Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1911-12-01


"A 'ome from 'ome." said Bert, sur
veying this provision as he tied the
eartiaps under his chin.
He looked over the side of the car.
Far below were the shining clouds.
They had thickenR SO that the whole
world was hidden Southwark they
We're piled in great snowy masses so
that he was half disposed to think
them mountains. Northward and east
ward they were in wavelike levels and
blindingly sunlit.
Wonder how long a balloon keeps
up?' he said
He imagined he was not moving, so
insensibly did the monster drift with
the air about it. mo good coming
down till we shift Bit he said.
He consulted the statoscope.
Still Monty" he said
wonder what would happen if you
pulled cord? No. he decided; Il
amt going to mess it about"
Afterward he did pull both the rip
ping and the valve cords; but, as Mr..
Butteridge had already discovered.
they had fouled fold of silk in the
throat. Nothing happened. But for
that little hitch the ripping cord would
have torn the balloon open as though
it had been slashed by a sword and
hurled Mr.. Smallways to eternity at
the rate of some thousand feet sec
ond. mo go. he said. giving it a
final tug. Then he lunched
He reposed for time. Then he got
up, padded about, rearranged the bal
last bags OH the floor, watched the
clouds for a time and turned over the
maps on the locker. Bert liked maps,
and he spent some time in trying to
find one of France or the channel But
they We're all British ordnance maps
of English counties. That set him
thinking about languages and trying
to recall his seventh standard French.
"Je suis Auglais. C'est une meprise.
Je suis arrive par accident lei" he de-
cided upon as convenient phrases.
Then it occurred to him that he would
entertain himself by reading Mr.. But
teridge's letters and examining his
pocketbook, and in this manner he
whiled away the afternoon.
lie sat upon the padded locker,
wrapped about very carefully. for the
air, though calm. was eXhilaratingly
cold and clear About him, above and
below, was space-such a clear emlti-
ness and silence of space as only the
aeronaut can experience.
There were letters of an entirely pri-
vate character addressed to Mr.. But
teridge. and among others several love
letters of devouring sort in large
feminine hand. These are no business
of ours. and one remarks with regret
that Bert read them.
When he had read them he remarked,
"GollyS" in an awe stricken tone, and
then. after a long interval, Il wonder
if that was her: Lord
He unused for a time.
He resumed his exploration of the
Butteridge interior. 1t included a num-
ber of press cuttings of interviews and
also several letters in German. then
some in the same German handwrit-
ing, but in English Hello" said Bert.
began with an apology to Butteridge
for not writing to him in English be-
fore and for the Inconvenience and
delay that had been caused him by
that and went on % matter that Bert
found exciting in the highest degree.
I'VE can understand entirely the diff
ficulties of your position and that you
I,,n Il I., f,I II ,t ft,.,
ent juncture. But, sir, we do not be-
lieve that any serious obstacles will be
put in your way If you wish to en-
deavor to leave the country and come
to us with your plans by the custom
airy routes-either by way of Dover,
Ostend. Boulogne or Dieppe. We find
it difficult to think you are right In
supposing yourself to be in danger of
murder for your invaluable invention"
Funny said Bert and meditated.
Then he went through the other let
ters.
"They seem to want him to come" p"
said Bert, but they don't seem hurt
ing themselves to get i'm, or else
they're shamming don't care to get his
prices down.
"They don't quite seem to be the
gov'ment." he reflected after an inter-
val. Its more like some firms paper
All this printed stuff at the top.
Drachenfieger. Drachenballons. Bal
lonstoffe NEGOTIATIONS Greek to me.
But he was trying to sell his blessed
secret abroad. That's all right No
Greek about that. Gollys! Here is
! the secret"
He tumbled off the seat opeEed the
locker and had the portfolio open be-
fore him on the folding table 1t was
full of drawings done in the peculiar
fiat style and conventional colors engi-
j L L..