The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-02-06

- man " RlCGoC vi fduUO. nc Dub
gested one person after another to
the exacting inventor, but none we're
satisfactory to him and each in turn
was turned down. 1t is not every
one We want to have share a world
wide triumph or an ignominious de-
feat. And the days were passing.
He had said in moment of citation.
81 will do it alone" but he knew
even then that he could not. Two
hands were necessary to start the
car; afterwards, he might manage 1t
alone. Descent was even possible. but
to give the contrivance its first lift
required second mechanician. Where
was he to find one to please him? And
what was he to do ii he did not?
Conquer his prejudices against such
men as he had seen,e or delay the
attempt, as Oswald had suggested, till
he could get one of his old cronies
on from New York. He could do nei-
Their. The obstinacy OF his nature was
such as to offer an invinci5le barrier
against either suggestion. One alter.
native remained. He had heard of
women avfators. If Doris could be
induced to accompany him into the
air, instead of clinging ~sodden-like to
the weight of Oswaldss woe, then
would the world behold q triumph
which would dwarf the ecstasy of the
birds fight and rob the eagle of his
kingly pride. But Doris barely en-.
dured his as yet, and the thought was
not one to be considered for mo.
ment. Yet what other course re-
NAMED? He was broodiDg deeply on
the other subject, in his hangar one
evening-(it was Thursday and Sat.
urday was but two days Off when
there came light knock at the door.
This had never occurred before. He
had given strict orders, backed by
his brothers authority. that he was
never to be intruded upon when In
this place; and though he had some.
times encountered the prying eyes OF
the curious flashing from behind
the trees encircling the hangar.
his door had never been ap.
preached before, or his privacy
encroached upon. He started then.
when this low but penetrating
sound struck across the turmoil OF
his thoughts and cast one look in
the direction from which it came !;
but he did not rise, or even change his
position on his workman's STOOL
Then 1t came again, still low but
with an insistence which drew his
brows, together and made his hand
fall from the wire he had been uncon.
sciously holding through the mental
debate which was absorbing him.
Still he made no response, and the
knocking continued Should he ig.
more It entirely, start up his motor
and render himself oblivious to all
other sounds? At every other point
in his career he would have done this,
but an unknown, and as yet unnamed.
something had entered his heart dur.
ing this fatal month, which made old
ways impossible and oblivion a thing
he dared not court too recklessly.
Should this be a summons from Dor.
Is! Should Cnconceivs BILE idea, yet it
seized upon him reientIessly and
would not yield for the asking)
should it be Doris herself!
Taking advantage Of a momentary
cessation of the ceaseless tap tap, he
listened. Silence was never profound
.er than in this forest On that wind.
less night. Earth and air seemed, to
his strained ear, emptied of all sound.
The clatter of his own steady, un.