The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-26


broadside from the Maxim mounted
to point forward on the chassis.
saw that, and l realized that his
greater speed would enable him to
have me at disadvantage. l rose.
We both rose, and now 1t was clear
that my only chance of overcoming
him was to get above him. The mon
oplane would climb faster. Would it
climb higher? That had never been
tested.
rose until the earth curved under
meath like the round of ball. AS
assembled the Taube seemed to drop
away from me. Soon it was like a
circle, waiting the chance to drop
bomb l meant to make sure of my
aim this time. My purpose was for
gotten. My antagonist had ceased to
have personality for me; he was sim
ply an enemy aviator whom 1t was
my duty to kill. l watched him
through my binoculars as he grew
larger. He was almost Immediately
beneath me. | would let the bomb
fall when there was no longer danger
of missing him.
Suddenly, to my dismay, the deadly
rattle oil the machine gun began
again. / had not suspected that it
was capable of being fired vertically
upward. The bullets Kissed around
me like angry bees. One dashed my
face. One tore my tunic. A moment,
and | was swooping downward.
had him at the disadvantage, but not
on the direct line the bomb must
traverse | dived like hawk ! shot
past him with terrific velocity, and
at the same time opened fire with my
automatic again. | swoOped back on
my ellipse, loading as | flew. But
squirt of fire from the Taube showed
me that had pierced his tank.
The fire leaped upward in dozen
tongues. In moment the biplane
was fiercely burning Against the
glare of the flames the head and
crouching body of the German were
silhouetted like a fiend's. saw him
touch his ruddar, and the biplane
blazed up more fiercely. The entire
hinder part was now glowing Gin
| der. Each moment ! expected to
see the Taube buckle and go swoop'
| ing earthward, to fall, an incinerated
mass, beneath.
He had wonderful head, that Ger
| man. In spite of the hell of flames
| that surrounded him and ragged above
him. he Owed like a bird. alighting
with only the forepart of the machine.
as gently as a bird alights. and
sprang gracefully to the ground.
There he awaited me with his fists
clenched.
You see, he was armed only with a
, Maxim, for he had never anticipated
! this calamity, and he could not re-
move his gun from the burning wreck
age at his side
But he held up his hands reluctant
ly when 1 covered him with my pis-
toll
Monsieur, there is no man in any
army to whom | would sooner sur
render than you" he said.
marched him toward our distant
trenches We had alighted in bar
rem region between the lines, but
nearer our own forces.
Courage, comrade," said to him.
Il have sought to make you prison
er for the sake of one who awaits
you"
"Eh?" he inquired, looking at me
with sharp scrutiny.
For the sake of your love, mon
sieur,' ! said.
Would you believe It? The girl
had watched the entire combat from
the half-ruined farmhouse in which
she lived. And at this precise mo-
ment | saw her coming toward us
across the fats. 1t was impossible to
mistake the gait of youth, the light
ness and Joy that seemed to animate
her.
She saw us and broke into a run.
In a few moments she was at our
side.
Embrace each other, then my chill.
dren," | said softly. Monsieur lie
lieutenant, | trust you implicitly.
am well aware that you will not
abuse my confidence.
The girl chung to him, but to my
dismay there was no love on her face
only fury.
Now will you pay me for that pair
of chickens you stole" she screamed
at him, shaking him
But what does this mean?" 1 de-
handed angrily
He took two chickens from my
yard three weeks ago and promised
to come back and pay tor them"
cried the girl, a veritable virago.
! | flung her piece OF silver There
take that" | said disgustedly.
How the deuce could ! come pack
sion?" grumbled the lieutenant, look
ing at the girl, nevertheless with
something of admiration
ITS all one to me" she answered
What | nave. | pay for. What any
one has from me, ne pays for, too.
The prisoner and ! went on in 81
lence. Presently ne turned to me
with smile.
What a wife she would make ne
murmured 81 shall certainly remem-
Der this place after The war One
does not often find hausirau of such
economical virtues.