Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-01-22
Cupid on
The Air Line.
By LlTTELL M'CLUNG.
Copyrighted. 1909. by Associated
LIBRARY Press

ON the fair grounds. There's the can
tive balloon they've all been talking so
much about. Bessie and Sam went ND
In 1t yesterday, and they thought It
simply dandy"
The young man glanced ahead To
where crowd surrounded some taut
guys that stretched up to big balloon
floating gracefully in the air 800 feet
over their heads
man stepped upon n platform and
began to address his auditors in stem
torian yet persuasive tones.
"All right Lila, Wen see It through.
too" declared Grant Allen, and they
hurried up close to the speaker.
This way. ladies and gentlemen,
he cried. Who'll be the next to 60 I'D
In the big gas bag? Here's a glorious
chance to see the world as a bird sees
1t! This balloon is as safe as a trolley
car and safer. Experts say SO.
1t 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.
niicent scenery. Come! Who'll be the
next? The balloon holds only two ut
time. Tickets are 90 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 q wind
lass the balloon was lowed back to
earth. A young man and a 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.
"Oh, isn't 1t just perfectly grandw
coed the Eirl, clappinG her hands and
pecring down Mt the up.urned faces.
''Yes. II really IS" he answered. "You
feel apart from the world and above
everything In more senses than one
No wonder aeronautIcs are almost epi.
demic"
The great bag above them swung Off
In semicirclc and then stood motion
less, the basket swinging gently to
and fro. Suddenly Lila glimpscd a
thick cloud Of dust whlrling spiral
fashion across the fair grounds.
what is all that dust, Grant?- she
asked innocently.
why. it's whirlwind." he ex-
In ts.,,, II.
what's more. It's coming directly to-
ward US. II 1t strikes US wen get n
lively little swing around in the afr. |
hope II doesr'
But the girl seemed apprehcnsive
and chung to his arm. Evidently his |
wish was about 10 be realized, for the |
whirlwind, gathering momentum ev-
cry second. was bearing straight down
on the guide ropes OF the balloon. car |
rying with II dozen or mere hats IL |
had gathered from the crowds
In another second II hit the balloon.
whirling 1t around like bubble In n
hundred foot circle. Lila gave n little |
Shrek Of fear. but Grant laughed.
Don't be nervous" he said. We're
getting a fine ride"
Ahcn HIS A1Ce Wnlteneu 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 Il TO |
earth.
For second It paused; then, like n |
rocket, 1t shot cloudward several hun |
dred feet and, encountering upper |
currents" hoated or across the fair |
grounds.
Over the girls face flashed an ex- |
preston OF terror, but by superhu-
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
sibiy get out OF the bag, and We'll be-
gin to so down when the wind slack
ems little"
But the wind continued strong. and
the balloon declined to descend an
inch Neither did 1t rise II simply |
hoated 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 tho
town.
Don't you see. Lila" said Grant
with assurance, I'VE are perfectly safe?
We've Joined the first class aeronauts.
and we're going on n tour Of the
world. Just think how famous wen be-
If we discover the north pole"
This forced levity dispelled IIIa'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 I'm the coun-
try today. Maybe they won't hear of
our aerial disappearance until we land
somewhere and start back. They'd be
frightened to death IL they did"
Don't very, Lila" he answered.
Keeling now that there really was very
Httie danger. after NIL. lust look out
over the country and lets enjoy the
trip. Maybe we won't have another
one like this soon"
Their airship was sailing beautifully
now, flying over orchards and farm
lands and throwing into a state of Ia.
tense excitement hundreds Of peaceful
county, folk.
1t Is simply heavenly" the girl sud.
denly exclaimed. I'm not a bit afraid
now, Grant, and I don't care much
now hard we sail. I've always longedl
Tor some exciting adventure, and sure
~ this is It, and you are with me. I'm
so glad It's your
why are you glad it's meY' be de-
manded, Selling her hand and to,no-,c~.