New-York tribune., 1922-10-22
With the First
Yank Warplane
CONTINUED from page thrse)

away. It's none Of your business what we are
going to do with the boat. IT'S our boat, and
we're going to take her away from here as
,on as we get good and ready. Now go and
lap off the dock"
Rather to bis surprise red shirt took him at
his word and went away. No sooner had his
the village street than youthful observer
piped up: "Now, you're In for It, mister.
That's the constable He'll have you arrested
sure as shootins."
Sweating and uneasy, they rushed through
the final tuning up. A few extra turns and
she would be ready for the hop-ofF. And then
red shirt appeared, waving an official docu-
fnent and with grim satisfaction In his eye.
Warrant for your arrest, all Of ye!' he an
nounced blandly. "Tais here performance
don't look right to me. 1t wouldn't surprise me
a mite if you was German spies aiming TO drop
bombs In Canada, and that don't go in this
country, Mister Smart Alec. You como right
along with me. You wouldn't answer my ques-
tions, would you? You wouldn't talk to me?
Well, maybe you'll talk to the judge"
For moment they contemplated swifs
fight In their all but ready machine. Burgess
negatiyed the suggestion, signaied by glance
Of the Canadians, with shake of his head.
It would be better to take chance on explain-
ing their position than to risk wrecking the
boat in premature dash for liberty. to say
nothing of possible later complications
The party trudged up the dusty village
street. Its appearance was not prepossessing.
Streaked by grease and perspiration. un-
washed, unshaven and tousled in unclean shirt.
sleeves and evil temper the leaders Of the ex-
pedition appeared at last in the private office
Of the village magistrate, shrewd, blue-eyed
Vermonter, who listened gravely to the con-
stables account of their arrival and subse-
quent operations. The two mechanics hoverea
uneasily on the fringe Of the discussion.
well, what have you men to say for your.
selves?" the magistrate asked them when the
constable at last finished his circumstans;si
story Of their adventures.
They explained, frankly. First young Can.
ada explained, and then Startling Burgess, of
Boston and Harvard, known to every New
Englander who ever set foot on the deck Of a
sailing vessel, took up the task of convincing
this skeptical old Vermonter that he was not an
agent Of the German government planning a
surreptitious raid into enemy territory from
neutral soil. The Canadians documents were
brought out for inspection. That was all very
well, but they might have been forged. The
judge had read about such things being done.
Burgess ransacked his pockets for letters. bank
statements, bills, anything which would estab-
lish his identity. Well, they might be for
geries, too. How could anybody tell? At last
the Canadian had an inspiration.
Telephone Ottawa" he said, "Ask for s;r
Sam Hughes, the Minister of Militia. Do it
yourself. He'll tell you we're all right.
won't touch the phone. Let the constable call
him up"
WHO'S going to pay for the call?" de-
manded the constable, craftily, and the prison.
ers as one man went into Mysteries.
The Canadian emissary regained his self
control for sufficient space to permit hin,
to articuiate the suggestion that the CHARGES
be reversed, and after some delay the CON.
nection was established. One of Sir Sans
aids was reached and the predicament ex-
planned to him. He became voluble in ex
PLANTATION, but his words were SO much wasted
effort. The judge would talk with Sir Sam
and with nobody else. The aid was sorry.
but the Minister was at a Cabinet meeting.
Wouldn't the adjutant do? No. the adiutant
wouldn't do. If the Minister of Militia
wanted his airplane he could ask for it him
self.
SO they called that busy man from his
meeting and the matter was at last adjusted.
The magistrate listened for moment and
hung up. The late Sir Sam was a man of
lew words, and pointed ones, in time of stress.
"He wanted to know if the whole town of
North Hero was populated by raving luna-
tics" the magistrate confided to the prisoners.
I guess you amt German spies; but il YOU
mad have been maybe your government at
Ottawa would be glad to have few lunatics
like us around
There were profuse apologies. The de-
slgner apoiogized on his own behalf, the Cana