The Huttig news., 1913-04-26

= sa, ,au-< s@arsf Entirely so. sir"
 "So Chat no one, here CT elsewhere, ,hares our knowledge of tn- ae@ joints in this mechanism ?"
 T say so, sir"
 "Then f l should kill you" came in eeroeious accents, "now-here-"
 You would be the only one to own hat knowledge. But you won't kill ne.
 "Why?"
 Need I go into reasons?"
 Why? I say"
 Because your conscience is already GO heavily laden to bear the burden of another unprovoked crime"
 Brotherson. staring back. glared with open ferocity upon the man who dared to lace him with sEch an accu- sation.
 God! why didn't shoot you on en- tranee!9 he cried Your courage is certainly colossal"
 A fine smile, without even the hint of humor now, touched the oaring de tective's lip. Brothefson's anger seemed to grow under it, and he loud Y repeated:
 It's more than colossal; it's abnor- nal and" moments pause. then with ironie pauses-"and quite unnec- essary save as a matter of display, un- less you think you need it to sustain you through the ordeal you are couTJ- ing. You wish to help me fnisA and prepare for aiaht?9
 "l sincerely do"
 You consider yourself competent?" T do"
 Brethersen's eyes fell ard he walked once to the extremity Of the oval floor ing aud back
 Well, we will grant that. But that's not all that is necessary. My require ments demand companion ii my arst flight. Will you go up in the car with me on Saturday night?"
 X quick affirmative was on Sweet. waters lips but the glimpse winch he got Of the speakers face glowerias apon him from the shadows into which Brotherson had withdrawn. stopped it's utteranee and the silence grew heavy HO0EA IL liee9 l4Nl OdA6 IdSAt30 IOlS by the clock, the instant of breathless contemplation Of each others features across the intervening space was of incalculabie moment to Sweetwater. and possibly, to Brctherson. As drowning men are said to live over fheir whole history between their first Blange and their final rise 70 light ana air so through the mind Of the de eetive rushed the memories Of his past and the' fast fadiag glorias of bis .uture; and rabeNing at the subtle 9oeiferated an impalsive:
 No! I'll not" and paused, caught ! by new and irresistible sensation.
 4 breath of wind-the first he had falt that night-had swept in through some creyice in the curving wall, fay. ping the canvas engeloping the great Car. It acted like a peal to battle After all, man must take some risks in this fife, and his heart was in this trial of a redouhtable mechanism in which he had tull faith. He could not say no to thes prospect Of being the l first to share a triumph which woaiG seud hIs name to the ends of the | earth; and, changing the trend 0f hie l sentence he repeated with ca,mnes which had the force of a great de- cision;
 T will not fail you in anything. Ii zhe rises" here his trembling hand fell on the curtain shutting of his view of the ship, "she shall take me with her, so that when she descends may be the first to congratulate the proud inventor of such a marpel.'
 So he it!" shot from the others 'ips, his eyes losing their threatening ook. and his whole countenance sud. denly aGIow with the enthusiasm of awakened genius.
 Coming from the shadows, he laid ais hand on the cord regulating the eise and fail of the conceeling curtain. Here she isl" he cried and drew ehe cord.
 The canvas shook, gathered itself into great folds and disappeared in he shadows from which he had just stepped.
 The air-car stood revealed-a start ing, because wholly unique, vision
 Long did Sweetwater survey it, 5hen turning with beaming face upon he vatchful inventor, he uttered a loud hurrah.
 Next moment. with everything for gotten between them save the gleries of this invention, both dropped simul- taneousiy to the floor and began that minute examination of the mechanism necessary to their mutual work.
 CHAPTER NXXVil.
 His Great Hour.
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