The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-11-07

1t drew her and the machine toward Ii
She was gliding swiftly down toward
the roof Of the mansion. and she knew
that death and disaster lay at the enc
of the fall.
She leaned forward, and the move
ment shifted her weight. The machine
changed its course and just missed the
house. 1t crashed into the tops Of q
great oak tree and stuck fast while
the engine whirred a few times and
then stopped with a cackling sound.
Eve. snug In the aluminium. body OF
the machine. was Jared by the impact
and whipped and bruised by the
branches as she crashed through.
A momentary silence followed the
landing. Then came the sound of
| opening doors and voices In question
| and answer.
Its one of them airyplanes got
| stuck in the oak tree. sir" came the
| wondering voice of a stable hand.
A mans voice spoke in quick. author.
tative tones.
"Start the big car out here. Benson.
and turn on the searchlights! Train
them on the tree-on the top, man! By
love, you're right! Bring ladder!''
Eve. sitting meekly in her imprison-
ed flying machine. heard some one
scrambling up the tree. Up he came.
and she could hear the painting Of his
breath and the bending Of the smaller
branches as he mounted near her
perch.
Then. the faithful Benson having
trained the searchlight so that it pierre
ed the leafy branches and fell full
upon Ewes face. the girl saw rising
over the edge of her compartment a
mans head. Inch by inch it was re-
vealed to her in the white light.
A beautifully brushed mop Of red
brown hair. very white forehead.
two jetty black brows and beneath
them two unbelieving blue eyes. a
handsome nose. cropped mustache
and the astonished mouth Of Lewis
Thayer. He looked frightened.
Eve! Eve! Where did you come
from?" he gasped at last.
And Eve. bewildered by the unkind
trick that fate had served in leading
her straight to the home of Lewis
Thayer when her proud spirit would
have led her to the antipodes rather
than face him. could only hang her
head and say family:
my machine ran away from me.
Something happened to the engine. and
/ attempted to alight. ! didn't know
where was"
"Yes?" was Mr.. Thayer's polite in.
quiry. And neither one Of them ap-
peared to notice that there was trace
Of humor in this conversation held in
the top Of a tree on q moonlight even
ing between two persons who were ir
revocably estranged.
But Benson. sleepy and impatient
recalled them to the unpleasant situa'
ton.
do you need assistance in getting
the man down. sir?" he asked.
"The-er-man Is a friend of mine
Benson. and he Is quite unhurt, so you
may as well go to bed. l will help
him down." said Thayer authoritative
Wy. He was looking down at the ex'
pectant Benson and SO missed the look
of gratitude that Eve shot at him from
under her lashes.
Every well. SIR" said Benson with
alacrity. "Shall leave the lights on?'
IF you please. will put the cal
in. Good night. Benson"
Good night, sir" said Benson.
The two in the tree watched Ben
sons lantern as it bobbed down the
driveway toward the lodge at the
gate where he lived. When he had
disappeared from view Thayer looked
into Ewes troubled eyes.
There is only one way for you to
get down." he said seriously.
"And that is?" asked Eve.
II must carry you"
Eve did not hesitate. She must not
show embarrassment. She would be
very practical and matter Of fact. Cir
cumstances demanded it.
Very WE'LL" she said calmly. She
stood erect and steadied herself
whenever you are ready. Mr. Thayer"
Thayer stepped down to lower
branch. braced himself securely. held
up his arms and said "Now!"
With Eve in his arms he went down
slowly. laboriously. cautiously. for.
slim as she was, it was no easy task
to carry her down the precarious way
to the ground.
At last he slipped to the turf be-
meath the tree. his left arm still en-
circling her. She could feel the heavy
beating of his overstrained heart. The
magnetism Of his touch thrilled her as
it had done before. and she dreaded
the moment when his clasp should
loosen and she would be free" once
more.
She didn't want to be free. A little
sob caught her throat as she felt his
arm relaxing its hold.
The grasp frightened.
You are hurt. Ever" he asked
quickly.
Yes" she whispered.
II might have known it." he iGut-
tered. Tell me-
my heart" whispered Eve.
"Your hearth" he repeated stupidity.
"Yes. Lewis: it is hurt 1t is break
ing for you" confessed poor Eve. cling
ing close to him.