The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-10-02

saw that, and | realized that his
greater speed would enable him to
have me at a disadvantage. | 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 II
climb higher? That had never been
tested.
l rose until the earth curved under
meath like the round of a ball. AS
assembled the Taube seemed to drop
away from me. Soon it was like o
little speck far below. | began to
circle, waiting the chance to drop a
bomb. | 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. l would let the bomb
fall when there was no longer danger
of missing him.
Ouuu6Ilyt W my ulohidsS bhO NcoNNS
rattle of the machine gun began
again. / had not suspected that 1t
was capable of being fred vertically
upward. The bullets Kissed around
me like angry bees. One dashed my
face. One tore my tunic. A moment,
and l was swooping downward. |
had him at the disadvantage, but not
on the direct line the bomb
traverse. / dived like a hawk. shot
past him with terrific velocity, n
at the same time opened fire with my
automatic again. l swooped back on
my ellipse, loading as l flew. But a
squirt of fire from the Taube showed
me that l had pierced his tank.
The fire leaped upward in a dozen
tongues. In a moment the biplane
was iercely 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 rudder, and the biplane
| swooped toward earth. AS 1t fell II
| blazed up more fiercely. The entire
| hinder part was now a glowing Gin
der. Each moment l expected to
see the Taube buckle and go swoop-
ing earthward, to fall, an inciuerated
mass, beneath.
He had a wonderful head, that Ger
man. In spite of the hell of flames
that surrounded him and ragged above
him, he dived 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 covered him with my pis
toll.
Monsieur, there is no man in any
army to whom l would sooner sur
render than you" he said.
| marched him toward our distant
trenches. We had alighted in a bar
rem region between the lines, but
nearer our own forces.
Courage, comrade," l said to him
Il have sought to make you a prison
er for the sake Of one who awaits
you"
"Eh?" he inquired, looking at mt
with sharp scrutiny.
For the sake of your love. mon
%sieur," / said.
Would you believe it? The CIR
had watched the entire combat from
the half-ruined farmhouse in which
she lived. And at this precise mo
ment | saw her coming toward III
across the flats. 1t was impossible tt
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 GU
side.
Embrace each other. then, my chill
dren,'' | said softly. Monsieur II
lieutenant, I trust you implicitly.
am well aware that you will no
abuse my ~on1denc
The girl chung to him, but to m.
dismay there was no love on her fac
only fury.
Now will you pay me for that pal
of chickens you %stole!" she screamed
at him, shaking him.
But what does this mean?" l de
manded angrily.
He took two chickens from m,
yard three weeks ago and promised
to come back and pay for them!
cried the girl. a veritable virago.
/ flung her a piece of silver. "Ther'
take that!" l said disgustedly.
"How the deuce could | come bacl
when the Frenchmen were in posses
sion?" grumbled the lieutenant, look
ing at the girl, nevertheless witt
something of admiration.
ITS all one to me-" she answered
What / have, / pay for. What any
one has from me, he pays for, too"
The prisoner and l went IN in 81
lence. Presently he turned to m'
with a smile.
What a wife she would make!" h.
murmured. 81 shall certainly remem
Der this place after the war. On
does not often find a hausfrau of sucl
economical virtues"
Cry of the First Born.
And a woman can bear 20 children