The Girl Aviators Motor Butterfly | Page 3

fun and
hardship. An exciting race with an express train, and the adventure of
the "Human Coyote," provided stirring times in this story, which also
related the queer antics of Professor Wandering William, an odd
character indeed. Space does not permit to relate their previous
adventures in more detail, but in "The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise" still
other interesting and unusual experiences are described,--experiences
that tested both themselves and their machines in endurance flights.
Of Roy and Peggy's devoted friends, Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, it is
enough to say that both were children of Mr. Bancroft, a wealthy
banker, who had a palatial summer home near to the Prescotts' less
pretentious dwelling. Since we last met Jess and Jimsy their father had
allowed them to purchase an aëroplane known as the White Flier. It
was in this craft that Jimsy and Roy had flown over for mail when they
made their entrance at the beginning of this chapter. Of the letter they
found awaiting them we already know.

Jolly, good-natured Bess Marshall had taken up aviation as a lark. She
was a typical specimen of an American girl. Light-hearted, wholesome
and devoted to all sorts of sports, tennis, swimming, golf, motoring and
finally aviation had, in turn, claimed her attention.
And now, having introduced our heroes and heroines of the sky to
those who have not already met them, we will proceed to see how Miss
Prescott receives the startling plans that her young charges are about to
lay before her.
CHAPTER II.
OFF ON THE FLIGHT.
"But, my dear children, do you realize what such a trip means?"
The gentle-voiced Miss Prescott leaned back in her easy-chair and
gazed at Peggy and Roy with an approach to consternation.
"It means fun, adventure, and--oh, everything!" cried Peggy, clapping
her hands.
"You can't have the heart to refuse us," sighed Jess.
"If it were only the boys it might be different, but two young ladies--"
"Three," corrected Bess.
"Three, then. For three young ladies, supposedly of sound mind, to go
flying across country like, like--" "Butterflies," struck in Jimsy.
"Wait a minute," cried Jess, "there'd have to be four ladies--" "Of
course; a chaperon," breathed Peggy, with a mischievous glance.
Miss Prescott dropped her knitting.
"Peggy Prescott, you mean me?"
"Of course; who else could go?"

"My dear child, do you actually contemplate taking me flying through
the air at my time of life?"
"Why not? It isn't as if you'd never been up," urged Peggy.
"You said you liked it, too," struck in Jess.
"Um--well, I may have said so," admitted Miss Prescott, visibly
weakening from the stand she had taken, and she went on: "I would like
to see James again."
"And here is your opportunity ready to hand, as the advertisements
say," declared Bess, her blue eyes shining.
"But how could I go?"
The question was an outward and visible sign of capitulation on Miss
Prescott's part.
"Why, I was thinking we could use that big biplane I was building for
Mr. Bell's use out in Nevada," spoke up Roy; "it will seat three, and is
as steady as a church, thanks to that balancing device Jimsy and I
figured out."
"I'd fly my little Dart," declared Bess.
"And you and I would take the Golden Butterfly," cried Peggy, crossing
to Jessie and placing her arm round the dark-haired girl's neck.
"Jimsy can fly the Red Dragon, and that leaves Roy and auntie for the
biplane," she went on, bubbling over with enthusiasm as her plans
matured and took form.
"Goodness gracious, an aërial circus!" cried Miss Prescott. "We would
attract crowds, and that wouldn't be pleasant."
"I was planning to make it a sort of picnic," declared Peggy, who
appeared to have an answer for every objection that could be interposed
to her project.

"What, camp out every night? Well, you are a wonder," exclaimed
Jimsy, "if there's one thing I love it's camping out."
"How long would it take us to get to Marysville?" asked Bess.
"I'll get the atlas," cried Peggy, "but if we have good weather not more
than three or four days."
"I hardly think it would take as long as that," declared Roy, as five
eager heads were bent over the atlas.
"But camping out!" exclaimed Miss Prescott, "think of colds and
rheumatism, not to mention snakes and robbers."
"Tell you what," cried Jimsy suddenly, "what's the matter with Miss
Prescott going along in an automobile? We can map out the route,
arrange our stops and meet every evening at some small town where we
won't attract too much of a crowd."
"Jimsy, I always said you were a genius," cried Peggy.
"Behold the last objection swept away," struck in Bess.
"Surely you can't refuse now?" urged Jess.
"Please say yes," came from them all.