The Irish standard., 1910-08-13
Virginia
of the
Air Lanes
A ROMANCE OF
FLYING
-. BY go.
Herbert Quick
Copyright. 1909. by the Bobbs.
Merrill Company

her again Of his struggles, his expert
ments, his falling into the garden Of
DR.. Witherspoon, his meeting with
Craighead, the financial enlistment of
Mr.. Waddy and of the puzzling mes
sages he had received she became an
enthusiast too.
I'D like to meet Mr.. Craighead,"
said she. I'D like to feel sure that he
can secure monopoly Of the naviga-
ton of the air"
You might form an opinion Of him."
said he. "by reading his kilograms"
"Of whom?" inquired Virginia. evil
IDENTIFY thinking of something else.
"Craighead," replied Carson. Here
they are. What do you think of them?"
The first was dated Charleston,
w. Va. Air products Incorporated"
it ran. Immense sensation in trust
incubator and brooder. Why don't
hear from llustrious co-consprator?
Craighead, the Plute."
'"Tries to be humorous" said Vir-
ginia. Lets see the next"
The next date was dated. "En route
to Cosmopolis from Incubat tor" and
was unsigned. ITO him who commands
the winds, from him who winds the
commands. greeting" it ran BE of
good cheer. The train is laid. the gin
is set. the dogs of war strain forward
in the leash. But is there any aeronef?
Broom end of pipe dream assumes ter
rifying concreteness. Noble. sir. assure
me of thine! Just wire saying you are
you and there is an aeronef. collect!'
did you answer this?" asked Vir-
ginia.
Theodore shook his head.
1T was days and days before I got
it."
"Why didn't he send it to the planta-
tion?" asked Virginia.
II gave him this address," said Theo-
dore. I'll stayed there too-too long"
He opened the gyroscope globe and
began running the engines lightly. set
ting the heavy little wheels spinning.
rocking the aeronef from side to side
to note the operation Of the balancing
devices. Preserving their perpendicu-
laritJ, as If of intelligent purpose. the
horoscopes moved the levers Of the
wing differentials which would accel-
crate the propeller wheels of the low
cred wing and correspondingly slow
the upper. Right or left. stern or bow.
the depressed area would work the
harder. the raised part slower. while
powerful rudders co-operated. moving
like f1sh's fins, even now while the
propeller rested. Theodore was get
ting past an awkward reference to his
long stay at the plantation by pains
taking examination of the brain Of his
airship.
See how it works. Virginia." be en-
claimed. lit knows the levers to be
moved. Why, if Il puff starts to over
turn her she'll strike with the lowered
wings alone like bird. And see the
Intelligence of those rudders. And
Wilmer said she'd turn turtle!"
And Mr.. Craighead doesn't get any
report of all this! What must he
think?"
Il told him about it, said Theodore
proudly. And it was no time to tele-
graph apologies. 1t was time to
work"
Virginia opened another Of Craig
heads kilograms. 1t was addressed to
Palmetto Beach. "or somewhere it is
hoped" and seemed to be regarded by
Craighead as very important My
luck hath turned! 1t is Craighead Fe-
Xix now" said he. Have found a
gang Of grafters organized to get us
grants in no time; will cinch New
York by Friday; Chicago already hem.
med in. New thought-fee of roads in
grangers everywhere. Will secure title
except for road purposes. Shayne. thy
sun sets apace. Whoop! Whoop:
Whoopee! We've got 'em. we've got
'em! Caroline's dad ready to bust all
eight banks to back scheme. You must
make good. Theodore. Answer for the
sake Of divine pity just one leetle
teeney peep! Napoleon Bonaparte
Hannibal Miltiades Craighead."
what does he mean." asked Vir-
ginia, "by all this about grants, high
ways and fee simple? It's awfully
queer"
II don't know" replied Carson.
"Some visionary thing"
And who is Gardiner" asked Vir-
ginia.
Mrs. Graybill. Mr. Waddy's daugh-
ter. Now. listen. Virginia. and watch.
She's ready to try"
He threw in the clutch. and the
wings began whirring like great buzzes.
Faster and faster the wing sections
whirled until the aeronef strained up
ward on her lashings like FESTIVE
horse. Theodore tipped lever. and
she leaped forward. stretching the
ropes at an angle Of forty-fve degrees.
He reversed it. and she Stacked back
ward. as might an eagle repulsed by
foe. Virginia swung her hat and shout.
ed.
Pull the line on the end Of that
wing" said be. land see If you can tip
her. Pull!"
Virginia walked gingerly forward.
her dress flying, her hat whisked to