The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-04-10

Ii was no small matter TO sustain his
solid weight in that position while the
aerOplane rushed through the air and
the blast of wind from the whirling
propeller blades took his breath away.
Beneath him the ground had dropped
away until fields were like checker
boards and houses mere pinheads Of
white.
His weight affected the balance of
the machine, and it was evident that
the aviator was apprehensive of a
changed. the machine dipped down
ward. and Phineas gasped thankfully,
for his arms were rigid and bloodless
and his hands were numb.
He opened his eyes and glanced
downward as the machine. settling
heavily to the left, descended. He saw
Il sparsey settled country, white
farmhouse in the midst of trees. They
were just above the treetops now. and
it was evident that the aviator intend
ed to alight beyond the farmhouse. As
they passed over the orchard the aero
plane settled close to the treetops. and
Phineas' dangling feet brushed the top
most branches. Then suddenly they
caught in twist of strong shoots, and
his stiffened fingers were jerked from
their hold. and he fell. crashing into the
top Of an apple tree.
The aeroplane relieved of his weight.
righted itself. and the aviator, quite
unconscious of the passenger he had
carried. sailed away out of sight.
Phineas fall had been broken by
thick growth of young shoots at the
top of the tree. Under his weight they
had writhed together, sustained him
for a moment until his arms could en-
circle branch, and then he was Jared
to safety. his feet wedged In crotch
Of the trunk Breathless and dishevel-
ed, he leaned painting there until a
sharp exclamation from the ground be-
low attracted his attention.
Gracious sakes alive. What are
you doing in my apple tree?' called
feminine voice.
In spite Of tho fatigue that followed
reaction after his miraculous escape
from death, Phineas experienced
thrill, for the voice of a woman lent
a flavor of romance to the first real
adventure of his prosaic life.
II will explain when l come down."
be said. with as much dignity as he
could assume under the circumstances.
He descended glngerly to the ground
and faced a slender, blue eyed woman
who wore blue cotton gown and
white apron. The sun slfted through
the thinning leaves and dappled her
brown hair with warm color. She
pointed down at the ground with one
shapely. sun tanned finger.
Man, man! See what you have done
to my Sweetheart apples!' she said
despairingly.
Phineas looked down at the golden
globes strewing the ground. Now he
understood the rafting volley Of thuds
that had followed his arrival in the
tree.
I'm very sorry. ma am" he said so
sincerely that Augusta Hale believed
him.
"They should have been picked by
hand" she grieved. leaning over to ex-
anime bruised apple.
And | picked them with my feet"
said Phineas whimsically.
please tell me what you were doing
there" Her face grew suddenly grave,
and she continued, Surely you were
not helping yourself to- She paused
in embarrassment at Phineas' startled
attitude.
Mercy. no! fell out of an aero
plane" he explained. involuntarily
glancing upward.
She stared incredulously and retreat
ed few steps.
Phineas smiled. Its fact, MAN,"
and he told her in few words of the
strange adventure he had taken part
In. He showed her his blistered and
bleeding hands and substantiated his
tale by pointing out the aeroplane
which was passing overhead on its trip
back to the testing field. Miss Hale
was fain to believe him after she had
viewed the crushed top Of her choicest
apple tree.
isn't it wonderful she asked as
she led the way to the farmhouse.
Its the most wonderful thing that
ever happened to me-" declared Phin-
cas-. whose mind was leaping from in
cident to incident of the bewildering
day. To him the most significant thing
Of all was that he should have fallen
in and out Of the Sweetheart apple
tree right ut the feet Of pretty Miss
Augusta Hale.
Miss Hale bound his bleeding hands
with the same skill which marked ev-
erything she attempted. Phineas found
himself watching her with growing adj
miration as she proceeded to make him
comfortable on the sunny piazza Of the
farmhouse, where they were presently
Joined by her mother. Phineas learned
that Miss Augusta was the man OF the
household and that she directed the
farm work and made field and orchard
and dairy and poultry yard pay hand
sOmely. He remained to supper. and
before be left she had accepted his
invitation to visit the aviation field the
next day with him.
As Phineas Berry passed through the
orchard to take a short cut out to the
railroad station he paused under the
Sweetheart apple tree and pulled out
his penknife. He looked at the trunk
longingly. He wanted to place his ini'
tails there as he had seen boys cave
their names together with their sweet