The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-07-06

tear and delight The risks Of flying
bad at first appalled, her and caused
her great suffering. But as time went
on she lost her dread and had on sew.
eral occasions accompanied Ned on
short flights. This was the situation
when Ned boldly and confidently called
on Mr.. bennett and asked for his
daughter in marriage. This denied, he
endeavored to drown his disappoint-
ment by greater activity in his profess
sion. resolved that he would prove to
MT. bennett that there were other
ways than selling groceries to acquire
a competency. So things went on for
several weeks: then something hap
| pened
The days were longer, and the July
sun scorched dry and oyerheated
earth. There had been no rain for
/ weeks. and forest fires were raging
here and there over the state.
At Lincrest the air was heavy with
the acrid smoke waited from the burn
| Ing mountain slopes. The sun shone-
a crimson, lurid ball-through smoky
haze, and the top of Old Mans Head.
the highest peak in the neighborhood.
had been invisible for days.
| Over at Haverwood, where Ned Har-
rison's aerodrome was situated, the
| country was very level and cleared Of
timber. but smoke from the burning
mountain ten miles to the north cloud
ed the air SO that for the time expert
mental flying was out OF the question.
/, Many Of the aviators took their ma
| chimes down to the Long Island train
ing fields. and Ned Harrison and bis
partner suddenly found business as fat
! as the fields about them.
| 1T spells ruin for me" muttered Ned
on the sixth day, looking toward the
]! clouded northern hills. II expect Mr.
bennett is having the laugh on me all
right. Tisn't like wholesale groceries.
/ because folks must eat no matter what
happens. but these army ayiators are
so darn full of business and so high
and mighty that they can 50 anywhere
they please. If it wasn't for the ma
chimes stored l would be down and out
for sufe.''
i He went into the shed where his own
/ flying machine, a two passenger mono
! plane, was stored and carefully went
! over all the machinery. He was in the
/ act of smiling to find it in perfect tune
/ when a motorcar rushed to standstiil
I before the open door. and man dash
/ ed out.
+ sNed." he called sharply.
Mr.. Dennett-What is the matter 2
Ned was beside the older man instant
i ". What has happened? =
] Mr.. bennett leaned against the door
frame and painted His face was ghast-
/ " pale. and his hands trembled-
/ It's Elsie!" he groaned. You know
that the east slope Of Old Mans Head
was afire yesterday and the beaters
{ managed to put it out? Well, this
morning that COMPOUNDED new dog OF
! Elsie's ran away, and Peterkin, the
milkman, says he saw the pup killing
up the path to Old Mans after rabbit
] Nothing would answer but Elsie must
chase after him. She went over in her
runabout, and now-now'- He paused
and pressed handkerchief to his trem-
] bling lips.
.Now-now?'' repeated Ned lmpa-
tiently.
| ..She's up there on Old Mans Head
and the mountain IL af1re all around.
i You know the summit Is a clump Of
pines.
] Ned stared with Mortified eyes st the
older man In three minutes he had
seen a way out and put his project into
motion.
stand out OF the way!' he ordered.
.'Gustav. take you car away, he said
to the chauffeur Of benefits machine.
In another moment Ned Harrison had
rolled his monoplane out into the field
and was pulling on q leather jacket
/ and puttees. Mr. bennett. unconvinced
and quite dazed at the suddenness Of
the expedition. stood aside while Gus
tar started the propeller blades. When
the regular throb Of the engine an.
nounced that the spark had caught
/ Ned sent the machine forward and.
/ after rocking uncertainty for hun
i dred yards. the monoplane rose obllque-
" In the air. turned gracefully and
headed north toward Old Mans Head.
Soon she was lost above the pail Of
4 smoke overhead.
Down there below Richard bennett
and Gustav broke all speed limits as
j the handsome car eliminated the dis
/ lance between Haverwood and Lin
crest. where Old Mans Head was send
/ ing forth dense clouds Of yellow smoke
mingled with flying cinders and ashes,
Its her only chance now" muttered
bennett hoarsely. "but IL the cfnders
fall on his planes-tbey are inlam-
Inahle. You know. Gustav and SO Oh
sall through the desperate drive to the
foot OF the mountain path.
Three hundred feet IN the afr. where
! the monoplane secuted cautiously
around the mountain top for landing.