Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-12-23
NOVEL OF THE FUTURE.
An Extremely Bad Case of BeIlamy


An Extremely Bad Case of BeIIamy-
ism.
There was trouble in the Texas Cen
trail Raining producing Company.
The last order for two hours rain
had not been satisfactorily filled.
The rain had lasted only twenty
minutes, and as this company made
storms, or money refunded, this job
had been a losing one for them, both in
pocket and reputation.
Wallace Carlton was held to blame for
the failure, as he had used his new ex-
plosive in the balloon that was sent up
without consulting the company who
employed him.
Wallace had insisted that there was
no fault in bis explosive, but that the
failure was wholly due to the fuse be-
ing too long, thereby allowing the bal
loon to get too far away before explod-
ing. His explosive in a balloon tray
eled more rapidly than the other
kinds used.
But Mr. Wilson, president of the
company, was not to be appeased, and
Wallace was officially notified that the
company no longer required his serv-
ices.
"This is only an excuse" Wallace
muttered; "the real reason for my dis
charge is that he knows | love his
daughter. But will prove the value
of my explosive to his cost, and | will
win Ethel yet"
A week from that day was the time
set for a grand fete on Mr.. Wilson's
grounds, in honor of certain influential
political friends.
oJI Io+or,oinnd that Of
should be deluged with such a rain as
the most successful explosions had never
yet brought upon Texas.
But fate had another victory in store
for him.
That same morning Ethel Wilson had
started homeWard on the airship Pega-
sus. It proved most disastrous voy
age, for few minutes after the start
there was blown against them balloon,
sent up for small local shower, which
exploded as it struck the Pegasus.
Fortunately it was Of the smallest
size known as the lawn sprinkler bal
LOOM, and the Pegasus, though BADLY
shaken up, was not blown to atoms, as
would have been the case had the bal
loon been of the regular rainstorm
size.
One of her gas compartments re-
NAMED unhurt, and the Pegasus still
foated slowly along, though entirely
unmanageable.
Floating thus it came into the view of
Wallace Carlton, who was watching the
slow ascent of rain balloon just sent
UP by the man who had been promoted
to his place.
Wallace saw with horror that the
airship must be blown to powder when
the balloon exploded.
Suddenly he remembered that Ethel
was coming home on the Pegasus this
very trip.
There was no thought in his mind
of his own risk; his only thought was
that he must save Ethel.
His private fying-machine was an
chored near. He looked at his watch.
In just two minutes the balloon would
explode; he knew exactly the work
ings of these slow, old-fashioned
things
Could he possibly reach it and ex-
tinguish the fuse in time?
Springing into his machine, he
weighed anchor and darted upward,
steering straight for the slowly ascend
IL alioon.
1t seemed ages to him as he flew up
ward, straight and true as bullet.
On came the Pegasus. Would he be
in time, and would he do it?
There was no time for slackening
speed as he neared the balloon. He
must sail by close enough to reach the
fuse, yet not to collide with the balloon,
or he would explode it with the con-
cussion.
1t was beautiful piece Of airman-
ship.
Now he could see the fuse. 1t was
burning not four inches from the bal
soon
He leaned far out as he swept by,
and firmly grasped the fuse in one
hand.
His hand will carry through life the
scar where that slow match burned
deep into it before it was extinguished.
But Ethel was safe
He could see her leaning over the
side of the Pegasus, white with terror.
Wallace sailed up to the disabled air
ship, and threw her rope; then he slow
ly descended with the Pegasus in tow
and landed on the firm earth in safety.
Continued and concluded after the
manner of the Nineteenth Century
novels; for the onward march of
science makes no change in human
hearts. boston Globe.