The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-07-23

that We were attracting attention as
tho knowledge that she admired this
man whom !. always an ardent here
w%orshiper. had already In mind ap-
propriated for my own. ] don't mean
In any vulgar sense, OF course. Had
he had the eudacity to speak 10 me
without a proper Introduction. I should
have cut him dead. but / admired him
as the exponent OF a difficult and dan.
gerous art. He drove like a godl-
Harry and his little affair at home
were nothing 10 him.
And he did not receive the prizei
We were 80 Disguised with the
judges decision that we mutually for.
gave each other and rcaolyed TO share
our hero In common. AS for the un.
known, he did not seem to care a bit.
lie doQcd his cap lightly 20 the clamor.
Ing m1ltitudes and, descending, turned
to some OF his assistants.
what are they going to 40 now
asked Estelle.
The next act will be the dangerous,
desperate and death-defying ascension
to an incredible altitude with n pas
senger,' remarked n pudgy gentleman
upon the seat beside us.
or course | turned a cold shoulder
upon the impudont fellow, and Estelle
only acknowledged his Information
with the coolest nod. But stu we
could not help possessing this morsel
of knowledge, and ! confess ! looked
forward with n thrill OF painful eN-
pectation Go tho hazardous undertake
Ing, and my heart beat faster for the
safety of the unknown.
Aud then a dreadful thing happened.
The passenger whom our hero had ar
ranged to take on hts ascension had
either lost his nerve or his way; any
how. by the time the others were
ready to start he was still being
sought for among the audience.
Our hero stood not a dozen PAGES
away from me. his strong. grave face
turned upward expectantly, scanning
the crowd up"u the grand stand, but
always in vain. The passenger who
was to accompany him was evidently
not upon the grounds.
Meanwhile. one by one. tho other
aeroplanos, with their double freight
we're rising slowly, like great birds.
A couple OF stewards, ia frock coats
and silk hats, came over TO u un-
known. A. the short distance at which
they stood / could hear every word dis.
tinctly.
"Your passenger has not Gomez" de-
handed one OF the stewards coolly,
and / think there was n touch OF ma
llcious pleasure In his voice.
1T appears not answered the IN
known, struggling his shoulders. And
then | understood the meaning OF that
malicious intonauon. This man was a
foreigner-like myself; and, good
sportsmen though they were. the stew
ards could not but feel a natural pleas.
ure at the possible removal Of one OF
their nations most dangerous rivals.
IT is possible" began the aviator
slowly. searching for his words with
painful precision, ut is possible 10
take up q volunteer
NO" snapped n OF the stewards;
and YES" answered the other with
equal ~volubility.
Il will look up the exact wording IN
the book OF rules" said the first again,
and from his immaculate frock coat
he produced a little leather bound
book, which no inspected through a
pair OF gold.rimmed glasses.
Il gather from rule XIV that the
personality OF tho passenger u Of no
consequence" he announced at last
so, II you can find one, sir. you may
take up a volunteer"
Tho aviator bowed. III anyone will
accompany me" no murmured, and
the steward advanced directly toward
me and cried m a loud voice:
"Will any gentleman volunteer e
make the ascent with Competitor No
60"
Al least a half dozen gentlemen be
gan TO rise In their seats.
The aeroplane will ascend to th'
highest point possible" he continued
} and all but two dropped down again
, These remained standing, gazing a
, each other sheepishly.
"And then DESCEND with the motto
cut on" he continued; and both O
them fell back with a solid thump tina
shook the benches.
, Il am afraid that no volunteer 4
available. sir said the steward, retir
ing a few steps toward the contestant
: To this day | do not know what pos
sessed me. Was Il the sense OF fellow
! chip In a strange land. or sporting In
%stincts. or merely contempt for tn
/. towards upon the bonchesg Anyhow
! before | knew what ! was doing. be-
fore ! knew that | had. contemplated
, such a step. l was standing outside IN
: grand stand In the turf field.
|. Il viii ascend with Competitor No
: g." ] said.
=