Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1915-07-07
Copyright, 1914, by w. a. Chapman)

Sl1 uCh al uP al " AeiSSA Ga SSe4 ~,
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,
tion.
With both interest and indignation
the amateur airman observed lad OF
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 car
ried a cane, which he waved menac-
ingly. A second had picked up lot
of stones. These he hurled with va
ried aim after the running boy
"You young rascal" roared the man
in advance. Drop it, tell you, or
I'll have you jailed!"
But the little fellow never needed
the threatening cries and actions OF
his pursuers. He forged straight
ahead, momentarily 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?"
"villains! They'll kill me-and you,
too. Oh, 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
can!" 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-chug and the biplane
went aloft like an arrow.
The dismayed and chagrined men
below vainly vented their wrath on
the rescuer who had baff1ed 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 he knew all about it, for when
the biplane 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 power of one of his three pursuers,
Giles Warden. Fearing foul play, the
sister had that day given him the will
of her dead 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 a new man. I'll
soon have this affair Strengthened
out"
1t was with a good deal Of surprise
that Ralph met "Sister Eleanor" q
week later. He had supposed her to
be a little girl. Instead, confusedly.
he listened to the ardent thanks of a
beautiful young lady.
"You have saved Miss Morley from
captivity and the loss of her fortune" +"
advised the lawyer. "She may con-
tinue to need friend"
Day by day Ralph Burt's heart
warmed to new impulses. There
came fnality presaging lasting con-
tentment. 1t was when Eleanor be:
came something more than a friend
his wife.