Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-01-29
Ell CAPTAIN ORDINARIO.
by FRANCES ISABEL cURRIE.


sation he would have had considerable
practice in writing the adjectives "mag
nifco' and "ordiuario." The first was
always accompanied by an expression OF
rapt admiration, and was applied to the
speakers own achievements; but when
he said "ordinario'' he drew down the
corners of his mouth and elevated his
shoulders to his ears, to express his con-
suming contempt for common things.
Nature had intended him to be ordi.
nary himself His name was as multi
farious in Spain as Smith is in America
His parents were humble peasants in the
province of Madrid. His education had
been very superficial, and he had never
been taught good manners. If he had made
no effort to be conspicuous he would
never have been noticed Rather than
appear "ordinario' he had adopted the
extraordinary fashions of the sporting
fraternity of his province. He emblaz-
oned his person with jewels and medals,
and he was commented upon quite as
much as he would have been if his ante
cedents had not been "ordinario.
His life had been extraordinary. He
had been an acrobat, matador, and an
aeronaut. He was admirably adapted to
each and all of these vOcatioRS. lie had
no physical fear, and his muscles were
firm as steel aud as elastic as the thews
of panther He had experienced some
fughtful falls in his acrobatic and aero
static careers but his bones were never
broken In his vocation of matador he
had been hustled and gored by infuriatcd
bulls, yet he had never lost days work
by these casualties, He had disdained
the use of basket or car while giving
his aerial exhibitions, and had hung
from trapeze depending from the bal
loon. With one muscular hand he held
his own weight while he blew kisses t.
the spectators from the ingertips of the
other. He had been slammed by
the wind against the sides of
buildings, and dropped from the
balloon into the sea-almost into the
smiling jaws of sharks. He had escaped
from all these perils unscathed, and ap-
peared in Washington in IA new role.
He introduced himself to the Spanish
Legation as Captain Esteban Garcia,
inventor and master of the science of
aerostation."
He had brought giant balloon, and Il
model of q flying machine to this coun-
try. This last contrivance was propelled
by an electric motor. He claimed that
it was no helpless bubble to be tossed
by every capricious wind, but naviga-
bic air-ship that could be moved horizon
tally. 1t was his ambition to sell it to
the War Department of the United
States Government He claimed that il
would do away with the necessity ol
skirmishing parties, and he dilated upon
the advantages of taking observation OF
the enemy at a safe altitude, and Of com
manding an army by means OF signals
from distance of twenty mi'es.
While his petition was going slowly
through the rounds of governmentalre red
tapism he went to board ut Mrs
Otero's.
There was clever young lady in tn
hoarding-house whose name was Ma
Sheffield. She contributed articles t,
the Washington journals, and was S,
bright and vivacious that she at once OK
cited the Spaniard's interest. In weel
they were on friendly terms; in tw
weeks they were almost continually il
each others company; and at the end o
three weeks it was generally believed
they were engaged.
The girls parents were dead, and NJ
one seemed under obligations to suppor
her, but she had proved that she coul,
take excellent care of herself She wa
almost childish in appearance, but sh
wrote in a masterful manner not in keep
ing with her youthful face. She was
graceful girl, with yellow hair, ant
brown intelligent eyes. Certainly sh
bore no resemblance to the proyerbia
strong minded blue-stocking.
AT one time the gossips had asserted
that Robert Stoddard would marry Miss
Sheffield. He was her editor, and was
man of admirable character. He was
tall powerfully built fellow, with &
strong face and good features. He had
been very attentive to May Sheffield, but
when he discovered that he could not
visit her without finding the aeronaut in
her company he discontinued his visits.
In spite of Scnor Garcias inherent vul-
garity he soon enjoyed some prestige
among his fellow boarders. He enter
tanned them with accounts of his mar
velous exploits, told how he had faced
death in every conceivable form, and
had been the central figure of every sort
of dramatic situa' ion. All this was in
teresting, even if it was not true.
He was shrewd enough to appreciate
Miss Sheffield's talents and to make use
OF them. He had many schemes for Gu
riching himself, and he discussed his
plans with her. He explained the
mechanism of his flying machine, and in.
duced her to write glowing description
OF 1t. When the article was finished sh,
had the effrontery to ask Stoddard tc
print it. He accepted it rather ungra
ciously, and said editorialIy that Garcia
had yet to demonstrate the practicability
of the electric machine. Heretofore
balloons had never been successful,
raised by electricity. Even Edison ha(
tired the experiment with no gooC
results. If Garcia could do more ia thi
particular than the American electrician
Mr.. Stoddard's journal would like t.
know it.
This comment gave the aeronaut NOR
of the notOriety that he craved. If
loudly declared that the editorial ha,
been prompted by malice and jealousy
He said that he could perform feats tha
no other aeronaut could perform, an
could manipulate lightning as no 9th,
electrician had manipulated it.
lie resolved to marry May Sheffield
Previous to meeting her he had intende
to marry some rich woman, but
believed that this girl had talents tn,
would be as valuable to him as golC
She had powerful pen, and readil
commanded the attention of the public
lie wanted this attention directed
him. He hungered and thirsted fl
nntnrintr md bIlin,-nh rhn ,rnlild hn