Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-02-12

limos as straight as n WALL, vast,
%brooding. tumbled as an angry sea
stretched away and away into the dis
lance to where the everlasting snow.
crowned peaks glinted marble white
in the sunlight. Lazily the three upon
the porch talked along in the warmth
OF the sunny afternoon, the girl
seeming to forget her misgivings and
laughing as lightly as had been her
wont before the coming OF tho strange
creature from another sphere to haunt
her. In fact, the spirits OF all three
arose and for once all friction between
the rivals for the time disappeared and
Alan even condescended to accept the
cigarette that Clay condescended to
prefer him. Then in the midst Of
their light chatter a grotesque thing
happened. Across tht mid-afternoon
sun a black cloud came floating,
spravling, malformed, a cloud which
had huge batlike wings and a lean.
outstretched arm that ended In a
g%rasping hand. And as their tongues
stopped as they stared at this appari-
ton Of the sky its shadow fell black
upon the lawn, approached them with
silent stealth. ran snakelike up the
porch until the claw mounting to Dor
is waist held her for an instant in its
grasp. then releasing her passed on
beyond the house. So startling and
realistic was 1t all that March half
arose to his feet with hands clenched
as though to do battle, while Tolliver
muttered a fierce imprecation beneath
his breath and the girl grew pale as
death. For a moment they looked at
each other with startled eyes. then
Tolliver forced a laugh.
"Uncanny that! Too realistic by
half to be comfortable. But Of course
1t was nothing but a fool cloud, and
thank goodness we are not supersti-
tious. Listen to that!" From over
head there came the peculiar clanking
whistle Of aerial %propellers and step
ping quickly to the lawn they gazed
up. Two new %aeroplanes were speed.
ing towards the little treeless play.
ground park q little way beyond which
has been set aside for their use.
ut is North and Luther arriving"
March told them. Il saw in the paper
that they were expected to arrive to-
day. North Is an old friend of mine.
Suppose we go down and see him.
Doris quickly %assented, and walking
one at each side Of her March and
r-A1It,,a- nnoua1 Ont ~ tho oafa ond
wandered towards the alighting place
OF the planes. Her head uncovered.
her glossy hair glinting o~palesque In
the sunlight, exceedingly fair Of face
and faultless Of form in her perfectly
fitting gray gown. no man passed her
without q second admiring look. few
women without secret envy. And proud
Of her indeed were the two who
walked SO erectly at her side.
They found North busy about his
machine, tightening this, loosening
that, testing everything. He was a
g~ood-looking young fellow Of about
twenty-five, determined Of face and
sinewy of form and an aviator of the
foremost rank, although almost the an
tithesis OF the Inflated Putnam. For
where the dead man had been boast
full North was modest, where n had
been reckless the other was merely
brave, and where obstinacy had been
predominant In the former In the man
they now saw cool determination held
sway. He greeted March enthusiast
Mighty glad to see you again, old
man. Remembered that this was your
home and have been thinking of you
off and on all day. Maybe We won't
a good old time together once
more when | get that million. Be good
enough to introduce me-" He removed
cap.
Delighted to meet you, Miss Full
He gazed at Doris with frank
Don't know as I blame
Alan and the Flying Man for making
their headquarters here" He saw the
shadow that fitted across the girls
face and fastened to apologize. BEG
pardon for mentioning such a disagree
able beast in your presence, Miss Full
toni mean the Flying Man. not
March. He isn't half bad when you
get to know him. Glad to know you.
too, Mr.. Tolliver." He turned to Alan.
81 wonder II your friends will K
cuse you for Just half an hour while
you show me a decent place near here
where I car get a bite to eat-merely
for half an hour. you know" Doris
"If you will both promise to return
at the end OF that time"
1T is a contract" He took Alan by
the arm. I'VE have got to hurry to
make It, and these are busy days with
me. you understand. Somehow I al
ways did have a laundering desire to
be a millionaire and this is my first
at II, he ratified on. on
through the loiterers the two friends
went rapidly, leaving Clay and the
girl to ramble about by themselves
until they should return. For fifteen
minutes thereafter. and very contrary
to his usual manner, Tolliyer seeming
to be thinking deeply seldom spoke
and she finally began to wonder mild
ly as to the cause Of 1t.
You are feeling quite recovered by
she inquired at length. He
laughed With an uneasy note In his