Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-11-29

who was an eyewitness of the events,
and would be, / was sure, the best
account that would appear in any of
the first extra editions. As 1 have
said, my vanity WAS bit piqued that
the chief should treat It in such a
matter-of-fact way. therefore asked
rather drily il they had any further
need Of me, at the same time rising
to go.
wait minute, man, wait min
ute" said Armstrong in his bluff, i'm
petuous way. don't fly off at tan
gent. Further need of you? + should
say We have further need of you
Winthrop and have just decided
that The Courier is going to run down
these air-pirate fellows, and you are
the man who is going to do the run
ning-that is, II you win take the job.
''Who I?'' I fairly shouted back at
him. do I get such a chance2"
The proposition had been made in
true George Armstrong fashion (para-
phrasing a nickname given to a cer-
tain European potentate on account
Of his impetuosity, the boys Of the
staff had long been in the habit OF
referring to him, behind his back, as
George the Suddenly and it was ac-
cepted, they told me afterwards, IN
true Tom Baldwin fashion.
Armstrong laughed at my reply un-
| til the windows fairly ratified. you
sure do get such chance" he said
land it looks as though you would
take it, too"
ITO tell you the truth" said Landon
winthrop, I'VE thought you would
| Jump at 1t, and we have summoned
You here to talk over ways and means.
All, here comes German now, and
our party is complete" This as the
business manager entered the room.
German nodded to me and took a
seat at the end OF the desk, opposite
Winthrop.
Now, then, Tom" said Armstrong.
I'VE have selected you, of course, be-
cause we have confidence in your
nerve and ability and all that, but
also because you are a practical
aviator; these marauders will have to
be hunted in the sky"
"And for that you will, In the first
place, have to have an aeroplane,
said Winthrop.
mo; money in the first place." said
German In his loconic way.
"By Jove, yes" said Armstrong,
"that goes without saying"
"As to the aeroplane. gentlemen,
said, ST think can solve that prob
lem"
Good" said the three in chorus.
"How?"
For reply I reached over and picked
up a pad of Western Union blanks
from the desk and wrote:
"William Grahame, Hotel Beverly,
Indianapolis, Indiana.
Meet me tomorrow morning at 10
o'clock at the office of the Courier
Vitally important. BALDWIN,"
| 1 handed the pad to Armstrong
"Ah. Grahame, the great bird mani
That's splendid But do you think
you can enlist him in the adven-
ture?"
1--WE have been friends for years.
and I think I can answer for him"
VERY well, the Courier will be be-
4 hind you with unlimited funds. I
think that is agreed upon, is 1t not,
winthrop and German nodded ac-
quiescence
"Where viii you seek for the pi-
rates?' asked Winthrop.
Somewhere between the Ohio River
and the Atlantic seaboard. 1 shall
consult with Grahame. of course, and
will depend very much upon his adj
vice, but I think we will cruise over
that region in search Of the ma
RAIDERS"
II see." said Armstrong quickly,
'sthey have been working steadily
eastward in their raids-Salt Lake
City, Omaha, St. Louis, Chicago-yes,
you are right And now, not a word
Of this enterprise to any one; make
all your preparations secretly. II you
succeed, it will be the biggest scoop
in the history of journalism. Oh! by
the way, when Grahame arrives to-
morrow and you have had your talk
with him, we will hold another con-
sultation here at the office, say at 3
O'Clock in the afternoon.
With that the conference broke up.
Leaving the Courier office hurried
away to make my personal prepara-
tions and to say one farewell.