Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-07-09
Ananias Shines
Airship
Story Of a Troubled
Conscience.
By CLARISSA MAcKIE

was emerging from En- Bevis' depart
ment store, and on her comedy face
was a bafled look.
"It has something to do with Ananias
] Slime" was my first thought, for these
! two interesting widows, EN- Bevis and
Hetty Rowell, were boldly contesting
for the heart and hand of Ananias
Slime. one time mate of the good ship
Indus and now porter In the Ounce
Harbor bank.
"Good morning, Miss Telham," she
gave greeting. Flows Maria's rheu-
matism?'
Much better than 1t was. And how
are your"
The little widow cast a baleful back
ward glance at the department store,
where I distinctly saw En- Beyis'
\ sleekly pompadoured head against the
window. I'm fine! S~plendid!" re-
sponded the Widow Rowell vivacious-
". Have you heard about MI. Shines
Ananias had been building one. He
makes his trial flight tonight. I'll tell
4 you something If you won't TELL" she
added proudly.
'You may confde in me, Mrs. Row.
ell" I ~reproached her. 81 shall be as
silent as the grave"
She drew nearer and whispered:
I'm going up in the airship with
Ananias!"
And while l listened, aghast, she pat
ted my arm and darted away down the
village street.
Suddenly l remembered that I had
an errand at En- Bevis' store, and as
/ mounted the steps the door few open
and Mrs. Bevis' ample form was bow
ing me inside, and her heavy features
relaxed in a generous smile of well
come.
You heard about Mr.. Shines air
ship?' she asked suddenly.
Eyes. He makes a trial fight to-
day." l repeated quickly, for l was
mindful of Hetty Rowell's secret lock-
ed in my breast.
She glanced toward her two clerks,
young girls, bright eyed and rosy
! checked, who were exchanging wit
ticisms with the stage driver, who had
just delivered an express package.
Hes going to take a passenger"
whispered the Widow Bevis.
VIM IRoberts?" l glanced at
the lanky stage driver.
mo; Ananias Sline!'
"Oh, a passenger in the airshipT" So
Hetty's secret was no secret after all.
She nodded.
Its a secret. Perhaps you can
guess She smiled archly.
"You?" 1 weakly asked.
eyes. Don't tell a SOUL" she caution
ed, although 1 am sure she hoped I
would confide the news to Hetty Row
ell.
/ spent the afternoon on the bay
with Captain Barnabas and his wife,
Maria. AS we tied up at the little
landing below the Fish cottage the cap
tain cast a glance at the wind signal.
mot a puff" he calculated. There
ISN'T a mortal reason why Ananias
can't make that fight tonight"
Bright moonlight, too" added Ma
ria. Hurry up and come to supper
pos we can go right over to Terry's
FIELD. I want a good look at the critter
before it's smashed to bits"
"Wil the machine really fyY" I ask
ed as we ate a hurried meal.
$50 Ananias says" returned the cap
Pain dryly. Ananias had been his first
fnate on many voyages, and Captain
Fish was confident that the truth was
pot in Ananias.
When we reached Terry's ten acre
fleld the moon was lifting a great sill
yer disk above the pine woods. The
field was flooded with white light, re-
Pealing the gathering crowd Of villag-
krs.
In the middle of the moonlit space
SFas a great white winged object sur
pounded by curious men and boys.
This was Ananias Shines airship.
We approached the awkward looking
pbJect and found Ananias himself,
boxing absurdly small in a leather
Rviation suit and helmet. He looked
Ike a brown gnome.
He greeted us with his accustomed
dignity, but even while he explained
ne mysteries of the Hawk, as he had
PANIED 1t, his cold blue eyes were
Fearehing the arriving crowds.
He Is looking for Hetty, or is it
Pm Bevis?" l thought, wondering how
his latest scheme of Mr.. Shines would
york out. Would he have one passen-
ger or two?
A hand plucked at my sleeve. 1t
vas Hetty Rowell, almost unrecog-
flzable In heavy skirt, wooden sweater
nder her winter coat and a green veil
Found around her head and face SO
8nat only her sharp gray eyes were
fisible.
"Hetty, aren't you afraidg' I whis-
pered,
She smiled proudly.
Not with him. Ananias knows and
Pnuerstands his own machine"
ISL hhn nl4n-A1 --- - Y