Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-11
The Argus Daily Short Story
An Aerial Flight-By Ira Ten Brock.
Copyrighted. 1910. by Associated Literary Press.

ed aviator Within Il minute OF the
time Helen was seated the motor was
thTobbinc. and the machine began to
glide faster and faster over the field.
| Suddenly the earth seemed 70 fall.
and she knew that they were rising.
For moment she closed her eyes
and chung tightly 70 the narrow frame
work, but the exhilarating sensation
Of flying went into her head, and the
madness Of it all made her laugh in
spite of her fear Gathering courage,
she looked down. and far below she
saw her home as the machine. circIed
over the field and scared toward the
river Suddenly her eyes were arrest
ed by figure in white running fran
tically from the field toward the boat
house Jack saw it about the same
time. and rs he opened the throttle of
the motor ne shouted to her. All she
could hear in the growing roar Of
wind was the word colonel" but she
caught his meaning. Windon was
making for the river, and in few
moments the Comet. the cOlonerS rae
ing launch. emerged from the boat
house. The colonel had OWNED theiE
purpose and was enGeavoring to reach
the opposite shore before they could
descend and escape.
By this time they were nearing the
trees on the far side of the river. and
Jack glanced at her reassuringly. The
Comet was only halfway across the
stream. Right ahead Of them appear
ed a large field. and she could feel
the machine falling as Jack worked
at the levers and shut down the mo-
tor Gliding slowly downward. they
struck with 4 slight jar and ran on
few rods before stopping. Some one
came running across the field. 1t was
Tom. Jacks chauffeur.
Abandoning the Eagle. they raced
across the field and climbed into the
auto. and as the chauffeur threw in
the high speed gear they shot down
the road through the little village of
Rossmere. Such ride as it was.
Molly wondered where the road oth-
GERS were, but she did not see one or
two who stepped into the road. wav-
ing their arms in Il futile endeavOr to
stop the speeding machine. The last
house of the village shot by. a streak
of white, and with an added roar the
big fifty shot out into the open coun-
try. The machine rode the hills like
a bird. Luckily the road was clear,
and Tom opened the throttle wide. II
was glorious. maddeuing thought Mol
ly, holding tightly to her lover Sud
denly she heard q sharp report. and
the car slowed down in obedience to
the brakes. Blowout shouted Tom
as he brought It 10 q stop. and in an
instant he and Wyster were out or
the road stripping off the tire and put
ting on a new one. AS they worked
over the wheel Molly glanced back.
and what she saw made her leap TO
her feet eXcitedly. "Jackr' she cried.
Hurry! Quick. Father is coming"
When Molly thought over the events
that followed she resembled them to
a moving picture exhibition with
nervous operator at the film. Jack
and Tom literally jumped into the
car. and Tom threw on the current.
but the engines didn't even cough. As
Tom leaped out to the crank Jack
looked back. and there. not a quarter
of a mile away, came the other ma
chine. and the colonel was standing.
waving his arm. In a second, how
ever. Tom was again at the wheel, and
the auto shot down the road.
In spite of Toms best efforts the
pursuing car gained steadily. Jack
was almost Wild with intense excite
ment. Coax her. Tom" he pleaded
Coax herr But IL was of no avail.
The colonel by this time was plainly
visible in his white hanneIs. and Jack
fairly groaned
AS usual. the unexpected happened.
Something went wrong with the mo-
tor of the pursuing car. and Jack
Rugged his sweetheart in glee as he
looked back and saw it stop. while the
chauffeur leapsd out and re isgl the
hood In i few secCBds they were out
of sight around bend In the road.
Both Jack and Molly gave a great