The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-30


had had an experience with tn sullen power.
They had zone about four mIlss down when
abe looked back longinsiy toward shore.
Something white seemed to b spinning over
the water far behind. At hrst ~ could NOT
disesrn what It was. A4,ehe watched II H
grew and grew. It finally emesged from the
Illusion Of I gigantic bird INTO the actually
Of an everyday hydroplans. Her heart gave
great bound T6is flying machine was conn
ing: directly toward tie. launch; Il did not do
viats hairs breadth from the line Fortu-
pateay the men wsss lookins toward huge
freighter Qnaster of mile farther On. and
from thsir talk Il was evident that that
frpiehtsr was to b hsr prison bound for
whsrs4 Nsae@ and nsassr came the hydro
plane. VS. Il for hsrS
It vas impossible for he men mot 10 tako
netics II the barring Of the engines at last
The things heading for usr'
vsooa Stared under his palm. It was not
cssdibls that pursuit had tzksn place %
quickly. 10 test youdsr manbird he abb
ruptiy changed he COURSE Of the launch. The
hydxopiane vessed tn course 10 s1it.
F1orsncs heard her name called family.
One Of the men drew his fevolvss. but vtoon
Knocked It out Of his hand
"Thefsfs ths police boat you Aoolr'
"Jumpr' voice called to Florence
She fauns hsnslf into TIE water withouhths
slightest hesitation.
All this came about something after tnis
fashion. When Merton arrived at the foot Of
Corsy street q bcatnan informed him that .
young woman Of his description had gotten
into fast motor boat and had gone down
tho river.
WAS there any stfuggler'
{" STRUGGLED None That 4 could zee. She
didn't make no fuss about going"
'Have you Q laumchr'
Eyes, but the other boat has half an hours
start, and I'd never catch her IN . thousand
years. But there's hydroplane q little shove
runs Il"
"Thanksr' I
But the aviator would not Ms.en.
"A Mo may hang h the balance. mani"
sspostulated Norton, longing 10 pommel the
stubborn man.
s'whas proof have Of thatr' ,
Norton showed his card ana hadgs.
:'0"o, sesI' jesrsd the aviat6e. - iietls
nswspapsf stunt IN which am 10 be the
goat. II can't be done, Mr.. Norton; It can't
BE- done"
"A hundred dollarsr"
Mot for i've hundred" and tAe eviator
eaalously turned away toward the young wom-
an with whom ne had been eonversing prior
to Norton's approach. The two walked
dozen yards away.
Norton had not served twelve years ~ .
metropolitan Newspaper man for nothing. He
approached the mechanics who were puttsrlns
about the machine. f
"How about twenty apiecer, he began.
"For WHAT r the men asked. /
"For sending that paddle around few
times"
"Get up into that seat. but don't touch
any Of those levers" one Of them warned.
Twenty IL twenty. Jack. and the bo1 Il a
sorehead today anyhow. Give her shove for
the fun Of It."
1t was q dumfounded aviator who saw his
hydroplans skim the water and a moment
later san into the air. These swift moving
days reporter Of the Arst caliber 10 supposed
to b. able to run railroad engines, subma-
rines, flying machines, conduct war; able to
shoot, walk, run, swim. fight. think, 60 With
out food libs pytnon, ana live without water
IKE camel. Norton had Aown many times
during the last four years At the moment
he called out to Florence to Jump he dropped
to the water With an the skin Of an old timer
and TOOL Asr aboard And he could not uss .
line a - exploit for his pspefi
Jones heard tae bell. II was tn. sssus
from de- Black Hundred. He smiled 3auntiiy.
Wei, old fox, we've cornered you at last.
hawaii VET want thak money, or Har.