Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-09-17
AnaniaS Shines
AirShip
Story of a Troubled
Conscience.
By CLARISSA MACKIE

%%&@R&%@%%pthtetstf dAsst Rtk'R's'e+ptp
The very day arrived at Ounce
Harbor met the Widow Rowell. She
wns emerging from EN- Bevis' depart.
ment store, and on her comedy face
was a batIied look
ut has something to do with Ananias
Slime" was my first thought, for these
two interesting widows, En- Bowls and
Hetty R0wcll, were boldly contesting
for the heart and hand Of Ananias
Slime, one time mate Of the good ship
Indus and now porter In the Ounce
Harbor bank.
Good morning, Miss Telham," she
gave greeting, Flows Marias rheu.
matism%
Much better than 1t was. And how
are you"
The httle widow cast baleful bnck.
ward gAance at the department store,
where distinctly saw En- Bevis'
sleekly pompadourcd head against the
window. "Pm fine! Splendid@ re-
sponded the Widow Rowell vivacious-
ly. Have you heard about Mr.. Shines
aeroplanef Captain Barnabas said
Ananihs had been building one. He
makes his trial flight tonight. I'll tell
you something II you won't tell" she
added proudly,
You may cOn1de In me, Mrs. Row.
ell" l reproached her. II shall be az
silent as the grave"
She drew nearer and whispered:
I'm going up In the airship with
AnaniasW
And while l listened, Against she pat
ted my arm and darted away down tho
village street
Suddenly | remembered that | had
an errand ut EN- Bevis' store, and ~
l mounted the steps the door flew open
and Mrs. Devils ample form was bow
ing me inside, and her heavy features
relaxed In generous smile of wei.
come
you heard about Mr.. Shines air.
slupT she asked suddenly.
Yes IIe makes Il trial flight to.
day" l repeated quickly, for l was
mindful OF Hetty Rowell's secret lock-
cd In my breast.
She glanced toward her two clerks,
young girls, bright eyed and rosy
checked, who were exchanging wit
ticisms with the stage driver, who had
just delivered an express package.
Hes going to take passenger"
whispered the Widow Bowls
"WhOP Ned Robertsr glanced nj
the lanky stage driver.
mo; Ananias SlineP'
"Oh, n passenger In tho airship2" so
Hetty's secret was no secret after all.
She nodded.
Its secret Perhaps you can
guess" She smiled archly.
Your weakly asked.
"Yes. Don't tell a SOUL" she caution.
ed, although | am sure she hoped
would confde the news to Hetty Row.
ell.
/ spent the afternoon on the bay
with Captain Barnabas and his wife,
Maria. As we tied up at the little
landing below the Fish cottage the cap
tain east a glance ut the wind signal
mot n puffw he calculated "There
Isn't mortal reason why Ananias
can't make that flight tonight"
bright moonlight, too" added Ma
ria. Hurry up and come to supper
SOS we can go right over to Terry's
field. want good look at the crittef
before It's smashed to bits"
"Wil the machine really 1yT ASH
ed as we nie hurried meal
$50 Ananlns says," returned the cap
tain dryly. Ananlas had been his first
mate OH many voyages, and Captain
Fish was confident that the truth was
not In Ananlus.
When we reached Terry's ten acre
field the moon was lifting II great sD-
yer disk above the pine woods. The
field was flooded with white light re-
venllng the gathering crowd Of villag
ers.
In the middle Of the mOOnllt space
was n great white winged object sur
rounded by curious mon and boys.
This was Annnlas Shines airsbIp.
We approached the awkward looking
looking absurdy small In leather
aviation suit and helmet. lie looked
like brown gnOme.
He greeted M with his accustomed
dignity, but even while he explained
the mysteries Of the Hawk, ns he had
named 1t, his cold blue eyes we're
searching the arriving crowds.
"Hc IL looking for Hetty, or II II
En- I,evis" I thought, wondering how
this latest scheme OF Mr.. Shines would
work out Would no have one passen-
ger or twO1
A hand plucked ut my sleeve. II
was Hctty Rowell, almost unrecog-
nizable IN heavy skirt. wooden sweater
under her winter coat and a green veil
wound around her head and face so
that only her sharp gray eyes were
visible.
"IIetty, aren't you afraidT' whis-
percd.
She smiled proudly.
"NOt with him. Ananlas knows and
understands his own machine"
She slipped past me and stood talk.
ing TO Annnlas. who continued 10 peer
nervously around while no talked
There was the sound OF heavy
breathing close beside me. Elm Bowls,
as strangely attlrcd M her rival. stood
there, her eyes cleaning with resOlu.
tlon. She pushed past me and strcde
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