The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-05-06

ing there constantly for days appear
upon the scene was somewhat mora
than irritating He would rather Clay
had been the Flying Man himself. for
being armed now he could have resent
ed thu intrusion of the other with
vigor, whereas he must now tamely
submit. However, he would ascertain
II this was of Doris bringing about.
Did you not expect him? he In
CURED casually. Her head shook.
mo. It is entirely of his own mo-
ton"
Have you told him OF your expert
ence of last night?"
81 have told no one but father and
you"
And are you going to tell him ?"
81 do not know-not at present at
least. He might infer that the Flying
Man was searching here for him and
be worried because Of its worry to me.
shall say nothing to him about it
at present" She arose and went to
the head OF the steps to greet him,
smiling, her hand outstretched. He
bowed over it, muttering something
inaudible to March's ears, then nodded
to him.
Hardly expected to see you again
SO soon," he said driIy to the latter
with one OF his queer looks. The
whole affair exasperated March. But
few hours before he had confessed
to the other man that he had not heard
from Doris for days, and 1t must look
to TolliVer as though his rival, not
daring to compete with him face to
face, had kept out Of his sight until
his back was turned, when he had at
once rushed to her upon the first in
formation that there was nobody upon
the field to dispute with him Doris,
| however, relieved the situation some
what.
Eyes, sent for him and he was good
enough TO come. We had not had a
little visit for some time-we have
both been rather busy, you know"
Clay did not seem In the least dis
| turbed at the possibility that he had
interrupted tete-a-tete.
ut was frightfulIy lonesome to be
by myself after the delightful society
Of the past week, so l Just absent
mindediy followed up my thoughts I'M
til I found myself here" he laughed.
'Beastiy the way that flying animal
is misbehaving himself. Too bad
did not get him that first night and
save all this connection
IF you had not attacked him it is
quite possible no commotion would
have arisen" she suggested mildly.
He seemed a trifie put out at that view
Of it.
II don't think that is quite appreci-
ative. He was after you, reaching for
you, and of course | could not permit
anything like that from man or beast
If the advance was repelIent to you.
You did not wish him to touch your"
Most certainly not. But diplomatic
treatment might have been more effec-
tive
Miss Doris, when it comes to pro-
tecting our women folks from the crea-
lures of this or any other world, be-
lieve in the gunpowder treatment first
and the diplomatic afterwards-if
there is any afterwards. But If you
think | was hasty-"
Il am not criticising and you know
how much / appreciated your motives
But let us talk about something else"
Before them the mountains rising
almost as straight as a wall, vast,
brooding, tumbled as an angry sea
stretched away and away into the dis
lance to where the everlasting snow
crowned peaks glinted marble white
in tho oh I'll
the porch talked along in the warmth
of the sunny afternoon, the girl
seeming to forget her misgivings and
laughing as lightly as had been her
wont before the coming of the strange
creature from another sphere to haunt
her. In fact, the spirits of all three
arose and for once all friction between
the rivals for the time disappeared and
Alan even condescended to accept the
cigarette that Clay condescended to
prefer him. Then in the midst OF
their light chatter a grotesQue thing
happened. Across tht mid-afternoon
sun a black cloud came floating,
sprawling, malformed, cloud which
had huge batlike wings and a lean,
outstretched arm that ended in a
grasping hand. And as their tongues
stopped as they stared at this appari-
ton of the sky it's shadow fell black
upon the lawn, approached them with
silent stealth, ran snakelike up the
porch until the claw mounting to Dor
is waist held her for an instant in it's
grasp, then releasing her passed on
beyond the house. So startling and
realistic was 1t all that March half
arose to his feet with hands clenched
as though to do battle, while Tolliver
muttered a fierce imprecation beneath
his breath and the girl grew pale as
death. For a moment they looked at
each other with startled eyes, then
Tolliyer forced a laugh
''Uncanny thati Too realistic by
half to be comfortable. But of course
it was nothing but a fool cloud, and
thank goodness we are not supersti-
tious. Listen to that!" From over
head there came the peculiar clanking
whistle Of aerial propellers and step
ping quickly to the lawn they gazed
up. Two new aeroplanes were speed. /
ing towards the little treeless play
ground park little way beyond which
has been set aside for their use.
at is North and Luther arriving"
March told them II saw in the paper
that they were expected to arrive to-
day. North is an old friend Of mine.
Suppose we go down and see him.
Doris quickly assented, and walking
az oorb ~ bov