Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-08-02
tBy Gertrude P. RObisOn)


"If you re not a bluff" said ID,
office force to me, in the gentle broth
erly way which office forces have Of
addressing society editors, you 7
take ride in that aiIplane aud writ'
: story about it,
Wouldn't it be possible TO write
the story without taking the iideG"
suggested 'I'ye done il before witt
concerts aud things
20 well!' agreed the office force
Elf you want to be q pkcr-N
Which settled il. No one. American
born. with long line Of Scotch and
Irish forbears, is going to be called a
piker. Not If she can help it. SO ]
wrapped up my courage in a roll Of
copy paper along with my peneil and
eraser, and sailed forth. At the Ore
gon Electric depot | stepped into q
telephone booth. "lt's me, an
nonnced intelligently when reeog.
nized the voice at the other end OF
the wire, "f'm going TO take a trip
with Lieutenant Cook this afternoon.
Not in an airplanel came the hor-
rified reply. cor coursel" I'ye won
dered since, what happened to my TEN.
per that afternoon) "did you suppose
| was going on a lawn m0werl But
listen, II they have to dig me out of
the debris and are able to assemble
my remains d rather be buried In
the white marquisette. And don I let
them curl my hair; It's not being done
this season."
On the way 10 Oleott field I con
sidered the adyisability Of arranging
for the proper disposal Of my person.
III effects al the office. There is the
lein bottle that ! use for a vase when
ever can salvage any flowers; my
fountain pen which really should be a
valuable souvenir MS Il has my name
engraved on the barrel; an old copy Of
Tho Onteasi s Prayer and a news.
paper print Of the late Lieutnnnt Col
onel McCrae aud dandy large photo,
graph Of Captain Stafrln, Lieutenant
Compton, and tall dark officer whose
name ! could never find out, oil board
the ship that brought them home. Then
there Is that stack of lotters from
France, in the drawer Of my desk. !
sincerely hoped that hhey wouldn I
consider il necessary to read those let.
ters at the coroner 4 inquest. Some
of the boys were positively childish in
their utter disregard Of the ccnsor
AT the entrance Of the fair grounds
! found myself IN modemized I.aun.
celot Gobbo position. "Budge, said
my conscience. 'Budge not, said
something else Inside OF me that /
have not since been able TO locate AS
rule dislike eouscienccs they re
always "'butting IN - whom one least
wants them TO. This time, however, /
surrendered graclously. "Conscienee. "
said you counsel wisely And
budged.
0acott field lay white and level.
Hike q silver patch In eounterpane Of
green. Above, a few tiny clouds lay on
the sapphire floor of the sky, us tho
the girl angels had dropped their pow
der puffs while froliekiug with tho
stars the evening before. Lieutenant
Cook was making a landing pretty
and graceful a thing rs the last steps
OF a good night waltz, and my cour.
age rcbounded. Il certainly had been
at the lowest possible chb, and only
the thoughts OF the eyaieally inhuman
office force had kept me from boiling.
IL confess right nowhere moth |
ing Of ,he hero stuff la my make up.
Whatever line Of work those Gaelic |
ancestors pursued Il is certain that
none Of them were tight rope walkers.
1t they were. there's nothing at all In |
the theory Of hcredity. The faster / |
20 in an automobile, the happier | am, |
and could absolutely live on the wa
ter but | never fail TO say prayer |
for a happy death before climbing o |
ladder TO hang mistletoe wreath or
straighten window shade. It's Just
one Of the many peeuliaritics, that for
lack Of something more tangible on
which to place ahe blame, | lay to the
color OF my hair. With a kind Of III.
tie whimper the motor Of the plane
stopped and young Nj. Mcoroskey I
came Up 70 me- "Better leave your hat |
with some one, he said, "and sign
this Whereupon signed a leard
that told any one who cared enough TO
Investigate, that 4 Gertrude pairieia :
Robson, being OF sound mind. etc,
nbsoived the Wchfnot Aircraft Co. Of
All blame. etc. Al least | suppose that's
what II said; I didn Z read Il.
AFiatofs are always young and al.
most always good looking. Lieutenant
taoh a no exception 10 the rule, and
just for moment as the young flight
manager WAS aruuging fhe helmet on
my head and eautioning me TO hold on
20 my hair Gas lhoaRh il weren I fast.
ened by the rootsl) had a purely
feminine desire to know If the head
gear Hene becoming. Someone, with the
air Of Sir Walter Raleigh. placed
tiny ladder on one Of the wings. and
after few unsnpken remarks, on my
part. concerning tight skirts. / found
myself in the cockpit. Act, " adxis
ed Af. Mcf5foskcy As be and The me.
ehanir fastened the Wide belt about
me. as though you we're Ia a canoe.
III easily and don't be afraid 10 look
out Better nal those goggles down.
tov IS liable 10 be windy. al
riehz, ! answered. restraining an
osefwhelmiug desire to tell him that
had voted il the jane elections. Why
youhg men insist on assuming q grand
melhefly air, regardless OF the fact
iAas this Is the day Of national pro.
hibition and universal rights fer no.
men, Is mere than can understand.
Ready be asked, IL the SAME tone
one uses - a yonngslef when one
ineka her il Ahd luas ont the hqhf;