The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-04-13
THE SKY PIRATE; e4ss5Ty : s5sZ5s5

parachute dropping from it almost in
cur track
GTayman had, in some manner, man
aged to get awaE, with Susan, and
now PaytOn was pursuing them In
fact, he had intended to descend with
them. and had thrust them into the
parachute But as he was about 10
follow Them. he accidentally lOOssned
the apparatus, and IT dropped like
stone He had seen my maneuveT, and
had sprung Tor the second parachute
into which two men had already tum-
bled
It was the strangest chase that can
be imagined There is practically no
way TO guide a parachute. 1t must be
left 10 descend Of itself We had a
long start, put Payton was following
the same line, and i was evident that
ne would touch the earth in almost the
same spot But I was not dismRyed,
and felt wrought Up TO a heroic tom
per when Miss Grsynlan clunR TO ny
arm. sObblng-
.'Oh. sir. help u.s. save usI Nv God.
what viii become Of TneYs.
Have no fear, Miss Grayman." I
said, summOnInE all the steadfness Of
nerve that I possessed Il will save
There must have been a great deal
OF meaning and Of encoura cement in
my words, for a faint color and a look
Of relief came into the girls wan face.
Then she bestowed upon me a glance
Of thankfUlness that made my heart
bound.
save her, I would have encountsred
an army IN her cause
I was too anxious that We should
make safe landing to pay much at
tention 70 PaytOn at present. in
spected the ground beneath Us, and
saw. as We got nearer, that We were
likely to come down in a marsh p4-t
there was solid ground, brush covered
near and by desperate exertfons throw
ing all my weight TO one side. sue
20 cd IN ~ z
ward the dTier land, so that finally we
struck IN a very good place, the basket
alighttng with but a slight shock in a
Ciump Of low leafy bushes.
7 had hardly assisted Miss Grammar
and the maid out Of the tanEIe when
there vas a splash IN the water close
BY, announcing the arrival Of Payton' g
parachute heard one Of his men
swear horribly at the fix in which thew
found themselves, for the water with
soft mud under H. must have been three
feet deep
In a moment I thought OF irving 10
take them at disadvantage, shooting
them down before they could extricate
themselves But I could not see their
exact location, and the time that would
be lest in getting sight OF them might
Of greater security for ourselves. es-
pecially as Il was by no means certain
that they could not use their weapons
where they were, and there were three
Of them against me
Looking around. my eye lighted upon
q pile OF great rocks which rose above
the brushvcod not more than thirty
rods from where we stood.
Come" / said. taking Miss Gray
mans hand. we shall be safer on
those rocks"
She was trembling like a leaf, and
the maid could hardly stand
Miss Grayman,' I said, putting all
my heart into my words, you must
please have confidence in me. I have
left your father IN the aero. and / hope
that ne, with plenty OF help, viii be
able soon 10 reach Us. In the mean
time. trust in me ! would give I'D my
life to protect you. and know that I
can protect you I am an officer in the
service Of the United states Govern
ment. and the Secretary Of the Treas
uTy himself Is with your father in the
aero. You know that We have destroy
ed PaytOn's Chameleon, and he him
self viii soon be in our hands II needs
only q little courage and confidence on
your part in order that all shall come
out well
During this speech had been hurry
ing them forward toward the rocks, for
I heard the foundering OF Payton and
his men in the marsh, and knew that
they were fast extricatfuE themselves
Ny words had the happiest effect upon
Miss Grayman- She glanced at me with
the first cheerful look that had seen
upon her faCe-a glance which told me
that she did trust me- then she asked.
What IS your name please2''
81 am Lieut. John Allan, OF the rev