The weekly times-record., 1913-04-03

uRsoAv, APRIL s. 1918.
side up AZ one turns Z turtle on \
beach. Down went the plane AZ 4
wounded bird falls, Putnam clinging
TO the frame and striving with almost
superhuman energy to right it as they
fell, but 1t was task beyond human
ca apability and when he had fallen \
mile be became bevildered, missed u
hold and fell. Whirling. spinning,
arms and legs outstretched, he dropped
ten thousand feet ct horri6c speed, his
upset machine with ito propeller still
whirling shooting downward after him
In srotesque gyrations. The crash of
their fall upon the top Of the buildings
was heard for 4 mile. while far In the
distance the sickened mob saw the
Flying Man soaring for the distant
peaks, swinging sportively from side
to side with the graceful movements
of \ skater In . rink.
Once more the surcharxed wires
reeked with the news Of this unprece.
dented battle three miles above the
earth, and now the world received it
very gravely indeed. The editors Of
great dailies the world over discussed
It as the most momentous event Of the
hour, more important than national
politics. the alliances of nations, the
mysterious absence Of the csar or tho
latest battle in Asia Foreign cabinets
debated it seriously behind closed
doors, and the president Of the United
States formally rendered Governor
McNeill the use OF several regiments
Of regular troops. a regiment Of cav.
airy and such field ordnance as he
might deem of use. This tender. how.
ever, McNeill courteously declined
upon the grounds that he had men
enough, horses enough and firearms
enough, and that all three were futile
enough-that he must place his main
reliance upon the swarm of aviators
now headed his way and arriving
singly and in small parties every day.
However, as a matter Of precaution .
dozen mortars capable of shooting up
ward at acute angles were distributed
about the city and heavily loaded with
grape shot. And in order that there
might be enough money to divide
among considerable number Of avia-
tors in case large number Of them
were in at the death the reward was
Increased to million. And as though
In reply to this the Flying Man
promntly issued another CHALLENGE
: Apish- maliciousness seemed to have
come over him and sheer wantonness
characterized many Of his acts. In
the, few following nights not less than
4 dozen country dwellers we're awak-
ened by boulders crashing through
their roofs, injuring no one through
sheer good luck, and often the crean-
Ing Of porches and the soft falling Of
feet upon thin roofs and the frenzied
yelping of dogs proclaimed to the resi-
dents of isolated houses that the un.
ranny one was prowling in the dark
ness without. That with his enormous
eyes he could see as. well by night as
by day was soon proven, for even
stray cats and chickens did not escape
his petty malice This additional ad-
vantage of night seeing which he pos.
sessed over his foes rendered all their
efforts against him futile, for while
now small swarm of aerial craft
patrolled the skies and secured the
mountains by day, when night came
they were compelled again to seek the
earth. and it was during the darkest
hours that he issued forth upon his
maraudings. But owing to their eau
tion in travelling in small parties after
nightfall-if indeed they travelled at
all-no human being fell into his
clutches. For miles around the city
each country door was strongly barred
ut the hour of dusk, and from that mo-
ment until broad daylight none but the
reckless ventured forth. Even in the
city and its neighboring well-lighted
towns, those who went abroad by
street light held furtive clutch upon
the handle Of some weapon. Women
we're forbidden by the police to ap-
pear upon the streets after dark with
out the escort of some man, and the
children were sent scurrying home
ward At seven o'clock at the ringing
Of the curfew upon the church bells.
From lack of patronage the theaters
closed their doors, the night restau-
rants followed suit. and upon all rest
ID heavily feeling of oppression -
of some great, unspeakable horror yet
TO come and beneath which they al!
walked dispiritedly. Even the loud
mouthed talked subduedly and tho
most collected laughed nervously as
they denied all nervousness. Sus-
pense, deep, brooding. ominous,
charged the air and pervaded all boz
SONS and business sickened alarming
". And then one day there came the
news Of another assault committed in
the broad light and almost under their
very noses. This time through fortu.
nate circumstances there were no vic
Tins but rather two heroes, boy and
dog.
! Jimmy Collins, . ten-year-old coun.
try youngster, was fishing in stream
a quarter Of mile from his home at
mid.forenoon. Accompanying him
kvaa his dog 4 large brute. strong.