Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1899-05-05
SAN


The prisoner had stood defiant from
the first; but when confronted with the
question. How did you come in pos
session OF this cbcck7" he broke com
pletely down, and finally made the fol-
lowing confession:
81 had fixed up to make balloon as
cension on the afternoon OF July 2. I
advertised that l would attempt the
trip from Denver to San Francisco.
But this was only to get a bigger col
lection. | had no idea of such thing.
Just before all was ready, Mr.. Drift
came up to inc and asked some uues-
tions about my sensations when knock
ing about in the clouds. Now. hap
pened to know by accident that he had
the check In his pocket, and cussed
idea struck me all in a heap. saw
that he had the cloud fever pretty bad;
so ! answered his qUestions by telling
him to come along and see for himself.
He said he wouldn't mind IL wasn't
going on such a long trip. With that
l whispered in his ear that had no
intention of It; to come along II he
wanted to, and l would set him down
on hard ground again by night. All
right, he whispers, just wait little;
I'll be ready So presently back comes
a chap all rugged out in blue overalls
and an old hat. 1t was Mr.. Drift; but
/ didn't know It until he told me. You
see,' he says, I don't want my friends
to know anything about II; SO | put
on this disguise with that we step
ped into the car and they let her go.
Well, we got up pretty high and began
to drift briskly to the southwest. My
man took a sudden notion to come
down got scared l guess. | put him
of a while. But be began to get
funny; and just out with gun and
told him to get out that $4,000 check
and indorse 1t. He cut up about II.
and then turned In and begged like a
dog But | held him 10 il; and he
hadn't more than got his name down
before let him have it--yes, sir, killed
him right there.
We'll, there ISN'T much more to tell,
except that after drifting around all
night, first In one direction and then
in another found myself at daybreak
about a thousand 1eet above a range OF
mountains. looked through my
glass, but couldn't see any ranches
about. So | just pulled the valve
string and let her come down pretty
close to the ground. Then l threw
the body out. About that time a sud
den squall came up and caught the bal
loon. 1t pitched about at a terrible
rate, and once | lost my red silk cap.
managed to hold on for some eight or
ten miles, when the balloon struck a
mountain top and went to pieces.
stayed long enough to gather up the
wreck and burn it. Then | made my
way to the nearest settlement and on
to the railroad. striking it at Wins
low"
After this remarkable confession,
bringing out 80 vividly the leading
facts which Flors had worked out one
at time with such patient labor, there
was little else for the court to do than
sentence the Snowman to suffer the full
penalty Of the law.
As for Flora, she was the heroine
of the hour. The old cGttleman came
up with two big tears rolling down his
withered cheek: MY child, | couldn't
thank you enough II l was to keep at it
the rest OF my life. You have set me
right before the public, so that nobody
can be pointing a finger at me and a.
saying as how | was the one what kill
ed your father"
congratulated her warmly: while, at
the same time, the shopkeeper was
telling her excitedly: You joost de
smartest leedle vomans never did see
II vas remarkable, remarkable!"
And the two Indian trailers came up
with extended hands How, how
Yellow Hart" said Bloodhound; me
tell Barking Wolf you biggest trailer
in whole country. Indian see nothing
no more"
Dick felt a keen pride at Flora.
achievement. But the San Francisco
expert felt something more-an un.
bounded admiration for the 1S-year old
girl that had taught him so many val.
liable hints in regard to his own pro
fessiOn.
And he Is at work now on a case o.
far different character. which may de-
velop into the most important one o.
his whole life. But he says he shal
not be able TO accomplish thing IN.
less Flora helps him out.