The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-17

Startled at first, Pauline's fear Of the neW
arrival quickly changed to pleasure. The
wonderful flying craft brought her . sense
of security It Vas civilization come to res
cue her from base perils Of the dark ages
She saw with Joy that Il was descending.
She arose and broke her way through the
underground to q little clearing. Tho aero
plane was gracefully alighting ON its wheelA.
If Pauline had been surprised the airman
was stunned. Catesby Snyder was . man
of strong nerves, but this vision OF IN ex-
Quisftely beautiful young woman tn the
tattered white robe and torn sandals OF what
had once been perfectly good angels COS
tune was almost too much for him. He
trembled rs she rushed toward him.
II will give you thousand dollars 70 take
me to the mainland" cried Pauline.
Her voice treasured him. "Oh," he said
with relief. you're one Of the moving picture
ladies'"
"Yes-and 1 must leave this island in
stantly. will give you two thousand doh
lars. Only hurry"
Were you ever in an aeroplaner'
Eyes, indeed l am not afraid"
He motioned her to take her place In the
machine while he finished tinkering with
tho engine.
Hurry" she commanded sharply. 81 hear
someone calling. He is coming after me.
Oh, you MUST hurry"
Snyder obediently sprang to the eeat and
the huge wings scared over the forest and
out over the sea.
but neither looked back. The plane was
whirring for the mainland at full speed.
Pauline sat silent, thrilled and secure
throughout the voyage. Neither spoke until
out over a thickly wooded country.
They came out above the railroad %
abruptly that the fiery hot smoke of . loco.
motive scorched their faces as q train swept
under them.
Snyder swung the machine to follow the
rails. Something caused both of them to
turn and look up.
Snyders hands shook wildly a. he clutched
the levers. A spark from the locomotive
mad lodged on the upper plane 1T its far end
and the wing was ablaze.
Pauline was mute with fear She saw
Snyder fumbling excitedly in the little chest
under his seat. She saw him draw out what
seemed to be a folded piece Of cloth, but
she had no faintest thought Of his real pur-
pose until suddenly he stood mp and leaped
into the air.
parachute opened above him and he
sank evenly toward the ground.
Pauline climbed into the drivers seat and
grasped the levers. The cowardice Of her
companion seemed to have nerved her. A
she struggled with the levers she looked
down with q strange fascination 1T the
abandoned her to her fate for the cake Of his
own safety looked UP at her.
The aeroplane twisted and turned as Paul.
inc CROPPED for its control. The parachute
1ell SLOWLY. Inc O1uereuCo IN tu0lr pOSks
tions seemed to be the difference between
certain safety and certain death.
A train rumbled around q bend in the dis.
lance. It came on at high speed The aero
plane had been riding over the tracks. The
parachute was carrying Snyder straight
downward. There was no wind.
For perhaps a minute the coward was per.
mitted to watch his own allow death-hio
own slow fall to the path Of the grinding
wheels. Fate had timed his leap to the In
slant. The train jolted to q stop, but Catesby
Snyder, with q parachute for his shroud. lay
dead under the last car.
The machine veered gracefully toward the
ground. The fire etreamed upward like .
red pennon as it few. Pauline had found
the right lever at last. The wheels Of the
machine touched ground. They glided . LII.
tie way and stopped. Pauline was safe.
(To be continued next weet.)