Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1910-08-25

30 Telukcut la uyes ~ 6sVAAooS 80 ~.
mingling lines. that the voyagers.
glancing from radiance to radiance.
lowered their voices to the thrill OF
beauty toe intense for speech.
The immense engines were moving
more regularly than clockwork. keep
ing the pledge Of their makers that II
supplied with fuel and oil they would
run without a single stop until worn
out = the perfection Of the internal
combustion engine. once so untrust'
worthy.
II want to see where we are" finally
said Carson This Is like an open
ocean. want to compare the map
with the landscape"
Obedient to the tilted rndders. the
Virginia pointed her PROV downward
Her propeller blades hurled her swift.
ly forward and toward the earth. and
she plunged into the cold stream OF
the stratus cloud into mist and white
scarfs of lacy fog and the snowy OBJ
security Of an aerial blizzard. Craig
head gasped at the chill and the blind
ness
Ring for q guide" said he. I'm
lost"
He was not lost for long. for the Vir
ginia Glove the fieecy hoodwink and
emerged through its lower levels into
the clear shadows OF the neither air
They could feel the warmth radiated
from the ground. balmy with earthly
scents Far to the northeast lay
shining river. widening at the limit of
vision into broad estuary. and just
within sight could be discerned the
clustered spires and towers of city
Carson looked the landscape over and
studied his map
"Craighead.'' cried Carson. we've
made Richmond three hours quicker
than thought it possible. A stork or
Canada goose couldn't have covered
the distance. and both sometimes go
200 miles an hour. Why
Let us exult over yon insufferable
plutes" cried Craighead. Lets fly
around the snobs!'
Craighead. scanning the southeast
with his feldglasses. had discovered
at distance of six or seven miles
huge silver aeronat steering north
ward. Theodore threw over the tiller
and made for the airship. Craighead
looked at him In wonder.
THAT ship looks" said Carson, ad
vancing the spark and crowding the
Engines. like the Roc"
After a few moments on a straight
course to intersect that of the aeronat
Carson threw the Virginia up into the
cloud. Soon they emerged on the shin
ing upper levels of the cloud. which hid
their approach to the other craft. One
below the curtain and one above It.
the airship of the future and the air
ship Of the past flew on convergine
courses. They dropped below the
cloud into the thinner vapor They
looked about-and saw nothing And
yet, above the purring of the machin
cry. came to their ears the tremol
from powerful engines Could the
Condor have assembled into the cloud
as they descended from II? Voices
came closer and closer
MY God. Carson shouted Craig
head You're going foul of her
Look down."
Just in time Carson looked. From
the depths of air below the great hub
BILE of silver rose. swelling in her swift
approach A collision meant ruin
The propelling blades of the aerone1
would cut the envelope of the gas hold
er like paper. and the two ships in {
huge mass of tangled wreckage would
fall to the earth in death and ruin. o.
the escaping gas from the aeronet. ig
nited from the exhaust of the Vir
ginia's engines. might explode. hurlin,
the fragments Of both vessels far ant
wide. And Carson saw in the ruin tn,
fair form of Virginia Suarez hurled Il
earth from the Roc and crushed t,
formlessness below.
Quick as lightning Carson threw OF
full speed forward The Virginia obey
ed her machinery. and as she swoope,
to the aeronat's starboard the latte
rose swiftly. The Virginia's stern rud
der grazed the gas bag and was all bu
carried away: cord of the suspension
system OF the airship snapped with
'detonation that set the huge fabric II
a tremble. There rose a cry from tn
deck of the hitherto unconscious mon
ster as her people realized the fearfu
fact that here In these dizzy height
they were in collision with something
A man came running out of the cabi
with a gun In his hand. as II wit
some wild notion Of giving battle t
the destroyer.
The Virginia was half a mile fror
, the airship before the crew of the lal
ter had time to assure themselves O
, her safety. The Virginia went aster
. as well as athwart the course Of tn
other craft. and as she sheered to stal
board the apronef and the aerOna