Air Service Boys in the Big Battle | Page 6

white. "Oh--Harry!"
Then she would have fallen from the seat, only Tom leaped forward and caught her in his
arms.
And while efforts were being made to restore the girl to consciousness, may I not take
this opportunity of telling my new readers something of the previous books of this series,
so that they may read this one more intelligently?
Torn Raymond and Jack Parmly, as related in the initial volume, "Air Service Boys
Flying for France; or The Young Heroes of the Lafayette Escadrille," were Virginians.
Soon after the great world conflict started, they burned with a desire to fight on the side
of freedom, and it was as aviators that they desired to help.
Accordingly they went to an aviation school in Virginia, under the auspices of the
Government, and there learned the rudiments of flying. Tom's father had invented an
aeroplane stabilizer, but, as told in the story, the plans and other papers had been stolen
by a German spy.
Tom and his chum resolved to get possession of the documents, and they kept up the
search after they reached France and were made members of the Lafayette Escadrille. It
was in France that they met Adolph Tuessing, the German spy.
The second volume, entitled "Air Service Boys Over the Enemy's Lines; or The German
Spy's Secret," takes the two young men through further adventures. They had become
acquainted on the steamer with a girl named Bessie Gleason and her mother. Carl
Potzfeldt, a German sailing under false colors, claimed to be a friend of Bessie and her
mother, but Jack, who was more than casually interested in the girl, was suspicious of this
man. And his suspicions proved correct, for Potzfeldt had planned a daring trick.
After some strenuous happenings, in which the Air Service Boys assisted, Bessie and her
mother were rescued from the clutches of Potzfeldt, and went to Paris, Mrs. Gleason
engaging in Red Cross work, and Bessie helping her as best she could.
Immediately preceding this present volume is the third, called "Air Service Boys Over
the Rhine; or Fighting Above the Clouds."

By this time the United States had entered the great war on the side of humanity and
democracy.
Then the world was startled by the news that a great German cannon was firing on Paris
seventy miles away, and consternation reigned for a time. Tom and Jack had a hand in
silencing the great gun, for it was they who discovered where it was hidden. Also in the
third volume is related how Tom's father, who had disappeared, was found again.
The boys passed through many startling experiences with their usual bravery, so that,
when the present story opens, they were taking a much needed and well-earned rest. Mr.
Raymond, having accomplished his mission, had returned to the United States.
Then, as we have seen, came the news of the arrival of the first of Pershing's forces, and
with it came the sad message that Harry Leroy, the chum of Torn and Jack, had fallen
behind the German lines. And whether he was alive now, though wounded, or was
another victim of the Hun machine guns, could not be told.
"Harry's sister couldn't have come at a worse time," remarked Tom, as he rejoined Jack,
having carried the unconscious girl to the same hospital where Du Boise lay wounded.
"I should say not!" agreed Jack. "Do you really suppose she's Harry's sister?"
"I don't see Any reason to doubt it. She said so, didn't she?"
"Oh, yes, of course. I was just wondering. Say, it's going to be tough when she wakes up
and realizes what's happened."
"You bet it is! This has been a tough day all around, and if it wasn't for the good news
that our boys are in France I'd feel pretty rocky. But now we've got all the more incentive
to get busy!" exclaimed Tom.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean get our machines in fighting trim. I'm going out and get a few Germans to make
up for what they did to Harry."
"You're right! I'm with you! But what about what's her name--I mean Harry's sister?"
"I didn't hear her name. Some of the Red Cross nurses are looking after her. They
promised to let me know when she came to. We can offer to help her, I suppose, being, as
you might say, neighbors."
"Sure!" agreed Jack. "I'm with you. But let's go and--"
However they did not go at once, wherever it was that Jack was going to propose, for, at
that moment, one of the Red Cross nurses attached to the aviation hospital carne to the
door and beckoned to the boys.

"Miss Leroy is conscious now," was the message. "She wants to see you two," and the
nurse smiled at