The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-30

aero grounds heref Well. I've got the
latest in the biplane line and I'm an
entrant for the great $4,000 prize.
Your name, Bertram, is worth some
thing, for your father is not forgot
ten. Come up to my hangar and I'll
open your eyes to q fine business
proposition"
drifted into aviation with this
fascinating optimistic airman gradual
ly. / could not resist his hopefulness
and eloquence.
Revell had q superb biplane. the
latest model in its line. Then there
was . small monoplane for practice
stunts. He initiated me into its pos
sibilities. In a week was a fair
birdman.
I 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 q
twenty per cent interest in $4,000
minor prize pool. However, at dusk
one evening that happened which led
to my abandonment of the perilous
field Of aviation
Revell had arranged for night
flight, he in the big machine and my
self with the little monoplane. I
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-
err 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
of the control when he leaned to-
wards me, pressed the cold muz2le
of revolver to my temple and Kissed
out:
Keep on going or will kill you!"
was conscious Of shouts below, q
blurred sense OF Revell rushing out
of the hangar, of uniformed men
rushing to the spot. Then, fairly
alarmed, I let the monoplane shoot up
into space.
Then there happened a series of
starts and thrills. A steady level At
tanned, my grim passenger never low
cred his weapon. He ordered ne to
proceed due north. Less than Ave
miles accomplished, he let out = wild
yell of dismay and rage.
Suddenly a great white glare shot
up, down, narrowed in q steady circle
to a direct focus, and as in . spot.
light picture we were nailed BY the
powerful headlight of the big biDlane,
the loyal, intelligent Revell at the
pilot post in hot pursuit.
Drop! drop!" painted my passenger.
They're after me. Drop, l tell you!"
In that forest Of trees?" objected.
glancing below. "Impossible!"
Get lower, or l 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. saw his outspread form
strike the top of towering titan of
the forest. He crashed through the
branches. The headlight followed hts
/ downward plunge. Then it focused
the monoplane. At a clearing 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. Al
we carried him to the biplane . long
metal box fell out Of his inner coat
pocket. We placed him in the big
machine and we're soon back at the
| exhibition grounds. Half . dozen
policemen and an excited busting old
man who looked like a millionaire ex-
citedly awaited US.
He was what he suggested, It
seemed. and the dead fugitive had
robbed him Of papers of inestimable
value to him. As I handed him the
metal box he cried out with vivid de-
light. He glanced eagerly over the
papers 1t contained.
IAN safe!" he gloated. 1T means
half my fortune. Young man. have
you a fountain pen"
almost fell over as he wrote out q
check for twenty-five thousand dol.
lars! Faithful old Revell was induced
to accept quarter Of 1t.
Then, good.by to aviation and
homo. Fay. the mortgage paid. and Q
wedding and happiness complete.