The evening times., 1911-07-08

York. Leaving his machine ON thu
skyscraper. he enters his ofhces by I
spiral stairway through the roof. Thui
he avoids the vulgar crowds below
"How wonderful" exclaimed Juan.
ita.
Its great thing to be wealthy
dear, precious girl. Think Of what ID
in store for you, sweet one, IL only you
will love me-"
Then Stephen, after another draft
Of nectar from the choicest vine, NOV.
ed nearer. He was now at Juanita'e
side. He tried to take her hand in his
He did not succeed. Then he threw
his arms around her and made q Wig
orous effort to kiss her. In this he
failed, for she said something to him
that caused him to pause. She was
SO unlike some others he had met!
Though the grape was in his blood
his faculty Of comprehension had not
been lost.
He looked dejectedly through the
little window for a moment. Then
he gasped an exclamation Of surprise.
They were over the sea, some dis
tance from land. The dirigible was
moving steadily to the east He rose
suddenly, muttering an imprecation
against the barbaric inhabitants OF
Russia. Then he left the compart-
ment, closing the door with q slam.
Juanita was relieved when he was
gone. She did not know the cause
of his hasty exit; yet she, too, could
see they were not travelling in the d.
rection of the San Madres. That was
mere coincidence; something might
be wrong with the machinery. The
thing that was troubling her most was
the warning admonition of her moth
er. Never again, she promised her
self, would she go contrary to her
wishes.
Where are you going?" demanded
Stephen to Ivan. "Your orders were
to keep a northwesterly course"
Juanita did not hear Stephens re-
mark. The whir of the blades, the
grinding Of the wheels, drowned his
voice. Besides the door was closed,
and he was speaking in subdued tones.
Nevertheless, they were earnest and
"You directed me to steer for the
San Madres," replied the navigator.
"Then you changed for a point in
another direction-far away. too
have deemed 1t wise to change"
What right have you to"
"The right of the man at least
claim to be-" interrupted Ivan, for
whom the knout had had no terrors in
Russia.
"Your insolence is unbearable. I
will discharge you"
Il will discharge myself when we
are at San Enrique again, Mr.. Holt" {"
Turn her to the northwest, or
will take the wheel myself" Stephen
demanded, moving as If to do so.
Il will turn her to the south, Mr..
Holt, toward San Enrique. You seem
to forget they are still searching for
Twain; that Akers is in jail"
The navigator pulled the slender
cable that regulated the rudder. Then
he lowered the forward planes. The
dirigible swerved to the south and
was dropping to a lower altitude.
Then Stephen, now angered beyony
all self-control, struck. the navigator
on the side of the face with his open
hand.
The next instant he was struggling
at the bottom of the carrier. The
powerful Ivan had hit him. Stephen
received the blow just under his right
eye, and went down with thud. It
may have been dull thud," yet Ju-
anita heard the commotion; she was
now quite certain that something was
wrong with the machinery. She did
not "lose her head" she did not
scream nor rush from the compart-
ment. II her surmise were the cor
rect one. of course it would be neces-
sary to return to San Enrique, now
almost within sight. In half an hour
they would be there. It was a COM
fort to know that she would soon be
with her mother and Susie again, and
her heart gave great bound when
she thought Of the sturdy English
man.
When Stephen had struggled to his
feet he made a mad rush for the big
Russian. who dealt him swift up
percut under the other eye. It was
like the benumbing jolt Of catapult.
Stephen was down again. He did not
get up Immediately.
The navigator returned to the wheel,
looked through the heavy glass win
dow for his bearings and adjusted the
rudder and the planes. After this he
helped Stephen to his feet and wiped
his bleeding face with wisp Of pack
ing. Neither Of tha men had spoken
since the scrimmage began.
Then Juanita. becoming anxious,
pushed open the door Of the compart-
ment. At the sight Of Stephen, who
was sitting on low stool, holding
his handkerchief to his closed eyes,
the blood streaming over his face,
saturating his white duck clothing
recently 30 immaculate she be-
held the gruesome sight. Juanita
screamed and asked what had hap
pened.
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