The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-07

tnen went out to completely overhaul
the White Eagle in the barn. No aero
naut ever gave a more thorough ex-
animation than did Frank. He tested
every rib. frame. wire and bolt. but
ne was mighty quiet as to what he In
tended to do He knew hiS father never
would let him attempt such thing.
Yet he felt perfectly justified in try
ing because his conscience told him it
was his duty 10 aid his brother. Henry
might never get another such chance
again Frank never thought OF weigh
ing the risk be ran.
He carried the glider up TO the blur,
being careful to wait until he could
do so unnoticed.
Frank will never forget thar sunny
morning in early summer. He hardly
dared TO look into the river below. His
face was as white as the cambria
planes as he got into the space be-
tween the armsticks When the arm
sticks were under his resting arms he
slowly turned the glider toward the
edge or the blum. took a couple OF
steps forward. then stopped. shaking
so that he made the glider tremble all
over. He began TO lose his nerve when
he heard a shout
It was Henry's voice. commanding
him to stop. II il had been his fathers
he might have obeyed-but Henry acted
like tonic on his O0zing courage.
Frank started up again and ran hala
dozen steps. Henry saw him leap
into the air and then the painting
brother arrived just too late on the
very spot that Frank had occupied.
Henry could hardly believe his eyes
as he watched his intrepid young
brother shoot out from the edge OF the
blum at tremendous speed. He sx-
pected every instant TO see him drop
ike stone into the boiling current
below. but Frank sailed half way across
without dropping 10 feet
Then the astonished spectator saw
him tilt the position Of his body back
ward. which had the effect OF chang
ing the elders course to a sweeping
downward curve But Frank miscal-
culated the proper distribution OF his
weight Henry screamed a warning
as the glider swooped dangerously close
to the water. Frank. however tilted
his body forward In the nick OF time
and the glider flew on at a level course
about 10 feet above the river. Fifty
feet, 40. then so feet from safety on
the opposite bank Henry was horrihed
to see the machine begin 10 wobbls
violently and half capsize. almost pitch
ing out Frank Henry didn't know it,
but Franks craft had been struck by
what zviators call pulse OF wind
Frank lost his balance. then the White
Eagle plunged downward until Franks
feet touched the water Only a few
yards separated them from the shore.
Could Frank keep above water2 He
made one last effort 20 right the craft
and in this was aided by the wind
which suddenly steadied-
The White Eagle rushed on. Franks
legs dragging in the water. As shore
approached Frank endesvored TO
swerve the machine to avoid running
into tree that grew on the bank. but
too late The White Eagle struck the
tree full on and fell tangled heap on
the waters edge burying Frank I'M
derneath.
1t seemed an age to his frantic
brother before Frank crawlsd out from
under the wreck He limped some. but
yelled a reassuring message over 10
Henry. whose first impulse was -
seold Frank for his fooIhardiness
What on earth did you ever do
such a crazy thing for% shouted
Henry
Frank pulled out the entry blanks.
"Oh. I just though Ia mail letter
for you. Hank You tried hard this
morning. and I didn't want TO see YOU
slip up on your chance. That's why I
made the glide"
Henry almost fell down when ha
realized what Frank had done for him
and he tried hard to say what he felt.
but Frank only waved his hand and
started to limp on to the postohict
with a sprained ankle.
1t was a long, painful hobble, but
il would have taken more than p
sprained ankle 70 have lowered Franks
spirits He had saved Henry's chances
for him and realized his own ambition
at last He could really fly.
Henry Williams is now a member
of the museum star. He was one OF
the lucky six highest who successfully
passed the examination He has
learned many things already. but one
of the greatest is not to laugh az
Things you don't understand. especial
" ".kid brothers" Henry's superiOrs
say he has a very promising career
before him. but no one realizes any
clearer than he that his chance was
solely due to Franks great glide.