Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-03-01
The Death IN The DIRIGIDLE
AN ADVENTURE OF PETER CREWE-"THE MAN
WITH THE CAMERA EYES"
y HAIR OLD CA TER


you UQQ CHS TdTlly Vi TIE dill oppi Co
sive, you can take few breaths from
the inhaler"
Every WELL" said the lieutenant, in
differently The doctor summoned his
assistant, and they placed a small
tank in among the thermometers, hy-
grometers and other instruments for
gauging the atmospherical conditions.
And at that moment I saw Crewe's
face light up and knew that he had
solved the mystery, for I had seen
that expression often, and 1t never
failed to be productive.
The lieutenant climbed into the car
which rested a few feet above the lev
ell of the ground All but one of the
ropes were unfastened, and to that
one a dozen soldiers chung with all
their power, while the enormous gas
dilated sphere swayed like an intoxi-
Gated thing, striving to leap upward
and gain the security of the skies
Meanwhile Crewe had gone hastily to-
ward the chief of the aeronautical
staff, who was standing by, and con-
ferred hurriedly with him. What he
said | do not know; his arguments
must indeed have been cogent, and
probably backed by some authority
unknown TO me, for just as the men
were about to cast off the rope l saw
General Won Stimm wave his hand
toward the lieutenant and shout to
him to descend.
The lieutenant climbed hastily out
of the wickerwork basket; at the
same time somebody-Crewe, as dis
covered afterward, but in the confu-
sion he was unnoticed-shouted to the
men to release the rope. Instantly
the balloon shot up into the skies,
leaving the lieutenant standing, morti-
fed, upon the ground, watching its up
ward flight.
This contretemps sent the general
into a furious passion. The balloon
was as good as lost; it's course had
taken it out toward the North sea,
with little hope OF its recovery. He
issued an order to nis adjutant and, a
Vi lNO dlsS. W oiuy "hiiC
still stared round to discover my
companion, I found myself under ar
rest. | was conveyed to the generals
headquarters, along with Crewe, who
had been apprehended in another Sec
ton of the Enclosure as he was trying
to leave Ten minutes later we were
hailed into his presence.
"Who the devil are you?" he
shouted roughly, in cultural English.
UNLESS you can offer suitable ex-
PLANTATION you shall both be placed I'M
der arrest as spies. You have spoiled
the Kaiserin IV.-the devil take it,
the third balloon to go!" He CRASHED
his teeth in modification.
At his side stood the lieutenant,
his face pallid, his brow covered with
sweat
General" said Crewe quietly,
when I was a younger man I spent
some months in Germany"
well, what the devil has that to do
with me?"
May l speak to you privately"
asked Crewe. at concerns beer
garden-a youthful officer whose
| sword was stolen"
The general became paler than the
| lieutenant
"Gentlemen, you may leave me-" he
said; and, saluting, the lieutenant and
the orderly departed
"Now, general" said Crewe briskly,
'if l alluded to an unfortunate Incl
dent in your early career, which I wit
messed when you were subaltern,
| it was not for the purpose of seeking
immunity through my knowledge of it.
1t was necessary, in your own inter
est, that I should gain your ear. I
| gave the order which resulted in the
releasing of the balloon. For if l had
not done so, the lieutenant's life would
have been sacrificed So surely as
that balloon comes down on land it will
come down in fragments, and drench-
ed with water"
''Why?" asked the astonished gen.
eral
Because you have a traitor upon
the staff of your division, and his
| name is Fenelon. 1t is he who de-
stroyed the two dirigibles that pre-
ceded this and was the cause Of the
! death of four officers"
Your proofs?" asked the general in
a strained voice.
"They will be found when the bal.
| loon comes to earth-an event which
has probably occurred already, owing
to atmospherical conditions, in which
event it will be found before nightfall.
Let me ask you a question. What
were the contents of the last balloon
that was sent up?"
Identical with those of the first"
the general answered. "a barometerI
two thermometers, a hygrometer, field
glasses and certain military and motor
equipment of a private nature"
and a tank of oxygen in case the
,, balloonist suffered from the effects Of
the rarified air?"
Il believe so. What has that to
do with it,"
First, general, let me entreat you
to place Or. Fenelon under arrest i'm
mediately."
The general struck a bell upon the
table. TWO orderlies came in.
Take these men," he said, "and
conf1ne them in the guard house. To-
morrow they will be arraigned before
q military court as spies"
You are mad general" cried