Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-02-05
CHAPTER vI,-Continued

Up toward him the machine arose In
. long, sweeping curve until but a
tew hundred feet separated them and
q deeply intoned gasp came from the
multitude as the tragedy seemed about
to close before It had begun. And
then the unexpected happened. Clos.
ing his wings as quickly as a woman
snaps her fan shut. the Flying Man
dropped In a black streak, while Put
nam, quick as a cat in pursuit Of a
mouse, plunged after him in a dive
90 reckless. SO apparently beyond con-
troll, that a shrill cry. quick and ex.
plosive, burst from the multitude and
hundreds averted their faces that they
might not witness the sight all
thought must follow. But when hun
dreds Of those below had already start.
ed for the place where he would lie
at the end Of the fall, he checked his
digit with incompatible skill and
vent skimming along on a parallel.
once more in perfect poise. 1t was
an exhibition of nerve beyond any.
thing they had ever seen attempted
by an aviator before, and a hoarse
roar Of admiration burst from their
threats as they pounded each other
upon the back in a frenzy of delight
As for the Flying Man, he had mount
ed up again and was now coming
straight toward them with mighty
sweeps. Swiftly Putnam circled about
and followed.
And now followed a chase such as
man had never seen before-the sight
OF q wingless man in a machine driven
craft whistling through the air at
wild speed in pursuit of another man
upon whom Nature had bestowed a
power Of flight beyond that OF most of
her feathered things-with death as
the losers penalty. Their evolutions
became b~ewildering. Plainly the Fly
ting Mar was trying the other out as
a boxer tests an unknown adversary
before deciding upon his course OF
battle. He mounted straight upward
as an arrow and at q height Of thou
sands Of feet hung stationary with a
fanguid beating Of his great wings. He
dropped as a nighthawk drops in his
hunting at dusk, he leaped broad
spaces like a shooting star, he few
upon his side as a swimmer races,
he circled, he pirouetted in dizzy
vhirls, scared like a condor, tapped
iazily. 1t was an exhibition OF flying
Incompatible, and the be-
low grew cold with apprehension as It
mentally pictured the scene which
must follow when this wizard of the
air, firing Of his exhibition, would
bring 1t to a close. But Putnam, reck-
less as eve and either not realizing
or not caring that he was hopelessly
~outclassed. stuck to his quarry with
the ~tenacity Of a bulldog. Almost any
other man would have descended and
awaited the arrival of reinforcements,
but with half a million dollars in
sight, a great crowd to watch him
and his reputation for fearlessness at
stake, the aviator followed every
movement OF the winged one
with fierce determination. 1t was
catch or be caught. kill or be killed,
and ne had faced death at short range
TOO often to falter now. Steady as
an iron man. cool as ice despite his
rage, he Unanswered his machine with
& skill and dash and disregard OF con
sequences that proclaimed him the
most spectacular of his spectacular
profession, every move executed with
the accuracy OF genius. every poise
the acme OF skill. Three times his
revolver had leaped from its holster
as his foe offered a possible marx,
but each time the winged one, divin.
ing his intent. dropped like a stone
and Putnam had released the unhred
weapon TO devote himself once more
20 the machine. He had begun at last
20 realize that the chase was hopeless,
but his obstinacy was still mistaken.
cit has got to be you or /. my artful
~dodger." he gritted between his set
teeth as he once more swung about
In pursuit after a futile whirlwind
dash. 1t is you or !, and by Heay-
ems one of US has got to take a tumble
this day" In the grimness OF his de-
termination To get a fair shot he
would have tried to fly to midocean
had the other led him that way.
But now the tactics OF the Flying
Man suddenly changed. Appearing to
have satisfied his mind that he could
toS With the other and harass him rs