The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1915-10-08


rent The wings OF my mOnoplane
were riddled with bullets. My escape
had been a miraculous one.
The impetus OF his attack had car
ried him past me. | mounted az once
lie mounted also. l had slightly the
advantage OF speed. | few immedi
ately above him and dropped a bomb
lie eluded il almost by a miracle
An instant later We were flying side
by side. | firing my automatic. and he
endeavoring TO escape me.
IL was his purpose 70 pour another
broadside from the Maxim. mounted
to point forward on the chassis. |
saw that. and realized that his
greater speed would enable him TO
have me at a disadvantage. rose.
We both rose. and now II was clear
that my only chance OF overcoming
him was TO get above him. The mon
oplane would climb faster. Would il
climb higher? That had never been
tested.
rose until the earth curved under
meath like the round OF ball. AS
assembled the Taube seemed 10 drop
away from me. Soon II was like a
little speck far below. began 10
circle. waiting the chance TO drop
bomb l meant 10 make sure OF my
aim this time. My purpose was for
gotten My antagonist had ceased 10
have personality for me- he was sim
ply an enemy aviator whom II was
my duty to kill. / 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.
Suddenly, 10 my dismay. the deadly
rattle oil the machine gun began
gain / 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 was swooping downward. |
had him at the disadvantage. but not
on the direct line the bomb must
traverse. dived like a hawk. | shot
at the same time opened fire with my
automatic again. i swooped back on
my ellipse. loading as few. But
squirt OF fire from the Taube showed
me that | had pierced his tank.
The fire leaped upward in a dozen
tongues. In a moment the biplane
was fercely burning Against the
glare OF the flames the head and
crouching body of the German were
siIhouetted like a fiends. ! saw him
touch his rudder. and the biplGne
swooped toward earth. As it fell II
blazed up more hercely. The entire
hinder part was now a glowing Gin
der Each moment expected 10
see the Taube buckle and go swoop-
ing earthward. 10 fall. an incinerated
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 Owed 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
Maxim. for be had never anticipated
this calamity. and ne could not re-
move his gun from the burning wreck
age at his side.
But he held up his hands reluctant
H. 4 d i'm Will M mis-
toll.
Monsieur. there is no man in any
army 10 whom | would sooner sur
render than you" he said
marched him toward our distant
trenches. We had alighted in bar
rem region between the lines. but
nearer our own forces.
Courage. comrade." I said to him.
4 have sought TO make you a prison
er for the sake of one who awaits
you"
'Eh2" he inquired. looking at me
with sharp scrutiny.
For the sake of your love, mon
sieur. said.
Would you believe IT? The girl
had watched the entire combat from
the half-ruined farmhouse in which
she lived. And at this precise mo-
ment | saw her coming toward US
across the fats 1t was impossible to
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 our
side
Embrace each other, then, my chill
dren, | said softly. Monsieur 10
lieutenant, trust you implicitly. !
am well aware that you will not
abuse my confidence.
The girl chung TO him. but to my
dismay there was no love on her face
only fury.
Now will you pay me for that pair
of chickens you stole!" she screamed
at him. shaking him.
But what does this mean?' 4 de-