The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-02-09
THE PERILS OF PAULINE
Written By Charles Goddard

even II 1t was useless in itself-it
showed him that Pauline was brave
and calm enough to use her wits He
waved again, but there was no an
swering signal from the basket. The
dust hid them from one another
Suddenly the balloon was lost to |
sight from the road. At the lowering
angle, drawn downward partly by the |
anchor and partly by the gradual loss
OF gas, 1t swung over the hills and |
was hidden behind them.
The road led between two hills. Be-
yond 1t curved to the east and north. |
AS he reached the curved Harry was
surprised that the balloon was not in
sight. It's course lay wide of the twist
ing road now, but it had been huge
and unmistakable eyemark visible for
miles. When after circling another
hill Harry had still failed to pick up
the balloon he was alarmed as well
as puzzled. He stopped and, scanned
the line of valley and hill and cliff
in every direction. There was no sign
The hills muddled his sense of direc-
ton, but he knew that he was near the
river again-back on the verge OF the
Palisads This added to his fears.
There WIS but one thing to do,
though--follow the road. He went
on slowly.
Suddenly he uttered a cry and threw
on full speed. Over the top of high,
Jagged cliff, set like a rampant be-
tween two bastion knolls he saw the
upper half of the gas bag,
| 1t veered and tossed in the wind like
lettering thing. The basket was in
visible. but Harry knew that the an
Choir had caught On the cliff side.
| AS he neared it he discovered that
what was a cliff on one side was the
river wall on the other. He had thank
ed heaven in his heart that the road
| led to the top Of it. He turned the
machine up the road, which threaded
narrow ledges through growths of
bramble and stunted trees.
! He saw and turned sick in soul and
body, for the pulling of the balloon
held the basket almost inverted, and
Pauline was not in the basket.
The anchor had doubled itself into
rock or root far down the cliff side.
From it the balloon dragged toward
the river instead of toward the shore
The taut rope writhed fifty feet out
from the top Of the declivity.
To the edge Of the cliff crawled Har-
ray. He moved rapidly, but at the
uttermost verge he paused and COW
cred his eyes with his hand. Hope
was dead in him.
At last he looked down.
To Pauline on her wild flight hat
: come increasing calm. Fear Is al
emotion that sounds but briefly in thu
human breast It's highest chords. TIT
mind, overwhelmed for a moment
> strains back to sanity. Pauline whel
t she dropped the anchor from the bal
I loon was hopeless, but no longe
afraid.
r AS she felt the balloon reachin
5 lower levels-though it still scare
t high above the hills--she even allow
ed herself little hope. Leaning ovel
she watched the shining blades of tn
8 anchor dance through the air North
eastward she could see the waves G
: the great river dancing. On the III
tie anchor hung her hope of life; u
- the water beyond the farthest cliff la
r he final peril.
: She had lost track of Harry and th
e other automobile long ago. She ha
given up all hope of aid from an
living thing.
1" The balloon moved slowly along tn
/ palsade. The anchor dragged on tn
r landward side OF the knobs. Thes
were sheer rocks that thesteel talon
clawed in vain
l. The balloon moved out over the ri'
L err then suddenly glided back. An et
r. dy of breeze from the water had turne
l. It's course. The anchor dangled alon
d the river wall of the precipice.
e Pauline seized the rope. She altel
nately pulled and loosened 1t, trying
J" hook the anchor to tree and shrub.
Suddenly she was flung forward
t almost out of the basket The balloo
had stopped with jerk One fluke
t, the anchor had caught under the SUI
ID porting lib of ledge forty feet {
more from the top Of the cliff.
b Hopefully, fearfully, Pauline pulle
Y. In the rope. The anchor held. TT
balloon was Juggling and swaying will
d. ly. but Its tether did not break.
re Pauline looked down at the ledg
p Between her and that narrow foot'a
the only thoroughfare was two hui
III dred feet OF swaying rope.
II She pulled upon the rope again. 81
y. dropped TWO more OF tue HedVy Ddld
:" bags over the side. and the bag shoe
and groaned upon It's stays as 1t dlra
III ged the anchor deeper into the rock
2" Pauline put her feet over the ed
r OF the basket. With her hands clutc
Id ing the rim, she lowered herself. 81
took her hands from the basket al
s. grasped the rope. She started dow
The raw hemp tore her hand. T.
fearful strain upon her arms ma
IT her sick and faint Only desperate
es nerved her after the first ten yards.
1t The wrenching Of the balloon Will
ed and jostled her. At first holdil
r? only by her hands. she was flung 0
vn from the tuat halyard like 4 flag. Tn
m instinct told her 10 wrap her fe
d? around 1t and she trembled on.
She looked down once, saw the
IL swaying river-and looked quickly
IT again It was not until her gropi
OF feet touched the rock Of the ledge til
ne she opened her eyes again. Openil
to them, she followed the line Of a slend
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