The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-17
CHAPTER I.
kN AMAZING ABDUCTION.


 ~H 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 ctIiosities of human an nals. It has already been the subject of much laborious research and of many learned disquisitions, while the public has eagerly deyoured the lives Of a Ouzen of those astounding ma rauders of the atmosphere. who de scended from tke sky with the speed and ferocity of famished eagles. Whole towns were sometimes laid under con- tribufion. 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 conoliistadores, Payton's exploits in his famous aero Chameleon com mandad a great deal of attention at times ill the newspapers, but his story has never been fully told. and the clos 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, CT Captain Alfonso" as his reckless crew always called him, was cGe of the handsomest men that have ever seen. He had a Spaniard's eyes and complexion, with the stature and vigor of a modern American, while his manners were those of an ideal prince. The charm of his personality was felt by everybody who came in contact with him. He was exceedingly well 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 .n his wickedness, sought only the 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 10 it until the end. He never attacked treasure laden fiers, such as the early transatlantic liners of the Internation- al Aero express, which constituted the favorite prey of Morton, the other great pirate of the period, bCt he made an exclusive speciality of Kidnapping, md almost invariably he Kidnapped wo- men. whom he treated with the utmost delicac- and consideration consistent
 
 T here were many instances familiar to newspaper readers of his magic per konality 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 nbductions WIS 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 Will liam Grayman. He had accumulated a stupendous fortune by means of "corner in banks"
 I was young lieutenant in charge of a government aero engaged in the revenue service. and >the one thing outside my regular occupation that especially interested me was the prog ress of invention growing out of the old wireless telegraph.
 Mir. Grayman, who had long been widower, had an only child. Miss Hel- en Grayman, who was one of the most beautiful girls in the richest so- cial circle of New York and was dotted on by her father. She was about eighteen years of age, and it was the common report tEat several European counts and dukes and ore prince sought her hand. But it was also averred that she had refused them all. This made Miss Grayman popular with thousands who had never met her. I recall that nay interest in Miss