The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1910-04-21

the sloping lawn. The man was John
Rldgeway, and he was the owner Of
the sloping lawn and the low shed
and Of the red tiled roof that showed
above the trees.
Yet John Ridgeway was acting
more like an iGterloper than pro-
prietor He looked around nervonsly
Is he fitted the key in the lock and
Il. Wv nushed open the wide double
doors.
The sun was forcing slender red
and yellow arrows Of light up IRON
behind the low eastern hills. Some
where in the distance a rooster sound
ed a faint call. There was dew on the
grass and the night wind futtered
the leaves.
1t was light enough for John Ridge
way TO find his way about, and the
darkness paled with every passing
moment.
He had not slept well for several
nights The quiet of the place failed
to 5oothe his irritable brain. The SIM
pie remedies given him by the fine,
old doctor whom he had reluctantly
consulted, proved unavailing.
What you really need" SAID the
fine old doctor, 'is not complete rest,
but complete change, with something
to lead your interest along a new
channel Haven't you a home some
where-I don't mean a palace or
hotel, but an old fashioned home!
Where do you come from?"
"Michigan-Southern Michigan"
And isn't the old home still
there?",
% believe it u.s."
why can't you 60 there for a
month or two? Look up the old
hmnts, and the early friends. Be a
boy again."
" couldn't think Of it," said John
Ridgeway abruptly.
But he did think of it.
He had thought of it that night as
he sat by the open window and
smoked and stared YEARLY at the
trembling stars.
Had ha reached the limit OF his
powers? Was he going down as Sllas
Rankin went down, and Stephen Cur
ney? Was the mind that had served
him so long and faithfully growing
Indifferent to its duty?
He reered across the lawn as ne
drew from the low shed the hidden
aeropane. It was lightly borne upor
It's track and he drew it away from
the shed and did not halt until 1t was
in the exact spot whence ne anC
Crandall had taken their short high
the day before
He and Crandall would have tried
the craft again that morning, onl!
Crandall could not come. He nae
'phoned John Ridgeway the night be
fore that his mother was dangerous,
III and he was called to her bedside
His mother, Crandalls mother
Somehow John Ridgeway had locke
upon Crandall as quite alone in tn
wOrld-alone with his workshop an
his inventive genius. He had neve
mentioned his mother
This was Crandalps aeroplant
built with John Ridgeway's money
John liked the eager young fellow an
believed in him. And here was Tn
craft he had planned and perfecte
under John Ridgeway's watchful eye
For John might have been fair me
chanic. a creditable handler Of tool'
If fate had not called him to NOR
strenuous things.
He knew the aeroplane almost a
we'll as Crandall knew 1t, but afte
his usual cautious fashion he made n
boast of his knowledge,
Now he was going TO take flight |
It alone. It had behaved so well n
day before in its short flight that b
had perfect confidence in it.
1T only needs a light brace or wv
and a general tightening to be entlr
ly seaworthy," CrandaIl had said
he glanced the craft over. ..
D.. "Airworthy," John Ridgeway co
rected him.
And they had planned that era
dali would come up early from Il
village and they would enjoy an a
petizing flight before brealSfast-al
now John Ridgeway was going alor
Everything had been placed
readiness for that early fight.
Ridgeway carefully attached {
huge planes and tried the level
Then he raised the craft on its spill
lack and took the navigator's seat