Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-10-15

telephone within the little nearby
shelter that had been constructed for
his protection In case Of storm. He
picked up the receiver. Main 60O,"
he called into it. For moment he
awaited his reply, then began speak
ing rather hurriedly.
4 rs this the chief? Well, this is
Johnson, stationed on the Commerce
building lookout. There Is an aero
plane OF to the southeast and coming
like the wind It is several miles
away as yet, but ought to be here IN
five minutes. That is all, sir. No, sir,
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-
Ing loudly Putnam, aviator nearest
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 mile a minute toward
the field, arrived. Putnam was an
aviator with an international reputa-
lion for two things, first. great skill
in the management Of his machine,
and, second, recklessness that often
bordered close upon II 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
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
from the Threats OF his audiences. His
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 a chance
at reward such as the one now in
sight he would have guaranteed to fly
straight into the mouth OF hades and
engage the Evil One himself single
handed and alone II any one would
have agreed to show him the opening.
He circled the central part Of the
city at a height OF several hundred
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
streams to the large square that lay
near the center of the business dis
trict. Putnam had never been at this
place before, but he knew that a crowd
in one city was very like crowd in
another, 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 1t, he swept 1t In swift
ciltle as he made his calculations.
balanced. pirouetted and dipped out OF
a sheer good natured desire to. give
those below thrill. skinned the top
OF a high building perilously close and
then dove Unexpectedly. Down the
biplane shot like hawk and a sharp
cry OF fear arose from those below
accompanied by a riotous scuttling for
safety, as 1t seemed to them that he
must come hurtling upon their very
heads, but within "a score Of feet OF
the ground he elevated his planes and
the machine shooting forward dropped
lightly upon the earth and went skim
ming over 1t like a gull that barely
touches the surface of the water. A
little way further on, tired Of fright
ening them in this manner. he sudden
~ stopped and stepped carelessly
upon the ground. .s Y 3iss
He answered the boisterously ad-
miring throng which Immediately
closed in upon him with cool boast
fulness-for Putnam was one OF the
few absolutely fearless men who de-
light in extolling themselves. Get
him! You bet will If ! once set
eyes on him. The Pet can make
eighty miles an hour and he will have
to 60 some to throw any star dust
in her eyes. II can't go as high and
as far and as fast with her as any
pinfeathered hobo. who Is trying to
beat his way around the universe by
Tipping worlds can flap on wings
we'll, I'll, give up awaiting and go to
pushing wheelbarrow. See that?'
He tapped a heavy revolver which
hung at his side. We'll, I've shot
eagles upon the wing with it while
going at full speed, and ought to
be able to hit a man who they tell
me is as long as a telegraph pole.
And il can't hit his body I'll make
those fiappers Of his look like the top
OF pepper box. I'm going to take a
scout around as soon as l get bite
to eat" He beckoned to q couple OF
policemen. Here, Rooney and Ho-
gan. Watch this machine while I'm
gone and when I come back I'll bring
you each a nice, red apple. am
going to start up inside of an hour"
Not more than five feet tall. 1.-THE as
q wildcat, sinewy as one, he went
staggering OF through the crowd,
leaving them to stare after him and
at his famous plane in chuckling ad-
miration.