The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-20
BY STACY T.. BAKER.
Copyright, 1911. by Associated Lit.
orayv prasa

BY STACY Il. BAKER,
Copyright. 1911. by Associated Lit
erary Press.)
Success il a prankster. Eben Jones.
lured by her smile, stopped on her
threshold. and she peited him with
lemons.
Eben believed in the old adage:
Hitch your wagon to a star" He
started for said star on several occa-
sions. substituting faulty monoplanes
of his own construction for the out
of-date wagon. Eben was an inven-
tor.
For a long time the little work.
shop wherein the sky scooters were
evolved was the hub of many pill
srimagss made by the prim New
Englanders who occupied land adj
joining the Jones farm. Eben's con-
tinued failures, however. bred con-
tempt. Gradually he ceased to be
even the subject of discussion. There
upon Success again srinned and whis-
pered fair promises in the ear OF the
believing youth.
Eben Jones was nothing II not OPP
timistic. Cheerful faith In his fellow
man cleaned in the blue eyes of the
young fellow. and his lips were always
smiling. Even when Farmer Smith
compelled him to pay for the fruit
tree. the laden branches Of which he
had Internationally wrecked by a fall,
the smile remained.
Jones always expected falls. He
flew akyward prepared for them. A
rubber company manufactured in
quantities q pneumatic safety cushion
of his own devising and In which he
arrayed himself at each ascension.
These were not easily punctured. and
they broke the falls Only eHee in
the days 4 his experimenting did he
break q bone.
As the curiosity of his neighbors
degenerated to contempt. Eben began
to achieve results. His craft flew high
err. and he learned TO have a modest
control over them. The principal
otor. This had q nerve-harrowing
way Of stopping when the plane was
just on the border OF cioudland ana
compelling it, owner to slide earth
ward. As coaster, Eben's machine
was a record breaker. Generally
things happened when 1t struck the
earth. But Il always kept its balance,
and when the baking motors rested, 1t
slid much as batsman strives to glide
TO firs; base.
Eben. happily exuitant in the sky.
one day after his continuance had be-
gun to act more like q real sky clip
per. felt the throbbing motor sudden
~ stop. and with . resigned sigh he
adjusted his gliding appliance and
started down thu invisible hill. He
had come farther than usual. When
he struck sod. his machine. following
thu time-honored custom. cheerfuIly
scraped along for some distance like
a misguided Ice yacht and when the
youth finally emerged from the
debris IL WAS to confront a most In
dignant and astonished young LADY,
His eyes told him that he must have
ploughed around in what had once
been q flower garden.
He turned to the maid standing
with q bouquet of freshly picked
flowers In her hand and essayed a
Chesterfietdian bow. Inasmuch a. his
protecting raiment remained unpunc-
tured. he appeared like caricaturc
of the Pickwickian fat boy, and his
grace OF movement was lost to the ir-
ritated damsel.
You have ruined my garden" she
complained,
And my machine. too added the
inventor. AS for the damage I have
done. will pay you for IL. I always
do. / have a reputation in these parts
for prompt dealings. I am Eben Jones'
perhaps yen have heard of mes"
II have not" snapped the indignant
damSel.
Her rage was becoming.
IF you viii just sum up your loss