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


village after dusk. leaving my aero
plane In charge OF some friendly
farmer sufficiently removed from the
center of news to prevent the disclos-
ure Of my identity. All these plans !
carried out well. Night saw me some
leagues IN advance Of Dion. and rest
ing In a field recently mown. surround
ed by gaping but not malignant rus
tics. A liberal sum sealed the noun
tains Of their perpetual questioning.
and by the promise Of further reward
In the morning I induced my host to
drive into the town and bring me back
a fresh supply OF gasoline. without
arousing curiosity. Then supped,
and. turning into a bed OF softest
down. slept like log till daybreak.
Sunday was a repetition of the day
before. Long before noon had
crossed Lyon and was following the
broad valley OF the RhUne. Avignon
was to be my destination; but here
my plans miscarried. For. as l ap-
hundred feet, well before dusk. a few
misses OF my motor warned me that 1t
was clogging, Just as 1t had done In
England. and / volplaned swiftly to
the ground to avoid misfortune. land
Ing In the exact center OF populous
residential square, where In no time
/ was surrounded by dense crowd
OF Provencals, cheering and mobbing
me and acclaiming me by name. They
climbed into the monoplane. they
thrust out their hands toward me, and
one held up before my eyes the latest
copy Of the Petit Journal. There, COW
ering whole page. I saw an afro
ciousiy drawn presentation OF myself
In the monoplane. and underneath. In
large letters of black, the words: AThe
Woman Spy, Flying Over Dion"
AS was growing desperate couple
Of gendarmes forced their way through
the crowd to me.
"Mademoiselle, said one, respect
fully, you may not proceed further.
We have orders from the Minister of
the Interior to detain you"
For a moment l was stunned with
horror. Then an idea came to me.
made no answer, but set to work with
all speed in the adjusting of my motor.
Whatever might happen, 1t was essen
tial that the monoplane should be In
order. ready for action.
"The instructions are." the gen.
darme continued. that mademoiselle
shall remain at liberty In Avignon
pending further orders. The aero
plane"
"Yes. monsieur ] answered care
lessly, while my heart throbbed hor-
rtbly. 1t seemed too terrible to be
true. But at any cost must appear
to acquiesce.
Understand. mademoiselle, you are
not under arrest" he continued. 1T
is merely that the Minister of the In
terror has issued an order forbidding
ladies to fly. owing to the dangers"
you spoke of the monoplane," I an
swered smiling. What Is to be done
with 1t. For myself" added, Il am
really tired OF flying. shall not
continue my journey to Marseilles."
ITO Marseilles" cried tn gen.
darme, scratching his head. "Why
mademoiselle, the Petit Journal
says" he hesitated.
THAT you are on your way to join
your lover In Italy, there to be mar
ried in the Clouds" put in the other.
I breathed more freely. Evidently
the real purpose of my Journey was
not yet known.
THE aeroplane-" persisted.
~Pestel What are we to do with
the aeroplaneT" said his companion.
There were no instructions"
Let me make a suggestion" l an
swered suavely. Suppose / take 1t