The Snowflake herald., 1915-10-01

aero grounds here? Well I've got tho
latest IN the biplane line and I'm on
ehIrant for the great $50. OOO nrizo
your name, Bertram, is worth soro
thing, for your father is not foroot
ten. Come up to my hangar and Tn
open your eyes to a fine business
proposition.
drlfted into aviation with this
fascinating optimistic airman gradual.
ly. | could not resist his hopefllness
and eloquence.
Revell had a superb biplane the
latest model in its line. Then there
was small monoplane for practice
stunts. He initiated me into it's DOS.
slbllltles. In week | was a fair
birdman.
| doubted our ability to compete
successfully with experts from all
over the world, and, indeed. in the
end all we won was fifth place and a
twenty per cent interest in a $4,000
minor prize pool However. at dusk
one evening that happened which led
to my abandonment of the periIous
field of aviation.
Revell had arranged for a night
flight, he in the big machine and my
self with the little monoplane. |
had got into the pilot seat and started
up, expecting him from the hangar
at once. Just as the tail of my ma
chine left the ground man, strang-
er dashed up to the spot. He was
in frantic state of excitement.
He ended sharp run in a daring
spring that carried him clear over the
wings and into the pit just back of
the pilot post. The delicate mocha
nism of the monoplane shivered at the
unusual shock. l was about to shut
off the control when he leaned to-
wards me, pressed the cold muzzle
of revolver to my temple and Kissed
cut:
Keep on going or ] will kill you!"
/ was conscious of shouts below,
blurred sense of Revell rushing out
of the hangar, of uniformed men
rushing to the spot Then, fairly
alarmed, let the monoplane shoot up
into space.
Then there happened a series of
starts and thrills. A steady level at
tained, my grim passenger never low
cred his weapon He ordered me to
proceed due north. Less than five
miles accomplished, he let out wild
yell of dismay and rage
Suddenly a great white glare shot
up, down, narrowed in steady circle
to direct focus, and as in spot.
light picture we were nailed by the
powerful headlight of the big biplane,
the loyal, intelligent Revell at the
pilot post in hot pursuit
Drop! DROP" painted my passenger.
They're after me. Drop, l tell you!"
I'm that forest of trees?" objected,
glancing below. 'Impossible!"
Get lower, or / will shoot!" yelled
my companion, and l volplaned till
we were skidding twenty feet above
the thick grove of trees.
My blood ran cold as the man
jumped. l saw his outspread form
strike the top of a towering titan of
the forest. He crashed through the
branches. The headlight followed his
downward plunge. Then it focused
the monoplane. At a clearing l de-
scended The big biplane landed be-
side me.
"Hurt?" inquired Revell spring
ing out of his machine. mo? Good!
Hurry. we must find that man-it's
important"
We came across him under the tree,
crushed, mutilated, stone dead. AS
we carried him to the biplane long
metal box fell out of his inner coat
pocket. We placed him in the big
machine and were soon back at the
exhibition grounds Half a dozen
policemen and an excited busting old
man who looked ike millionaire ex-
citedly awaited us.
He was what he suggested, it
seemed, and the dead fugitive had
robbed him of papers of inest'mable
value to him. AS l handed him the
metal box he criei out wish vivid &c
light. He glanced eagerly over the
papers it contained
"All safe," he gloated. ut means
half my fortune Young man, have
you a fountain penn
l almost fell over as he wrote out
check for twenty-five thousand dol
lars! Faithful old Revell was induced
to accept a quarter of it.
Then, good-by to aviation and
home. Fay, the mortgage paid, and
wedding and happiness complete.