225

main stationary or be set in motion up or down by

motor. This was a new and valuable feature in the con-
struction of airplanes.

Robert’s next invention was to build a silent motor,

or a muffler, which would prevent any sound. He knew
that this would be very useful in war. After he had
completed this invention, tested it and proved it a suc-
cess, he offered it to the United States Government, but
after the army officers, who knew very little about this
new invention had looked it over, they refused it. Rob-
ert then sailed away in his new plane which he had
named “The St. Marie.” He visited England, France,
Germany and in the Spring of 1928 made the longest
successful flight to Japan, where he was received with
great honor. Japan was very much interested in his
new plane and in his muffler. The Japanese Govern-
ment quickly closed a deal and bought his invention for
a large sum of money. Robert felt that probably one
day this invention would be used against his own coun-
try in time of war, but knew that the United States
would have to learn a lesson — that too often in the past
American inventions had been sold to foreign countries
because his own Government would not buy them.

While in Japan Robert was entertained and intro-

duced to many beautiful titled ladies and prominent men,
but he remained loyal to Marie for his great success had
not turned his head. He was still searching for Marie,
always hoping to find her. He returned to New York
in the Summer of 1928 and was now reputed as being
worth more than a million dollars, after making more
successful deals in stocks, cotton and wheat. He had
226

followed the advice of old Henry Watson and had never

scattered over two or three markets at the same time.
When he had a deal on in cotton or wheat, he stuck to
that until he closed the transaction. When he went into
a stock campaign he stayed out of the commodity
markets. He was meeting with success in every direc-
tion, but his longing for Marie continued and the vision
of her beautiful face continued to haunt him.

In May, 1928, Walter received a radiogram from

Robert saying that he was leaving Japan the latter part
of the month and was going to sail “The St. Marie”
back to New York. Walter and Miss Edna Quinton,
the secretary, had followed the newspaper reports of
the great reception tendered Robert by the officials of the
Japanese Government and the report of the large amount
of money they had paid for his noiseless patent for
air planes. Walter was going to graduate in June so
he wrote his father and informed him that Robert was
returning to New York soon with great honors and he
thought it appropriate to have a big celebration for him
when he arrived. As his father was coming to New
York anyway for the graduation exercises, he suggested
that he be there to greet Robert on his triumphant re-
turn.

Mr. Kennelworth, who was a member of the Chamber

of Commerce of Texarkana and one of the leading citi-
zens, called a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, in-
formed them of the phenomenal success of Robert Gordon
who had left Texarkana one year previous an unknown
boy and who was now the most talked of young man
in the world. He had made more than a million dollars
227

following his own discovery of how to use the laws laid

down in the Bible for foretelling the future course of
cotton, grain and stocks; had built the most marvelous
airplane of the age; invented a muffler to make an air-
plane noiseless; had driven his own plane, “The St.
Marie” to Japan where he had been received with great
honors and the Japanese Government had bought his
invention for making airplanes silent. Mr. Kennel-
worth proposed that the leading citizens of Texarkana
go to New York to honor their favorite son on his re-
turn. When he had finished talking there was lasting
applause and hurrahs for Robert Gordon. Colonel
Stanton was in the audience. He arose and said that
he heartily endorsed the proposal and would donate
$10,000.00 to the expense fund, that they should go to
New York in a special train to greet the greatest young
man of the age who was born on a farm near Texarkana.
Everyone was in favor of it and the wealthy men all
followed Mr. Stanton in offering large sums of money
in order to make the reception a success. When the
meeting was over, J. H. Kennelworth drove out to the
country home of Amelia Gordon, Robert’s mother. Told
her of her boy’s success and the plans to meet him in
New York and give him a great reception, inviting her
to go on the special train as a guest of honor. She
thankfully accepted.

On June 9th Robert Gordon’s 22nd birthday, the

great reception took place. The special train bearing
the leading citizens of Texarkana arrived, Robert had
landed at the new airport on Governor’s Island without
any mishap to his plane. “The St. Marie” had per-
240

and worn than ever. He called Walter and Edna into

the office, told them that he had had a very peculiar
dream the night before, that he had dreamed that he had
gone to Paris and suddenly met Marie. He was so
strongly impressed with the dream that he decided to
leave at once. Told Walter to give the mechanics in-
structions to put his old ship “The St. Marie” in shape
to sail at once.

It was a matter of only a couple of days until they

reported that “The St. Marie” was in perfect shape and
could stand a trip around the world. There was to be
a great convention of all the nations on aviation in Paris
and Robert decided that he wanted to be there for it, but
the main incentive for the trip was his dream. Robert
had no trouble in securing letters of introduction to
prominent people in London and Paris. When he said
good-bye to Walter and Edna, they wished him God-
speed, told him that they hoped his dream would be-
come a reality and that he would find Marie, but they
knew that he was not the same Robert of old. He acted
as tho his spirit was broken. On the morning of Feb-
ruary 2nd, 1929, Robert started his flight to Paris and
arrived there promptly in the evening and went to visit
some friends and acquaintances. After talking over
the war situation and his forecasts of the great war yet
to come, he decided to visit friends in London. England
and Russia were waging their battles in the air and
doing very little land fighting. Despite the good start
that England had made, Russia and her allies were get-
ting the best of the victory. Robert found London very
uninteresting. Up to this time he had heard nothing of
Marie and decided to return to Paris.
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to his friends. After dinner was over, they chatted with

Robert, and he seemed more cheerful. They told Robert
of the Aviators’ Costume Ball to take place in the Hotel
Lafayette that night and asked him to go along. Rob-
ert tried to beg off and made the excuse that he had no
costume for this occasion, but they told him that they
had already ordered one for him and there was no get-
ting out of it — he had to go, so finally he consented.

When they arrived at the hotel and entered the ball-

room, Robert’s friends, who knew of his great fame in
New York and his success in speculative markets, were
anxious to introduce him to the prominent men and
women of Paris. Aviators were there from all over the
world. They had come for the great convention. Each
country was competing for the grand prize for the most
efficient airplane and the best one suited for war pur-
poses. They asked Robert if he did not have a plane to
enter or if he could not demonstrate something with
“The St. Marie.” He told them that his health was
not good and that he was not interested in entering a
plane at this time. The ballroom was decorated with
everything connected with airplanes. Miniature planes
were flying around the room, circling up and down from
the ceilings. It was a gorgeous display and while it was
dazzling to others, Robert paid very little attention to
it. His friends, in order to please him and get him
interested, had the radio tuned into New York and were
getting music from the Biltmore. The dance started.
Robert watched but was very little interested. His
friends invited him to dance but he refused. He had
no thoughts of anything but Marie. As he was sitting,
346

enemy they began to turn loose the rapid-firing anti-

aircraft guns. As soon as the enemy discovered the
firing, they turned their searchlights on our planes,
located and started after them. Captain Morrison
obeyed orders and retreated rapidly with the other
planes following. He made straight for Detroit to the
vicinity of main buildings and factory districts with
the enemy planes in hot pursuit. Suddenly he received
a radio message from Supreme Commander Gordon to
descend very low and fly Northwest. At this time the
Supreme Commander was in communication with Col-
onel Kennelworth and they had adjusted the Tunnel
machines and established the Tunnel thru the Air.

Supreme Commander Gordon was atop one of De-

troit’s giant skyscrapers over 80 stories high watching
the action of the enemy planes. Suddenly he saw the
first battalion of more than 250 planes, which were
flying in a wedge formation, dive into the Tunnel. He
followed them with the Radium Ray and saw immedi-
ately that the Tunnel was doing its work and that the
giant battle planes were now powerless. Next came the
three giant supply ships. Following the same course as
the bombing planes, they dived into the Tunnel thru the
Air and were powerless to proceed further. Once the
planes were in the Tunnel, they were unable to com-
municate with headquarters or make any move because
the Tunnel was a complete vacuum and no plane could
move in it except the American planes which understood
the combination how to navigate thru the Tunnel. As
soon as Supreme Commander Gordon saw that the great
Tunnel machines were doing their miraculous work, he
336

the Bible and God’s plan as you do, this war would
never have taken place. I plainly see now that it is
God’s intention to teach man thru trials, sorrow and
bitter experiences to reverence and respect the law
which he has laid down for man to follow. Man must
learn to love his neighbor as himself and to do unto
others as he would have them do unto him. When that
law is understood and obeyed, then men will no longer
want to make war because war is not based on brotherly
love, but on greed, jealousy and hatred. When we de-
cided to surrender Chicago, I felt that that meant the
end of our glorious country. I could see no hope, no
way out, but you have shown us the way and our com-
bined faith in you, together with the inspiration from
our holy Father, will guide us to victory thru your lead-
ership. We are with you, in all confidence, to victory.”

Supreme Commander Gordon then ordered each offi-

cer and commander to return to his respective post of
duty and to await further orders. He said, “If my
plans develop as I think, you will not need to take fur-
ther action.” He asked for the use of the largest build-
ing in New York, “The Mammouth” and wanted the en-
tire top floor of this 110-story building at 42nd street and
Broadway. His wishes were immediately granted. Was
told that the Government already had taken over con-
trol of all the large buildings in the United States and
that he might use the building as he chose. Supreme
Commander Gordon departed from Washington that
night in the old “St. Marie” which he had ordered
brought to Washington to convey him back, taking with
him Colonel Walter Kennelworth. He had instructed