Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1911-10-13

"
THE GALLANT OFFICER FELL WITH bull
LET THROUGH HIS BRAIN.
Aboard" he commanded sharply.
His men sprang upon the Chameleon.
and she was away in a fash. Running
low again, she headed down the river
for a second piece of woods, where an
other Of the hidden aerOs foated
among the treetops. Here a similar
scene was enacted. Even more utter
ly unprepared than their unfortunate
comrades, these policemen were taking
an early breakfast. Some Of them
were knocked over with the cups In
their hands.
Captain Billings, their commander,
was seized from behind by Payton be-
| fore he even knew that an enemy was
aboard. Not a man had a weapon
ready, and not a shot was fired. The
captives were gagged and bound like
| the others. and the Chameleon was of
again for her third victim, on the north
| side Of the river.
This time there was a fight. but
most unequal one, because the surprise
was virtually as complete as in the
nrst two cases. The Chameleon had
indeed been seen a quarter Of minute
before the attack, but unluckily she
was mistaken by Captain Campbell for
one Of his consorts, and while he was
beating his brains to understand what
she wanted there Payton and his men
leaped aboard almost unoppOsed.
Even then Campbell probably never
comprehended that 1t was the famous
Sky Pirate who had attacked him.
He had no time to think Of anything
except the fact there was an attack.
and. having his pistol in his hand. he
shot the first man who put his foot
on his deck.
Immediately a bullet passed through
his own heart. His men rallied gal
lantly. but only three Of them sue
ceeded In getting hold Of their weap-
ons.
Payton pushed the assault like a
demon. His pistol leveled two Of
these men with shots so nearly stimuli
taneous that their reports blended.
The third was Drained with his own
weapon by one of the Chameleon's
crew, who showed the strength and
agility Of an acrobat. In the mean
time the other Eve, being unable to
reach their weapons. were easily over
powered, gagged and bound.
Not sound Of this struggle reached
the fourth aero. something less than a
third Of a mile distant Indeed, the
shots could not have been heard rs
far as the edge Of the little woodland
in which the fight occurred. This. by
the way, Is one Of the disadvantages
Of our modern firearms-if they do
not betray ones location to the ene-
my. they equally fail to convey infor-
nation to friends.
The fourth aero, under Captain
Burns. was situated westward from
the bluff. Payton once more ran the
Chameleon near the ground until ne
reached the edge Of the woods. then
rose quickly above the trees, located
his prey in spite Of its fancied securi-
ty and was upon It without the slight
est warning having been given. Here
again the men were at breakfast. and
the scene was almost a duplicate Of
that enscted at the second assault.
In every case PaytOn was careful to
leave the little flags. which were to in
dicate to the commissioner the pres
ence Of his aeros at their prescribed
posts. undisturbed.
No sooner were Burns and his men
secured than the Chameleon rose a.
most vertically in the air to great el-
| evation and then, assuming her sky
blue dress, for the sun was rising In q
cloudless heaven, scared on south
ward. When he had got we'll beyond
eye shot from Tribes Hill Payton or
dered the aero to hover over the farm
checkered township of Florida and
sent his men to breakfast.
"A pretty good mornings perform
ance," be said. laughing in his hearty
manner and addressing the steersman,
who. in each case. had been the only
one left In charge Of the Chameleon,
all the others being engaged in the
fight and capture.
The steersman's only reply was de-
lighted grin. Like his comrades, he
fairly worshipcd his peerless comman.
der.
$50 this Is the metropolitan policsr'
Payton continued with a sheer. "Apd
their commissioner thought that he
could take me in! I'm half inclined to
give him a taste Of my jug. when he
arrives with his Millionaire CLIENT.
The fact was. as subsequent investi-
CATION fully developed and as I have
already limited. that Payton knew the
commissioners plan through the medi-
um OF his spies. whom he had every
where in wireless communication. So.
instead Of being trapped. he had him
self turned .trapper. Now he only
awaited the arrival Of the commission
er and Mr. Grayman to complete his
achievement
He knew the hour when the local
train would arrive from Albany. and
he took his measures accordingly.
CHAPTER vi.
THE FINISH WITH THE roLIcE.
AZ r. GRAYMAN and the COM
missioner were impatient be-
cause their train was q QUAR-