The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-07-08
CHAPTER XII.
THE AERoNEF VIRGINIA.

" of the shaynes was crisis
in her life She had acted
impulsiyely in matter of great mo-
ment and needed time for thought.
She had taken flight to Carson's Land
ing and to shelter in the shade of the
sole remaining branch of her family
tree, full of confidence that she would
find there a silver haired uncle and a
delicate old lavender aunt, redolent of
the old regime and ready to receive
her tenderly loyal to the Carson blood
Instead of silver hair, Theodore. the
audaciously false uncle, had the "lit-
tie, silky kids mustache," and there
was no aunt The grandniece of old
General Carson, related to Theodore
Carson by no chain of descent save
the dubious one of the original third
Carson brother of hundreds of years
ago and the ownership of this planta-
ton, was weakly allowed to assume
kinship from the place and name and
never thought of sitting down with
Theodore and tracing the thing out
She wondered just what the relation
ship was anyhow. Chloe said that
Cahsonses were Cahsonses, and she
never bothered about different kinds
He couldn't be real uncle, Virginia
felt sure of that He might be son
of General Carson by second wife.
He was the head of the family any
how. She must be satisfied with that.
OF his invention, save that 1t was In
the mysterious shed, chosen because
of its remoteness and Its unobstructed
beach, she really knew nothing. She
began to wonder now whether he
was worlds genius or only the
crude product of country college.
with nothing to command second
glance except his slnewy erectness,
the pathetic yearning In his eyes and
the wonderful softness In his voice.
Uncle Theodore" suggested Vir-
ginia to Mrs. Stott, "has invited us to
visit him And. do you know, ! think
We'll go back with the captain IL you
can overcome your aversion to the wa
ter"
"WilI the bay be rough?" asked Mrs.
Stott as II confident that the captain
served out the weather.
Dead cam. ma'am.'
"We'li CO." said Mrs Stott.
The ladies' hurriedly packed their
dunnage and embarked They were
gay party Virginia was full Of laugh
ter Her color rose and her eyes dllat-
ed as they took the stream early
canal into the lagoon by daylight.
do you see any signs of Storm"
asked Mrs. Stott. noting his upward
glances.
No, ma'am," he returned "Ah was
Just tryin' to make out II Aid eve
seen that craft befo aloft thah."
The craft alluded to was great sill
yer Condor, cleaning In the sun.
Virginia studied her absorbedly with
her field glasses.
81 think" said Virginia, that she's
the Roc. I'm sure of It,"
YES, ma'am." replied Harrod.
.'Shes lynn to-" said the captain.
"Thah goes huh lift down"
why" asked Virginia wonderingly
what can she want over there In the
woods!"
'Shes jist4 about owe yo' home
ma'am," said Harrod.
Virginia grew pale and, asking for
the glass, scanned the great aerOstat
with the lowered lift. like MENUS, to
the ground.
Cant you go little faster?" said
she, laying down the binoculars.
"Aftah we clear Weeks bay" said
the captain.
Once clear of the channel. they stood
for the south shore, the engines firing
In continuous explosion Suddenly
with little scream Virginia leaned
tito look upward past the awning.
In the water. instead Of bird or sail or
cloud, she had seen. coming up from
the depths under their rail, the Roc.
under full speed, her great engines
purring like tiger cats, her screws
shimmering, her giant hull resplend
ent bubble of steel. Looking up. Vir-
ginia saw her overhead and covered
back into the boat, for peering over
the rail and calling like an evil bird
was Silberberg.
"Shall All answer the hail, miss"
asked the captain.
NO" whispered Virginia. Take
no notice, beg If you, captain"
The Roc swept ON like meteor,
leaving the launch behind, Virginia