The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-06-04
(Continued.)

For the last time" Carson slip
ulated. DO you promise?"
Yes, good my lord, this is the
amen trip. swear it,"
The Virginia, darting like a me
teor up the bay. swerved so sharp
ly over the Middle Bay light that
Craighead we'll nigh went over
board. and steered once more into
the beautiful blue semicircle of Bon
Secour bay, Craighead peering for
ward under the pintles of the bow
rudder for the launch. as a globe
circling sailor might scan the shore
for his waiting wife. They went
iurtling back over the Palmetto
Beach hotels at a height of 500
feet; and thence to the easterly
end Of the Little Lagoon. The
galleries were alive with people,
scanning the tremendously power
full flier with glasses. What was
his thing narrowing the sky in
this seemingly aimless fashion, so
alive, so vigorous, SO fOrceful in her
swift sweep?
Craighead, with the binoculars.
saw in the black circle of Fresh
water lake no launch.
They're not on the lake, Car
SON. he cried in a panic. What
can have happened? Is it possible
they've sunk"
Il cal'late you've guessed it,,
Capn," replied Craighead, with a
sigh of relief There they are
now"
The Virginia followed the tortu-
Gus channel as a kestrel in quest
of finches might trace the windings
of rail fence. In the sheltered
pond, which Carson called Nir-
ginia's lily-bed, Mrs Graybill was
gathering waxen blossoms, and pill
ing them in the pilots oilskins.
When the low-flying aeronef came
up astern, she grew crimson, and
laughed.
Well" said Mr.. Waddy; "I1l be
darned."
eve returned to say" began
Mr.. Craighead
1T was Craigheads desire"
broke in Carson.
Exactly assented Craighead. Il
desired word with you, sir, on the
western highways"
NO use O. that" cut in Mr.. Wad-
dy. You give Filley the idee?"
Il communicated the conception"
said Craighead. Yes"
An | paid him f'r an opinion
on it,"
You became obligated for it,"
said Craighead. Equivalent to pay
ment, in your case. but, legally,
quite distinguishable."
Its the same thing" cried Mr..
Waddy. An the fellers we hire
know more than a quarter-section
o. folks that don't know their own
minds. Don't you come back again;
it bothers me like muskeeters. Go
on"
Presently, most puissant sir.
There's matter we haven't men
toned. How shall we yawp forth
the grand hailing sign of distress,
when | am far away?"
They're still runnin the mails
and telegraphs, amt they?" queried
Mr. Waddy testify.
would YOU" queried Craighead,
place world in pawn on the faith
of mail clerk; or the fidelity of a
telegraph system controlled by our
loathsome enemies? AS triumvir to
triumvir, answer, in the name of
our patron saints, Sir Henry Nor
gan and Jesse James,"
I'VE agreed on a CIPHER" snap
ped Mr.. Waddy. Go on an use it."
"Cipher," scoffed Craighead, who
had devised it himself. Not with
the hounds of Shayne on Carson s
traces. Why. any cipher can be de-
ciphered. Go back to the time of
Bacon"
We'll, if yeh stay much longer"
cried Mr.. Waddy irritably, eve may
as we'll go back to the time of Ham
as Bacon. What you drivin' at.
anyhow"
Your pungent play on words"
said Craighead, gives me joy. 1t
proves my power to corrupt. Last
springtide you'd have been incapa-
BILE of it. I'm driving at the neces-
sity of trusty messenger who will
die rather than disclose, will swal-
low blue prints to keep them from
the enemy, will explode a magazine
before admitting a traitor even unto