The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-01-29
Brothers
OF the Air
! Story of a Heroic Deed
By RALPH BERCENGREN
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.
By RALPH BERGENGREN

The new biplane had only just left
the field in an effort to climb higher
into the almost cloudless sky than any
aviator had yet assembled. Twice 1t had
circled the aviation course, and each
long spiral had carried 1t peg upward.
Already the determined. insistent br-r-r
of the motor was softened by distance,
and tieldglasses were necessary to as
sure oneself that the little black figure
between the canvas parailelograms was
actually a human being.
The last man who had touched the
biplane-one Of the mechanicians who
had given the apparatus its final groom
ing-watched its fight grimly. His cace
was pale under its coat of tan. and his
eyes glittered with some repressed ex.
element. Presently when somebody
touched him lightly he started nervous
ly and pulled himself together with all
effort, but he seemed unable to fix his
eyes on the tall young man in plaid
knickerbockers who had thus startled
him.
The young man, whose cap. worn
backward after the fashion of aviators.
seemed to add keenness to his long.
smooth shaver face. kept his hand
lightly on the others shoulder. TO the
distant spectators they presented moth.
ing more startling than the spectacle of
well known air man talking rather
Familiarity with an unknown mechani-
clan. Many were watching them and
pointing them out to new arrivals with
the explanations:
That's Hartman, you know, away
over there across the field-the fellow
who made that splendid flight yester-
day in the Bleriot."
Harriman's grip frightened little on
the mechanician's shoulder.
did you tamper with Clinton's ma
chine before the getaway" he asked
evenly.
His voice was low. 1t failed to reach
the group Of ten or dozen other mech.
anicians gathered around his own ma
chine at little distance. The man in
the blue overalls looked at him and
then away again.
what do you mean, Mr. Hartman 2"
he demanded sullenly.
Don't lie!' said the other. i've
been watching you ever since he went
up" He dropped his hand from the
mans shoulder We're rivals in this
business, and if anything happens to
Clinton it's none of my funeral. But
I'd like to know If anything is likely
to happen-understand
IF anything happens" he continued,
IL may add that there'd be q hundred
dollars coming to the man who had
fixed it. But it wouldn't do for him to
come to me with his story after he'd
had a chance to make it fit the cir
cumstances."
He turned on his heel and moved
away, whistling The mechanician hes
itated. Then he took long step after
the other man.
''I'll tell you what will happen. Mr..
Hartman" he said quickly. He'll lose
his control Of the elevating plane. He
gave me my walking papers this morn
ing, but l guess he won't be looking
very hard for substitute. You watch
him. When he's done about a dozen
of them spirals''-
He got no further. Hartman. his
face illuminated with angry determina-
ton, had turned and gripped him by
the wrists.
"You low bruter he exclaimed sharp
ly, raising his voice.
The men puttering about the mono
plane heard him. They turned quick
ly, saw the two men struggling togeth-
err and came up running. The group
surrounded the aviator and his captive
like living curtain.
Take this man and give him to the
police" said Hartman. Pick him up
as if he were injured. If he makes a
fuss injure him. Two of you are
enough. The rest of you get my ma
chine in order And You, Dick. chase
across the field and tell the announcer
I'm going up. Tell him." he called
after the retreating figure, that I'm
going up after altitude.
lie men StuTeu. I0Cy were uSeu 10
quick action, but this happened little
quicker than usual. Only one of them
caught the situation.
You're going to catch Clnton?"
IF can. He's up there with a tam
pered machine, which may fall any
minute. He can't be signaled. and
there's no nse starting a panic I'm the
grand stand"
The distant crowd of spectators won.
dered as il saw two men with their
burden emerge from the little group.
while third ran across the field to-
ward the announcer. and the others
swung the monoplane into line for a
start. There was n moments discus
sion; then the announcer raised his
megaphone and beloved TO the four
points of the compass:
Mister Tho.nias Har-ri man going
mp I'm the Blcr-i-ot. He will-try-to-
break - the -record-for-alti-
tuder'
Hartman, firmly settled in his ma
chine. raised his right hand. Behind
him the mechanicians sprang away
from the apparatus, the propeller be-
gan its steady. insistent roar. and the
carcered madly across the
elastic turf Of the field.