The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-17
BY A. c. BROWN.
Copyright. 1914. by the Associated
Literary Press.)

. eSsNNA"ts 'NNS'f
That girls not afraid of anything
on earth Is she, Brooke" The man
in the gray sweater hooded admir-
ing over the bipiane that had just
been run out OF the hangar.
"Nor in heaven etti1er. snapped
Clinton Brooke jerking his cap fur
Their over his eyes. 'Tt's--it's not
nature for a girl not to be afraid of
anything He jammed both fists into
his pockets and glared at his neigh
Dor. Got her license yesterday. and
I'm going up With her to-day.
The man IN the gray sweater al
lowed his eyes to rest enviously on
| Brookos face. Aren't sou the lucky
dog.''~
Lucky growled Brooke. When
7 almost lose my breakfast il take
an express elevator high -hulld-
| Ing
| Why go. them"
MY dear friend Grierson," Brooke
spoke crispIy. you forget that ! have
lived next door to Celia Demarest for
several years In ali that time have
never failed TO take a dare. Neither
has she. She dared me to go with her
on her maiden flight
Il think she's ready" Grierson In
terrupted.
i-,~fsrnoke turned up his coat collar
| and started forward in obedience to
the signal OF Celia Demarest's hand.
/ so long, old chap" he called over MS
| shoulder. Almost wish you were the
! victim" he added. under his breath.
/ He hurried across the turf followed
by the cheers Of the crowd. that little
! dreamed that the taunty six-foot man
s>Is i~c fy1O
! himself In the presence OF the only
! girl In the world for him.
/ Not that Celia Demsrest knew that
she occupied any such pedestal. His
! heroine worship was blended with so
/ much awe for her self-conndenee.
| efficiency and feariessness that ne
| had never ventured to suggest
| closer relationship than had existed
| all these years. He sometimes felt
| that II he could only see her startled
| out of her steady self-control. II she
would only show a little womanly
{ fright over mouse. tFitfiHz- fernt=
nine dislike for spiders. an Evelike
antipathy for snakes, he would be
| able TO sweep aside the barrier that
separated them.
Hello. Clint" celias dark eyes
| sparkled teasingly as she waved her
| hand to t1im.-i.f thought maybe you
were going to back out after ALL
You were so long coming
Back out" Brooke forced
smile. Why, it's the event of my
life, Celia. You've no idea how I've
| been anticipating 1t. Grierson's over
there eating his heart out with
envy"
rs he really" Celia beamed at
| the distant gray sweater IN take
him tomorrow. But of course YOU
| had to be first.
| "Of course" echoed Brooke.
Where do sit Behind Praise be
to Allah for that" he mnttered
10 himself as he scrambled into the
| narrow seat. -,
| settling herself in front OF him.
I've looked at every screw and bolt
I and wire" she pulled her goggles
| over her eyes, gave a final pat to her
hood and leaned forward to the
Chun. chuft. Chug. A little
wjsp of smoke from the tall OF the
| machine and the biplane slowly lett
| the ground. A cheer arose from the
crowd, and Brooke fancied he could
distinguish the voice OF the envious
Grierson--which almost reconciled
| him to his fate
| lena StTileu IhppAkS. AS" ~
! nice?" She turned her head the
| fraction OF a degree over her shout
der 80 that brooke could see the
soft curve of her cheek.
"lt's-it's gr-grand." Brooke chat
tered through clenched teeth. Are
we going-high?'
| "Oh, I don't know. The winds
perfect, and / haven't made any
| plans She touched Il lever. and
Brooke closed his eyes.
"Golly. Whatii 1t be when 1t
, comes down." he gssped to himself.
and then turned his undivided atten-
ton to keeping his breakfast where
II belonged.
! The biplane chugged through spae e.
Brooke had lost all his janntines
and had shrunk into his coat. once
| or twice he wiped his forehead WITT
the back of his hand. A greenisf'
| color replaced his usual ruddy glow.
He lutehed the -haek-of- Celia 3 seal
with a desperate grip. Presently ms
head dropped forward on his arms
Knocking his cap into space. ana
tabhinx Celia between the shoulder
blades.
She turned suddenly relaxing her
| hold on the wheel.
| .Why. Clint" she gnsped, but the
machine dipped perilously and she
was riRht about face instantly, all
her faculties on the alert.
Brooke Strengthened himself reso-
mtely. 'T'm-I-can't we-go back
Celia I'm afraid
"Afraid!" And the biplane jerked
! In unison with its driver.
/ I'm afraid--I'm--sick." stammered
Brooke. Il often am in elevators and
4 = .oh, Gin. Inn 70 sorry Mha
didn't You tell me" y e. ''1.''
Brooke clinched his teeth and shut
his eyes a. he felt the machine settle
earthward. In surprisingly short
time the swallowiike swoop was
over and he realized that the world
had come to rest. He opened his
eyes again and found himself In o
pleasant meadow. Not far awsay. be-
hind cIump Of trees. he saw q
house. but thu foreground was oeeu-
pied by Celia. who stared commits
!, esatingfv NJ hiu1 - - =,
Poor Gin" she said. you sure DC
look all In. Why dye come"
.'You dared me. Celia"
But I'd have let you off II ia
known. No, you sit still while &c
up to the house and get something
:. TOR ynr.sra-cup- of milk. or some
thing ----------------