The Ordway new era., 1909-06-25
FROM AUTO
TO AERO
A Modern Tragedy Of Upper CloudlAnd

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he came home one evening.
moi" said Mrs. Cans under her
breath. you really haven't, Edgar
Il really have Traded my motor
car in on the deal too. The aero car
cost me $4,000 altogether. The best
the Aerial Navigation Company would
allow me on the motor car was S2uV
Think of II! And I've seen the time
a motor car like that was worth
$1,000"
But" ventured Mrs. Cans, aero
motoring. or whatever you may call H.
is dangerous. | don't care what they
say to the contrary. Your auto was
perfectly beautiful and We had such
splendid times in it."
WELL" replied Cans in defense, 81
hope you didn't want me to continue
in the ranks OF the ancient? Why.
every time | took that auto out
couldn't help feeling embarrassed. No
matter II IL was the very last thing IN
auto making. was back number
nevertheless II / dared TO speed
little | was continually lodging men.
women. children. dogs, chickens. po
licemen and constables. With an aero
car can scorck around in the
empyrean blue with nothing but clouds
in the way. And running through
towering piles OF cumulus is all the
craze In aero clubs now
From motor car to an aero car
was Il transition us abrupt as it was
far. and Mrs Cans was apprehensive.
Notwithstanding this glowing picture.
She was apprehensive because she
knew Cans much more intimately
than he knew himself She knew him
well enough TO know about what lie
would do under Uay given circum.
stance.
Cans had been the automobile tiend
Of his set. He had spent more time
in and under automobiles than any
other man he knew. Motoring had
been meat and drink to him
For his aero car Cans had a tent
erected on the best part Of his lawn.
He took daily lessons from the agent
OF the Aerial Navigation Company.
That genial genius. whose tongue
would have been worth about $40
minute in presidential campaign,
took Cans on short. low trips at first:
then gradually extended them 10
greater heights and distances. until
the new owner had his nerve and
knowledge OF the machinery Of his
purchase.
The day Cans took his first trip
alone was the ..rst day he really lived
He sped up to dizzy height. then
circled about. lowering. birdlike. above
the landscape. while Mrs. Cans. below.
gazed at him in opcn.mouthed wonder.
This is the long-lost source OF
youth" declared Cans when he aliEht-
ed from his car. Its simply great to
scorch up and down the environs OF
heaven. Remember what say. the
aviator will take the place OF the doc
tor. Why, feel ten years younger,
You must go with me tomorrow. Csr-
rie"
But" said Carrie. I've never set
foot in the air in my life and would
be horribly afraid"
Pooh! Not bit OF danger" Cans
assured her. Fact is. there's not aa
much danger up there in that aero car
as there is down here in an old-fogy
auto. Anyhow. you'd be safe with me
You'd be safe anywhere with me-"
After the first shock of dizzy nerv-
business Mrs. Cans began to take an
interest. She was feeling that after
a few more ascensions she really
could look forward to a daily spin.
Then she glanced downward over the
edge of the car and almost tainted.
They cruised close to a little round
silvery cloud-so close that Mrs. Cans
put out her hand and let her fingers
ripple through its surface. Then Cans
swerved gracefully around massive
heap of cumulus and squared off from
it, stopping the car.
Now" he exclaimed gleefully. hold
tight, Carrie; I'm going to run through
that cloud"
He turned the power on full. but the
aero car never budged. He reversed
and tried 1t again. Not wheel turned.
The car lay there, almost motionless
What on earth can be the matter
with it," Cans asked, in q vexed
tone. OF Carrie, the car, and the air
AROUND.
But you're not on earth" inter.
posed Mrs. Cans. nervously.
Cans laughed light heartedly at
what Mrs. Cans meant seriously.
Something wrong with the gear.
ing" he said. Fix it in a moment"
Before Mrs. Cans realized what was
taking place Cans monkey wrench in
hand, stepped over the side of the car.
"Edgar!" she screamed in a5ject ter.
ror, and then tainted
Cans shot down straight for a few
hundred feet. then his limbs spread
and he whirled horribly.
1t was a mangled. unreeognizable
mass that was pried out of a wheat
field few miles out of the suburban
town in which Cans lived.
When his aero car stonnad Tho ,;.,,