Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-24

What" cried Hart-"a hundred and
ten horsepower. I'll certainly have to
stay to see it work.
That afternoon a boy came running
up 10 the house with telegram for
| Mr.. Hart. He read 1t and frowned.
Mr.. Jennings" he said, I'm very
sorry. but / am ordered TO Washing
| ton at once. Here! You may read the
message"
VIII took it and read in a dazed sort
of way: Return tow. at once. War
Department"
What. Can't you wait at all?' cried
William in dismay.
"At once means within twelve hours;
Immediately. twenty-four." said Hart
grimly
May use the telephone?" asked
Hart.
He called up the railroad station to
find out when a train left, but he learn
ed that no trains were running from
the island to the mainland. Hart was
told that he would have to drive across
the ice In a sleigh.
"Oh, don't do thatr cried William
There is a strong south wind, and the
follows"
But no argument could dissuade the
agent. He had his orders, and he was
going to obey. He had difficulty in
finding a horse and sleigh, for none
wanted to risk his property on the ice
on day like this. At last he found
a man who would rent him a rig for
FIVE times the price that was usually
charged. Hart drove past the Jen-
nings' cottage and waved them good
by and then drove out on the ice.
"I wish he wouldn't 60" cried Mary.
williams teeth were set, for he real
lied that their hopes OF riches and fame
were fast disappearing. BY this time
Hart was halfway across the ice.
'BoomP' sounded out over the bay.
sHeavensr' cried Mary. 1.-THE ice is
cracking. Look; his horse is runningp
Boom! Boomw A great crack could
be seen close to shore.
Look" shouted William; '+the horse
is down" And, picking up aeldglass-
es, he cried, Hart has cut him loose
and is running for it?'
"Boom! The ice was cracked all
around him.
Mary suddenly shut her teeth and
said in a strange voice, wait min
utew and then left the room.
She had been gone several minutes
when William saw a strange shadow
fall on the ground beneath his win
dow, and he heard peculiar buzzing.
He looked up and fairly gasped. There
was a great aeroplane sailing out to-
II IoI- Of ffl cr10od
son all bundled up in furs was driv-
ing it. He dragged himself out OF bed
and staggered to the window.
Mary" he cried-''Maryp and then
looked at the aeroplane shed Then he
knew where Mary was. The doors OF
the shed were open, and it was empty.
He turned his glasses on the machine
and recognized Mary. The plane turn
ed and lowered q moment In the face
of a strong wind and then went sail
ing out toward Hart. He had seen the
machine as it rose and was standing
In the sleigh waving his arms. The
ice was cracking all about him, and
the horse had disappeared in a large
crack. AS Mary sat in the plane her
only thought was to save Hart before
the ice broke beneath him She was
almost over him. Now came the SUI
preme test-to turn and descend In
such a strong wind.
Leaning out of his window, William
stared at her through the glasses
Hart stood on the sleigh with mouth
open and paying no attention to the
ice, but he kept his eyes fixed On the
plane. Suddenly it slowed up and
sank, then turned and came down.
But an unusually strong gust OF wind
hit it and drove it back But Mary let
the engine go full speed and came on
again in the face Of the wind. The
machine settled slowly but SURELY and
came to rest on the fee just beside the
sleigh. Hart sprang down to the ice
and ran over and climbed in
Beautiful he murmured. 'Beau-
tifulw
Mary guided the machine to the main
shore and landed. Hart helped her out
and exclaimed:
''I want to thank you, Mrs. Jennings.
You. saved my life. You managed the
machine most skillfulIy. and it be-
haved beautifully. By the way, will
you give this to your husbandT
And he wrote a note, which he gave
her. Even before Mr.. Hart had left
Mary phoned to her husband to apprise
him Of her safety.
Don't risk coming home in the ma
chine" sdmonished Jennings.
mo. dear. I won't" was her re-
Spouse. I'll wait until the trains run
again"
Much to her delight. traffic was re-
sumed that same day. Before she
opened his door Mary read the note.
With a cry Of joy she rushed into
williams room.
"Why. Mary. you dear thing!' he ex-
claimed.
I'm something more" she said.
laughing. I'm a prosperous promot-
ing aviator" And she handed him the
letter. which announced Harris APP
prevail Of the Jennings aeroplane.