The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-17
CHAPTER Nv.
An Unexpected Mishap.

which young friends Bod and Todd destined to
One morning in the following October, Mr.. Todd
while eating breakfast, remarked to his wife:
Emil " bow, .+., . , announcement ~ .,.
answered with smile land presume also means
continued glancng at her son. who had already dropped
his knife and fork, and looking eagerly toward his
father.
eyes, Mr.. TODD assented, to Bod intense sasfae
ton 81 promised them year ago that they should 60
break my word. You tell Todd you please
Of my Bod and be ready both OF you to
take the noon express on Wednesday,
when his breakfast eaten he to his cousin
discussing journey they had looked forward to
for twelve months with bright anticpations; and when
the appointed day they stood the platform of
the rapidly moving tran waving their farewes to their
mothers who had down to the station to see them
off it is doubtful if there two happier boys in all
New England. No premoniton to them that it
would be long months before any of their little party
would again look upon the familiar of Bayville.
When they entered the mouth of the Mississippi and
powed their way up it's turbid current to the Crescent
city, seemed to the lads going south for the first tme
tho way the year had rolled back two months
Of its calendar and they in the heat of northern
August.
It was late in the afternoon when they left the
for their hotel St. Charles avenue, and at
tempt made by them that day to take in the interest,"
ing sights of the great semtropica city But the next
''After breakfast lads, I will go with you to the
French MARKET jackson square, and Picayune Tier so
W,
teeming with business and commercial activity At
o'clock however, shall have to leave you to look out
for yourselves until the hour, when will you
here at the hotel After sesta we will take ride
thru the and suburbs of the town. and get look
at its beautiful parks and residencests social and fash
ionabe ife.''
The plan agreeable to the boys, and for nearly
two hours they followed their conductor thru the old
French portion Of the city, finding every step something
to interest them.
Returning to the hotel before the time Mr. Todd had
appointed for his coming the lads went into the reading
at gentleman
glanced curousy up the The next
he had dropped his pen and fastening toward them
exclaiming:
Rod and Todd, if IN alive! How you here
boysa I'm delighted to you'll
It Professor Barton the aeronaut.
It took the lads but moment to explain their own
tss tnsa ti nenans
already surmse. Tomorrow Oct 49, the State Agricul-
tura fair opens, and the have engaged to
make ascension each day during exhibit. might
rather series of ascensions each day. the balloon
is to be confined and opportunity given the visitors
Of the city and its surroundings It's free trip
directors think is going to be drawing card but -
opinion is that very few will have courage make
what is really perfectly safe and delightful voyage
Mr.. Todd joined the group at this moment and was
introduced to the aeronaut
Barton said heartily ''How sing4lar1y things 5appen
Yesterday took dinner here and not person
the table did know Today have pleasure of eat
ing with three friends-two of whom I debt of
gratitude expect to be able to pay Mr.. Todd
you should be proud Of such and such nephew y
Mr. Todd looked at the lads afectionately, saying,
however, simply $1,000 :
1T believe sir, they have in them the metal out Of
which made s-.-.-
Two months later he prepared to change the first
two words of his declaration to ct know.'
After dining together Mr.. Todd professor
to join him and the boys the drive they had planned
for the afternoon invitation he gladly accepted
the of the ride they around by
fairgrounds Above the high fence which shut them in
the balloon could be Juggling at its fastenings
as the aeronaut,s eye rested upon it, he said:
eff you viii drive into the grounds, Mr. Todd VIII
show you my petan entirely new airshi with features
I used before You see it better today
than you with the crowd surging around t."
Mr. Todd gave the driver the necessary order, and
few minutes later the party aighted the balloon
walked to It, small space had been by