Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-04
Knight
Flyer
By HENRY NJ Nicely
Copyright.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.
BY HENRY N. Nicely
The Frank A. Munsey Co.

'rad anu l walked along the row OF
open sheds. calling greetings or re-
sponses to av!ators and mechaniciaps
until We reached our own hangar. and
there, without word or pause, We
glanced at each other Significantly.
"Hlo, Sanojas,' called Tad.
Good morning, Casserta," said.
The Mexican and his helper were up
and about the big Farman standing
before the shed. and both apparently
in the best OF humor. They answered
us pleasantly. and the mechanicians
exchanged salles of harmless jokes
as we entered my shed, but once in
side, Tads expression changed at
once, and | suppose mine did also.
What do YOU make of it?' Tad
asked That's the first time they
have ever been out here for the morn
ing flying.
We ought to have expected it," |
answered after moments delibera-
ton. Naturally, they will loose no
time in discovering which Of the
monoplanes landed on the point yes
terday, and which OF the aviators had
that talk with Miss Provan.'
Yes" supplemented Tad, and
which one it is whose soul is in for
that long holiday If | catch EN-
monkeyin' uround YOU or this Bloliot
the;e'll BE- q ecu 70 Of grease 20 te
gathered up in baskets after rae a
party"
"Ye,,' laughed, and it vii take
all OF the putty in the pace 70 p,ug ~
the punc'ureS in your body No, TAD.
THIS is the one thing we must guard
misunderstanding ourselves by loss
OF temper 1t isn't question OF keep.
Ing my soul from that holiday.
I'VE must have al! Of o1r plans laid
FOR quick and final action or we can
be OF no assistance to Miss proyan,
fancy we are both in this morning for
spell of unusually friendly CONVEX
satIon with our neXtdoor ncighbors
here, and we must watch carefully
how we answer questions that VIII ap
pear TO be perfectly casual
From outside came the loud snort
of a motor protesting against h. chin
OF the air, the valves spat spitelully as
some one slapped them in turning The
cylinders, and the Gsthmatic vile 2e
Of the compression preceded another
quick fire OF indignant snorts before
the motor again sank back into It's su'
len refusal to work
From farther down the row came
the staccato notes OF a Gnome, set
Ting to deep, powerful purr, il ran
q morlent steady and then the key
grew higher as the machanicians re-
leased the machine and It sped away
on its preliminary run.
All about us was life and gaiety and
animation; the happy voices, The wo-
mems laughter, the little shrieks Of
ecstatic apprehension as the man In
the air dipped or banked steeply, the
calls of man TO man as the machines
were, trundleI out all OF this got into
my blood, thrilled me through and
through with the vibrant fire of the
greatest sport that has ever leen de.
vised
SO completely did it take possession
OF me as | changed my clothes that
had almost forgotten the unbelievable
chimera of the girl on the point until
Tad, working quietly about the Be
riot, stopped under the planeenG near
est me and whispered:
Some ones at the knothole high
up on the opposite wall. Be careful"
In flash the gay spirits, the thrill
the animation fled. faced once more
the serious problem that involved
even my life itself, so complicated had
it become.
With pretense. of examining Tad's
work on the machine | managed to
ret in such position that the knot
hole was plainly in my view. Tad was
right!
A shadow on the other side moved
and could hear The faint scratching
sound as though somebody rubbed
against the boards on Cassena's side.
In a flash of inspiration spoke aloud.
81 saw friend of yours in the city
Yesterday, Tad. You remember llaz-
let's meChanician the one YOU were
80 chummy with in st. LOUISE
Dear old Tad To this day bless
the nimble brain that so quickly com
pretended my plan.
fTr Ia continued