The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-28


had been a miraculous one.
The impetus of his attack had car
ried him past me. l mounted at once.
He mounted also. had slightly tho
advantage of speed. l flew immedi-
ately above him and dropped bomb.
| He eluded it almost by miracle.
An instant later we were Iiying side
by side, firing my automatic, and he
endeavoring to escape me.
1t was his purpose to pour another
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 a disadvantage. l rose.
! We both rose, and now it 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 l
assembled the Taube seemed to drop
away from me. Soon 1t was like a
little speck far below ! began to
circle, waiting the chance to drop a
bomb. l meant to make sure OF my |
aim this time. My purpose was Tor
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
D rattle OF the machine gun began
again. ! had not suspected that II
was capable of being fired vertically
t upward The bullets Missed around
!. me like angry bees, One dashed my
/. face One tore my tunic. moment.
n and | was swooping downward.
|. had him at the disadvantage, but not
on the direct line the bomb must
n traverse | dived like hawk. shot
4. past him with terrific velocity, and
e at the same time opened fire with my
automatic again. | swooped back on
O. nv ellipse, loading as | flew. But
O. me that | had pierced his tank.
n The fire leaped upward in a dozen
tongues. In moment the biplane
At was tiercely burning Against the
10 glare of the flames the head ana
crouching body OF the German were
silhouetted like fiends l saw him
touch his rudder. and the biplane
swooped toward earth. AS it fell II
Il blazed up more fiercely. The entire
hinder part was now glowing GIN
: der. Each moment ! expected 10
see the Tallbe buckle and go swoop
ing earthward, to fall, an incinerated
mass, beneath.
He had a wonderful head, that Ger
man IN spite of the hell OF hames
that surrounded him and ragged above
him. he dived like bird, alightlnt
y with only the forepart of the machine
as gently as bird alights, ahe
sprang gracefully to the ground
\ There he awaited me with his flst'
1 clenched
You see, he was armed only with
Maxim, for he had never anticipated
this calamity and he could not re
move his gun from the burning wreck
Z age at his side.
II But he held up his hands reluctant
II " when / covered him with my pis
; toll.
Monsieur, there is no man in an.
:. army to whom | would sooner sur
=" render than you," he said.
marched him toward our distan
at trenches We had alighted in bar
rem region between the lines, bu
GU nearer our own forces.
ep- Courage, comrade," ! said to him
he 81 have sought to make you prison
me er for the sake of one who await
nd you"
'm "Eh?" he inquired, looking at M
ne with sharp scrutiny.
Ike For the sake of your love. mon
sieur," | said.
IN Would you believe It? The CIR
ny had watched the entire combat from
the half-ruined farmhouse in whicl
III she lived. And at this precise me
ei ment | saw her coming toward u
nc across the flats. II was impossible Z
mistake tHe Bdlt vi youth' tho pbA''
he ness and Joy that seemed to animate
her.
She saw us and broke into run
In a few moments she was at on
- side.
,sa Embrace each other, then, my chill
10 dren, | said softly. Monsieur i
~ lieutenant, | trust you implicitly.
,ro am well aware that you will no
abuse my confidence.
.ist The girl chung to him, but to m.
n disn.ay there was no love on her fac
nd only fury.
Now Will you pay me Tor that pal
,bo of chickens you stole" she screamed
gd at him, shaking him
r. Put what does this mean 1 de
nd manded angrily
a-e He took two chickens from N.
In. yard three weeks ago and promised
TO come back and pay tor them!
nd cried the girl, veritable virago.
flung her piece of silver Their
sat take that" | said disgustcdly.
or How the deuce could ! come Dacl
an when the Frenchmen were IN posses
,ry SION" grumbled the lieutenant, look
lar ing at the girl, nevertheless witt
On. something of admiration