The Highflyers

hey heard their landlady's step on the stairs were building palaces in the midst of grounds for which they paid fabulous sums for each foot of front

and sold it for an opera. The streets were full of tales of this man who had made a hundred thousand dollars, of that man who had cleared sixty thousand, of men by the dozens whose bank-accounts had increas

d the tale fell short of the truth. One manufacturer filled the banks with his d

dollar plaything, the money for which had been raised almost in an hour. It was the new Detroit Athletic Club, outgrowth of that historic and honorable old athletic club which had so long been a landmark

nal stores. Everybody owned a motor-car.... The cabaret moved westward and found a welcome in a town once famous for its staidness. The handling of motor traffic became a greater pr

xplosive phase. Each for its months filled the papers and demanded the interest of the world.... Now was approaching the third, the aeroplane phase. It was beginning to overshadow the other two in public estimation. Aeroplanes were no longer contraptions which one went to th

it, had even ventured to prophesy it. One might say

ted him. He was so fortunate as to be rich enough to play with aeroplanes, to fly aeroplanes, to own and experiment with aeroplanes, and there was something about the risk of it, the romance of it, the thrill of it, the novelty and the miracle of it, that fitted well in

spent man's life made him appear younger. He had not the face we have taken as typical of our soldier, but rather the softer, gentler features of the enthusiast-not the sharp, hungry look of the fanatic. He was a man with one compelling interest in life, a man bound to his profession, not by duty, but by love. Something of this was apparent at a glance. It became plain upon acquaintance. There was something about him-not the uniform he wore-but a subtle characteristi

s done something in the flying w

lit

iasm fighting in his eyes, "that

own," Potter said, laughingly,

singly-with something of sympathy and understanding in his eyes. He got to his feet a

equipped and walking

r considered the possibility that this cou

ng of his eyes, that sullen, restless, forbidding

ed in us, is that it? You thought the country would flare into rig

otter countered

you have not thought deeply what war means. I take it you are impulsive.... Have you asked yourself why you want war? Was it mere resentment? That i

know. As a matter of fact, he had done very little thinking about the United States; had

ove your country?

l, unaffected, as if the major had the right to ask such a question and have a plain answer. Craig waited for Potter to answer, h

ter, presently,

elves and our businesses and about making money and passing the time. We have grown unconscious of the country

said P

f. It means that love of country must take place over everything else. Not a stingy loyalty, but a real love-the sort that gives life and everything one possesses to the country. Mr. Waite, if we should go to war to-morrow and your countr

s companion a moment in sil

Craig. "I think my count

hy

love of country, in half an hour, nor in a course of twenty lessons. I could

, uneasily, and they walked

it seems to be dormant in this people. A couple of generations of ease and prosperity and peace have lulled it to sleep. We have grown careless of our country, as we sometimes grow careless of our parents. But I b

hought about i

thing of you.... Do you know that an army without aeroplanes is like a blind man in a duel with a man who sees?

mething ab

nto this war we shall need, not hundreds of 'pla

hed at the number.

he best and fastest 'planes that can be had. W

ws," sai

g. Will it surprise you to know that I came t

th

ry other amateur aviator in the count

your while to come, then," Potter

w what happened in your Pontchartrain H

angrily, but

lse-was hoped to be something not regrettable. I came to find out that and other things. I have not come to offe

seems to hold t

to remain silent. He wat

t of me?" Potter

o if war came?" c

or, if I could. I've been think

, would you be most valuable there or here-helping to pro

we shall be in i

sure we shall will be doing the thing he should do. You, for instance, might think aero

ey did not allude to the matter of their conversation, and when they came out on the piazza of the club they found themselves in the midst of a party of

come over here and meet a pilgrim and

shoulder. "Think it all ove

esented him to a young man in his early thirti

from New York. Friend of the Mallards and the Keenes. Goin' to b

. "I have hoped to meet you, Mr. Waite. I have l

cently come from abroad, and soon was talking fluently and entertainingly about his experiences on the fringe of the zone of war. Potter wondered what his nationality might be. At first he fancied the accent was of Cambridge, but there was another hint of acce

ent me over to study the situation here, particularly the automobile industry. I seem

mobile-manufacturing habit. Th

at city situated directly upon an international boundary-line. You sit in your offices and look i

er, "we don't think

of it as foreign. I understand your government is irritated by certain British actions w

s fail to follow amazingly. Yes, I can imagine trouble coming with Great Britain, but somehow it does seem unlikely as long as Germany lays a murder on eve

ently he looked up to Potter and nodded. "I get your poin

guessing what t

o see your public opinion

n does favor it. Our Germa

f them-million

es

le of influenc

isfaction, but as a man does who fancies he has made a point in an arg

t the need of fostering your favorable opinion, I

his face. He had made no direct statement; had shown neither pleasure nor displeasure with what he had heard. Yet Potter judged him to be a man capable of strong opinions and of taking action in support of them. There was nothing neutral about the man. He was positive, but baffling. He

e sinking of the Lusitan

shes to use care to express himself clearly, and then he replie

overtible fact, "is a matter without precedent. It is my firm opinion that the German Admi

withheld it now, contenting himself with a smile which Cantor read correctly and answered with a twinkle of his clear eyes. Potter knew that

l was a necessity. He referred to the carriage of passengers by water on steamers of a size and luxury which the stranger perceived with amazement on an inland waterway. He had a word to say about the ship-canals at Sault Sainte Marie and the Welland, and of that minor canal at the mouth of the River St. Clair. Eldredge told him something of the new channel constructed

steel-mills, upon which you must depend for the manufacture of ordnance and munitions, be left helpless if one of these gatew

is an aged constable with a ti

security that yours holds," said Cantor, with open admirati

sked. "We aren't fighting anybody. Bes

d it and smiled at Potter as one man smiles who shares a bit of humor with another. It

from war again. "You play golf h

as I can m

They tell me you are above the average. I shall enjoy watching you-and

e in the bag,"

oke for me. In my case they are all di

was really gratified. He had abilities that way, a manner which seemed, without effusive

he conversation, but sat back listening and thinking. Without setting himself deliberately to do so, he studied Mr. Cantor, and was compelled to the conclusion that the stranger was an exceptionally br

cally whether or not he cared to continue the acquaintance and to admit the stranger to fellowship. He found himself unable

ake dragging time pass endurably, which was the profession of most of the men present. Major Craig had surprised him, had increased the restlessness,

Hope I shall see more

on as convenient," said Cant

tter of introduction never made anybody like a man he didn't cotton to, nor dislike

ace should come well introduced, if he can. People are suspicious of strangers. I have provided m

ature unfitted to understand how anybody could care

once turned into the grounds and a glance showed him Hildegarde von Essen was driving. She saw him at the s

's Tuesday

Miss von Essen

sm!" she said. "Father's in

let me off. He didn't exactly welcome me with open arms, a

," she repeat

orate pretense of patience one s

r. To-morrow morning? I'll b

" he said, helpless

uck, Mr. Waite," she said, "an

k was-how like she was to himself; how her restlessness matched his; how her recklessness and his recklessness were

ea of love of country, but had been contented with the thought that America was a good-enough place and he was generally satisfied with it. He tried picturing to himself the invasion of Michigan by German troops; the re-enacting of the crime of Louvain upon the city of Detroit. His imagination was vivid, active.... As he created the picture he felt emotion wel