Blaine was already in the air, with Bangs a close second. A moment
later and they were climbing rapidly, so rapidly that soon they looked
like two great birds winging their way over the Allied front and across
No-Man's-Land into the dark beyond. Blaine's observer, Stanley, was
also in his seat behind.

When the two girls finally reached their quarters that night at the
small inn in the adjacent village they were both dispirited. The
Senator was writing letters while the girls were preparing for the
evening meal.

"Funny, isn't it, how we seem to be interested in those lads?" said
Andra. "I think that young Blaine is just splendid."

"He is no better than Mr. Bangs." This from Avella. "Just think, Buck
is from Butte! Why, that is right next door to us in Idaho."

Then they both sighed, looked queerly at each other and finally
embraced and kissed. If both were somewhat smitten over the looks and
conduct of these aviators, acquaintances of only a few days, certainly
their stately father as yet could hardly suspect.

After the evening meal was over, they cunningly tried to persuade him
to go with them down to the aerodrome to see if anything had occurred
there. Probably the boys had not yet returned. The Senator doubted if
they had.

"Look here, girls," said be, after being told that he was needed as an
escort, "why are you so interested? They'll come back all right. And
I am busy."