Catoctin clarion., 1915-03-25
THE MISANTHROPHE
BY ETHEL WARD MESERVEY.


scribed life as it presented itself to his
distorted view.
Then he became very much ashamed
of the misanthropic utterarce He
glanced about his lonely but elegant
home. he looked into a mirror and
noted the unusual glow of health upon
his cheeks, he realized that he had
not a real care in the world Out
side the birds were singing, the flow
ers blooming, all radiant nature
breathing purity, peace and promise.
The sun shone at it's brightest. It's
rays glorified the redolent garden. Be-
yond it lay a sportsman's paradise
stables, kennels, garage and hangar.
1t represented the latest facilities for
pleasure.
"Yes, with all this, | may well be
ashamed of myself for finding moth
ing worth living for." murmured Burt,
reproachfully.
Burt went out to the spot where the
hangar was located. With the assist
ance of his hired man the superb BIZ
plane he operated was wheeled out.
He had become quite an expert avi-
ator and enjoyed his air trips greatly.
Under his expert direction the ma
chine struck an upward lateral course,
a thing of life and beauty. He en-
joyed the rare exhibition of pure air
and bird-like speed immensely
Ten miles accomplished, Burt vol
planed to a meadow stretch to adjust
a trivial defect in the control mechan-
ism He had just got in trim to re-
sumo his cloud work, when a shout
down the highway attracted his atten-
ton
With both interest and indignation
the amateur airman observed a lad or
about fourteen running towards him
as if for his life.
Struggling behind him, but in hot
pursuit were three men. They were
shouting and gesticulating. One carr
ried a cane, which he waved menac.
ingly. A second had picked up a lot
OF stones. These he hurled with va
rieG aim after the running boy.
"You young rascal" roared the man
in advance, Drop It, l tell you, or
III have you jailed"
| But the little fellow never needed
| the threatening cries and actions OF
! his pursuors. He forged straight
ahead mCmentarily nearing the spot
where Burt stood
This way. This way!" shouted
Burt, as the boy came nearer. "Climb
under the fence"
"Oh! OH" yelled the lad just at that
moment in frantic pain.
Brace up" cried Burt, leaning over
and lifting the lad clear of the en-
tangling wires Now, then, who are
those men?"
"Villans They'll kill me-and you,
too. On, they're coming!"
They were, indeed, but Burt was
going. He lifted the helpless lad in
his arms bodily, and made a run for
the biplane.
Don't get frightened he ordered
placing his charge in the seat behind
the pilot post and hurriedly strapping
him in.
Quick. mister! oh, quick as you
cant" insisted his passenger, with a
terrified glance at the fence.
The three pursuers had arrived.
One tried to jump the fence and his
feet tripped and he fell with thud.
A second attempted to crawl under the
lower wire and his clothing had be-
come entangled.
Don't you interfere with that boy
or you'll be liable to the law!" he
shouted at Burt.
The latter paid no attention to the
threat He sprang to the pilot seat.
Chug ugchug--whirr! and the biplane
went aloft like an arrow.
The dismayed and chagrined men
below vainly vented their wrath on
the rescuer who had baffled them.
The little fellow sat spellbound with
delight at the rare sensation OF an
air flight he had never dreamed OF.
For the first time in his life Ralph
Burt had found his mind invested with
real human interest. 1t elevated him.
An actor in an exciting and unusual
circumstance, he was eager to learn
what lay behind the strange incident
of the hour.
Soon H. knew all about 1t, for when
the biplaue landed on home ground he
took his passenger into his library
and questioned him.
1t came out that he and his sister,
Eleanor, were practically prisoners in
the powor of one of his three pursuers,
Giles Warden. Fearing foul play, the
sister had that day given him the will
of her de-; d father, with the injunction
to place it in the hands of some law
yer for safety and action. Hence the
pursuit.
"Righting a wrong-quite heroic!"
commented Burt's lawyer, when he
was made aware Of the facts in the
case. "Why, your new experience has
made you look like new man. I'll
soon have this affair Strengthened
out"
1t was with a good deal of surprise
that Ralph met "Sister Eleanor" r
week later. He had supposed be1
be little girl. Instead, c
he listened to the ardeRt1
beautiful young LADY,
"You have saw
captivity AMI