The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-03-16

of the long low shed at the foot OF
Rdgeway, 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 interloper than pro-
prietor. He looked around nervously
as he fitted the key in the lock and
finally pushed open the wide double
doors.
The sun was forcing slender red
and yellow arrows Of light up from
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 fluttered
the leaves.
1t was light enough for John Ridge
darkness paled with every passing
moment.
He had not slept well for several
nights. The quiet of the place failed
to soothe 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 sis 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 palace or a
hotel, but an old fashioned home?
Where do you come from?"
Michigan-Southern Michigan"
And isn't the old home still
there"
81 believe it is"
"Why can't you go there for a
month or two? Look up the old
haunts, and the early friends. Be
boy again.
81 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 wearily at the
trembling stars.
Had he reached the limit of his
powers? Was he going down as Silas
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 he
drew from the low shed the hidden
aeroplane. It was lightly borne upon
Its track and he drew it away from
the shed and did not halt until it was
In the exact spot whence he and
Crandall had taken their short flight
the day before.
He and Crandall would have tried
the craft again that morning, only
Crandall could not come. He had
'phoned John Ridgeway the night be-
fore that his mother was dangerously
oil and he had been called to her bed
side.
His mother, Crandall's mother.
Somehow John Ridgeway had looked
upon Crandall as quite alone in the
world-alone with his workshop and
his inventive genius. He had never
mentioned his mother.
This was Crandalls aeroplane,
built with John Ridgeway's money.
John liked the eager young fellow and
believed in him. And here was the
craft he had planned and perfected
under John Rdgeway's watchful eye.
For John might have been fair me-
chanic, creditable handler of tools,
Il fate had not called him to more
strenuous things
He knew the aeroplane almost as
well as Crandall knew it, but after
his usual cautious fashion he made no
boast of his knowledge
Now he was going to take fight in
It alone. 1t had behaved so well the
day before in its short flight that he
had perfect confidence in it.
ut only needs light brace or two
and general tightening to be entire
ly seaworthy," Crandall had said as
he glanced the craft over
"Airworthy," John Ridgeway cor
rected him.
Auu Uuey Hdu plHnueu ludt CTdn-
dali would come up early from the
village and they would enjoy an ap-
petizing flight before breakfast-and
now John Ridgeway was going alone.
Everything had been placed in
readiness for that early fight.
Ridgeway carefully attached the
huge planes and tried the levers.
Then he raised the craft on its spiral
Jack and took the navigator's seat.
A moment later the throb Of the
motor arose on the still air. AS the
speed increased the craft tugged at
dts mooring. Ridgeway threw or the
retaining clutch, the aeroplane slid
forward and slowly arose.
- He drew quick breath. This was
6ne. 1t gave him the old thrill OF
power His pulses stirred, new
light came into his eyes.
He foated across the little valley,
gradually rising, and cleared the
woods on the ridge beyond By 200