The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-03-18
VI]RGINIA$$$ES' z : AIR AIR :: :: e.
5000 90. -: ~ @z :: LANES s s:,s:''

passes; but Mr.. Waddy's declara-
ton of fealty was so absorbing
and the speed of the Virginia so
unwonted to her pilot, that the
fort had been spread beneath
him like a map, before he was
aware of it. To alight might
mean arrest, inquiry and dis
charge, after explanations to the
commandant, Colonel Krimnitz,
Of whose severity Carson felt no
real fear. But if he tried to go
away after running the guard, he
might be fired on as a spy making
off with complete photographs.
Altogether it was safest to alight,
thought Carson; and he settled on
the battle-ground, greatly to the
agitation of an awkward squad
drilling under a sergeant, whose
beloved commands were cut
short off by the whir of the re-
versal of the Virginia's wing
blades. He turned, saw the huge
dragon-fly with it's bow rudder
pointed at him like a great man
dible; and in the same raucous
voice of command he shouted,
We'll, I'm damned" and took to
his heels, followed enthusiastical-
ly by the rockies.
1.-The courage of the American
soldier" said Craighead, lis pro-
verbal. The exception but proves
the rule,-just how, may be left
for future discussion, while we
take up the matter of awaiting
our fate, which may be a year in
black-hole, or ten days bucked and
gagged. Right here is where
Craighead returns to the service,
in durance vile, as of old"
The drill sergeant's expression
carried conviction to the sergeant
of the guard. where his descrip-
ton of a devil of a big bird-thing
that you couldn't see at all till it
struck the ground, might not have
been credited. The guard turned
out and moved on the parade
ground, while the drill sergeant
became an orderly to inform the
officer of the day. Bearing down
on the defenseless air-ship like a
whirlwind, the guard encountered
great silver-winged insect with
snug car amidships, her four
braces sticking in the Bermuda
grass like very short legs. Stand
ing by her were Carson, erect and
soldierly, as befitted the sur
roundings; Waddy, half inclined
to crawl under the car; and Craig
head, drawn up in an exaggerat-
ed setting-up drill, chest thrown
out, chin and stomach drawn in,
spine incurved in the Grecian
bend, eyes set and staring forward
| like those of a wooden man, his
right hand to his cap in a frozen
salute.
The guard halted at five PAGES,
and the sergeant advanced, obtain
ing his first good look at Mr..
Craighead, maintaining the atti-
tuude of military caricature with
a steadiness perfectly statuesque.
The sergeant, a little man with a
red moustache turned up la
Kaiser, looked at him for half a
minute, and uttered a mysterious
exclamation, the meaning of which
was quite unknown to Mr.. Waddy
and Carson.
What the billy h-hotel bill"
said he.
| Craighead remained motionless,
his hand to his cap. The SER
geant amazedly returned the
salute. Craighead relaxed his
tense muscles, dropped his hand to
his side, and winked with the ut
most sobriety of expression.
"Podner," said he, have yeh
got any eatin' tobacker?"
Unfortunately" replied Mr..
Craighead, I'VE omitted to obtain
passes. The fact is that the posts
were SO far apart in the stratum
in which we entered that we miss
ed the sentries and accidentally
ran the guard. We may have
overetimated the height of the
American soldier, and passed over
the heads of our audience. We
will, however. make good Tow,
and take out all necessary creden-
tials. Say no more, Mr.. Sergeant.
We Sc your position, and you may
trust our discretion. We are all
soldiers. This is Gennle Theodo'
Cahson, M. A., and this Mr.. Wad-
dy, who served in his youth in the
typhoid uprising at Chickamauga
in the Spanish-American war
Show your button, Mr.. Waddy, as
an s. A. w. v. You see, Ser
geant, that you are quite safe
against our capturing Fort Nor.
gan. Am I right in my assump.
ltion that the building yonder from
which the officer is emerging sc
incontinently is the headquar-
lters?"
Yes, sir" replied the SER
geant.
"Then," said Mr.. Craighead
Twill you not present us to the
commandant? You may leave a
guard for the aeronef. Your arm
sir!"
4 "It won be necessary" said the
sergeant. Here's Captain Bolgei
now"
j. Captain Bolger was choleriC
gentleman, with whiskers like
General Sherman's, much thinned
by the increase in the area of the
face since the establishment of the