Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-01-29

tSACPAAoho tNul Nho ~ hoht W
shelter that had been constructed for
his protection In case Of storm. He
picked up the receiver. Main 600."
he called into 1t. For a moment he
awaited his reply, then began speak
ing rather hurriedly.
rs this the chief? Well, this is
Johnson, stationed on the Commerce
building lookout. There is an aero
plane of to the southeast and coming
like the wind. 1t is several miles
away as yet, but ought to be here In
five minutes. That is all, sir. No, sir,
no signs of the Flying Man. Goodby.
SIR" He hung up the receiver.
And FIVE minutes later. speeding like
an express train, his propeller clack-
ing loudly Putnam, aviator nearest
to the Ger when the proclamation
was made and first Of the squadron
Of aerial craft which, attracted by the
huge reward, was already rushing at
the rate Of a mile a minute toward
the field, arrived. Putnam was an
aviator with an international reputa-
ton for two things, first, great skill
In the management Of his machine,
and, second, a recklessness that often
bordered close upon II not actually
reaching the limit Of foolhardiness,
He already held several worlds rec
ords and never let an opportunity slip
by to try and capture others. He had
flown higher than any other man by a
thousand feet, had broken all records
for h~eavy-weather flying, and his
plunges and spirals never failed to
bring chills to the backs and cheers
from the threats Of his audiences. His
skill was marvellous, his nerves Of
chilled steel and his retklessness ever
a matter Of Joy and horror to the on
lockers. Night or day, blow high or
blow low, fair weather or foul were
all the same to him, and Of all the
hundreds of airmen in the land there
was none better qualified for the des-
perate feat upon which he had en-
barked than Little Put Of the
Charmed Life" And for a chance
at a reward such as the mi now in
sight he would have guaranteed to fly
straight into the mouth Of hades and
engage the Evil One himself single
handed and alone If any one would
have agreed to show him the opening.
He circled the central part Of the
city at a height Of several hundred
feet as he peered down in search of
an alighting place. Below him, and
notified of his coming by the shrilling
blades Of his great propeller, people
by the thousands were staring upward
and pointing or running in solid
streams to the large square that lay
near the center Of the business dis
trict. Putnam had never been at this
place before. but he knew that a crowd
In one city was very like a. crowd In
another, and knowing crowds as he
did he followed them, satisfied that
they were leading him to the place
where he was expected to alight.
Once above 1t, he swept 1t in a swift
circle as he made his calculations,
balanced, %pirouetted and dipped out Of
a sheer good natured desire to give
those below a thrill, SKINNED the top
Of a high building perilously close and
then dove Unexpectedly. Down the
biplane shot like q hawk and a sharp
cry of fear arose from those below
accompanied by a riotous scuttling for
as 1t seemed to them that he
must come hurting upon their very
heads, but within a score of feet OF
the ground he elevated his planes and
the machine shooting forward dropped
upon the earth and went skim
ming over 1t like a gull that barely
touches the surface of the water. A
way further on, tired Of fright
ening them in this manner, he sudden
Iy stopped and stepped c~arelessly |
upon the ground.
He answered the boisterously ad-
throng which Immediately
in upon him with cool boast
Putnam was n Of the
lew absolutely fearless men who de-
light in extolling themselves. Get
him! You bet l will II I once set
eyes on him. The Pet can make
miles an hour and he will have
10 go some to throw any star dust
her eyes. II I can't go as high and
as far and IS fast with her as any
pinfeathered hobo, who is trying to
beat his way around the universe by
worlds can flap On wings
we'll, I'll give up awaiting and go to
pushing a w~heelbarrow. See that?"
He tapped a heavy revolver which
hung at his side. well, I've shot
upon the wing with 1t while
going at full speed, and l ought to
be- able to hit a man who they tell
ne is as long as a telegraph pole.
And II 1 can't hit his body I'll make
hose fiappers of his look like the top
If a pepper box. I'm going to take a
scout around as soon as I get a bite
eat" He beckoned to a couple OF
Here, Rooney and Ho-
gan. Watch this machine while I'm
gone and when I come back I'll bring
you each a nice. red apple. l am
to start up inside Of an hour"
Not more than five feet tall, 1.-THE as
, wildcat, sinewy as one, he went
wagering of through the crowd,
them to stare after him and
It his famous plane In chuckling ad-
niration. \