Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-11-21

WHAT DO you WANTf AShEO lAb MAN
In a remote region. situated on an arm
of the Hudson bay. The flying ma
chine had ferreted them out. If he
clipped a hundred miles off his fight
record he would lose out on the trophy
and the prize money. On the other
side was the pitiable group of white
faced men with their hunted. desperate
eyes.
eff | report from the next telegraph
station? p he asked.
"It's 200 miles"
"What is the name of the placer
'Flume station. But can we depend
upon your promise?' asked Gates
doubtfully, and the others murmured
dissatisfaction.
For answer Stoddard detached the
barometer from the machine and show
ed them the record. It registered 800
niles. record breaking fight for the
young aviator. Deliberately he manip-
ulated the recorder until he had set 1t
back 400 miles. when I reach Flume
station 1t will register 200 more, making
me 600,'' he said as he replaced the In
strument.
"What's to prevent your setting 1t
ahead AGAIN." demanded the weasel
faced man suspiciously.
Nothing but the action of the planes
can effect that" returned Stoddard
~gravely. and for their satisfaction he
brought out from a locker a book of
directions for adjusting the speedome-
ter. They read 1t eagerly as If their
tired eyes were glad to look upon a
printed page even Of dry technicalities
and gave 1t back to him.
"Your success will mean we shall be
bounded farther into the wilderness"
said Gates in an agitated tone.
"Shut up, you old fool" squealed the
weasel faced man %angrily. : hen he
turned to Stoddard with a sickly smile
writhi4g his features. We're a party of
-er-nhturalists. he explained lamely.
Stoddard was silent for a long while.
Then he turned away his head that he
might hot see the shame in their faces.
81 might ps well tell you that can
guess the situation. recognize some
of you. gentlemen, but | shall forget
all about this as soon as l leave"
Gates broke the hush That followed
these words. "You know there are re-
wards Out for some. and they are of
tempting size" But Stoddard shook
his head.
I'm not a cad.' he said briefly.
One by one eight hands went out to
meet his extended palm. and last of all
the reluctant hand Of the weasel faced
man. 1t was like contact with a cold,
dead fish. The young aviator hesitated
an instant before he started the ma
chine down the incline that was to
give him impetus for his flight.
Gentlemen" he said slowly, tits
none of my. business, but why don't
you come back. work it out and live
afterw3rd?s
"Per1aps we WILL" said a voice tim
idly. aid then they stood back as he
left thdm. When he hung above their
wondering eyes he leaned over aud
waved his handkerchief before starting
southwhr He heard a faint cheer.
One brief backward glance showed
the glitter of the bay. the dark conf
fers of the forest in which the fugitives
made their home. Then Stoddard saw
something strange. a spectacle that al
ways came before his eyes when he
thought of these men.
The dark forest that housed them
had been visited by fire at some period,
and the course of devastation had fol-
lowed the lines of a cross. Now It
stood out a dark smitten evidence
against the green of the forest, even as
their sins laid a cross upon their souls.
Stoddhrd. his face set to the south,
going back a loser In a flight that had
promised him great awards, was not
thinking Of what he had lost. He was
still thinking Of the significance Of the
dark cross.