Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-04-14
In the Clouds With a Madman,

in the college, was one of large
number of people who had assembled
to see him off.
Monster Dresshart, or 'Crazy
Dresshart," as he was popularity
known, owing to the extreme eecen-
tricity of his manner, was an aron-
aut of some celebrity, who had been
staying in Wallingford, thriving
western town, for a month past, and
had succeeded iu making the college
boys half crazy on the balloon ques-
ton.
We had one and all begged to ac-
company him on one of his trips, but
had been refused, and had long since
given up all hope of attaining our OBJ
ject.
On this occasion just as he was
about ordering the ropes to be cut,
Monster Dresshart suddenly turned
to me and said:
''Frank Ferris, do you want to go
with me?''
"You het," I said, taken complete
ly by surprise.
''Then jump in."
l. did not need a second bidding.
Before the words were out Of his
mouth l was in the car.
"Now cut the ropes," shouted the
aronaut.
He was obeyed, and an instant
later we shot up like rocket, amid
the frantic cheers of the assembled
multitude.
Up-up, we went, until the crowd
On the college green became d mere
speck. There was a strong wind,
and we were rapidly bore in an east
erly direction.
SWELL, Ferris, what do you think
of it?' SAID the aeronaut, fixing his
dark eyes upon my face, while pc
culiar smile lit up his countenance.
"Bully!" l said. 1--WE are going
up like streak of lightning!"
''You'll go down quicker" said
the professor.
There was something so peculiar in
the tone in which he made this re-
mark that it startled me, and asked
"What do you mean?"
"I'll tell you in q minute" he re-
piled, and then lie deliberately emp
tied, one after another, six bags O
sand. Relieved of this weight WI
went up with greatly increased veloc
ity.
"Now," said Dresshart, turning
to me, "l'll tell you what meant by
saying you'd go down quicker thar
you came up. To do so must re
late to you short story. Twent.
years ago, was drawing master ir
Paris, and your mother, then Agne
Litehfeld. a beautiful American
heiress, was one of my pupils.
learned to love her with all the pas
sionate intensity of which my natur
is capable.
At last 1 ventured to declare m,
love, and she, she whom had fond
ly hoped reciprocated my affection
laughed me to scorn. Marry you,
she said, you, mere drawing mast
er! The idea is absurd! Besides
you must be aware that I am en-
gagged to Captain Ferris, gentlema
who is in every way my equal l di
not wait to hear another word, bu
staggered from the house. For tw
months was ill of brain fever
When I recovered Agnes Litchfiel
was the bride of Captain Ferris, an
both were many miles away.
swore revenge for the insult l ha
been offered, and though 1 waite
long my hatred grew none the les
\ bitter. Five years later l came
this country, and found that Captai
Ferris had died, and that his vii
and child, yourself, had left tf
country. For along time lost a
trace of you both, but this summe
1 saw you, and knew by your fact
which is so wonderfully like her
that you were the son of the woma
J, who scorned my love. I determine
that through you I would be r
venged, that through you l woul
make Agnes Ferris suffer all that 81
u made me endure years ago."
He paused and glared upon n
with his wild firery eyes.
"What are you going to do?'
asked with forced calmness.
! ''I'm going to throw you out
}: the car" he answered.
l will not pretend that | was n
terribly frightened, for I was.
glanced at the aeronaut's well-kr
frame. Though not large man,
was very muscular, and more than
= match for me. In his grasp l kne
1 would be powerless.
''Ah, Frank Ferris, there is no e
cape For years have suffere
have been called crazy-and l kne
| am almost a maniac-have endur'
more than I believed it possible th
man could endure and live; hut
last am to be revenged!" and aga
he laughed, a terrible, blood-cur
ling laugh, that told me l was in t
n power of maniac.
D 'NoW, DOy, ne cfieu, you sh
= learn that Dresshart never forgets
wrong!' and he sprang forward a
seized me in grasp of iron.
lifted me over the edge of the car.
believed that my last moment had
rived but made a frantic grasp
the network which covered the o,
7 side of the balloon, upon which .
cured hold just as Dresshart let
of me, crying:
"There, curse you, go!'
But l did not fall. I Chamber
up the side of the immense ballot
which rocked fearfully. The n
work was strong, and bore my weis
n easily. I kicked off my shoes, j
1 for fear that the nails In them mia
penetrate the silken balloon, in VIII
case death would be inevitable.
eS / heard a wild cry from the man
: as he realized that his attempt /
failed. Then for several minutes
was silent.
l climbed almost to the top of
balloon. We had reached terri
height. Above and all around
nothing bu: cloudds could be SEE