The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise

noonday, was reclining in a gayly colored hammock suspended between two regal maple trees on th

fascination, tiny white clouds drifting slowly across the blue, like tiny argosies of the heavens. Her mind was far away from Sandy Beach and its peaceful surroundings

om her reverie by a voice-a

on. Is this the

self, getting out of the hammock as gracefully

of it was a sunburned young man, very upright in carriage, and dressed in a light-gray suit, with a jaunty straw hat. He ca

pearance was as pleasant and wholesome as his voice. "I came-er in response to your lett

smothering an inclination

e right place," said the young offi

the embarrassed Peggy. "The sun is fearfully

n bench at the foot of one of the big maples. His eyes fell on t

ou are R. Prescott?" he a

elper. R. Prescott is in town

type of monoplane before visiting another aeroplane plant in this neighborhood, th

eroplane Compan

can see the place from here; that big barn-like structure," volunteered Peg

ble to make an early train back to New York.

ess he is delayed. But in the meantime I

riously, "but you know what I particularl

fli

it were p

it can be

tor attached to y

She had quite recovered f

viatress-if there is s

ou

od deal recently. I think it is t

med to break over

e girl aviator I have read so much

eggy; "but here comes my a

introduction, after which they all directed their steps to the large shed in which the Prescott machines were kept. In the mean

d the others that we built to Mr. James Bell, the mining man. They ar

at is most

hin. A strong smell of gasoline and machine-oil filled the air. The officer glanced at Peggy's dainty figure in astonishme

s-like Peggy had taken the place

ng officer with many tales of her harrowing experiences on the Nevada desert. To all of which he listened with keen atten

duster, fitting tightly, covered her from top to toe. A motoring bonnet of maroon silk imprisoned her

ble, doesn't it?" she laughed. "But w

utenant--" ventu

ght of it!" exclaimed Peggy. "Mr. Bradbury,

nant,'" thought the young officer, as, with a bow and a word o

er of the two aeroplanes, named the Golden Butterfly, was ready for its passengers. Old Sam and his son, who had drag

m their stable to the smooth slope of the meadows beyond. This was now removed, and Peggy, followed

ness-like tones she could muster up, "is the self-starter. It works by pneumatic power, and

spark would ignite, thereby causing an explosion in the cylinders. But first the compressed air had started the motor turning over. At the right moment Peggy switched on the power and cut off the air. Instantly there was a roar from the exhausts and

stically, as he saw the ease with which the com

ine," he declared the next instant. "The importanc

ll had gone splendidly. If only she c

back the word over her shou

in a hearty voic

threw in the clutch that sta

prehistoric thunder-lizard, the machine leaped for

oking terrifically. And then, all at once, the jolting motion of the start ceased. It seemed as if the occupants of the c

ler. In almost complete silence they winged upward. Up, up, toward the fleecy

terfly had nev

fidentially to the motor that with ste