The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-05-09
1.-THE
Flying
::>~~~~ Man >-,,.,:
BY
: Harry Irving Greene
Author Of
"The Lash of Circumstance"
Barbara of the Snowy

Copyright. 1914 by Harry Irving Greensl

tCopyright. lsl2 by Harry Irving Gresnsl
we mad better be going Also" sug-
gested the girl.
A shout from somewhere IN the
crowd drew ali eyes in it's direction, /
and simultaneously a hundred hands
shot upward with index fingers point +
ing high across the plain. Far away,
family visible, miles from the direc- .
ton in which they had disappeared,
were the returning specks ctrclIng
back like o flock of wildfowl, multi
plying in numbers, growing larger,
more distinct with each moment
passed. Three minutes and they were
distinguishable as ID form, the Flying
Man still sweeping along E good half
mile in advance the planes which had
fallen behind their fellows now III the
lead by reason OF the advantage gained
IN cutting short the broad turn % the
pursued as he oirCled back. Half way
back in the column they could distin-
guish the Blue Dragon ginting IN me
sunlight AMI steadily forging its way
once more to the front. IN the next
minute the frenzied clamor Of the
crowd had lulled to an cCcasiona- e.
cited yelp as breathlessly the mob
strained It's eyes upward. II her e.
citement Doris clutched g hand Of
each Of her companions and clung to
it convuIsively.
The Flying Man was leading the
sky grayh0unds directly over them as
though he wished all to sec and mar
vel at his powers. SpeeGin@ true as
an arrow, his great wings moving with
thu sTiftness Of 2 racing locomotives
pistcns, he was heading almost di-
rectIy for the place from which he
had arisen before this wild follow
your-leader chase through the regions
OF the air began. That he was giving
them q test one and all in both speed
and endurance that he might here
after know their powers and Hmlta-
lions and be governed thereby, none
who watched the MAJ race questioned.
And a grueIiing chase he vas leading
them, r.. chase where none except the
highest skilled, the most iron EeTTed,
The most enduring and the best
equipped could have kept even II
sight. He was nearly overhead now,
perhaps q thousand feet above them,
lying fat in the air with hands claBped
upon his breast and legs stretched
straight behind that his body might
| offer the least resistance to the at
mosphere. To their ears the whistle
| OF his wings sounded like the W21Gtla
! Of . flock of wild geese.
Then from close at hand the bel.
| low of a mortar arose, Earring tAe
earth, deafening their ears and rend.
! ing the air with hurting grape. Like
| q fash tn flying one dodged as the
| missiles sang about him, and altering
his course Sharply seemed but long
| streak as he cleaved the sky. 4 sec
| ond mortar Numbered, and at ITS beich
| ing the FLYING Nan, turning d com
plete summeTsault in the air fell s
hundred feet like q bird stricken IN
| mid flight 4 mighty sound arose
! from the crowd, a roar, . shrek, 2
/ Wild scream of They've got MIN
they've got him." but SIS gymDast o.
| the flying rings makes complete rev
| olution IN his leap, - did the tylla
/ one recover himself and with 2 scream
| as ghrin as their own go speeding
i once more mountainward. The mex
/ instant the air above was filled with
the sound of the pursuing machines
\ and the other moTtaTs dared not fire
\ for fear of moving down their own
Il The Blue Dragon, now in the very
foremost rank, was overhauling its
few remaining competitors hand over
hand.
Low over the top Of the neares
ridge they flew straight into the face
of the setting sun. One by one the
/ pursuing craft lowered for an instan
above the crest and then settled out o.
sight behind 1t, leaving those upon tbs
1 plain gazing into the empty air where
they had vanished. Then from the III
seen region beyond the tops came the
rattle of revolver shots fired iTregu
Iarly, and for minute more the CrOwC
awaited breathlessly for some sigr
that one of the bullets had reached il:
mark. but another scattered wolfe!
family distinguishable because of dis
lance, told them that the race was still
being run. The sun sank behind the
towering horizon, a deep shadow teI
upon them and silently they turned
and dispersed towards their homes
The two men and the girl followed
slowly after, each silent, each deep II
thought. Anyway it was a wonderful
sight and I would not have missed /
| for worlds" she unused al length
why do you suppose he made tha
remarkable turn in the air? Was h
hit? Clay answered her.
Probably barely winged. I shot
deer once that did the same thing
turned a complete summersault ant
then got up and went on faster thar
ever. He wasn't hurt much at an.
rate
And your opinion of it?'' she aske,
of Alan.
About the same" He vas angr,