Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-16
The Argus Daily Short Story
CUPID ON THE AIR LINE---BY LITTELL McCLUNG.
by Literary Press

look, Grant, exclaimed the girl,
touching the arm of her companion as
they passed the exhibit of vegetables
on the fair grounds. There's the cap
tive balloon they've all been talking so
much about. Bessie and Sam went up
in it yesterday, and they thought it
simply dandy"
The young man glanced ahead to
where Il crowd surrounded some taut
guys that stretched up to a big balloon
floating gracefully in the air 800 feet
over their heads.
A man stepped upon platform and
began to address, his auditors in stem
torian yet persuasive tones.
"All right. Lila, we'll see it through.
too" declared Grant Allen, and they
hurried up close to the speaker.
This way. ladies and gentlemen"
he cried 'Who'n be the next to so up
in the big gas bag? Here's glorious
chance to see the world as bird sees
it! This balloon is as safe as a trolley
car and safer. Experts say so.
st 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
nfficent scenery Come! Who'll be the
next? The balloon holds only two at 4
| time, Tickets are so cents apiece, two
| for az
9TH 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 sort of handle and
| wheel device that resembled a wind
| lass the balloon was towed back to
earth. A young man and girl step
ped out of the basket" smiling tri-
umphantly, and 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 its &C.
cupants to see the level country for
/ miles around.
ooh. isn't it just perfectly grandw
cooed the girl, clapping her hands and
peering down at the upturned faces.
| Yes, 1t really is" 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 off
in a semicircle and then stood motion
less, the basket swinging gently to
and fro. Suddenly Lila glimpsed a
thick cloud of dust whirling spiral
fashion across the fair grounds.
"What is all that dust, Grant?" she
asked innocently.
"Why, it's whirlwind," he eX-
claimed, "and & big one at that, aud,
what's more, it's coming directly to-
ward us. If it strikes us Wen get a
lively little swing around in the air.
hope 1t doesw
But the girl seemed apprehensive
and chung to his arm. Evidently his
wish was about to be realized, for the
whirlwind, gathering momentum ev-
cry second, was bearing straight down
on the guide ropes of the balloon. car
rying with it dozen or more hats it
had gathered from the crowds.
In another second it hit the balloon,
whirling 1t around like bubble In a
hundred foot circle. Lila gave little
shrek Of fear, but Grant laughed.
Don't be nervous" he said. We're
getting fine ride"
Then his face whitened as the sound
Of Swapping ropes struck his ears. He
glanced below to see uprooted pegs
and stakes flying into the air. An
Jnther crack followed. and the balloon