitor even unto its table of con-
tents. 1 know one SUCH"
"Who?" asked the puzzled
Waddy.
your beauteous daughter!
Give her a running schedule per
ten-hour train between Chicago
and New York, bringing your mes
sages and returning with ours
until victory Is won. Eh?"
Mrs. Graybill leaned back and
laughed until she was crimson OF
face and teary of eye.
"It won't do" she said. 81
never could ca. blueprints. Any
one can deceive me"
"Then I've some hope" said
Craighead. That's worth coming
back for"
use the mails, YOU absurd fell
low!" she went on. "Good-by.
Take him away, Mr.. Carson; and
return with your shield, or on it,
Mr.. Craighead. On. you-ha, ha,
ha, ha-a-a!".
This ripping ha-ha, fair one,
said Craighead severely, would
be unseemly from less seemly
lpharynx. But l swear"
The oath was cut in two by an
upward and forward flight. at
the last speed, that pulled the
speech in twain and left the launch
alone in the great marsh, with
Mrs. Graybill, her color high, her
mouth occasionally curving into a
smile-sometimes eliminating au-
dibly-practicing japanese flower
arrangements, while her father
combed his beard with his fingers
and said nothing.
Passing over the bay with a
wide westerly detour. the Virginia
came in over Spring Hill, and
alighted softly at the aeronef
landing at Mobile. From a hun
bred sally ports-streets, alleys
and wharves--poured throng
people, attracted by the strange
craft that had made port, the ne
groes, first forming about the car
a black ring starred with white
eyes. Caucasians then assumed
advantageous positions, rather
abashed at the steady gaze OF
Carson, and the evident amuse'
ment of Craighead.
"Howdy, folks?" said the lat
ter. Take a good look. For ever
when we wist not. we vanish
Out of the great deep we come
into the great deep we go. The
Elementals who send us are the
pow'fules spirits What there is
But a brief space have we t.
warn Mobile. Repent! Repent!
Yet few mo- days, an Mobile
shall be done destroyed"
| stop, Craighead, cried Car
son. Don't pay any attention t.
what he says"
They WON'T" replied Craig
head. They'll sin just the same
the minute we're gone. Even al
angel from Heaven, which far be
it from me to claim"
Dan Thomas" said Carson, tC
an old negro, with a whip in his
hand, come here!"
Eyes, Mistah Cahson," respond,
ed the negro.
| Fetch me at once one Number
Two can of A-quality methanost
and get me a list of the aeronat
clearings for the last two days.
Eyes, subj"
| Thomas dartCd away; and Car.
son began testing his machinery
for another flight.
Pardon me-" said a man, who
had a withered arm drawn up tC
his side in such a way as to give
one the impression that he was
holding his breath; "but, are you
going far, so short -handed?"
mot farm time" replied
Theodore.
"Only to Alaska" added Craig
head. 1--WE meet a Russian admi
raj in st. Michael's at three. II
that niger doesn't hurry we shall
be late, General-and what will
Admiral Phlaskovodka say then? p
| The man lifted his sailor hat
bowed politely, and stepped back
Iunveiling face behind him which
Carson knew-the foxy, suspi.
cious face of Wilmer, the inventor
of the lost helicopter. Carson
stopped as If for some casual pur.
pose, laid hold on a spanner, an6
spoke to Craighead, low, distinct.
'ly, intensely.