Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-16


ale did them and more He has an aero
plane that embodies the stability, the speed,
the safety, in fact everything, the other fell
lows are cropping to get. | haven't the right
to go into details. In that respect we still
owe secrecy to our distinguished customers"
"But you can tell us how you got the dis
tinguished customers, | hope?' put in his
wife.
Justin chuckled. "You helped, Helen,"
he said.
Il helped! How could II"
"By introducing me to Saccarello. 1t was
a tremendous stroke of luck that sent him
into Italy by way of Como. The moment
laid eyes on him | realized that our way to
approach at least one war department was
plain. That night | delivered my first lee
ture on aeronautics, and, what's more to the
point, held my audience. Before we said
goodnight he had agreed to look Pages ma
chine over and, if satisfied him. take it up
with the Italian Government. Next day we
met Oliver and arranged for test which no.
body should know about. After that it was
plain sailing. 1t was mere child's play to
prove to them that we stood first and the
Others nowhere. Italy has kept us busy ever
since"
"But Russia?"
"Thats where European politics comes
in, he responded. austria drove Italy and
Russia into each Others arms when she COB
bled up Bosnia and Herzegovina last spring.
Do you remember how the Gar lodged
Austrian territory when he came to visit
Victor Emmanuel not long ago? That
straw shows how the wind is blowing, and so
does this business of ours We had no sooner
closed the deal with Italy than Russia got
busy. First it was her Embassy in Rome.
Then the Paris people took it up. Now you
know why Page and | have been hanging
around Pau. We were waiting for that little
talk with Count Somebody which young
Buckley stumbled upon the other day. Do
you really think, Ann, he swallowed the
wild boar story?"
"Yes," she said, II feel sure of it."
Justin laughed. @Price is a rare diplomat!
Before long he'll read in his morning paper
that Russia has decided to build an aerial
feet, and never dream that it was discussed
under his very nose. The fact is, we have
agreed to manufacture for Italy and Russia
exclusively"
a am glad everybody will soon know
about it," sighed Mrs. Blair. II dislike
secrets"
Everybody will soon know that Italy
and Russia have adopted Pages aeroplane;
but it doesn't follow that everybody will
Possibly the general public will have to wait
till it is put to practical USE"
"You mean in fighting, of course?"
@Thats the practical use war depart
ment naturally has in view"
@How dreadful"
at depends on the way you look at it.
Some people think aeronautics will make
war such a CHASTITY affair that men will stop
it altogether. Don't think of divers ma
chine as a destroying angel. Call it dove
of peace
aAh, WE'LL she commented, whichever
it turns out, am glad that divers success
is assured. 1t will mean great things for
him."
"Yes," he assented. "Italy isn't flush;
but Russia still has rubles to spend. Be-
tween them, they will make it decidedly
worth while"
a wasn't thinking of the money alone.
| suppose there will be honors and decora-
TONS"
"Yes," he agreed again, "and titles too. if
he cares about them. Oliver need ask odds
of nobody. He will be able to live as he likes
and where he likes, associate with the best,
aim high when he marries." He eyed Ann
discreetly as he rounded off his sentence;
but the hint seemed lost about that let
ter of yours, Ann" he added with manner
scarcely as offhand as he would have liked,