A look of fierce triumph overspread the dark features of the little mother. Her eyes grew misty. She fumbled in her bosom and slowly drew out the blood-stained flag her boy had worn on his breast. “And I have the flag, signorina! When I tear the red crown from the staff I wave this one and shout for my bambino.” Virginia merely nodded. Her mind was sweeping the last possibility of accident. “You haven’t been able to reach a single man among the wireless operators of the Woolworth tower?” she asked dreamily. “Not one, signorina. The old devil up there don’t like the girls. He is not human--” “There’s no help for it then,” she answered. “We’ll try another way. When all is ready attend me at the palace of the Governor-General. When the signal flashes from the Metropolitan tower I want the car I always drive at the door instantly--” “Si, signorina--my chauffeur he like me very much--I must think of my bambino when I strike!” “You will not fail?” Virginia sternly asked. Angela touched the little flag and shook her head. “Do not fear--I shall not fail!” She paused, bent close and whispered, “My chauffeur join our men, signorina--the Sergeant of the big guns, too. He swear to me the guns shall be ours!” With a quick pressure of her hand Virginia hurried to enter the car of state which was already standing at the door. The streets were thronged with thousands who talked in subdued tones. They had felt the iron hand on their throats too often during the past three years to abandon themselves to the occasion. There were no screeching horns, no riotous boys and girls hurling confetti. Such crude expressions of liberty were forbidden. Beneath the outer quiet slumbered the coming volcano. Virginia drove to the Waldorf-Astoria, sent her card to a distinguished guest and was ushered into his parlors. The dark foreigner with a Van Dyke beard bowed over her hand. “Your Lordship had a pleasant trip across I trust?” she asked. The door closed and they were alone. With a smothered cry she was in Vassar’s arms murmuring foolish, inarticulate sounds. She freed herself with quick decision. “There’s not a moment to be lost,” Virginia whispered. “I’ve failed to reach a single man in the Woolworth tower.” “It must be taken then!” he answered firmly. “I have ordered the other stations destroyed. We must hold that before we strike in the banquet halls. I’ve made my plans to call our cavalry and automobile orders from there. Our first line of men must mobilize and be on their way within five minutes after the searchlight signals from the Square--” He paused thoughtfully. “There’s not a moment to be lost. I’ll take that tower myself. Send three of your girls to meet me there at nine o’clock dressed as country folks on a sight-seeing trip to the city--” “Armed of course?” “Yes--with automatics if you have them--I’ll find a way to get them up to see the fireworks.”