River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-11-26

coppery tint. which blond skins acquire
under a tropic sun Under the excite
ment of his last few weeks of living
he had laid aside a bit OF bis drawl as
he spoke.
Bernice scarcely recognized him as
the same man she had seen last when
be ran up the steps and bent over her
hand with the grace OF Virginia cav
alier. "You had my note, little sister?
I've come to report" he said
Over the luncheon the conversation
turned naturally upon Harold's expert
ence in the Mexican capital He spoke
freely. without any restraint in Ber
nice's presence On her part she eyed
him constantly. with a new apprecia
ton of his value. new and hereto
fore undreamed conception of the fires
beneath his exterior seeming fires she
had known nothing of since their days
of childhood. when he had at times
been given to violent outbursts of
temper
That evening Darling took out his
aeroplane and few to visit Bernice.
and the next day be saw her to the
train for New York AT the last min.
ute he shook hands with a SMILE eff
the Jappies take little old New York
just phone me and I'll fly up to the
rescue" be observed "Or If you get
ionesome-really lonesome
The girl flushed and took refuge In
persiflage. IF l get lonesome / will
wire you" she said lightly I'm wire,
Come fly with me-"
It'll fly" assured Harold. and hand
ed her through the barrier gate
"And you'n look after dad" she re-
quested
1t was on Tuesday. the 18th. before
daylight. that the Atlantic fleet steam
ed past the mouth of the Chesapeake
and continued on north and east to
their meeting with the vessels Of ia
pan. now reported as advancing swift,
~ to the battle for which they had
palpably waited.
Hour by hour thereafter the wire.
less station sent it's reports by phone
into the Office of Secretary Manuels in
the army and navy building. But it
was not until II o'clock that the word
for which be had waited thrilled to
him over the wire: "Aeroplane scouts
in advance report enemy advancing in
battle formation twenty miles north
northeast our position. Shall engage
as soon as within effective range"
The cabinet and members of the
board of strategy were hastily called
into conference.
God save our boysv' said President
ellison softly. ''Mr Monsel, please ask
the wireless to send this to the fleet:
The God of right and the nation are
with you"
Monsel nodded. leaned forward to
the telephone and transmitted the
message, then leaned back. Presently
he spoke again from the phone connect
ed with the wireless station. MIR
President. the fleet sends this to the
country and you: Crews at quarters
are cheering. The stars and stripes
forever! Japanese. feet has stopped
and sent up two small monoplanes,
probably as scouts against subma-
rines.'"
Gilson's lips frightened They are
brave" he said as with an effort.
"S-s-shr' Kissed Monsel at the phone.
Japanese feet acting in most Pc
culiar manner Have split their col
umn and are swung right and left in
what appears to be an attempted en-
veloping movement. They are pre-.
serving an approximately nine mile
radius and show no inclina ton to come
closer. Shall change front to meet
their evolution. Submarines have left
to engage"
Manuels frowned. Funny tactics"
he remarked. 81 don't see why they
are holding off. No one can accuse
them of cOwardice"
Monsel glanced up and met Darling's
eyes. Gethelds edged over beside
them. ''What do YOU he began,
when Monsel checked him with ges-
ture of his hand A smile broke across
his face and grew and widened ere
he swung and cried forth his tidings:
"a Japanese cruiser at the extreme
southern end of their column swung
well in and encountered a submarine
She engaged with her quick fires. but
was unsuccessful. The submarine, be-
lieved to be Z-3, got home with a tor
pedo and the cruiser sank by the
head"
Turning, he brought down both fists
on the desk in vent of his feelings.
Wow! Good old Z-3!' he cried out
in a voice which quivered. "Score
first blood for usP'