Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-03-09

loose nut, and after this the fugitives
were lost to him entirely.
After Spindleton's surrender he was
permitted to 60 where he liked. Max
ing bee line for Richmond, he met
his employer over the peninsula. The
two drew up side by side, and while
lowering the aviator gave Mr.. Beriton
m account of what had happened.
what are the best points Of your
machine?' asked the latter.
"Quick rising and an ability to ny in
thin air."
Good! To nght this pauper we
must get above him. To bring him
to terms we must have bombs to drop
on him"
"But the bombs win annihilate your
own wife and daughter as well a. Mr..
Follansbee."
HE cannot sacrifice them to his own
covetousness. Our success depends on
our obtaining commanding position"
Stepping into the Spindleton ma
chine, he permitted the one be left to
60 where it liked-to the moon II It
chose-and he and Spindleton started
for the nearest city, Richmond. There
they procured bombs and, rising, start
ed in the direction Spindleton had left
Follansbee and the Beritons.
There was hubbub in Follansbee's
aeroplane as soon as spindleton left
Mrs. Beriton, sympathizing with Miss
Anita, would have been glad to give
her consent that the party should
swoop down for clergyman that the
lovers might be married, but she fear
ed her husbands displeasure. The
younger Miss Beriton was Indifferent
The lovers finally prevailed over the
elder lady's caution, and it was de-
cided that the marriage should take
place.
Being a couple Of hundred miles out
at sea, not likely place to find a
clergyman, Follansbee turned his ma.
chine toward the land. But time had
been spent in coming to decision,
and he was too late. When fifty miles
off Norfolk the machine bearing Mr..
Beriton, driven by Spindleton. appear.
ed over Virginia beach. like seagull,
standing northeast.
Follansbee considered.
A great deal Of power had been used
in his machine since starting, and he
knew it had not the capacity for a
long quick run with the coming aero.
plane. 1t was to supply this very de-
fect-in other words, to be ready to
turn and fight-that he had provided
his bird with a ram. If the worst
came he would smash the pursuing
fiier and drop its owner into the waves
below. But he hoped this would not
be necessary. However, In order that
the contest should take place over
water he made pretense Of fight.
When Mr.. Beriton reached a point
some two miles distant from Follans.
bee the latter saw his machine sud.
denly rise in spiral. He OWNED the
upshot Of the maneuver in moment
Bombs had been so long used that II
was evident the enemy had procured
them and, getting on higher plane
would command the situation. The
Beriton car climbed thousand feet,
then Spindleton, who was a splendid
aviator, made for point directly over
Follansbee.
The lover knew his enemy's deter.
mined nature and that he would place
him in a position to be bombed or to
yield. OF course he would have te
yield. He therefore put on all speed,
but, of course, moved slowly. losing
ground because it was essential that
he move on a rising incline.
Notwithstanding the power Of Fol
lansbee's aeroplane to rise in this grad
ual fashion, Mr.. Beriton maintained 8
position above him. Mrs. Beriton beg
ged Follansbee to give up the fight
but the young man was contending
for q half billion dollar bride and was
not to be discouraged. When Mr.. Ber
iton was a mile away and 500 feet
above him Follansbee lighted a fuse
threw the end over the car and wait
ed. The other end of the fuse was
attached to rocket-like firework. fixed
to the bottom Of the car, which In
few moment was ignited, and. blow
ing of a great quantity Of burning
powder, the aeroplane shot rapidly up
ward.
When this sudden ascent ceased Fol
lansbee was ON level with his enc
my and but fifty yards away.
'T'm about to ram you, STRIP cried
Follansbee.
.'Don't! pleaded Mrs. Beriton.
There was pause. Mr.. Ber1ton
saw that the game was lost.
"What's your terms?' he asked.
"Consent to my marriage with your
daughter"
every WELL" replied the merchant
81 will consent. but positively refuse
to give her dowry of more than q
hundred millions"
The terms were accepted, and both
aeroplanes started for the Beriton res
idence, where the past was forgotten
and Beriton expressed his admiration
of his future son-in-law's ability to