The Forrest City times., 1914-12-11

missed the steeple of an old church by several inches, scraped against the pediment of an ancient Roman editice, and sped up to the sky. l looked back as cleared the housetops. The two gendarmes were waving their hands al me imploringly. l hated to leave them, but the memory of my mission came to me to spur me on, and l flew ike the wind. Soon Avignon was but blot in the distance.
 That night I slept under a tree in the wild mountain region Of the Basses-Alpes At dawn I continued my course directly eastward. Now no sign of human habitation was to be seen. There was nothing but ranges of lofty mountains. The cold became intense and the air currents treach- erous Time and again l was caught in gusts of icy wind, beaten, bufeted out of my path Over me the sky was of intensest blue; round and be heath me lay the icy summits or the Alps My teeth chattered and my hands grew SO cold that l could scarce J intensity of my purpose could have enabled me to face that bitter wind.
 At last, toward afternoon, just as l began to think that l had missed my path, when I felt that I could hold out no longer, l perceived, very far southward, long. blue, monotonous line on the horizon. My heart leaped, new and feverish determination en- tered into me. It was the sea, the blue water of the Mediterranean. that lay before my eyes. Now the last stage was approaching. So far l had con quered
 I wheeled southward and began to descend the long valleys of the Mari time Alps
 The air grew warmer, the descent more precipitous; I glided downward on the rushing winds exultingly, and ever nearer I saw the distant sea, un- til the narrowing horizon shut it once more from view. But when left the last of the snow-capped ranges behind me the sun suddenly sank and I en- tered region of twilight. It had been dark for an hour upon the lowlands while I was battling In the sunlight The night was moonless; I must alight before 1t grew entirely dark or run the risk of falling into the sea. Out of the mountainside I saw the white road, the great highway between France and Italy, centuries old. de bouched upon it's way to Nice, whence 1t wound through the Principality of Monaco Clearly I must descend there, where French laws did not run, and where the Minister of the Interior, actuated, I did not doubt, by interests inimical to mine, could not arrest my journey. In the falling light I saw of a sudden the little square topped build ing of the French customs house on the Monaco border, and the Monaco customs, not dozen meters distant. l made for the latter, shut off my mo- tor and careened earthward. As l de- scended, like a great soaring eagle, | saw men run from either building, shouting and waving their arms at me their cries reached me with surprs- ing clearness. I dropped to earth, hit the ground on the French side of the line, and rolled half into Monaco. co tumble exhausted from my aero plane.
 It was easy to see that I was square ly upon the international boundary. But my apprehensions were ground less. for nothing could have exceeded the kindness with which l was treat ed by the officials from either customs. Their first surprise over. they placed the quarters of the French officer at my disposal, and thither I adjourned for a hasty toilet, leaving the mono plane the center of interest. Seeing my wearineSs, they scarcely pressed question upon me, and when, think ing always of the future, l pointed out the deficiency in the gasoline, the French officials promptly filled the tank with confscated petrol from their contraband stores. Afterward I was the guest at an informal supper. to which the men from either side of the border invited themselves
 Without doubt mademoiselle is or her way to Turin to compete in the international meeting there," suggest ed the French official
 I acknowledged the false presump- tion with a bow.
 "MademOiselle will remain here and rest tomorrow" he continued hope fully. "It is not often that ladies honor us with their presence, and those few which we see here are. un- fortunately, much pre1udiced against us"
 Against you. monsieur" I asked "Impossible,"
 He smiled and twirled his mustache jauntily Unfortunately" he mur mured. 'it Is too often our painful duty to detain their baggage"
 They show poor taste" I answered But now, monsieur. I shall withdraw having travelled all the way from Avignon since morning"
 He started and stared at me in un belief. From Avignon?" he ex claimed. Then mademoiselle mus have crossed the Alps in her machine No no irnDOsejhla NODa hut Chava7