The mysterious pirate aviatrix—The Black Swan—has, for several months, been noticeably absent from the headlines, prompting wild speculation concerning her whereabouts and the activities of her gang. Some claim she has returned to Russia (allegedly her native land); others have posited that she was severely wounded in one of her raids and his been recuperating. Whatever the cause, the Black Swan has apparently taken a hiatus from her pirate activities.

This hiatus apparently ended two days' ago, however, when the pirate zeppelin Huntress and the Black Swans struck an I.S.A. shipping convoy on the outskirts of Chicago yesterday. This daring daylight raid reportedly netted the pirates over $50,000 dollars in I.S.A. gold bullion.

Yesterday morning, the Black Swan personally presented Empire State president Fiorello La Guardia with the spoils of the raid (under the terms of her letter of marque).

"This gold was intended to finance pirate and seditionist movements along our northern border," President La Guardia announced to the press, shortly after the Huntress left Manhattan this morning.

"I consider this secret operation to fund those who would destabilize our wayof life a hostile act...and I assure the people of this great nation that I will respond to that threat," he added.