, 1912-05-02

pect mat was spread beneath them.
The sun had risen higher, and focks
of beautiful clouds were casting pic
turesque shadows that fitted across
the rolling green surface of the earth.
"why. the aero is all dressed in
whittier cried Miss Grayman, catching
sight OF the white fluffy material that
played in the wind treated by their
rapid motion.
"Why shouldn't she wear gala dress
when b carries such a passenger and
goes on such an errand?" responded
Payton, with a bow.
Whatever of impertinence there
might have been in his words was
softened into a graceful and acceptable
compliment by his voice and amer
and Miss Grayman blushed and smiled
in return.
"Really, Commodore Brown. you do
me too much HONOR she said.
Impossible" was the reply, but /
know what is required in recognition
of the honor your friends have done
me-"
where shall we meet our friends? ?"
she asked quickly.
you certainly wouldn't wish me to
betray a confidence" he replied. smil
ing. 81 should like to answer, but for
the present my lips are sealed"
"Oh, then tell me-. please. how high
up are we? Susan says a hundred
miles, but l say not-more-than ten"
Payton laughed heartily,
SWELL" he said, you are nearer the
truth than Susan. although your est.
mate. too. is a trihe extravagant. Let
me See" and he consulted an indicator
on therouter wall of the cabin. 1--WE
are Just a mile and a half above sea
level and about three-quarters Of a
mile above the highest peaks that you
see down there"
"Then | guessed truly that we were
going over mountainsr"
"To be sure we are. But 1t is not
quite an unbroken wilderness. You
zee that little town in the valley yon.
der, don't your
as that a town." asked Miss Gray
man, with surprise. 81 thought it was
a heap of rocks"
mo, it is a town, though not a large
one. But you can see smoke rising
from some of the chimneys."
what is the name of the town."
Il mustn't tell you that just now.
you know"
"Oh, yes; l forgot that you are pledg.
ed to secrecy. But l suppose 1 am at
liberty to guess, and l guess that these
are the Catskills."
Perhaps" said Payton, with another
smile. "Really, Miss Grayman,' he
added in n serious tone, ''if | had fore
seen how unpleasant 1t would be to
decline TO answer our perfectly rea-
sonable questions | should hav hest.
tated to accept this mission"
The girl actually rebuked herself for
letting her curiosity increase the en-
barrassment of a gentleman who she
felt must keenly regret his rather
equivocal position.
You know the Mitchells in Wash.
ington. suppose?" she asked.
Payton saw that II this question
were followed by n cross examination
he would be trapped. accordingly he
hut of that line OF inquiry at once.
"Oh, Miss Grayman,' he said. 'of
purse 1 know almost everybody worth
knowing In Washington. but really,
you see. If we begin to discuss these
things we shall inevitably trench upon
forbidden ground-forbidden, you I'M
derstand, only for the IN After.
ward, in a little while. everything will
be clear and we can talk freely. In
the meantime let me beg of you not to
lose the enjoyment of this glorious
cruise in the pure morning air.
at is wonderfully beautiful" replied
Miss Grsyman. land to me the ap-
pearaDce of the earth seen from 30
great a height is indeed n revelation.
1t is entirely unlike the view from a
mountain. And. then it glides away
under us SO fast. 1t seems as IL 1t
were flying and we standing still But,
look" she exclaimed, clasping her
hands, I'VE are actually among the
cloudsl"
a huge roller of cirro-cumulus which