Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-26
An International Romance BY fiaIIe Er1ninie Ryes
thor If Sanders ,H6arbG a9eOuS,


Here Daunt leaped down and u-renched
both lamps from the carriage Go home
he said 20 the hetto, and running through
a olump Of trees. struck across the
waste
The japanese started after him myssI-
fled. then with phnosophic ob5urgation
turned and drove the sweating horses
home 81 q walk
Daunt ran 10 q low door IN the long
garage The key was On a ring In his
pocket He went IN. locking the door be-
hind him There we're no electric lights
he had been there heretofore only by Gay
and the carriage lamps made only sub
eued Elinnfner that was reflected from the
polished metal Of the great winged thing
resting on rs carrier. He threw OF his
evening coat and set fererishiy 70 work
After its single trial the nsw fan-propei-
Ter had been Unshipped for slight sitera-
ton. and the nanEes had not yet been
reassembled. There were delicate adjust
msnts 20 be made. wire rigging 70 Be taut-
-ened. q score o. minute tests before al
could be safe and sure
At length the last attachment was IN
place, the final bolt sent home and one
Of TIE lamps Iashed close n the angle
81 the Wind screen he took his place
and the engine started its familiar double
rhythm; pst-pst-pst-p st--pst-pst as the
explosive drop fen faster ard faster. He
leaned and broke the clutch which held
the bic double doors Of the building. They
swung open and be threw on the gear.
And suddenly, as the propeller began 10
spin. n the instant the Glider started IN
its rush down the guides Daunt was aware
that Some one had dsrted through the
doors. He had a flashing view of a
white, dishevsled face. heard a cry BE-
hind him-then the prov OF the Glider
tilted abruptly. the air WISHED past the
screens. the great nnt field sank away.
and he was throbbing Eteeply upward.
against the sweep Of the wind
Daunt threw himself forward-the bub-
BE in the spirit-levei chung to the top OF
its tube. Rapidly he wrapped down the sle-
vation-vanes tiH slowly, slowly, the tslltale
bubble crepf 10 the middle OF the level
What was the matter? The engine was
working well yet there was q sense OF
heaviness. Of sluggishness that was IN
accountable. He looked TO either side, be-
fore him. behind him
His fingers frightened on the clutches.
Just forward q the whirling propeller he
made out the figure OF man. lying fiat
along the rihs q the glider's body. clIroh-
ing the steel guys OF the planes. looking
81 him
For q moment he stared motionless- 1t
was THIS extra weight that had sent the
glider Keeling prow-up-had made ii m-
responsive 70 control. The man who elung
there HAD aimed 10 prevent the flight!
Daunt leaned 10 let the fun beam OF the
narsng lamp 50 past him A quick intui-
ton bad told him whose were the eyes
that had giittere6 across the throbbing
fabric. but the face he saw nov vas in
furiafe with a new look that made him
shiver. Il was incarnAte with the dare
devl Of terror Phil had been 4 drunkard:
he was drunk now with the calculate mad
ness OF Overuaastering fear. As he gaEed.
a fitting. irrelevant memory crossed
Daunts mind. OF a day At college. years
before. when BY a personal appeal. he had
saved Phil from the disgrace Of expulsion
And now Il was observation-disclosures there
with desperate. hooked fingers struggling
20 oonsummate q crime that must sink
him for ever,
Pst-pst-pst-pst-pst-p on the glider
drove with fierce effort Daunt crushed
down the sense Of unreality and swiftly
weighed his position
The other Was directly in front Of the
propeller. a perilous place. Only the guy
wire was in his reach between them
was a shuddering SPACE To land IN
the darkness 20 nd the Reroplsne Of that
incubus. was impossible He must go on
Could he win with such q terrible handi-
} caps He set his teeth. fitting the lateral
xanes. he SCARED in q wide serpentine. peer
ing into the deep. resounding dark below
Tokyo lay a vast network OF tiny pin
pE4cks Of FIRE He had never been 50 high
before. had been content 10 sweep the
treetops- To the left a BEARDED scimetar
q light merged By blaekness. marked ths
bay. Daunt swung parallel with this
-pst-pss- pst-pst-pst The wind tore
In gusts through the structure. the planes