The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-12

How calm and peaceful looked the pros porous valley, which like giants hand stretched out in subdued darkness light ed only by the few fiaring flames from the great steel works and coke ovens, the network of intersecting railway lines and marts of travel synonymous with the lines of the ogre's hand.
 There, apparently helpless, the great and | industrious city lay before ffm and be- low him, d favored land of plenty which had indeed been truly blessed by the law ish hand of the Great Creator. It seemed pity to invade 1t and create chaos and ruin where contentment and happiness | did now abide, but Kirkwood. the outlaw | of the skies, could not afford to let the sentimental side of his nature usurp the practical. To use a vulgarism-he needed the money. Times had been dull of late and his strong box, which he carried with him in place in the rear of the en- | zine, was practically empty. It was in- deed a misfortune that in his last drop to earth in an apparently rich city of Mex ico, his machine had been mistaken for a scouting aeroplane by the revolutionists and he had narrowly escaped from them with his life. One other late experience also in a city of Texas had been equally | as improbable. There he had been at tackled by detective aeropane guided | by the local police, and the result was that his engines had been ruined and he himself had received a bullet through his right arm. He had escaped, however. owing to his dexterity as an aviator, hay ing glided for several miles into a retreat which was maintained by one of his sew eral confederates.
 Bah, What rotten luckl Kirkwood thought. But here there seemed to be something worth while ard without too much risk. His agents had informed him that in Birmingham's banks, especially the largest one, there was s15,0O000o, which was as easy of procuring as taking con- fectionary from baby. The details had all been worked out. In the city banks all told there was about $50,0o0000. This was too much for even kirkwood, who was extravagant when he stopped work, and dressed like a prince. loafed around for weeks at time at the fashionable tourist resorts of Europe. All he wanted WAS million or so, something which he could carry conveniently along with him.
 He looked down again sharply and all seemed well. The swift hawk like mono plane was now running noiselessly, Kirk wood having muffled the motor with a new device of his own invention. It only re- mained for him now to glide down, oown. toward the great banking institution, which was to be his prey. Then, after making an entrance through the roof and into the vaults with his powerful steel and stone eating liquid. he would have a pleasant joke on the directors and de- positors by helping himself to as much | as he liked.
 l Far beneath Kirkwood, unmindfui of the sinister designs of the famous aerial outlaw, in the home of her father, MT. | Winchell, the banker, beautiful Bir- mingham girl was about to retire for the night. Her name was Eleanor Winchell, and in a land noted for its beautiful wom- en she easily stood at the top. She was a blond, and she was magnificent ty
 of young womanhood Nothing more d be said or added The first blush .som- anhood was upon her fair fac and her figure was vibrant with health and happi- | ness. Her eyes were blue. as clear and true as polished crystal. Ordinarily they were cold, to the world at large, but tonight they were softened and tender, lighted up by hidden fires which suggest ed concealed emotions and a reserve of power Eleanor that night had been of fered a proposal.
 That delicious moment in a girls life when she hears from the lips of one she