The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-04-17
THE SKY PIRATE;
-BY--
GARRETT P. SERVISS
Copyrighted By the
Frank A. 1Tunsey Co.

down the steersman we should be IN a
Ethan. It depends upon you" I said.
The gunner took a quick sight and
fired. T~he shell hit the -ocIr and ex-
ploded with a fearful report When the
smoke cleared away PaytOn was gone.
We cautiously approached the rock, but
could see nothing Of his BODY. Then VIC
got down and searched, but in vain.
could not believe that he had got away,
although the plain around the rock was
covered with tall, wild grass, intermin-
gled with low. creeping bushes
He must a been blowed 70 thun-
der" said Ethan.
It may have been so, but we could ind
no trace OF him The top OF the rock,
where the shell had struck, was black
eued and splintered. any marks upon It
would have been obliterated- We con-
tinued the search on all sides for an
hour, but no vesuge or Alfonso Payton
did we discover. even with the most
careful scrutiny
Finally, convinced that he must be
dead although I could not explain his
complete disappearance, we made sail
AS We approached we saw the Osprey,
and the flag was 5oyfully waved in vel
come
Have YOU got Payton?' was Mr..
Grantham's hrst question as he wrung
No I said. ct have not got him.
but I believe he must be dead"
=
and I could not feel Jealous as I noticed
sad. faraway look in Helen's eyes.
well anyhow. you've won your re-
ward, said the secretary, with a mis-
chievous look toward Helen You
jumped into 1T Then he added. under
his breath "She has told her father
M Graynan also shook hands with
me very warmly, and I felt my heart
swell with gratitude and love
There IS little more that can tell you
Alfonso PaytOn was never heard OF
again.
His disappearance marked the end Of
one Of the strangest chapters IN the
history OF crime. Polished, talented,
brave as a lion. and such a master OF
aerOnautiCs as the world has seldom
seen he could have risen 70 equal emil
uence. like 70 think. had he chosen 20
work with society instead Of against It
The record Of his exploits some day VIII
possibly ind iJs way into print as I
have here set down its conclusion No
work of fiction VIII sUrpass It in wonder
and fascination
Helen and I often talk OF him, and
sometimes we have wondered II, after
all he escaped On my part, and I am
sure on hers, there would be no regret
r we could believe that he did: FOR.
at any rate. his career % crime was
ended
should. perhaps, ad6 a word 20 say
mat the Survivors OF tle wrecked SKY
lark were safely brought home, and 70
explain what became Of PaytOn's lodge,
and what was the mystery Of the dig
SlnE n the woods The lodge We set
OF fra vaudal's act, peTEaES-b1It We
did not want u 10 remain as a. possible
lurking place for Payton's crew Mrs
Williams turned Out 20 be a, crook. wei
known to Chief BTaulan and his detec-
tives. but. as no overt act was proved
against her she vas allowed 20 20
The grave OF the bear WIS the last
resting place Of one OF Paytou's VIC
Tins. possibly the Mr.. Green that he
had EDoke1 OF. but ne was never fde1-
titled Other EhaStlv discoveries were
made IN the woods about The lodge, but
no buried treasure was found
That I had my reward and that Il
was an ample one my happy lie with
Helen has abundantTy demonstrated
CTHE ENID