The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-08-24
THE AERIAL LIMITED.
BY n. II. Hudson.
THE FORM OF A WOMAN
CI INGINIG TO TIIE RODEC

CLINGING TO THE ROPES.
When the first passenger dirig
ible made its initial trip between
New York and Chicago there was
excitement everywhere, but as the
seasons came and went people gave
little heed to the great torpedo.
shaped monsters which coursed the
air far above them.
PIP ppp NH NH NH NH NH mhmh
middle Of June, 1920, Dan Wag.
ner sat on the porch at his home
on the heights east of the city
AS he studied a telegram his heart
beat faster. The message ran:
Dear Dan: Father and I
left for Chicago today at 1
o'clock on the Overland Linn
tied. Think OF me when you
see the lights pass.
DORA NELSON"
Why should the girl ask him
to thing of her when she knew
that one-half OF his thought vi
bration was given to her con.
stantly? He would do more Titan
think Of her. He would catch a
glimpse Of her face as the sky.
liner passed. He called up the
weather bureau and learned with
alarm that sudden changes were
expected before morning.
Meanwhile, Dora Nelson sat
beside her father in the magnifi-
Gently appointed apartments of
the airship. With JOY and en-
thusiasm she drank In the pure
air far above the smoky towns
and cities. Below she watched the
trains following the threads OF
steel. There was music. too, and
choice refreshments. AS the land
scape fell away beneath her she
gradually became accustomed to
the sound Of the whirring motors
Finally the enthusiastic passen
gers caught the distant blue of the
lake dotted with steamers. She
learned that they were ON time
and would reach their destination
by 8 o'clock in the evening, while
six hours more would land them
safely in Chicago. Some of the
tourists noticed dark patches Of
clouds on the horizon, but the
electric lights were soon turned
ON and dangers were forgotten.
At precisely $3.50 Wagner's
aeroplane shot up from its
course, and after cutting some fan
tastic figures in the air, rose ma
jestically, circling higher and high
er in the constantly increasing
breeze. Wagner was an expert
and could rise, dip and turn like
a bird. He defied all danger ant
courted the strong wind. His ma
chine, moreover, was one which
had been made under special su
pervision, and had many improve
ments over those generally in use
Occasionally he glanced at his
watch. The limited" had been de
layed.
He put on full power and
headed toward Buffalo. After
travelling some distance he caugh
the light of the oncoming craft
which shone like huge star in the
east, but it was far from it's course
and was sailing low over the lake
His heart was in his mouth. Some
thing had gone wrong. Then he
saw rocket go up. 1t was the
signal of distress. The wind grew
fiercer, and the forked lightning
played in the distant gloom. As
he came nearer he heard shouts
from the dark waves beneath him
and a flash revealed the struggling
forms of the passengers. They were
reasonably safe, however, having
dropped with life preservers from
the ill-fated air craft, which was
bent in the form of a semi-circle
by the strong blasts. Moreover
a steamer from Buffalo was fas'
overhauling them.
Another bright flash revealed
the frecked dirigible and the form
of a woman clinging to the ropes
far above the car. She had evi
IDENTIFY refused to obey the order
to jump, and had trusted herself