The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-30
Nerrative 81 the Future.
From the Boston Globe.

FROM tRe Boston GLOBE
There was trouble in the Texas Central
Raln-producing Company.
The last order for 2-hours' rain bad not
| been satisfactorily filed.
The rain had only lasted twenty minutes.
| and, as this company made a speciality of
guaranteeing the length of storms or
| money refunded, this job had been a losing
one for them, both in pocket and reputa-
ton.
Wallace Carlton was held to blame for
the failure. as he had used his new explosive
in the balloon that was sent up, without
consulting the company who emp OF ed him.
Wallace had insisted that there was no
fault in his explosive, but that the failure
was wholly due TO the fuse being too long.
| thereby allowing the balloon to get too far
away before exploding. His explosive in a
balloon Travelled more rapidly than the
other kinds used.
But Mr.. Wilson, president Of the CON-
pany, was not to be nppeased, and Wallace
was officially notified that the company no
longer desired his services
This is only an excuse" Wallace NUT
tered. "the real reason for my discharge 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 grand fete on Mr.. Wilson's grounds, in
honor of certain influential political
friends.
Wallace determined that the fete should
be deluged with such a rain as the most sue
cessful 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 Pegasus,
1t proved most disastrous voyage, for a
few minutes after the start there was blown
against them balloon, sent up for a small
local shower, which exploded as it struck
the Pegasus.
Fortunately it was Of the smallest size
known as the lawn-sprinkler balloon) and
the Pegasus, though badly shaken up, was
not blown to atoms, as would have been the
case had the balloon been of the regular
rainstorm size.
One OF her gas compartments remained
unhurt, and the Pegasus still floated slowly
along. though entirely unmanageable.
Floating thus. it came Into the view of
Wallace Carlton, who was watching the
slow ascent Of a 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 flying machine was anchored
near. He looked at bis watch.
In just two minutes the balloon would
explode; he knew exactly the workings of
these slow, old-fashioned things
Could he possibly reach it and extinguish
the fuse in time9
Springiug into his machine he weighed
anchor and darted upward. steering straight
for the slowly ascending balloon.
1t seemed ages to him as he few upward,
straight and true as bullet
On came the Pegasus. Would he be In
time, and would he do it9
There was no time for slackening speed as
he neared the balloon. Hemust sail by close
enough to reach the FUSE yet not to collide
with the balloon, or be would explode it
with the conclusion.
IL was beautiful piece Of airmanship.
Now he could see the fuse 1t was burn
ing four inches from the balloon
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 airship
and threw her a rope; then he slowly de-
scended with the Pegasus in tow aad landed
on the firm earth in safety.
Continued and concluded after the man.
ner Of the nineteenth century novels; for
the onward march OF science makes no
change in human hearts,