Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-26

son gripped the barnacled column fiercely:
he thought of the girl in the red hat and
pique skirt, for he was young and his
heart was gripped as in vice.
The Condor had a name. She was the
Roc, owned by Mr.. Finley Shayne: and her
home port was Shaynes Hold, in the Cats
kills Those who are familiar with the
scope power and spectacular success Of
Mr.. Shayne's operation in Aerostatic Power
stocks in the latter part OF the first quar-
ter of the present century, will surmise
that the Roc was the finest product of the
art OF avistional construction up to that
time, Her speed, her stsunchness. her air
worthiness, her luxurious appointments
the fame of these had preceded her to the
gulf resorts, where she awaited favorable
breezes to Cuba. and, from island to island
in the Antilles-an attractive itinerary. but
rather hazardous. the aerostat being an
unsafe craft for the open sea.
This fateful morning she had moored IL
the aerial harbor at Mobile, in her berth
hard by the lift near the Bienville statue
Mrs. shayne, native MobilIan, pleaded in.
disposition but went out to see some old
houses dear to her youth. Mr.. shayne and
their guest, Mr.. Max Silberberg, had in
sisted upon the presence Of Virginia Suarez
bay in the Roc to witness the demonstra,
ton Of a new flying machine, and she had
yielded.
The inventor, suspicious, foxy middle
aged man, proved personally Objectionable
10 Miss Suarez because his thumbs turned
back SO far that the sight of them made
her feel creepy; and as he gesticulated
freely while denouncing all devices for
vi he
were much in evidence. He showed won
derful capacity for fury. flying passionat ely
at all who said that his helicopter might
not be the key to the aviation situation
So Virginia was relieved by his going aft
to convince the engineer that the Roc's
screws were fundamentally wrong in con-
structlon.
Unfortunate devil" said silberberg.
why" she queried. because of those
awful thumbs?'
Because he failed to please you" replied
silberberg, with the kissing termination OF
the please that constituted the one race
betraying slip in his speech. ITO displeace
you-the greatest calamity
Il don't believe he feels it much" said
size.
Another misfortune" replied he, mot
10 KNOW WHAT ne LOSING res ne , al
unfortunate devil"
Virginia wished Wiener back, crooked
thumbs, fury and all; for no thumbs OF
voice could be 50 offensive as the unre-
lieyed presence Of Mr.. SilberbeTg. the head
OF the Federated Metals concern, controll-
ing the copper, gold ard silver output OF
a continent. He was so insistent on little
encroachments upon her reserve, as he
fused about with rugs and deck chairs
tucking her wraps about her as they rose
into the high south-bioWing upper drift
constantly touching her with his bedia.
monded fingers in little ways, his breath
heavy with cigarettes floating to her like
whiff from some fetid smoking room
Virginia wished herself anywhere away
from Silberberg
She felt herself thrown at his head by
her aunt Little privileges, which in an,
other would not have offended, seemed
like the unspeakable liberties OF prospective
purchasers with slaves offered In the mar.
ket. She was getting morbid and almost
hysterieal. silberbergs slight badness
running up in shining cpves from his fore
head, his well groomed grossness OF body
his oily black curls. made OF him a beastiS
sultan Gloating over the last impOrta tor
from cireassia- And yet his appearance,
and behavior were not Inherently bad-th,
situation made them uncomfortable. Perhap.
Mrs. shayne's tributes 10 his greatness. and
her emphasis on him as an opportunit,
open 70 Virginia, mere dependent weT,