Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-08-22
and DIM HO4RD
T19f3 BY W0C HAP1AN m T1t WU1rD 6IATES AND 6PEkT BPTTi

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watched over the precious plant dur
Ing the long and repeated absences
Of Napoleon.
Notwithstanding the difference in
their ages, they became good friends.
ROSETTA was anxious to see the manu-
featuring plant, where the aerodro.
mones were made, but she was not
permitted to enter the workshop, as
she had failed to obtain Napoleon's
permission to do SO. He had promised
to return for her within a few days,
or to send Santos. One balmy morn
ing the two women were enjoying the
sea breeze on the porch, when they
saw the aerodromone approaching
from the east. The great bird settled
In its hangar gracefully. The two
women went down the path to meet,
as they supposed, Napoleon. But 1t
was Santos Duprel, bringing two let.
tiers, one from Napoleon to his mother
and the other from Astra to the
countess.
Santos honest eyes glowed when he
saw ROSETTA, who took pains to give
him a friendly glance as she shook
hands.
Her letter said that Santos and the
Hawk were at her disposal, and that
Astra would be glad to see her again
as soon as Mrs. Edison's condition
permitted her to leave. She also in
vited Mrs. Edison to come to the cap
ital, but the mother knew that her
son depended on her presence on the
island, SO declined.
Rositta expressed deep disappoint-
ment when Mrs. Edison gave her rea-
son for not going back with Santos
and the Hawk, but the chance to talk
to Santos on the return trip suited
her best. After some hesitation she
decided to make a flying trip to Wash
ington the next day, assuring Mrs. Ed
ison that she would stay only a day.
Santos received instructions to be
ready to leave early in the morning.
The little, round fellow was elated
when he thought of the three hours
sl6ce With <Eositta.
His nights, since he had met Astra
and Rositta, were restless. Rositta's
many kindnesses especially gave him
food for thought. He paid more at
tention to matters Of dress; he shaved
his round, rudy face every day. He
even used perfume.
It dazzled him to think of the trip
to the capital with the countess for
company.
Early in the dewy morning Santos
brought the Hawk to the cottage and
waited for Rositta.
A little later the WONDERFUL machine
leaped into the air and up and for
ward with mighty flaps of the glitter
ing wings.
Countess Rosiny rose and went
slowly forward to the man who was
directing the fight of the great bird;
the brain of the mechanism.
She leaned over the railing that
separated the cabin from the steering
wheel and the various levers. "How
high are we now, Mr.. Duprel?" she
asked.
Santos looked at the aerograph:
1887 feet, countess. Do you want to
go higher?"
ooh, yesi"
The Hawk darted up; a turn of the
wheel worked the wings, and electric
sparks were seen in a steady stream.
What a wonderful machine this
isl" whispered the countess in Santos
ear. He had mastered his timidity
and, for the first time, turned to look
at her. Her brilliant eyes melted into
the light blue, round eyes of Santos.
Yes, 1t is" he said simply.
Are we going still higher?" she
asked In a breathless tone.
Santos looked hurriedly at the aero
graph and saw that 1t showed IS, 900
feet. In his nervousness he had gone
higher than he intended, so he hastily
changed the direction. 1t was bitterly
cold for a short time. but the wings
soon generated enough heat to warm
the cabin; In fact, 1t was too warm,
and Santos opened the air condenser
that let in the fresh, pure air OF that
altitude, where 1t is clear and intoxi-
eating In its sweetness. :,
How much / admire men like you,
Mr.. Duprel. You have conquered the
air!" whispered the countess to the
good boy who had succumbed to her
charms.
Countess, you are too good to me;
you are the sweetest, dearest woman I
have ever met" suffered the bird
man. He was still more dazed when
she placed her dainty, dimpled hand
on the steering wheel where It touched
his.
Where does this machine get the
tremendous power that enables It to
fy with such vslocityf" questioned
ROSETTA. e<
"Eiectricity," was all the little man
said; then he smiled at his fair pas
seuger, whose hand still rested on the
wheel, touching his. f
"E~lectricityf" She looked around at
the simple machinery in sight How
do you generate it7s
ganfoa inrrhaA AZ tha ahraurH nuaa.