The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-04-25

which they were presently to intrust
their lives.
Somehow" said he doubtfully, 81
don't feel in the least upset or exhil-
arated. 1t seems little out of the av-
erage run of life-all in the days
| work.
Il think" she replied, that you're
very like the other lone wolf, the fic-
tltious one-Lupin, you knoW-a bit Of
humbug. If you're not nervous, why
keep starine hither and yon-as if you
were rather expecting somebody's
| if you wouldn't be surprised to see
Popinot or De MorbihaE pop out of the
| ground-or Ekstrom!"
Hunt" he said gravely, 81 don't
mind telling you now, that's precisely
what | am afraid OF"
NONSENSE" the girl cried in open
contempt. What could they do?"
Please don't ask me-" Lanyard
begged seriously. Il might try to tell
you
But don't worry, pleased" Fugitive
| ly her hand touched his arm. We're
ready"
1t was true enough Ducroy was
moving toward them again.
"All is prepared" he announced in
sonOrous accents.
In a sober silence they approached
the machine.
Vauquelin kept himself aloof while
Lanyard and young officer helped the
girl to a seat on the right of the pilots
and strapped her in. When the adyen-
turer had been similarly secured in the
place on the left the two sat, impris-
oned, some six feet above the ground.
Lanyard found his perch comfort
able enough. A broad band of webbing
furnished support for his back, another
crossed his chest by way of provision
against forward pitching, there were
rests for his feet Ind cloth-wound
grips fixed to struts on either side for
his hands.
He smiled at Lucy across the empty
seat, and was surprised at the clear
ness with which her answering smile
was visible. But he wasn't to see it
again for long and weary time; al
most Immediately she began to adjust
her veil.
The morning had grown much light
er within the last few minutes.
A wait ensued of seemingly interim
nab1e duration. A swarm of mechan-
les, assistants and military aviators
buzzed round their feet like bees.
The sky was now pale to the eastern
horizon. 4 fleet Of heavy clouds was
drifting off into the south, leaving in
their wake thin veil Of mist that
babe fair soon to disappear before the
rays of the sun. The atmosphere
seemed tolerably clear and not I'M
seasonably cold.
The light grew stronger still
features of distant objects defined
themselves; traces of color warmed
the winter landscape
After some time their pilot, wearing
his wind-mask, appeared and began to
climb to his perch. With cool nod
for Lanyard and a civil bow to his
woman passenger he settled himself,
adjusted several levers and fiirted
gay hand to his brother officers.
There was warning cry from the
rear The crowd dropped back rapid
ly to either side. Ducroy lifted his hat
in parting salute, cried Bon voyage!"
and scuttled clear like a startled roost-
er before a motor car. Thereupon the
motor and propeller broke loose with
a mighty roar comparable only, in
Lanyard's fancy, to the chant of ten
thousand riveting-locusts.
He felt momentarily as if his tym
panums must burst with the incessant
and tremendous conclusion registered
upon them; but presently this sensa-
ton passed, leaving him with that of
permanent deafness.
Before he could recover and regain |
control of his startled wits the aviator
had grasped lever and the great fab !
ric was in motion.
L swept down the field like |
frightened swan, and the wheels of it's |
chassis, registering every infinitesimal |
irregularity in the surface Of the |
ground magnified them all a hundred |
fold. 1t was like riding in tumbrel |
driven at top speed over the Giants |
Causeway. Lanyard was shaken vio- |
lently to the very marrow of his bones;
he believed that even his eyes must be |
rafting in their sockets.
Then the Parrot began to ascend |
Singularly enough, this change was
marked at first by no more than |
slight lessening of the vibration-the |
machine seemed still to be dashing |
over a cobbled thoroughfare at break