Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-11

GUS with men like sam and Man0el
and Casserta."
1T will be soon,' he agreed. but
at present happen to be the brains OF
this business, and they know they can
do nothing without me- And that
brings us 10 the subject we must dis.
cuss. First: can you fly Farman n.y.
droaeropane?"
with favorable weather and water
cOndtions-yes," answered.
Good knew. Of course, that the
controls of the Bleriot and Farman
were sufficiently similar not to offer
much difficulty, but | did not know
whether the addition of the p0ntoons
for work on the water would involve
matters or not"
ut does to a certain extent" ] ex'
planned but it is merely matter Of
a little practise in starting and land
Ing and greater care in heading
down Fortunately. | had an oppor-
tunity not long ago to try my hand in
one belonging to a friend of mine. and
| soon mastered the difficulties"
"rhat is fine" he exclaimed en-
Enthusiastically. Now l will ask you
to excuse me for few minutes"
He walked over to table in one
corner of the room and removed a
boxlile cover, revealing a telegraph
key and telephone headpiece such as
is used by wireless operators.
Wireless" | asked as he caught
my inquiring glance. Il didn't notice
any aerials outside"
He smiled.
"My own adaptation Of the buzser
and the submarine signaling bell,' he
explained. "The working parts are
all sunk under water a quarter OF a
mile or more off shore. II has a IA
dius Of about twenty miles, but, OF
course, il can be used only with ships
equipped with the same apparatus.
And there is only one such ship"
He sat down, and adjusting the
phones TO his ears, began to manipu-
lat1 the key, listening intently for
some reply.
As | waited in the silence rly
thoughts reverted to the girl 1 had
left many miles to the south. alone Oh
! that bare sand-bar with Casserta, and
wondered it, after all, had acted
Tor her best interests in coming here.
But, as | reviewed my present situa-
ton, | felt a glow of satisfaction at
the success of my russ.
Lacey was completely deceived by
my story. and was taking me into hS
confidence in way that promised
soon TO give me the knowledge that |
needed 10 free Catherine from the
tangle Of conspiracy in which she had
become so helplessly involved.
Already ! had learned the most i'm
portant OF all facts-that neither she
nor her father was playing any guilty
part in the drama or the nuts ana mat
as soon "a each realized this there
would be no further need for the Sc.
crecy that she had been forced to
maintain.
So fer as | myself was concerned, |
felt that | had safely passed the criti-
cal point.
Lacey accepted me in the place Of
Casserta, and Casserta was a prison
er on the sandbar until chose to re.
lease him. The hiding of my true
identity and my real errand had been
the difficult parts of my plan, and
both had been accomplished with an
ease that augered well for the rest OF
my project. The task that now con-
fronted me was to play my part with
out too Great a show of anxiety, TO
draw Lacey out until knew all that
needed to know, and then TO fly
back home and phone for Eakins and
his requirements.
The note that the old man had writ.
en- me was the first puzzle that | must
solve.
II they were planning to Kill Cas-
serta. there were two conclusions TO
be drawn. the need Of an avlatotS
services would not be present after
tonght-indeed, | had heard the Mex
lean utter the words last time to
my little girl back there on the sand
and these men were fighting among
themselves, and their treachery was
| likely to become violence with the
conclusion of the fliGht that was plan
ned TO BE the final one.
It was most important then, that |
| find out how many flights | was ex
pected to make tonight and, instead
of returning from the last one. head
straight for home and gather my
friends for raid from the clouds. II
could arrange in some way to take
the old man with me, | would do 80;
il not, | would have to take chances
on keeping the gang too busy to think
of wreaking final vengeance upon
him
The one great consolation was that
my little girl would be in no danger
and that could go for her as soon rs
nv work on the point was done.
As | saw that Lacey had picked up
the ship with his submarine tele'
graph. I quickly decided upon the de-
tails that remained to complete my
story to him. would say that my