The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-27

Grayman and the secretary into .4 cabin for a consultation. They wer greatly cast down by the unfortunat turn that the affair had taken, partio ularly the millionaire, who fairly groar ed:
 Hes run off with Helen, and nov he'll kill her. Oh, why did we under take this ?"
 Mr. Grantham evidently felt that tn responsibility rested on him, and h showed no disposition to shirk it. Nei ther was he altogether discouraged and he started to inspirit his friend.
 Gentlemen" I said respectfully pardon me for saying that we hay, no time now for talk of this kind. is not for that that invited you int, the cabin. MT. Grantham, you hay, done me the honor to put me in com mand. If I am to succeed from thi. time forth I must be unhampered. wanted to ask you, Mir. Secretary, i you would be willing to leave me il absolute control. I have hitherto fel that I ought to consult you in critica moments. I do not want to do tha in the future. Our only chance is il having single responsible commando and no divided counsels"
 "You are entirely right" exclaimed the secretary. "I believe it's my faul that Payton' got off. From this mo ment you are in absolute control. IT simply be a spectator"
 MT. Grayman said nothing, and was greatly gratified.
 I went immediately on deck, the oth CTS following. I was delighted to per ceive that the Chameleon was still wis ible, though dim in the distance, witl the Skylark doggedly churning aftel her and yet firing from time to time Close behind us rushed the Crow ant the Bobolink. I visited the engineer.
 "Jim, do you know the Osprey's mo tors?'' I asked.
 i've been aboard her often," he said "and I know her whole makeup pretty we'll"
 "What is her best speed?'
 "Jack"-the regular engineer of tht Osprey-'often told me he had made 13O miles,
 ''See if you can't work it up to z hundred and forty.''
 ''I don't believe it's possible" replied Jim, "but I'll bust her if you say so."
 T don't say bust her, but say see what is the very best that's in her."
 ''Oh, if I only had the Eagle" he re sponded
 'No use wishing for what you can, have. Now go at 1t and make hel spin"
 The Osprey certainly had never beer made to reveal her full powers before In ten minutes was surprised at the speed we were making. The sharp steady swish of the aeroplanes as we cut the air was inspiring to listen to The wind of our passage struck us in gusts from right and left and made us cling to the supports.
 By this time the moon, approaching its last quarter, had well risen and added her silvery glimmer to the twi light glow, enabling us more clearly tC make out the chase with our glasses We were dropping the Crow and the Bobolink, and I signaled them to dc better, but evidently they were al. ready sdoing their best, for they had not my engineer, and gradually they fell farther astern. Then I signaled them to by no means lose sight of us. and on we went
 The Skylark was supposed to be. fo khn nr1n Nho fnc fnv, r., the fleet, but now we were plainly overhauling her. Jim was giving u every inch of speed that the motor. contained, and the Osprey must hay, been surprised at herself. I began t, doubt if even the Eagle could hay, done better. It is sometimes as mucl the man as the engine that counts, ant Jim I knew to be the best in the serv ice for his job.
 It was half after 2 o'clock in tn, morning, and the northeastern heav ems were beginning to tighten, whel we passed the Skylark, close at hand so that I could call across to her com mander. Of course I did not stacker speed.
 Grimes" I shouted, "can't the Sky lark beat the Osprey?"
 'She always used to-" he calle, back; but, by love, you must have be witched that aero! Where's Osborn?
 "I changed fiiers with him after tn Eagle was disabled, and I've got m. own crew, with the secretary, aboar here. It's my engineer who is doin this. See if you can't stir yours up a little liyelier work We mustn't le Payton escape. He's got his prisoner with him.
 'You don't say sor' cried Grimes 'I saw that you were disabled, and simply put out after him, but didn' know he had the prisoners"
 "Well, he has them, but we're goin to get them-and him. The Crow and the Bobolink are coming up astern Don't wait for them, but follow me as fast as you can.'
 The indicator showed that we were now making 1897 miles per hour. I had never quite equaled that with the Eagle
 During the night it had at all times been far more difficult to detect the Chameleon than the Skylark, not only because of her greater distance, but also because of her dusky color. In fact, we probably never would have sighted her after we rose from the lake had not the Skylark served as a