Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1911-08-17

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girl-for the voice seemed to indicate
that she was girl-pleading with the
man to go to bed and get the needed
rest for his journey to the planet Mars.
1t was evident to me that she was shut
up with a lunatic, and / dreaded lest
her.
/ hailed an empty hack, told the
eriver to take me to So Merton ave-
nue. and be quick about 1t. He asked
me where 1t was, and l told him 1t
was at Merton avenue. He must find
it, and find it at once. | would pay
double fare. With this l got into the
hack, banged the door, and the coach
man drove ON. Where to go he didn't
seem to know any more than | did
After going back and forth few
times and turning several corners he
hailed policeman. who sent him in
different direction from any he had
yet followed. My first thought was to
take the policeman with me, but some
how l couldn't bring myself to share
with any one the pleasure of relieving
woman in distress-that is, If it
would not be too late for any one to re-
heve her.
The driver finally stopped in the mid
die OF the street. / opened the door
and asked:
"Well. have you found Merton ave
nue?"
This is Merton avenue, sir" was the
reply, but can find the number"
He drove back and forth, while 1t
seemed to me that should go wild
with impotence. Then, suddenly catch
ing sight of number in a lighted
transom-7S-I jumped from the hack
and hurried along the street till /
found No. So. The house stood by
itself, no other being within hundred
yards. ran up the steps and tried
the door. 1t was locked. Desiring to
enter without ringing, / went around
to the rear and fortunately found
window unlocked. Entering, I ran
into the lower hall and stole softly up
stairs. I heard voices.
The only weapon had brought with
me was small rope. Armed with
this, suddenly appeared at the door
Of the room within which I heard the
voices and exclaimed:
"a message for the emperor of the
airp'
In the room, pacing back and forth
and brandishing a knife, was a young
man about twenty years old A girl
of eighteen was following him about,
talking with him in a voice of great
distress. Both turned at once on hear
ing my voice.
"Are you the emperor OF the air?'
I asked Of the man.
81 am"
81 have been sent by the king Of
space, the realms Of infinite ether, to
guide you to new machine, a ma
chine that will bear you not only to
Mars, neighboring planet, but to
Neptune, the most distant, and thence
to the fixed stars"
My reference to his proposed trip to
Mars awakened confidence at once.
where Is this machine?" he asked.
II am deputed by the king of space
to conduct you to it. Come. have
a carriage below. You must depart
before the break of dawn"
The knife dropped from his hand.
Instead Of using 1t on the girl he kiss
ed her and followed me down to the
carriage. Having whispered to the
coachman to drive us to police sta
ton. got in beside the emperor. On
arrival at the station I beckoned to a
policeman. who came to the carriage.
This Is the emperor of the air."
said. pressing the policeman's arm by
way of warning. Remain here while
go inside. I'll be out directly"
l told the sergeant at the desk my
story. We hunted up the address Of
an insane asylum, and in half an hour,
without even using the rope weapon /
had provided, we had him under con-
finement.
From the asylum l drove back to
the house from which / had removed
the patient. Though 1t was late.
knew the young lady would be wait
ing for a report Of what had happen
ed. On arrival / rang the bell and
was admitted by her. She questioned
me eagerly with her eyes. / told her
that the young man was where he
would be safe from himself and could
not injure others. Then l asked her
to explain matters.
"He Is my brother" she said. I'm
fortunately he has sufficient means to
Indulge in aviation. His ambition has
| been to sail higher in the air than any
one else. Last Saturday he broke the
record, but In touching ground he
struck telegraph pole, which broke
| his machine and injured him severely.
| within the past few days he has acted
| 30 strangely that the servants became
afraid Of him. and all left Us in a
body yesterday. Tonight, or, rather,
last night, be became violent. at
tempted to call up my brother-in-law.
John Gooding. but somehow got you
by mistake-at least you heard me-"
| After locking the house I escorted
Miss Ethel Houghton to tho home Of
her brother-in-law, awakened the FAM
llly. and she remained there for the
night. The next day / called upon her
| to assure myself that she had not sur