, 1912-05-09
PROLOGUE.

CE.
The sea pirate has long been q
fascinating figure of romance,
but the march of progress has
driven him into we'll deserved re.
ffremenf, and he has now been
replaced, in fiction at least, b,
the sky pirate, who is even more
mysterious, more daring and more
romantic than his predecessor.
Read and there will unfold before
you the extraordinary story of
Captain Alfonso Payfon and his
airship. the Chameleon; of Viii
liam Graym0n, the richest man in
the world; of hisbeaufifuI douqh-
ter, for whose ransom $40, OOO,-
900 was demanded; of Lieufen-
ant Allen of the revenue service,
of wonders by wireless and of
fierce battles above the clouds.
seemed rushing to meet them had sud
denly attracted her attention. 1t was
so dazzlingly beautiful that for a mo.
ment she closed her eyes. The sun.
beams that transfused its margins en-.
circled 1t with a border of gold and
pink. while the denser central parts
were Of a delicate pearl gray clouded
with soft opaline masses. Suddenly
the Chameleon plunged into the cloud.
In an instant the sunshine and the col.
or were gone. the blue sky vanished.
the earth beneath was concealed. and
they seemed to have passed from the
brilliant morning into a thick. damp.
dismal fog. Raindrops gathered on
the rigging of the aero. and with sur
prising %quickness the deck became
dripping wet. The cold, by contrast,
seemed intense and very penetrating,
and Miss Grayman shivered.
go into your room at once Miss
Grayman." said Payton. This is no
place for you now; you will take cold.
In a few minutes we shall emerge
from the cloud and all will be as be-
fore"
She was about to obey. calling Susan
to follow her. when a spasm seemed
to seize her, succeeded by a paralysis
which prohibited all movement. She
became Dc helpless as If her hands a
grasped the handles Of a powerful cleo
trical machine. At the same time a
curious cracking noise broke out on
all sides and little pointed flames flick
cred on every jutting object. Susan
cried out in terror. but Miss Grayman
was unable to open her lips.
These ~enigmatical electric phenom-
ena which manifest themselves capri
ciously when one is among the clouds
were comparatively unfamiliar in those
days. and even yet little is really
known about them. A singular blue
light which spread a CHASTITY illumina-
ton around the aero added to the con-
sternation, and Susan tainted from
fright.
Payton sprang to aid Miss Grayman.
As he touched her hand a binding
spark leaped forth. and he dropped to
the deck, but was on his feet again in
a second. At the same moment Miss
Grayman felt the force which had held
her immovable relax its grasp. and she.
too, fell in a dead faint beside Susan.
When they came to themselves they
found that they were in their little
cabin. Payton stood beside them with
a smelling bottle in his hand: the cook
was near with another; the door was
wide open. and brilliant sunshine was
pouring in.
DO not feel any alarm, Miss Gray
man." he said. at is all over. There
was no real danger. The spirits of the
air were a little inconsiderate in well
coming you to their domain, but they
meant well. l have often been SINH
larly shocked by them, but 1t is only
Intended for a friendly pat on the
shoulder"
As Payton spoke he laughed so cheer
ingly that Miss Grayman could but
smile in response.
Il am afraid that l shall not like your
spirits of the air. Commodore Brown"
she said. ''They are rather too exuber-
ant in their greetings. do not care to
meet them again."
And you shall not" replied Payton.
we have dropped down below the re-
glon Of the clouds and are now entirely
outside their fairy realm They Will
trouble us no more with their atten-
lions. You may be interested to learn
mat we are nearing our destination"
Oh" said Miss Grayman, Instantly
rising. full of vivacity. then our
friends are close at hand!'
i hope So" said Payton. "but we
may have got the start Of them. We
snail know in a short time"
rayton had a wireless telephone ap-
paratus on the Chameleon. and he now
retired to his cabin and sent out a call.
10 which after a brief interval he had
a response. He then held a long con-