The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-10-09

i missed the steeple OF an old church
by several inches. scraped against the
pediment Of an ancient Roman edifice.
and sped up to the sky. looked back
as cleared the housetops. The two
gendarmes were waving their hands at
me imploringly. hated to leave them,
but the memory of my mission came
to me to spur me on. and few like
the wind. Soon Avignon was but q
blot In the distance.
That night l slept under q tree in
the wild mountain region of the
Basses-Alpes. At dawn / continued
my course directly eastward. Now no
sign OF human habitation was TO be
seen. There was nothing but ranges
OF lofty mountains. The cold became
intense and the air currents treach-
erous. Time and again I was caught
In gusts OF Icy wind, beaten. buffeted
out OF my path. Over me the sky
was OF intensest blue; round and be-
meath me lay the icy SUBMITS OF the
Alps. My teeth chartered and my
hand grew so cold that could scarce
ly feel the levers. Nothing but the
intensity of my purpose could have
enabled me to face that bitter wind.
At last, toward afternoon, just as !
began to think that had missed my
path. when / felt that l could hold
out no longer, I perceived, very far
southwark. a long. blue. monotonous
line on the horizon. My heart leaped,
new and feverish determination en-
tered into me. 1t was the sea. the blue
water OF the Mediterranean. that lay
before my eyes. Now the last stage
was approaching. So far ! had con-
quered!
/ wheeled southwark and began to
descend the long valleys of the Mari
time Alps.
The air grew warmer, the descent
more precipitous; glided downward
on the rushing winds exultingly. and
ever nearer saw the distant sea. un-
til the narrowing horizon shut 1t once
more from view. But when left the
last of the snow-capped ranges behind
me the sun suddenly sank and I en-
tered region OF twilight II had been
dark for an hour upon the lowlands
while was battling In the sunlight.
The night was moonless; / must alight
before 1t grew entirely dark or run
the risk Of falling into the sea- Out
OF the mountainside I saw the white
road, the great highway between
France and Italy, centuries old, de-
bouched upon its way to Nice. whence
1t wound through the Principally OF
Monaco. Clearly / must descend
there, where French laws did not run,
and where the Minister of the Interior.
actuated. did nk doubt, by interests
inimical TO mine. could not arrest my
journey. In the falling light I saw OF
sudden the little square topped build
ing Of the French customs house on
the Monaco border, and the Monaco
customs, not dozen meters distant.
made for the latter, shut OF my mo-
tor and careened earthward. AS / de-
scended, like q great soaring eagle,
saw men run from either building,
shouting and waving their arms at me
their cries reached me with surprie-
ing clearness. / dropped to earth,
hit the ground on the French side OF
the line, and rolled half into Monaco,
90 tumble exhausted from my aero
plane.
1t was easy to see that was square
ly upon the international boundary.
But my apprehensions we're ground
less, for nothing could have exceeded
the kindness with which was treat
ed by the officials from either customs.
Their first surprise over, they placed
the quarters of the French officer at
my disposal. and thither l adjourned
for hasty toilet, leaving the mono
plane the center Of interest. Seeing
my WEAKNESS, they scarcely pressed
a question upon me, and when, think
ing always of the future, l pointed
out the deficiency In the gasoline. the
French officials promptly filed the
tank with confiscated petrol from their
contraband stores. Afterward l was
the guest at an informal supper. to
which the men from either side Of the
border invited themselves.
without doubt mademoiselle Is on
her way to Turin to compete In the
international meeting there" suggest
ed the French official.
I acknowledged the false presump-
ton with bow.
"Mademoiselle will remain here and
rest tomorrow" he continued hope
fully. 1T is not often that ladies
honor us with their presence, and
those few which we see here are, un-
fortunately. much prejudiced against
u.s."
Against you. monsieur.- I asked.
'Tmpossible!"
He smiled and twirled his mustache
jauntily. Unfortunately" he MUIR
INJURED, 1T is too often our painful
duty to detain their baggage"
"They show poor TASTE" answered.
But now, monsieur. I shall withdraw,
having travelled all the way from
Avignon since morning"
He started and stared at me In un-
belief. From Avignonf" he ex-
claimed. Then mademoiselle must
have crossed the Alps in her machine.
No, no. impossible. None but Chavez
1