The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-01-15
Nv I-lTTELI. M'cLUNt


they passed the EXHIBIT Of vegetabaeN
on the fair grounds ssTnere's the cap
tire balloon they've all been talking 70
much about. Bessie and Sam went up
20 1t yesterday. and they thought n
nimply dandy
The young man glanced ahead to
where a crowd surrounded some tnus
guys thar stretched up to hAg balloon
0Oating gracefully In the air 800 feet
over their heads.
A man stepped upon a platform and
began 70 address his auditors In stem
torian yet persuasive tones.
@All right. Lila. we'ii see II throngh.
too" declared Grant Allen. and they
hurried up close to the speaker.
'sThis way, ladies' and gentiemenr'
he cried. Who'll be the next TO go mp
In the big gas bagi Here's a glorious
chance TO see the world a. a bird sees
itl This balloon In as safe as a trolley
car and safer. Experts say 80.
at Is fastened securely to the earth.
ladies and gentlemen, and stays up ten
minutes with each ascension. giving
you plenty Of time to enjoy the mag
niiicent scenery. Comet Who'll be the
next7 The balloon holds only two ct
time Tickets are 80 cents apiece. two
for a.
'Tu take two tickets for the next
trip" said Grant. pushing forward
with the necessary dollar IN his hand.
The man handed him the coupons TO
fame and stepped down from the plat
form to engineer the next ascension.
By turning a sort OF handle and
wheel device that resembled wind
lass the balloon was towcd back b
earth. A young man and a girl step
ped out. OF the basket" smiling TIL
umphantly. aud Lila and Grant step
ped In. The wheel to which the guide
rope was attached began TO turn again,
and slowly the balloon rose above the
fair grounds. When the rope gave out
the basket was high enough for It's oc-
cupants TO see the level country for
miles around.
ooh. isn't 1t Just perfectly grandr'
cooed the girl. ciapping her hands and
peering down at the upturned faces.
Yes. 1t really u.s." he answered. you
feel apart from the world and above
everything In more senses than one.
No wonder aeronautics are almost cpl.
demic."
The great bag above them swung OF
in a scmicircle and then stood motion
less. the basket swinging gently TO
and fro. Suddenly Lila glimpsed q
thick cloud of dust whiriing spiral
fashion across the fair grounds.
what IL all that dust. Grantf" she
asked innocently.
"Why, It's a whlrlwind," he ex-
claimed, "and d big one at that. and,
what's more. it's coming directly TO-
ward US. II 1t strikes as wen get
lively little swing around In the air.
hope 1t doesT
But the girl seemed apprehenstve
and chung to his arm. Evidently hts
wish was about TO be realized, for the
whirlwind. gathering momentum ev-
cry second, was bearing strnight down
on the guide ropes OF the balloon. car.
rying with 1t dozen or more hats II
had gathered from the crowds.
In another second IL hit the balloon,
whirling 1t around like bubble In a
hundred foot circle. Lila gave a little
shrek OF fear. but Grant laughed.
''Don't be nervous" he said. We're
getting fine ride"
Then his face whltened as the sound
Of swapping ropes struck his ears. He
glanced below TO see uprooted pegs
and stakes flying into the air. An.
other crack followed. and the balloon
tore loose the last line that bound 1t TO
earth.
For a second Il paused; then, like
rocket, It shot cioudward several hun.
dred feet and. encountering supper
currents" fioated OF across the fair
grounds.
Over the girls face flashed an ex-
preston OF terror. but by supcrhu-
man effort Grant kept calm. Below
they could hear the Wild shouts Of the
people who were running in the direc-
ton the balloon had taken.
keep your nerve. Lila" urged
Grant quietly. There Is really no dan.
ger. Don't you see the gas can't pos
sibly get out Of the bag. and we'll be-
gin to go down when the wind slack
ems little"
But the wind continued strong. and
the balloon declined TO descend an
inch. Neither did It rise. Il simply
doated along rapidly, but steadily,
about six or seven hundred feet above
the ground. In five minutes the fair
Enclosure was fading In the distance,
and In another FIVE minutes so was the
town
Don't you see, Lila" said Grant,
with assurance, eve are perfectly safef
We've Joined the first class aeronauts,
and we're going on tour OF the
world just think how famous wen BE-
If we discover the north POKE"
This forced leyity dispeiied LIIa's
terrified look. and gradually the color
came back into her face.
''I'm glad OF one thing" she said as
her courage returned. Papa, mamma
and all the folks are up In the coun-
Try today. Maybe they won't hear OF
our aerial disappearance untfi we land
somewhere and start back They'd be
frightened 70 death IL they did"
Don't worry, Lila" he answered,
feeling now that there really was very
little danger, after all ~Just hook out
over the country and let's enjoy the
trip. Maybe we won't have another
one like this soon"
Their airshiD was sailing beautifully
now, flying over orchards and farm
lands and throwing into state Of IN
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