Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-03

clapped on double speed.
Mr.. Beriton's fears had proved to
be well grounded. Mr.. Van Damn
Follansbee was out in a machine of
a new pattern and was bearing down
upon them. 1t was evident that Fol-
lansbee was intending to get into
communication with Mrs. Anita Beri-
ton.
Spindleton was true to his employer
BE drove his machine at its best speed,
passing over cities, bays and rivers,
but his aeroplane was gradually gain
ed upon by Follansbee. lowering over
Philadelphia. Spindleton eDdeavored
to descend. but FOllansbee glanced
down like bird and reached a plane
beneath him. Spindleton then rose
and made a bee line for Baltimore.
But Follansbee. evidently with the de-
termination to drive him out to sea,
got to the west of him and forced him
over Chesapeake bay. In q few min
utes more the pursuer had the party
over Fortress Monroe. flying due east.
The race was won. Spindleton was
not prepared to cross the ocean, and
there was no way for him to get back
except by encountering Follansbee.
Spindleton slowed down. and Tollans-
bee glided up beside the Beriton aero
plane. A conference took place after
which Mrs. Beriton and her two daugh-
tiers stepped from their own aeroplane
into that of Mr. Eollansbee.
Meanw hile Mr.. Beriton had left the
roof Of his Office building downtown
in One Hundred and Twenty-fift
CT I'M r.
er rising he saw in the direction of his
mansion an aeroplane starting, and.
selling Il glass he always carried In
the smoking room OF his capacious
bird-car, brought it to bear on the one
just setting out. Discovering that its
occupants were his wife and daughters
with his own aviator in control, he
was about TO lay aside his glass when
he saw another aeropIane lowering
near his home. Bringing his glass to
bear on this machine. he saw Follans-
bee alone in it and just starting for
the one occupied by the Beritons.
Mr.. Beriton noticed that Follansbee's
aeroplane was of a kind he had not
seen before. 1t was OF the bird type.
and on its prov was q sharp ram
apprehension. 1t was plain that Fol
lansbee was bent on some course con-
nected with the Beriton family. but
It was impossible to imagine what
that course would be. 1t was not to
be expected that he would run down
fhe Beriton car and thereby precipitate
the girl he loved to q distance of some
500 feet. Nevertheless he was soon in
full chase. Mr. Beriton directed his
aviator to follow the two aeroplanes.
Unfortunately for Mr.. Beriton's sue
cess in overtaking the others, his car
was equipped with several apartments
fitted up luxuriously and carrying a
large supply of food and drinkables.
Though furnished with the latest pat
tern of engines. 1t was not to be ex-
pected that this machine could COM
pete for speed with the lighter ma
chimes. However. he followed close
on their heels, getting near them at
Trenton, losing them over Wilmington.
again coming in sight of them at Bal
timore. While passing over Virginia
his aviator slowed up to tighten a
loose nut, and after this the fugitives
were lost to him entirely.
After Spindleton's surrender he was
permitted to go where he liked. Max
ing a bee line for Richmond, he met
his employer over the peninsula. The
two drew up side by side. and while
lowering the aviator gave Mr.. Beriton
an account of what had happened.
what are the best points Of your
machineY' asked the latter.
Quick rising and an ability to fly in
thin air"
Good! To fight this pauper we
must get above him. To bring bin
to terms we must have bombs to drop |
on him."
but the bombs will annihilate your
own wife and daughter as well as MIR. |
Follansbee."
He cannot sacrifice them to his own |
covetousness. Our success depends on |
our obtaining a commanding position"
Stepping into the Spindleton ma |
chine, he permitted the one he left to |
go where 1t liked-to the moon il it
chose-and he and Spindleton started |
for the nearest city, Richmond. There |
they procured bombs and, rising. start /
ed in the direction Spindleton had left |
Follansbee and the Beritons.
There was a hubbub in Follansbee's
aeroplane as soon as Spindleton left |
Mrs. Beriton. sympathizing with Miss /