Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-01-30


stop mel" Then he added with grin:
"vere's your tree hundred weight
penalty?"
Il won't keep you waiting longer
than can help" answered Haverson.
Here's Mills coming with 1t now"
Aasvogel. following our glance.
looked at the wagon with mild sur
prise as though mentally calculating
the weight of Its contents. Then, fol-
lowed by his friends, he went for
ward to meet 1t.
Perplexity held them all as they
watched Mills and two workmen un.
load huge bundle OF some shiny
fabric incased In netting. several coils
OF rope and length of india rubber
tubing. There were other things in
the wagon--long metal cylinders
mainly--but they hadn't time to in.
vestigate these.
"Vot's all disY" inquired Aasvogel
In bewilderment.
You'll see presently" returned
Mills as his assistants lifted the mys-
terious bundle and made one end Of
1t fast to the rear of the Anonyme.
Il say, Mills, vot are you playing
att" objected Aasvogel.
But Mills took no notice and went
on with his preparations. Aasvogel
grew hot with indignation. lie ex-
pressed his feelings to his friends in
mixture of explosive German and
inarticulate English. When they had
all worked themselves UP to state OF
frantic uncertainty, they moved off
In a body to where we stood discus
sing the details OF the race with tho
officials of the track.
Perhaps you'll egsplain vot all dis
means?" demonstrated tho million.
aire. Tying tings on der back of my
car amt part OF our contract"
TITS quite simple" answered HAY.
erson, suppressing grin. ITS only
balloon"
"A balloon! Vot for?"
Haverson shrugged his shoulders.
Look here" he said rather YEARLY,
you agreed to carry three hundred
weight which should consist of any
thing | liked to name. You admit
that?"
Aasvogel was speechless.
We'll" continued Haverson. Il de-
cided that the weight shall consist OF
a balloon, that's ALL" He turned away
lndifferently.
There followed hurried confer
ence between Aasvogel and his
friends, then the former approached
us once more.
''Of course. Haverson,' he said, you
can prove dis rotten ting of yours
doesn't weigh more dan ve arranged
for?"
But here the referee interposed
IT'S all right, Mr.. Aasvogel." he
smiled. Here are the conditions you
both signed. The envelope and the
gas together weigh under 200 pounds.
Haverson doesn't want to be hard on
you; he's let you off the rest!"
"Damn!"
|. 1t was all Aasvogel could say. He
moved modify out of the circle OF
| chuckling onlookers, and rejoinlng
his friends stood gaping at the mon
ster as 1t grew and grew to huge di.
mansions.
A select few had, of course, all
along, been aware of the conditions OF
the match--in other words in the
know" They, like ourselves, had been
careful to keep their knowledge to
themselves. But with the appearance
| of the balloon the secret had leaked
out, and then the whole gathering
found 1t impossible to restrain Its
amusement. Each time the balloon
strained and jerked violently at the
car men doubled up with laughter.
One or two, members Of the Mobile
club, who loathed Aasvogel. grew pos
itively Ill with merriment.
Aasvogel's face was a picture; his
distress comical to witness. Alarm
for the safety of his car, fear of losing
his money, disgust at having been
sold" were some OF the emotions
that disfigured 1t. He danced In I'm
potent rage.
While he was thus engaged, the
starter signed to us to bring up our
car. In a CONFUSION of laughter I
took my place by Haverson's side. and
the Leander drew level with the
Anonyme.
Now, then, Mr.: Aasvogel, are you
ready?" he called as seriously as he
knew how.
But Aasvogel only clinched his fists
and poured out volley OF impreca-
tions. A full minute elapsed. Then,
fixing Haverson with the most malign
look that his evil face could conjure
up, he burst out:
Il pay Forfeit"
Next day joyful crowd in the hall
of the Mobile club surrounded tho
notice board on which 1t was officially
recorded that Mr.. julius Aasvogel had
resigned his embership--without re-
grets!