Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-01-23

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meath the boom aud delivered her tor
pedo against the side Of the flagship
of the defending navy.
John Winthrop slgnaled to the
squadron to retire. There was room
for only one airplane to maneuver. He
must catch the invader rs she was re
turning toward the blockadlng fleet.
He lowered, motonless as hawk,
and keen-eyed as hawk, sweeping
the sea with his selenlum light. Moth
ing escaped his scrutiny. He saw a
monster predatory fish gliding upon
the bottom, but he saw nothing of the
submarine.
Had she escaped in the confusion?
No! Suddenly Winthrop understood,
This monster fish was the submarine,
She had deceived him by moving for
ward Mt an incredibly slow rate Of
speed, instead of at % miles an hour,
her maXimum---and,f from that height,
While every object was disclosed with
startling clearness, II was difficult to
form an accurate estimate Of size.
Winthrop took the steering gear
and plunged. Instantly the shadow
went out. He fired his guns and rose
There far under him, sklmming
frantlcally beneath the ocean, was the
submarine. Again he plunged. Again
he missed her.
And now the submarine was half
way to the blockadlng squadron, and
already the hostile searchlights were
playing about him A couple of shells
whlzzed past him, and once more he
plunged and fired
He rose. The submarine had stopped.
mol She was rising to the surface.
A shell had struck her aslant, injur-
ing the diving gear, but, fortunately
for those on board, sending her up
ward. She lay upon the waves and
drlfted there.
John Winthrop plunged again, amid
hurtling shower of shell. His Crap
pling irons swung free. They caught
the iron fish's sides, and the airplane,
pinned down by that dead weight,
iuttered frantIcally above her like a
wounded bird.
The play of shells stopped. Each
man upon the ramparts, each man
upon the hostile decks, held his breath
and watched that battle, outlined as
distinctly by the selenlum lights as
the pictures upon cinematograph
screen,
If the power Of the airplane was
stronger than that Of the submarine,
Winthrop would tow her into port.
If the submarine could make Roadway
above the waves, she would take the
lighter craft captive.
The head of the lieutenant in charge
of the submarine appeared at the
opening. Winthrop looking over from
his seat, saw and recognized him.
They had made each others acquaint-
ance when both were ambassadors'
aids in foreign capital.
Neither vessel could fire, for the air
ships guns could not be directed YER
tlcally downward while the subma-
rlne carried nothing except torpedoes
and those were exhausted.
"Surrenderl" called Winthrop from
his place.
The young lieutenant laughed and
went below And suddenly the sub
marine began to sink, dragging down
the airplane with her.
Winthrop strOve madly to cut loose
the graphing chains, but It was i'm
possible to reach them, for they were
firmly fastened, and to do so would
have necessltated unshlpping the gun
TO starbOard. And, while he tried, the
waves splashed over him. His last
thought as he sank was Of the girl he
loved.
Suddenly a hand reached forth and
grasped him. He shuddered and open
ed his eyes. The alrplane drlfted upon
the surface of the sea, and the sub
marine skinned the surface. The
lieutenant was pulling him In from the
water.
"You are my prisoner"
Winthrop, dripping with water, sat
beside him as the vessel repaired slow
ly to the fleet. She had not been in
jured Ruse had conquered audacity,
as II always does. Suddenly, from
both sides the selenlum lights began
to flash through the sky. Winthrop
stared at the Morse code incredulous-
ly. He caught at his captors arm.
ibid you read thatY he gasped.
"Peace has been declared tonight" he
spelled out, ms the white lights flick
cred above them.
And silently the two men shook
hands.
F. = TAs.,sk..