Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1913-12-11

| SU6lleF INdL 0dU De6n CONSTRUCTED lot
his protection in case Of storm. He
picked up the receiver. Main 500.
he called into 1t. For a moment he
awaited his reply, then began speak
ing rather hurriedly.
rs this the chief? Well, this is
Johnson, stationed on the Commerce
| building lookout. There is an aero
plane off to the southeast aad coming
| like the wind. II is several miles
away as yet, but ought to be here in
no signs Of the Flying Man. Goodby.
sir" He hung up the. receiver.
And FIVE minutes later, speeding like
an express train, his propeller clack-
to the scene when the proclamation
was made and first of the squadron
of aerial craft which, attracted by the
huge reward, was already rushing at
the rate of a mile a minute toward
the field, arrived. Putnam was an
ton for two things, first, great skill
in the management of his machine,
and, second, a recklessness that often
bordered close upon If not actually
reaching the limit of foolhardiness
He already held several worlds rec
ords and never let an opportunity slip
by to try and capture others. He had
flown higher than any other man by a
thousand feet, had broken all records
for heavy-weather flying, and his
plunges and spirals never failed to
bring chills to the backs and cheers
skill was marvellous, his nerves of
chilled steel and his recklessness ever
a matter of Joy and horror to the on
lockers. Night or day, blow high or
blow low, fair weather or foul were
all the same to him, and of all the
hundreds of airmen in the land there
was none better qualified for the des-
perate feat upon which he had en-
barked than Little Put of the
Charmed Life" And for chance
at q reward such as the one now in
sight he would have guaranteed to fly
engage the Evil One himself single |
handed and alone If any one would |
have agreed to show him the opening. |
He circled the central part of the |
feet as he peered down in search of
an alighting place. Below him, and
notified of his coming by the shrilling |
blades of his great propeller, people
by the thousands were staring upward
and pointing or running In solid
near the center of the business dis
trict Putnam had never been at this
place before, but he knew that crowd
in one city was very like crowd in
and knowing crowds as he
did he followed them, satisfied that
they were leading him to the place
where he was expected to alight.
Once above it, he swept it in a swift
circle as he made his calculations,
balanced, pirouetted and dipped out of
a sheer good natured desire to give
those below a thrill, skinned the top
Of high building perilously close and
then dove Unexpectedly. Down the
biplane shot like hawk and sharp
cry of fear arose from those below
accompanied by riotous scuttling for
safety, as 1t seemed to them that he
must come hurting upon their very
heads, but within score of feet of
he ground he elevated his planes and
he machine shooting forward dropped
lightly upon the earth and went skim
ming over 1t like gull that barely
ouches the surface of the water. A
title way further on, tired of fright
,ning them in this manner, he sudden
y stopped and stepped carelessly
lpon the ground.
He answered the boisterously ad-
hiring throng which Immediately
Putnam was one of the
ew absolutely fearless men who de-
light In extolling themselves. Get
i'm! You bet | will If once set
yes on him. The Pet can make
lightly miles an hour and he will have
SO " LulOW any sldT uubI |
n her eyes. If can't go as high and
s far and as fast with her as any
'infeathered hobo, who is trying to
eat his way around the universe by
ipping worlds can flap on wings
'ell, I'll give up awaiting and go to
ushing wheelbarrow. See that?"
lie tapped a heavy revolver which
ung at his SIDE well, I've shot
agles upon the wing with 1t while
ding at full speed, and l ought to n
e able to hit man who they tell h
le Ia as long as telegraph pole. VI
nd II can't hit his body I'll make r
nose f1appers of his look like the top n
pepper box. I'm going to take q
cout around as soon as / get a bite G
, eat" He beckoned to couple of :
olicemen. Here. Rooney and Ho- f
an. Watch this machine while I'm Il
one and when come back I'll bring .
ou each a nice, red apple. am h
ping to start up inside of an hour" :,
OF more than five feet tall, 1.-the as Il
wildcat, sinewy as one, he went
wagering of through the crowd,
aving them to stare after him and
his famous plane In chuckling ad- D.
iration. I,