Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-04-18

CeHO9f AGrIiHi Rechere (erperl haLlogGssO
'yszg GeAf tcar Balloon. zhr s,S~,; =, ,,,y,
~ re ram German force discovered ,4obrI-
Ceyr1u5 ShcH ard beeIns 10 ran r,rgr;iy 80 yS<
'siSS3 Of me u00as. ~ ~
CHAPTER IL
The balloon was now within half a
H OF the earth, and settling steadily.
bullets came in a shower Rechere
SaNe groan and sank by my side
shot through the heart. MartinI's hand
was shattered as it gripped the rail
OF the basket. L expected death, and
$1,000 eject again, grasping the sup
II seemed miserable TO be thus a tar
GET Tor the bullets OF a thousand SOL
Suddenly the basket gave a violent
lurch. 1nstinctiyely my grasp tight
fhed on the supporting cable: and well
II was. for at that instant we'll di-
rected shell from n rapid-firer cut the
cable at the other end. and the car
swayed. hanging by the one slender
wire rope. 1 drew myself up and got
nrm mold or the network surround
ping Tor my very life with both hands;
ana as l looked down i saw Martini
whining over and over in mid air, and
IKE n plummet. Then the single sup
port gave way, and the basket went
down after them.
closed my eyes, sick with horror
lar efforts. As in a dream / was Con-
IT, Tiou s or swift hight through the air.
ne SOUNDS OF shooting became fainter
Hhe whistle of bullets ceased. i real
azed that. the balloon. freed OF its
basket, was rising rapidly into the up-
per air. All, then would escape after
az all tried to collect my thoughts.
ness my grip would weaken.
=. suddenly / felt that 1 had entered
Sira.uin OF cold air: 1t was sweet and
eyes, and glanced below me Earth
eSuId not be seen. ! was In the clouds
Remember, now, that L hung by the
grip or two hands, from a coarse net
made OF half-inch rope forming a cas-
ing rI6r Tor the balloon. I knew that
must let go and follow my late com
Panlons. Summoning all my nerve, /
threw up one leg, and as luck would
the net. 1 pushed my leg through UNI
IN the rope was under my knee; then
ING mere IKE a GRAB, one leg swing
ing free Presently / secured a similar
hold with the other foot; then working
Slowly and carefully. managed TO get
both arms into the meshes. and for a
blessed interval was relieved OF severe
m S5eain; s though my hold swas by no
The balloon seemed now to be NOV
ing Ing sw!tuy IN the wind. but neither
motion. the. absolute quiet, and the
Weariness Of body resulting from my
.. - tLiS pEOuuCeu a ten
!aiK to myself to E keep eS a%sRe. and I'd
dn ain 9Th that even this would not sufice
woefuiIy cramped. l let go with my my
], cut through half a dozen mesh tsSt Of
the net and thus made a hole large
enough to admit my head and Shout
derS, pushing away the enyeloping
folds Of the somewhat nabby balloon
AeRTeeQ II r,nxr rloTo
thanks to God found myself lying fiat
against the gas-bag. SO great was the
TeIief OF this position that 1 sank in,o
instant sleep.
1t seemed an age later when I awoke.
nearing my name spoken by the voice
or woman. 1 opened my eyes ana
s s1Gkea nrou1 nd me- L lay in a bed
whole body ached. and my head seem,
cd to be several times its ordinary size.
spoke again, in soft, ripping French:
=. monsieur must be quiet 1t is best
monsieur is safe and Will soon be well
looked in the direction OF the sound
ana ana saw approaching mo what
man had ever seen. Fair and tall Of
the old French type, she seemed a YER
liable angel Upon her head sne wore
White lace cap, which served only
partially to restrain her brown curis.
diSr Dress was simple-of white. with
she came to the bedside and leaned
over me. shall remember to nv dv-
n ing DAY her soft cool hands pressed
upon my aching brow. Her loose slice
yes showed her fair, plump arms nigh
20 the elbows, and / recall. even now.
mo desire, as fell asleep, that / could
nave those arms about my neck.
aWoke again. some time later feel
Ing ing much n. refreshed. My fair nurse
brought me glass OF cool milk and
held my head IN the hollow Of her arm
as drank, smiling and nodding at me.
presently found myself able To- sns aip
tion. NS' queS-
she told me that I was in the Cha
teau Lagunay on the west bank OF the
Meuse RIVER, some distance northwest
Of Verdqn. IN the pretticst Frcneb-
Whlch could readily understand.
execTable, she told me how at dawn
a grove 81 trees near the ChatcajI. h1v,
the gardeners bad released me from
my prison in tho not, and how had
been brought into the house. by her
fathers Instructions. and cared FOR
through the night was seriously
bruised about the head and shoulders.
and they thought az FIRST that I was
nobieman Of the old regime. came no to
tbSt Y'Monsi'eur Hd-dams"' Is ufne'yS '1 b5S
learned my name from papers found i'm
me that need have no concern as 20
my perfect welcome TO remain as his
guest until ] should be completely re-
stored to health.
7 suppose It was tho shock that blot
ted ont for the next few dave am
recollection N my Identity. or my re-
cent experience. I knew simply that
was In Paradise, with this adorable
angel always at hand TO minister 10
hunger or thirst, and to talk softly to
me at intervals between naps She
told me much about herself She was
.but twenty, an only child. with no
mOther that she could remember She
AID her father, and the faffhfug enr-
wants, lived alone. SIZE seemed very
happy And N she was happy, what
OF mysef? Before ] was able to sit