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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 1919)
7 THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, AUGUST 31, 1919. BT ROBERT W. CHAMBERS. ICoprrltrnt. lvIT, bv Robert W. Chamber, ad copyrtchc 1BI4. br the lnuru- tioaal ilugmtinm cunpur.) SECTION IIL n T THE and of th week Brandes C had don much to efface any o ' pleasant Impression h had mad a Ruhannah Car w. Th gtrl had never befor had to do with any mature man. She wa there fore at a disadvantage In every way. and her total lack of experience empha sised the odds. Nobody had ever before pointedly preferred her, paid her Individual at tention: no man had ever aou(ht ber, conversed with her. deferred to ber. Interested himself la her. It was en tirely new to her. this attention which Brandts paid her. His white-faced, odd little friend had cons; h himself bad taken quarters at the Gayfield bouse, where a car like the wrecked one was tabled for bis us. He had already taken her father and mother and herself everywhere with in motoring distance: he bad accom panied them to church: he had escort d ar to the movies: he walked with her in the August evenings after sup per, rowed her about on the pond, fished from the bridge, told her strange stories In the moonlight on the veran dah, her father and mother Interested and attentive. For the career of Vr. Eddie Brandes was capable of furnishing material for Interesting stories if carefully edited, and related with discretion and circum spection. He had been many things to many men and to several women he bad been a tinhorn gambler In the southwest, a miner In Alaska, a saloon keeper In Wyoming, a fight promoter In Arisona. He had traveled profit ably on popular ocean liners until re quested to desist: AuteuU. Keullly. Vln cennes and Longcbamp knew him as tout, bookie and. when fitfully pros perous, as a plunger. Epsom knew him net as a welcber; and knew him no more. He bad taken a comic opera company through the wheat belt one way: be bad led a burlesque troupe Into Ari sona and bad traded It there for a hotel. Two of his friends motored over from Saratoga to see him. were brought to supper at the Carews. and they gave bun a clean bill of moral health. They were, respectively "Doc" Curfoot suave haunter of Feacock Alley and gen . tie man "capper" whom Brandes In troduced as the celebrated specialist. Doctor Elbert Curfoot and Captain Harmaji Quint, partner in "Quint's" celebrated temple ef chance intro duced as the distinguished navigating officer which he appeared to be. The steering for their common craft, bow aver, was the duly of the eminent Doc. They spent tne evening on the veran dah with the family: and It was quite wonderful what a fine fellow each turned out ta be information confi dentially Imparted to the Rev. Mr. Carew by each of the three distin-l gutshed gentlemen la turn. Brandes walked down to their car with them after the-r had taken their leave. . -What a the Idea Eddie?" inquired Doc Curfoot. pausing before the smart tittle speeder. "It's straight." "Oh." said Doc, softly, betraying no surprise about the only thing he never betrayed. "Anything in it for you. Eddie?" "Tea. A good girl. The kind you read about, Inn't that enough? "Minna shucked you?" inquired Cap tain Quint. "She'll get her decree In two or three months. Then I'll have a home. And everything that you and I are keeps out of that home. Cap. See? "Certainly," said Quint. "Quits right. Eddie." Doc Curfoot climbed In and took the wheel: Quint followed him. "Say." he said la his pleasant, guard ed voice, "watch out that Minna don't double-cross you. Eddie." -How?" " or shoot yon up. She's some chutsen-fest you know, when she turns loose " "Ah, I tell yon she wants the di vorce. Abe Grtttlefeld's eraxy about ber. He'll get Abe Cordon to slar her on Broadway; and that's enough for ber. Besides, she'll marry Maxy Venem when she can afford to keep him." "Ton never understood Minna Mlnti." "Well, who ever understood any Ger man?" demanded Brandes. "She's one of those sour-blooded, silent Dutch women that make me ache." Doe pushed the self-starter; there came a click, a low humming. The graceful car moved forward Into the moonlight; his two friends wsved an airy adieu: and Brandes went slow ly back to the dark verandah where aat a young girl, pitifully Immature In mind and body and two old people little less innocent for sll their ex perience In the ranks of Christ, for all the wounds that scarred them both in the oversea service which had broken them forever. Brandes came back. Departing from bis custom, he did not light a ctarar. but sat In silence, his narrow eyes try ing to see Ruhannah in the darknesa But she wss only a delicate shadow shape to htm. scarcely detached front the darkness that enveloped her. He meant to speak to her then. And suddenly found he could not. realised, ail at once, that he lacked the courage. He wanted her: he wanted her now; be wanted to marry her whether or not he had the legal right: ha wanted to go away for a month witt her, and then return and work for bar. for them both build up a fortune and a good reputation with Stein's hacking and Stein's theater stand well with honest men. stand well with himself, stand always. With . her. for everything a man should be. His voice was a trifle husky and un steady from the nervous tension when be at last broke the silence: "Miss Rue. he said. "I have a word to say to your father and mother. Would yon wait here until I come back?" -I think I had better go in. too" "Please don't." "Why?" She stopped short, in stinctively, but not s irmising. "Tou will wait, then?" he asked. "I was going in. But I will sit here a little while." He rose and went in. rather blindly. Ruhannah was nearly asleep when Brandes came back, and she looked up at him where he stood beside her porch chair In the darkness. "Miss Rue." he said. "I have told your father and mother that I am la love with you and want to make you my wife." The girl lay there speechless, astounded. The racing season at Saratoga drew toward Its close, and Brandes bad ap peared there only twice in person, both times with a very young g'.rL "If you got to bring her her to the races, can't you get ber some clothes?" whispered Stull In his sar. "That get p of her Is something fierce." Late hours, hot weather. Indiscreet eourUhment and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money, had told on Stull. His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pssty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have at tended to, nursing resentment al though he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do. Their joint commission from his win nings began to assume considerable proportions. It was a week later, one hot evening, that Brandes telegraphed to Stull in Saratoga: "Find m a chauffeur who will be willing to go abroad. I'll give you 24 hours to get him here." The next morning h called up Stull on the telephone from the drug store in Gayfield: "(Jet my wire, Ben?" -Tea. But I ' "Wait. Here's a postscript. I also wsnt Parson Smawley. I want blm to get a car and come over to the Gay' field bouse. Tell blm I count on blm. And he's to wear black and a whit tie "Tea, But about that chauffeur yon want- "Don't argue. Have him ber. Have the parson also. Tell him ta bring white tie. Under-tand?" "Oh. yea, I understand you. Eddi Tou don't want anything of me you! Go out and get that combine tlon? Juat like that. What'll I dw Step into the street and whistler" Hut Brandes had already hung up. He walked leisurely back to Brook hollow through the sunshine. He bad never been as happy In ail bis life. "Long distance calling you, Mr. PtulL One moment, please. Here's your party," concluded the oper. ator. fetulL huddled sleepily on bis bed. picked up the transmitter from the table beside him with a frightful yawn. "Who Is it?" he inquired sourly "It's me Ben!" "bay. Eddie, have a heart, will youl I need the alee Brandes' voice was almost Jovial Listen. Ben, the chauffeur you sent ro from Saratoga got her last evening, too. I went out with him ana n drives all right. Did you look him up?" "Now. how could I look him up when you gave m only a day to get him for jour "Did he have references?" "Sure, a wad of them. But I coaldn' verify them." "Who is he?" "I forget his name. Tou ought to know It by now. I was going to call you soon as I waked up -What's th troucier- There ain't any trouble yet. But a certain nartr haa ahowed up her' very smooth young man whose bual- asss is hunting troume. oet mar After a silence Stull repeated: -Get me. Eddie?" -No." . -Listen. A certain slippery party ' "Who, damn It? Talk out. I'm la a h urrv. -verr welL then. Maxy Venesn la here!" The nam of his wife's disbarred at- tomev sent a chill over Brandes. "Whafa he doing In Saratoga?" he demanded. "I'm trying to find out He was ta th races yesterday. He sen Doc. Of course Doc hadn't laid eyes on you for a year. Oh. no. Indeed I Heard you was somewhere south, down and out i don't e-uesa Maxy was fooled non What we done here In Saratoga is growing too big to hush up. Don't you suppose that Max Is wise to what I've been doing here? Ana aon i you uonose he knows well that you're back of whatever I do? If you ain't crasy nn'll call that Darty off for a while. Rrandes even voice over the tele phone sounded a trifle unnatural, al most hoarse: "I can't call It off. Ifs done." -What's dons?" "What I told you I was going to do. "That!" -The parson married us." "Oh!" -Walt! Parson Smawley married us. In church, assisted by the local dominie. I rilrtn't count on the dominie. It was her father's Idea. The chauffeur took her back to the house in the ear to put nnoihlnr in her suitcase that she lor got I'm waiting for her her at th Gayfield house. We're on our way to town. Going to motor In. Our trunks haw- mm bv rail After a silence. Stull's vole Bounded again, tense, constrained: "Tou better go aboard tonight" That's right too." What's your ship?" "Lusltanla." "What'll I tell Stein?" r.n him I'll be back In a month. Ton look out for my end. I'll toe back In time." will vnn eahla me?" "Sure. And if you get any later in formation about Max today, eall me at the Knickerbocker. We'll dine there nil then sro aboard. Brandes knew well enougn wnai ae hmA once done to the disbarred lawyer out in Athabasca when he was handling th Unknown and venem, tne ais barred. was busy looking out for ths Athabasca blacksmith, furnishing the corrupt brains for the firm of Venem and Grlttlefield. and paying steady court to the prettiest girl in Ath Haa IIsa Dumont And Brandes Unknown had almost killed Max Venem's blacksmith; nH,, had taken all Venem's money, and then his girl; more than that he mad "made" this girl. In the theatrical sense of the word: and he had gambled on her beauty and her vole and had vrnn nut with both. Brandes went out to th wld. tree shaded street where Ruhannah aat In , t,. runabout awaiting him, and the h.rlnr stood by th car. H took off his straw hat pullad a cap and goggles from hi pocket His man placed the eiraw nav in i -Get what you wanted. Rue?" Tel. thank you." -Been waiting long?" -1 don't think so." -All right" he said. cberily, climb ing in beside her. "Im sorry I kept you waiting. Had a business mattsr ta settle. Hungry?" Rue. very still and colorless, said no, with a mechanical smile. Th chauf feur climbed to the rumble. "I'll Jam her through." nodded Brandes as the car moved swiftly west ward. "W e'll lunch In Albany on time." -On this trip." said Brandes. "w may only hava time to see tne i.oi u the palaces and au iiae .r well fix It so we can slay Next la Paris and you can study art Ruhannah's Hps formed th words. -Thank you." , ,. -Cui t you larn to call m Eddlr be urged. The girl was silent Jamais etn ! uonsdnao jo Xtnj-l In Albany her first wave of loneli ness esm over her In th stuffy dining-room of th big. pretentious hotel, when eh found herself seated at a ..n tahla alona with this mil whom she seemed, somehow or ether, t bav married. ... . As she did not appear Inclined to t Brandes began to search th card for something to tempt her. After a silence. Rue asked whthr he thought that their suitcases were quite safe. "Certainly,"' h smiled. "I chckd them." "And you're sure they are safe?" -Of course, darling. What worries And. as she hesitated, ne rememoerea that she had forgotten to put something I into he suitcase aad that th chauffeur I had driven her back to th house to get J aXir L TiO I!V : 'r ' M VI . Viv v - " 'SV f-i i it: a (r t iUh-'K ' " ! 1 . y v - V ? I : - 4 J ft- - - Wpc 1 it while be himself went Into the Gay field House to telephone Stull. What was it you went back for. Rue?" he asked. -One thing I went back for was my money." "Money? What money?" "Money my grandmother left me. I was to have It when I married six thousand dollars.1 "Tou mean you hav It In your trait-J case?" he asked, astonished. "Tea, half of it" "A check?" No, in hundreds." "Bills?" "Yes. I gave father three thousand. kept three thousand." "In bills." he repeated laughing. "Is your suitcase locked?" "Tea. I insisted on having my money cash. So Mr. Wexall, of the Mo iwk Bank, sent a messenger with it last evening." '"But! he asked, still Immensely amused, -why do you want to travel bout with three thousand dollars in bills in your suitcase?" She flushed a little, tried to smile. Still laughing, he summoned the wal ter, paid the reckoning; Ruhannah rose he did; they went slowly out to gether. On th sidewalk beside their car stood th new chauffeur, smoking a cigar- tt which h threw away without hast when he caught sight ef them. However, he touched the peak of his cap civilly, with his forefinger. At Seventy-second street New Tork, they turned to the east across the park. then Into Fifth avenue south once mora She saw the name of the celebrated venue on the street corner, turned to glance excitedly at Brandes; but his preoccupied face was expressionless, ai' most forbidding, so she turned again In uest of other delightful discoveriea ut there was nothing to Identify for her the houses,, churches, hotels, shops. on this sndless and bewildering avenue f srrey stone; as they swung west into Forty-second street she caught sight of the great marble mass of th library, but had no idea what it was. Into this dusky canon, aflame with a-ht thev rolled, where street lamps. the lamps of vehicles and electric signs dassled her unaccustomed eyes so that he saw nothing except a fiery vista filled with the rush and roar of traffic. When they stopped, th chauffeur ropped from the rumble and came round to where a tall head porter In blue and silver uniform was opening th tonneau door. Brandes said to his chauffeur: "Her are the ohecka Our trunks are at the Grand Central. Get them board, then com back for us at ten clock. Th chauffeur lifted his band to his cap. and looked stealthily between his fingers at Brandes. -Ten o'clock." ha repeated; -very good, sir." Rue Instinctively sought Brandos- rm aa they entered the crowded lobby. then remembered, blushed, and with drew ber hand. Brandes had started toward th desk with the Intention of registering and securing a room for th few hours be fore going aboard the steamer; but something halted him soma instinct of caution. No. he would not register. He sent (heir luggage to the parcels room. found a maid who took ftue away, tnen ant on through Into th bar, where he took a stilt whisky and soaa, a thing he seldom did. In th toilet h washed and had him self brushed. Then, emerging, he took another drink en passant conscious of an odd, dull sens of apprehension for hlch he eouid not account- He one went eut to the desk, and mad an inquiry. But there was no tele? nhone or telegraph message for him; and he came sack cnewing nis cigar. Finally his uneasiness drew him to his feet again: -Rue," he said, "I am going- out to telephone to Mr. Stull. It may take some little time. ' Tou don't mind wait ing, do you?" -No," she said. "Don't you want another Ice or some thing?" She confessed that she did. So he ordered it and went away. As she sat leisurely tasting her ice and watching with unflagging interest the people around her, she noticed that the dining room was already three quarters empty, Two young men in evening dress arose and walked toward the lobby, one ahead of the other. One went out; the other, in the act of going, glanced casually at har as he passed, hesitated, halted, then, half smiling, half inquir ingly, came toward her. "Jim Neeland!" she exclaimed lm pulsively. - I mean Mr. Neeland " I riot of color flooding her face. But her eager hand remained outstretched. He took it pressed it lightly, ceremoni ously, and, still standing, continued to smile down at her. Amid all this strange, infernal gilt' ter; amid a city of S.000,000 strangers, suddenly to encounter a familiar face- to see somebody anybody from uay field seemed a miracle) too delightful to be true. "Tou are Rue Carew," ha said. "I was not certain for a moment Tou know w met only once before." Rue, conscious of th startled in timacy of her first greeting, blushed with the memory. But Neeland was a tactful young man; he said easily. with his very engaging smile: "It was nice of you to remember me so frankly and warmly. You have no Idea how pleasant it was to hear Gayfield voice greet me as 'Jim.' When did you come to .New York 7" "Tonight" "Well, isn't that a bit of luck to run into you like thisl Hava you come her to study art?" "No. . , . Yes, I think, later I am to study art here." "At the league?" -I don't know." -Better go to th league," be said. -Begin there anyway. Do you know where it is?" -No," she said. He called a waiter, borrowed pencil and pad, and wrote down the address of the Art Students' league. Ha had be gun to fold the paper when a second thought seemed to strike him, and he added his own address. "In case I ean do anything for you in any way," he explained. "Don't you think our meeting this way resembles something very much like romance?" She feit herself flushing, tried to smile: "It couldn't resemble anything," she explained with quaint honesty, "be, cause I am sailing for Europe tomor row morning: I am going on board in less than aa hour. And also I "Also?" he prompted her, amused. yet oddly touched by her childish literal reply. "I am married." -Good Lord!" he said. "This morning," she added, tasting ber ice. And you're sailing for Europe on your honeymoon!" he exclaimed. "Well, upon my word! And what is your ship?" "The LuBitania." "Really 1 I hava a friend who is sail ing on her-r-a most charming woman. I sent flowers to her only an hour ago." "Did your' asked Rue, interested. "Tea She is a widow the Princess Mistchenka a delightful and pretty woman. I am going to send a note to the steamer tonight saying that that my vary particular friend. Ruhannah Carew, is on board, and 'won't she ask you to tea. You'll love her. Rue. She's a regular woman. "But oh, dear! a princess!" "You won't even notice it," be said reassuringly. "She a corker; she's an artist too. I couldn't begin to tell you how nice she has been to me. By the way, Rue, whom did you marry?" "Mr. Brandes." "Brandes? I don't remember' was he from upstate?" "No: New York I think " Looking up and beyond him toward the door, she said: T think your friend Is waiting for you. Had you forgotten him?" 'Oh, that's so!" he exclaimed. Then rising and offering his hand: "I wish you happiness. Rue. You have my ad dress. When you return, won't you let me know where you are? Won't you let me know your husband?" "Yes." "Please do. Yon see you and I have a common bond in art, another in our birthplace. Gayfield folk are your own people and mine. Don't forget me, Rue." "No, I won't" So he took hia leave gracefully and went away through the enthralling, glittering unreality of it all, leaving a young girl thrilled, excited, and deeply impressed with his ease and bearing amid. awe-inspiring scenes in which she, too, desired most ardently to find her self at ease. The east dining room was almost empty now, though the lobby and the cafe beyond still swarmed with people arriving and departing. Brandes, chaf ing at the telephone, had finally suc ceeded in getting Stull on the wire, only to learn that the news from Sara toga was not agreeable: that they had lost on every horse. Also, Stull had an other disquieting item to detail; it seemed that Maxy Venem had been seen that morning in the act of departing for New York on the fast express; and with him was a woman resembling Brandes' wife. "Who saw her?" demanded Brandea "Doc He didn't get a good square look at her. You know the hats women wear." "All right I'm off, Ben. Good-bye." The haunting uneasiness which had driven him to the telephone persisted when he came out of the booth. He entered the deserted dining room, came over to where Rue was waiting, and sat down heavily, holding an un- lighted cigax between his stubby fin gers. "Well, Htthe girl," ha said with forced cheerfulness, "was I away very longr?" "Not very." "You didn't miss me?" he inquired. ponderously playful. His heavy pleasantries usually left her Just a little doubtful and confused, for he seldom smiled when he delivered himself of them. Brandes watched her for a moment out of sleepy, greenish eyes. Then ne consulted his watch again, sumrmned a waiter, gave him the parcelB-room checks and bade him jhave a p" carry their luggage into the lobby. A thev rose from the table a man and a woman entering the lobby caught sitfht of them, halted, then turned and wit'ked back toward tne street uoor which they had Just entered. Brandes had not noticed, tnera wnera he stood by the desk, scratching off a telegram to Stull: "All O. K. Just going aboard. Fix it with Stein." He rejoined Kue as tne ooy appearea with their luggage; an under porter took the bags and preceded them to ward the street "There's the car!" said Brandes, with deeo breath of relief. "He knows his business, that chauffeur of mine." Their chauffeur was standing neside the car as they emerged from the hotel and started to cross the sidewalk: the porter, following, set their luggage on the curbstone; and at the same Instant young and pretty woman stepped lightly between Rue and Brandes. - "Good evening, Eddie." she said, and struck him a staggering blow In the face with her white-gloved hand. Brandes lost his balance, stumbled sideways, recovered himself, turned swiftly and encountered the full, pro truding eyes of Maxy Venem staring close .and menacingly into his. From Brandes' cut lip blood was run ning down over his chin and collar; his face remained absolutely expres sionless. The next moment his eyes shifted, met Ruhannah's stupefied gaze. The woman who had struck Brandes now came up again beside Venem. She was young, very pretty, but deathly white except for the patches of cos metic on either cheek. She pointed at Brandes. There was blood on her soiled and split glove. "You dirty dog," she said unsteadily. "You'll . marry this girl before I've di vorced you, will you? And you think you are going to get away with it! You dog! You dirty dog!" The porter attempted to interfere again, but Venem shoved him out of the way. Brandes, still silently struggling to free his imprisoned arms, ceased twisting suddenly and swung his heavy head toward Venem. His hat had fallen off; his face, deeply flushed with exertion, was smeared with blood and sweat. "What's the idea, you fool!" he said In a low voice. "I'm pot married to her." But Ruhannah heard him say it "You claim that you haven't married this girl?" demanded Venem loudly, motioning toward Rue. who stood swaying, half dead, held fast by the gathering crowd which pushed around them from every side. "Did you marry her or did you fake it?" repeated Venem in a louder voice. "It's Jail one way; maybe both!" "He married her in Gayfield at 11 this morning!" said the chauffeur. "Parson Smawley turned the trick." Brandes' narrow eyes glittered; he struggled for a moment, gave it up, shot a deadly glance at Maxy Venem, at his wife, at the increasing throng crowding closely about him. Then his infuriated eyes met Rue's, and the ex pression of her face apparently crazed him. Frantic, he hurled himself backward. Jerking one arm free, tripped, fell heavily with the chauffeur on- top, twisting, panting, struggling convul sively, while all around him surged the excited crowd, shouting, pressing closer, trampling one another in eager ness to see. Rue, almost swooning with fear, was pushed. Jostled, flung aside. Somebody must help her to find a railroad sta tion and a train. Two young women passed and she found sufficient courage to accost them, asking the direction of the rail road station from which trains de parted for Gayfield. The women, who ' were young and brightly colored in plumage, displayed a sympathetic interest at once. "Gayfield?" repeated the blonder of the two. "Gee, dearie, I never heard of that place." "Is it on Long island?" inquired the other. 'No. It is in Mohawk county." 'Say, you've got friends here, haven't you. little oner' No." 'What! You don't know anyone in New York!" Rue looked at her dumbly; then, of sudden, she remembered Neeland. "Yes," she said, "I know one person." "Where does your friend live?" In her reticule was the paper on which he had written the address of the Art Students' league, and, as an afterthought his own address. Rue lifted the blue silk bag, opened it took out her purse and found the paper. 'One hundred and six West Fifty- fifth street" she read; "Studio No. 10." "Why, that isn't far!" said the blonder of the two. "We are going that way. We'll take you there." 'I don't know I, don't know him very well" "Is it a man?" "Yes. He comes from my town, Gay field." 'Oh, I guess that's all rigTit," said the other woman, laughing. "You got to be leery of these men, little one. Come on; we'll show you." It was only four blocks; Ruhannah presently found herself on the steps of a house from which dangled a sign. ''Studios and Bachelor Apartments to Let." "What's his name?" said the woman addressed as LiL "Mr. Neeland." By the light of the vestibule lantern they inspected the letter boxes, found AERONAUTIC CONGRESS BACKS MEASURE TO REGULATE FLYING Problem of Airways Taken Up at Atlantic City; Preparations Are Made for "Age of Air." "IT NQUESTIONABLT we, who have passed through the stone, bronze, iron and steel ages, and are now passing through the age of steam and gasoline, are entering upon a new age the age of air," said an of ficial of th Aero Club of America. Recently, at the second Pan-American aeronautic congress in Atlantic City, the problem of airways over land was taken up and regulations adopted. As defined in these regulations an "air way" is a transcontinental or coastal airline; connecting links between are designated "air routes." An airway is a belt 80 miles wide and an air route 40 miles wide. The congress selected a number of these routes, great care being taken to avoid the most danger ous enemies of the airman mist fog and wind. This aeronautic congress also ap proved a bill which w!U be introduced in congress for the regulation of civil ian flvintr. It is said to have the ap proval of President Wilson and Secre tary Redfield. It creates an aircraft board in the department of commerce of three men named by the secretary. Almost simultaneously the Interna tional Aeronautical federation was hold ing a session in Paris. The purpose of its meeting was uniformity in air laws to rule the conduct of flying through out the world. The delegates voted to present to the officials in charge of aerial affairs of their respective gov ernments the following proposals: "First That the liberty of aerial navigation be re-established as soon as possible, in conformity with the decis ion of the peace conference. "Second That civilian aeronautics in the various countries be placed under the control of the aviation ministry or department "Third That all the aero clubs af filiated with the International Aero nautic federation be represented on the International commission on aerial nav igation, which is to be created after peace is signed. "Fourth That In every country the national aero club be represented in the national commission on aeronautics." Air transportation as a business prop osition has already been successfully tried out An airship passenger serv ice was maintained between Berlin and Hamburg for two years before the war and in the last few weeks an airplane bus, the "Bat", has started making reg ular trips between London and Paris. It can carry two passengers and has an Neeland's name, and pushed the alectrla button. After a few seconds the door clicked and opened. "Now. you're all right!" said LI1, peering Into the lighted hallway. "If I on the fourth floor and there Isn't any elevator that I can see, so you keep on going upstairs till your friend meets you.' "Thank you so much for your great kindness " - "Don't mention it Good luck, dearie!" The door clicked behind her and Ru found herself alone. '. '. The stairs, flanked by a massive bal ustrade of some dark, polished wood, ascended in spirals by a short series of flights and landings. . As she tolled up and stood clinging, breathless, to th i banisters on the top landing, out of an open door stepped iNeeiana s snaaowjr figure, dark against the hall light be hind him. , "For heaven's sake!" he said. "What on earth " .The suitcase fell from her nerveless hand; she swayed a little where she stood. The next moment he had passed his arm around her and was half leading, half carrying her through a short hall way into a big, brilliantly lighted studio. ' . She had told him her story from be ginning to end, as far as she herself comprehended it She was lying side ways now. In the depths of a larg armchair, her cheek cushioned on th upholstered wings. Her hat with its cheap blue enamel pins sticking in the crown, lay on his desk; her hair, partly loosened, shad owed a young face grown pinched with weariness; and the reaction from shock, was already making her gray eyes heavy and edging the under lids with bluish shadows. . "What did you think of doing?" he asked uneasily. . v "I must think of mother I must keep my disgrace from touching them spare them the sorrow humiliation " Her voice became tremulous, but sh turned around and sat up in her chair, meeting his gaze squarely. "That's as far as I have thought," she said. Both remained silent for a long while. Then Ruhannah looked up from her pale preoccupation: "I told you I had three thousand dol lars. Why can't I educate myself in . art with that? Why can't I learn how to support myself by art? Why should I not go to Paris by myself?" she de-i manded. . ! "You mean now? On this ship?" "Yes. Why not? I have enough: money to go there aad study, haven't I'r" "Yes. But" "Why not!" she repeated feverishly, her gray eyes sparkling. "I have thre thmiRanrf ilnllnm: T Aa.n't sro back to Brookhollow and disgrace them. What does it matter where I go?" He said: "You've had a rotten awakening. Rue a perfectly devilish experience. Only you've never traveled alone'' Suddenly it occurred to him that hia lively friend, the Princess Mistchenka, was sailing on the Lusitania; and he remained silent, uncertain, looking with vague misgivings at this girl in the armchair opposite this thin, un formed. Inexperienced child who had attained neither mental nor physical maturity. I think." he said, at length, "that l told you I had a friend sailing on th Lusitania tomorrow." She remembered and nodded. "I don't know why you shouldn't go," he said. In the glare of the pier's headlights they descended. Passengers were en tering the vast damp enclosure; por ters, ship's officers, sailors, passed to and fro as they moved toward th gangway where, in the electric glar t. lamps, the clirtllKe sme oi me gi gantic liner loomed up. At sieht of the monster snip rtuea heart leaped, quailed, leaped again. Aa she set one slender foot on the gang way such an indescribable sensation seized her that she caught at Neeland's arm and held to it almost faint with the violence of her amotion. A steward took the suitcase, preceded them down abysmal and gorgeous stairways, through salons, deep into the dimly magnificent bowels of th ocean giant, then through an endless white corridor twinkling witn iignts to a stateroom, where a stewardess ushered them in. There was nobody there; nobody had been there. 'He dare not come," whispered nee land in Ruhannah's sar. (To be continued next Sunday.) additional freight capacity of one ton, This is a heavier-than-air machine..-, too a' thing which a few years ago., would have been jeered had it been suggested. The Canadian Pacific railway has ap plied to the Canadian government for " a charter permitting it to operate aa v air service. Regarding this new ven ture. Grant Hall, vice-president of the . road, says: v "At present aerial transport is a dis tinctly expensive matter, but the prog- ress being made both in airplanes and"A dirigibles is so rapid that it is quite -in order for a company such as the Ca,.-. -nadian Pacific to be ready to enter the field so soon as air transportation comes,, within the range of practical policies. "There are, however, many costly ' features about an air service which will militate against any hope of very low rates, particularly the necessity of suit able landing spaces at frequent inter- val in case of engine trouble. "So that any one who Is under the im- pression that air transportation in the near tuture will reduce either rail or steamship rates is likely to be disap '. pointed. In a word, the future of com- ' mercial air transportation is bound up in the question of cost" At present the fastest transcontinen- ' tal. train in the world, the new "trans Canada" express of the Canadian Pa- ' cific goes from Montreal to Vancouver, a distanoe of 2885 miles, in 93 hours, 30 -minutes. A special courier airplane the other day averaged 187 miles an hour " between London and Paris. Taking1 even half this speed for an average flight an airplane could make the dis tance between Montreal and Vancouver in about 30 hours. The possibilities for coast-to-coast travel are apparent to every business man. THREE AIR ROUTES MAPPED Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Cor poration Announces Plane. "BUFFALO, N. Y. The Curtiss Aero plane & Motor corporation announces, that plans are being worked out for three car routes for passenger service. They will be Rochester, Syracuse, Utica ' and Albany! to Erie and PittsDurg, Pa., and across the Canadian border to Hamilton and Toronto. The state route will be opened this fall, but the other ' two probably will not be In operation until spring. The company, the announcement says, is anxious to disprove the belief that nying is uangerou. v..