The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-09-19
Batter, wan. In . twinklIng the or

BATTERY wall. In q twinkllng' the or.
der had been obeyed. f- .l.
The hours Of terror that followed
the blinking out of New York's white
lights" will be a topic of conversa-
ton and sensational comment as long
as one soul shall live. who experienced
ditions.
While the panic-stricken crowds in
the street watched the sky for the
threatened peril that might come. Pm
tricia MOntez, in her biplane, was
speeding toward New York from the
aviation field on Long Island.
As the airship, freighted with de-
structive bombs sailed down toward
the bay, piercing the sky above the
center Of Manhattan island. the watch
ers found relief in the fact that moth
ing any more serious than giving fright
to the multitudes had marked the Jour-
ney of the air-raiders thus far. But
the satisfaction that came to the
crowds in the theater district, was not
shared by men who owned property
further downtown.
saw the great airship approaching
from the north, there was a cry Of
alarm when someone discovered still
another air monster heading toward
New York from Long island. One bril-
liant light flashed from Pats biplane
the anarchists airship was ablaze with
rows Of glaring shafts.
Pat directed the passage of her bi-
plane, so that she kept far above the
anarchists craft as 1t moved down the
island. Coming close to the financial
district, Pat had maneuvered her plane
so that she was directly above the air
ship-and then she decided to act.
Very deliberately she hoisted an ex-
plosive bomb over the side Of her bi-
plane, having guided her craft until II
was directly above the airship. When
she dropped the bomb she scored hit
first OF.
The airship lurched and swung from
its course. Another bomb dropped
from Pats biplane, likewise registered
and with joy the girl observed the
giant aircraft change its course and
head for the Brooklyn side Of East
river.
Too busy in saving their own bacon
the anarchists had not even attempted
to bomb the city below them. They
were Just arriving at the point in their
flight when they expected to begin
destructive work. but Pats attack
completely upset their plans.
with their own lives at stake, the
anarchists centered all their efforts IL
the hope of making a safe landing
From its great height the airshiI
began to descend in xig-xag fashion
sailing Over Brooklyn. toward the oper
fields in the suburbs.
Al Pat was skimming above VIII
liamsburs, on her way back to the
hangar whence she had started
she had the satisfaction Of watching
the anarchists airship as it slowly de
scended. When the helpless crafi
neared the ground. Pat observed the
wreck. ~ 1t hung momentarily in
flames, and then crumpled up-fallina
in q burning mass to the ground.
Satisfied in having accomplished heI
purpose In saving the city from an at
tack, Pat sped through the air to the
aviation field and safely descended
Her adventure had taken her less
than an hour, and her mission had
been fulfilled with marvellous sue
cess.
In great "scare-heads" she read II
the papers. next morning. Of her ex
ploits. The sensational events that
followed the airship's passage dowr
the length Of Manhattan island. occu
pied the front pages Of the papers
but It had been found impossible. BY
the newspaper men. to identify thu
pilot Of the attacking aircraft.
Later issues Of the afternoon paper,
carried stories Of the biplane that had
left the aviation field on Long island
at about the time to account for the
attack, but the strictest Investigation
had not uncovered the name Of the
pilot. There was only one item that
led to the slightest hope Of identify
ing the aeronaut-a purple mask had
been found tied to the framework oi
the blplane that had been used at the
time.
To Phil Kelly the identity Of the
pilot was clear. She had put one
over" on him again, and the great de
tective felt keenly humiliated. ever
though he rejoiced in the success that
had attended the daring girls adven
ture.
"She's q wonder, for sure" Kelly
said 10 his assistant, when he had
finished reading the newspaper nc
count Of New York's evening Of terror
Very naturally the sensational at
fair attracted the attention Of govern
ment onicials and orders came from
Washington that the matter must be
thoroughly investigated. When Kelly
heard that the subject of the air raid
had been fnken mn through secret eery.