Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-02-19


crowd drew all eyes In Its direction.
and simultaneously a hundred hands
shot upward with index fingers point.
ing high across the plain. Far away,
family visible, miles from the direc-
ton in which they had disappeared,
were the returning specks circling
back like a flock of wildfowl, multi.
plying in numbers. growing larger,
more distinct with each moment
passed. Three minutes and they were
distinguishable as to form, the Flying
Man still sweeping along a good half
mile in advance, the planes which had
fallen behind their fellows now in the
lead by reason of the advantage gained
in cutting short the broad turn of the
pursued as he circled back. Half way
back in the column they could distin-
guish the Blue Dragon glinting IN the
sunlight and steadily forging its way
once more to the front. In the next
minute the frenzied clamor Of the
crowd had lulled to an occasional eX-
cited yelp as breathlessly the mob
strained its eyes upward. In her ex-
element Doris clutched a hand Of
each Of her companions and chung to
it convulsively.
The Flying Man was leading the
sky grayhounds directly over them as
though he wished all to see and mar
vel at his powers. Speeding true as
an arrow, his great wings moving with
the swiftness Of a racing locomotives
pistons, he was heading almost d.
rectly for the place from which he
had arisen before this wild follow.
your-leader chase through the regions
Of the air began. That he was giving
them a test one and all in both speed
and endurance that he might here
after know their powers and limita-
tons and be governed thereby, none
who watched the mad race questioned.
And a gruelling chase he was leading
them, a chase where none except the
highest skilled, the most iron nerved,
the most enduring and the best
equipped could have kept even in
sight. He was nearly overhead now,
ptIldpS Il luOuSdLlu lStI tItLi'
lying fiat in the air with hands clasped
upon his breast and legs stretched
straight behind that his body might
offer the least resistance to the at
mosphere. To their ears the whistle
of his wings sounded like the whistle
of a flock of wild geese.
Then from close at hand the bel
low OF a mortar arose, Earring the
earth, deafening their ears and rend-
ing the air with hurtling grape. Like
a flash the flying one lodged as the
missiles sang about him, and altering
his course sharply seemed but a long
streak as he cleaved the sky. A sec
ond mortar Numbered, and at its belch.
ing the Flying Man, turning a COM
plete summersault in the air, fell a
hundred feet like a bird stricken in
mid fight. A mighty sound arose
from the crowd, a roar, a Shrek, a
wild scream OF They've got him,
they've got him." but as a gymnast OF
the flying rings makes a complete rev.
olution in his leap, so did the flying
Ole GCONtI uIlIlStll anu I'LL q SSltdll
as shrill as their own 60 speeding
once more mountainward. The next
instant the air above was filled with
the sound of the pursuing machines
and the other mortars dared no fire
for fear of moving down their own.
The Blue Dragon, now in the very
foremost rank, was o%verhauling its
few remaining competitors hand over
hand.
Low over the top OF the nearest
ridge they flew straight into the face
of the setting sun. One by one the
pursuing craft lowered for an instant
above the crest and then settled out of
sight behind 1t, leaving those upon the
plain gazing into the empty air where
they had vanished. Then from the In
seen region beyond the tops came the
rattle Of revolver shots fired irregu.
larly, and for a minute more the crowd
awaited breathlessly for some sign
that one of the bullets had reached its
mark, but another scattered volley
family distinguishable because Of dis
tdHCe, lOlu tueul that luo loSc was Bull
being run. The sun sank behind the
towering horizon, a deep shadow fell
upon them and silently they turned
and dispersed towards their homes.
The two men and the girl followed
slowly after, each silent. each deep in
thought. Anyway 1t was a wonderful
sight and l would not have missed It
for worlds" she unused at length.
do you suppose he made that
remarkable turn in the air? Was he
hit? Clay answered her.
Probably barely winged. I shot a
deer once that did the same thing
a complete summersault and
then got up and went on faster than
He wasn't hurt much at any
"And your opinion Of 1T" she asked
Of Alan.
About the same" He was angry
at Clay again and found 1t difficult not
to show 1t. He had been invited to
spend the afternoon with her and
Clay had not, yet he had intruded him
self with the utmost assurance and
had chung closely to her throughout
the afternoon-in fact had monopolized
her and what had taken place in
the interval when they were alone to-
only themselves knew. March. ]