The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-10-13
CHAPTER /.
AN AMAZING ABDUCTION.

AN AMALINS AbDOCIlON.
~HE extraordinary outbreak of
piracy which followed with
such astonishing promptness
the general adoption Of aerial
navigation in the fourth decade of the
twentieth century will no doubt be re-
garded by future historians as one Of
the greatest curiosities of human an.
mails. 1t has already been the subject
Of much laborious research and Of
many learned disquisitions, while the
public has eagerly devoured the Lives"
of dozen of those astounding ma
RAIDERS of the atmosphere, who de-
scended from the sky with the speed
and ferocity Of famished eagles Whole
towns were sometimes laid under con-
tribution. the terror inspired by drop
ping bombs banishing all thought Of
effective resistance.
OF all the desperate Adventures of
that period none was so fascinating in
personality or had the romantic charm
that characterized Captain Alfonso
Payton, Spanish American, whose
real Christian name was probably that
which he gave. but who had dropped
the name Of his family, which was said
to be one of the oldest and proudest
In Spain. dating back to the days of
the commissioners. Payton's exploits
In his famous aero Chameleon com
manded q great deal Of attention at
times in the newspapers. but his story
ing details, the most amazing of all.
were withheld from public knowledge
for reasons which will be apparent in
what am about to relate.
Payton, or Captain Alfonso" as his
reckless crew always called him. was
one of the handsomest men that have
ever seen. He had Spaniards eyes
and complexion. with the stature and
vigor of q modern American, while his
manners were those of an ideal prince.
The charm Of his personality was felt
by everybody who came in contact
educated, especially in everything
which, makes a man attractive to wo-
men. and If he had chosen to lead an
honest life he could unquestionably
have married almost any heiress or
any beautiful girl that he might have
fancied. and he would have been an
ornament to society.
But he was a born pirate. Brave
and fearless, he was absolutely reck-
less Of the opinions of mankind, re-
joiced in his wickedness. sought only
thei qualification of his whims and
pleasures, and yet he could commit an
outrage on the liberty and personal
rights Of others with such winning
gentleness, such delicate consideration
for their feelings, that often the sting
was not at the moment perceived.
Payton's methods were peculiar. He
had chosen his line. and he stuck to it
until the, end. He never attacked
treasure laden fliers. such as the early
transatlantic liners Of the Information
al Aero express, which constituted the
favorite prey Of Morton, the other
great pirate Of the period. but he made
an exclusive speciality Of kidnapping.
and almost Invariably he kidnapped wo-
men. whom he treated with the utmost
delicacy and consideration consistent
with sure capture and safe keeping.
There were many instances familiar
to newspaper readers Of his magic per.
sonality so working upon his victims
that he won their respect and even
friendship.
Nevertheless he was without mercy
in his exactions. The object Of all his
abductions was ransom. No tears. no
entreaties, no consideration whatever.
had the slightest effect upon him.
Pay or stay was his word
The exploit which finally brought
Payton's career to an end was the
most extraordinary and romantic in
all the long list of his adventures and
one which would never have been
dreamed Of by a man less recklessly
daring. At that time the most talked
about and the wealthiest Of New
York's billionaires was the late VIII
liam Grayman. He had accumulated
q stupendous fortune by means Of a
''corner in banks"
was a young lieutenant in charge
of a government aero engaged in the
revenue service, and the one thing
outside my regular occupation that
~~nociallv inforeatod me was the prOg-