, 1912-06-27
@s
0SKY
PIRATE
bX GARRETT p
~ SERvISS.
PROLOGUE.

covYeosr on FaAS~ a rUwser co1earo
The sea pirate has long been a
fascinating figure Of romance,
but the march of progress has
driven him into we'll deserved re-
firemenf, and he has o been
replaced, in fiction at least, BY
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 Graynan, the richest mar in
the world; of his beautiful daueh-
ter, for whose ransom $40. OOO,-
600 was demanded; of Lieufen.
ant Allen of the revenue service,
of wonders by wireless and of
fierce battles above the clouds.
or caring 'whai the dlrecuoh was as
long as II seemed to be away from
the lodge. In q little while the woods
vecame more open. and they made
better progress. Miss Grayman bur-
Red on. and Susan painted at her
heels. Suddenly Susan exclaimed. .-Oh.
Miss Helen. ! can't can't 70 n
fartherf'
Then wen sit down and rest" was
the reply.
They sat down on a fallen trunk,
overgrowu with soft fresh moss.
Presently Susan stretched herself Eat
on her back. her face streaming With
perspiration>
"oh." she painted. II shall del"
mo. you wont die" said Miss Gray.
man. whose strength was sustained BY
q more terrible fear than Susan knew
You'll feel all right In a few minutes"
Are you not going to return to the
lodger'
Heaven forbidr' cried her mistress.
Susan. do you know who 1t Is that We
are running away FRONT It IL the Sky
Pirate. Alfonso Paytonr
Susan was probably better read In
the literature OF piracy. especially As
represented by the sensational Jour.
mails. than her mistress. and at the
name Of Alfonso Payton she turned
ashy pale.
"oh. good Lordyr' she cried. when
she recovered her breath. you don't
mean that. Miss Helen7 Why. he Is
the %wickedest man in the world. rye
read all about him In the Sunday
Peace II he gets us we're gone sure.
He never gives you up unless yon pay
him 100000 The paper said 30 And
II you don't pay you're killed! Oh.
dear me. what shall dol But won't
Commodore Brown help usf"
you Rooser' aaid Miss Grayman.
her amusement II Susap's stupidity
serving to animate her. "Of course
Commodore Brown won't help Us. Hes
the very man"
Commodore Brown IL Alfonso Pay.
toni"
Susan could say no more. She had
no words and remained staring at her
mistress with gaping mouth.
But where will you 90. Miss Helenl
Wen get lost in the woods, and where
shall we sleep tonightT she finally
gasped.
We are lost already replied Miss
Grayman gravely. 81 could not find
my way back If I wished to. As to
where we shall sleep. I don't know
on the ground. under a tree. l sup
pose"
But the bearsr'
I'VE must trust in God"
And what shall we eatr'
To be killed? To starve? What were
these in comparison with meeting that
man again? Yet. by one Of those Gu
rious mental freaks to which We are
all subject. while Miss Grayman mad
thought neither of wild beasts nor Of
food. the idea that they would need
covering at night had flashed upon
her, and 1t was for that eason that
she had sent Susan for the wraps.
And now they chung to these things
and lugged them along as II their lives
and safety depended upon them alone.
Miss tirayman made no reply to Su-
sans questions about what they should
eat She simply pressed on, and Susan
followed. Sometimes they were caught
In tangles of spiny underground. from
Which there seemed no issue. Yet, on
and on they struggled They were
wearing the stout garments that Pay
Ton had recommended, but even these
were becoming torn and disordered.
At last, wearied beyond expression.
they had to stop. 1t was getting dark
III the woods, and they knew that the
sun was near setting. Miss Grayman
selected a spot where the covering Of
pint needles was deep and soft. under