Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-23
The Ark of the Covenant
A Story of Mystery and Adventure
BY VICTOR MCCLURE
Copyright, 1924. by Harper a Brothers

workshops were dull places for quite
a while after she went back to New
York on the Monday.
The esta blishment at Gardiner Bay
was not a large one, but 1t was fairly
we'll equipped 1t had a small foundry
where we did all the castings for the
wings and body-work of our planes,
and, of course, We had a molding
shed. There was a smithy with a
good welding plant, drawing office,
patternmakers shop, fitting shop,
and, in addition to our moorinS shed
and landing stage, we had large
field for landing, with a one-bay
hangar.
The only part of the work we did
not do ourselves was the building of
our engines These came from a little
known factory in which / had an in
terest near Pittsburgh. Its products
were reliable to a degree and beau
tifully finished, developing a great
horsepower in ratio to their weight
We seated these engines ourselves
on the machines we Constructed and
we had our own notions OF fuel sup
ply and cooling system.
With this small establishment
working at top speed we were able
to have three Merlins lying in the
fitting shop awaiting their engines
by the Wednesday of the second
week after the Wall Street affair
This last piece of assembling had to
wait. It was all to our advantage
that our power units should undergo
the very strict tests that the factory
at Pittsburgh considered necessary
before passing out any engine.
There was one thing that made the
enforced wait easier to bear. 4 had
more time to spend with Lord AL
merio and his niece. Their visit to
New York was nearing its end, for
Lord Almerio had almost finished the
work that had brought him to Amer
lea Only matter of business with
the Treasury in Washington remain
ed to be seen to before he returned
to England. Miss Torrance, 1t APP
peared, was taking advantage Of the
trip to spend some months in WASH
ington with relatives there, a piece
of news that seemed pretty good to
me. 1t sounded such a waste of time
for a girl like her to come to Amer
lea for a fortnight. Washington was
less than an hour away for q machine
like my Merlin
We were having dinner together on
the Saturday evening before going
to a theater. My father was there,
Lord Almeric of course: Dan La
mont and Miss Torrance. was tell
Ing her how easy it would be for me
or Milliken to run down to Wash
ington and take her back again If
she wanted even day In New York.
She laughed at me,
There doesn't seem any end to
your American hospitality" she said.
Does there, uncle?"
American hospitality" said Lord
Almeric, is the only thing known to
work more than "a hours q day.
mo, but seriously, Miss Torrance"
I insisted. IT think II would be a real
good plan just to wire me II you
wanted to come to New York-'Boon,
Gardiner, l.. l.: Plane wanted. Tor
| rance'-just that, and within an hour
Milliken, or me, or Dfdcot would be
ftuttertng down on the Potomac"
"As easy as that?
"As easy as that" said I. And to
| show you how easy it Is, I'm going
to ask Lord Almeric to let me carry
you both to Washington tomorrow.
| May I, Lord Almeric?''
My dear Mr.. Boon, you must not
make us impose on your good ma
ture"
But had my way. At 7 o'clock on
the Sunday evening Milliken and my
self took off from the Battery in
| the Merlin with Lord Almeric and
Miss Torrance and some Of their lug
gage. Soon after half-past 7. In the
| first creep OF dusk, we sighted the
! pale lights OF the aerodrome and
| seaplane basin on the Potomac and
| by twenty to we had landed our
passengers.
Don't forget, Miss Torrance, that
there will always be a bus at your
{ disposal whenever you want to come
to New York." said.
II won't forget Mr.. Boon. Good
bye, and my grateful thanks for many
| kindnesses," she said. Good bye, Mr..
| Milliken! Remember that you're to
coach me for my pilots certificate"
| Milliken grinned that big grin of
| his.
"I'll remember, Miss Torrance he
said. 'It won't take you long,"
"xoad-bge. Nn Boom sid :1sssS