Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-10-03

want to see my Ada That's oil l care
about"
/ began to fear the worst. Was he
going madP We're tho reports my wife
had heard literally true, and not ex-
agRerated after all? What fool Ihad
been not TO be more cautiousl Whether
he was mad or not, he was In danger
Gus mood. and my position was far
from pleasant. To oppose him would
evidently aRgravate him and make
matters worse. To humor him was un.
donbtedly the wisest course.
Look here, Jsckl'' cried. "You
say you want TO Gee Ada can tell
you Of better and surer way Of going
70 her than thiA II you will listen to
me-(here involuntarily moved my
hand toward the valve cord)-if you
will listen TO mo l."
None Of your blsrney, mani I'm
not TO be wheedlei so. I'm too old .
boy for that Leave the cord alone,
cant you? I'm not going down again
to-day. I'm going TO see what's up
there. and don't you try TO stop me-"
and he Rlsred Aercely at me,
The horrible nature OF my situation
was now only too apparent-there
could NO longnr be any doubt OF Tun-
niclife's condition. was In a balloon
with mailman, and about four miles
from the earth. felt the cold sweat
on my brow, and my brain began To
reel. But with tremendous effort l
pulled myself together, for my only
chance Of safety was In retaining my
self-possession. To attempt to over
power him was out Of the question
the strength Of mailman Is so well
known. My only hope OF escape was
TO outwit him. But how? Forced In.
to unnatural activity as my brain was
by my desperate situation, and by the
necessity Of prompt action, could
think Of no device or ruse that would
do any good; | was completely at tho
mercy Of the mailman.
The hopelessness Of my case para
lyzed all my energies. | felt unable 10
move or speak, and even the power to
think was almost gone. In my despair
glanced at the valve cord. Owing
to the rotary motion Of the balloon II
had unfortunately become entangled.
To free 1t should be obliged to leave
the car and climb into the ring. But
to attempt such thing (even II were
physically capable Of ~ would be Ger
tain to lead to struggle which would
Is certainly send one or both Of US out
OF the car.
We were now at such height that
asphyxia was imminent Icould hear
my heart throb quite plainly. l
breathed with difficulty, and horri-
BILE sensation like that Of sea-sickness
came over me. The cold was so In
tense that shivered, notwithstanding
my wraps. The mental strain was ter
rible. was almost frantic. Know
Ing, however, that In few minutes I
should be unconscious, and that then
all would be over with me- nerved
myself for one last effort
As rose from my seat my eye fell
on the grapnel. Fortunately II was on
my side Of the cur. A sudden idea
struck me, here was weapon 70
hand It was an awful thought--it
would be o terrible deed. But there
was now no alternative, no time for
delay. My senses were going.
stretched ont my hand, but the mad
man, who never took his eye of me,
had detected my purpose With sud-
den movement he darted forward and
selzed the grapnel, but in his eager
ness to forestall me he had precipitat-
ed himself too far over the side Of tho
car and almost lost his balance. He
made q desperate effort to recover
himself, but, seized with a sudden and
irresistible impulse, l pushed him over,
and with q horrible yell, which rings
in my ears whenever recall the o.
curence, the madman disappeared
from my sight.
Almost mad myself am not sure
that | was not quite so just then--I
climbed into the ring to reach the
valve line. But my hands were 30
stiff and numb with the cold that l
could not grasp the cord. BY kind
OF inspiration which seemed providen-
tial seized the cord with my teeth,
and after two or three tugs the valve
opened with loud clang, and the bal
loon began to descend. Thank hcay-
en-! was saved. My hands being use-
less, | was obliged to throw up my
arms and drop into the car, where I
lay motionless and unconscious for
awhile.
My swoon could not have lasted more
than few seconds, for when recov-
cred the barometer showed that was
still in a high altitude, although the
balloon was descending rapidly. I
rubbed and beat my hands until tho
circulation was restored. Then set
about taking the necessary precautions
against too rapid descent. But l
acted more like an uutomaton than .
conscious agent, for seemed In kind
Of a stupor or trance all the time.
How and where reached the solid
earth cannot say have only dim,
hazy recollection Of being surrounded
by crowd Of people, Some were
bending over me and seemed to be
questioning me, but | couldn't make
out what they said. felt an awful
pain In my head, and remember moth
ing more until | found myself in bed
in dark room and my wife bending
over me, This was several days after
ward, and learned then that had
been brought home In delirious state
and had had brain fever.
When recovered my friends con-
gratulatcd me, aud tried to persuade
ne that as my homicdal act was done
N sel.-de 'ense It was just6able.
rope it was, but can never recall II
Without miegivings and horror, and