The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-02-29
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FIRST ISSUE NEXT MONDAY.
A BATTLE IN THE AIR
BY FRANK FllSON.

ter were like brothers. When two men
ascend into the skies daily, risk1ng
life both from a fall and from the bull
lets and shells of the enemy, they are
apt to be drawn closely together.
For three months they had secuted
ahead of the British columns. Os-
borne was the pilot, Carter the obserV-
er. Osborne, seated behind, guided
the aeroplane, while Carter showered
bombs upon the hostile batteries, or
scanned the landscape.
1t was a little thing that changed
the situation completely so far as Os-
borne was concerned He had been
engaged to Mary Lanning; the engage
ment had been broken off owing to
foolish quarrel Desperate with love
and jealousy, but too proud to own
himself in the wrong, Osborne had
been eating his heart out with the
secret passions that consumed him.
AS the two men were preparing to
ascend, Carter tripped over a rope
and fell In falling, he dropped pack
age from his pocket. Osborne stopped
and picked it up for him. 1t was
bundle of papers, among them photo
graph. The photograph was thai u
Mary Lanning. Osborne knew that
Carter was engaged to be married.
The black rage that overcame him
made any reference to the matter i'm
possible Osborne handed back the
package to Carter and got into the
aeroplane. The two assembled, Os-
borne behind, Carter in front, his
glasses in his hand ready to note the
dispositions of the enemy's forces.
All the while that he was guiding
the machine the rage in Osbornes
heart was increasing. He meant to
kill Carter. That his friend had sup
planted him in Mary's affections was,
to him, in his condition of mind, an un-
pardonable treachery. He was plan
ming hard when out of the blue ap-
peared a tiny speck which resolved
itself into German monoplane.
Carter grinned at Osborne and shout
ed, but his words could not be heard
above the motor. Osborne nodded and
pointed toward the monoplane, whose
outlines were now distinctly discern
ible. He drove in on it, and soon the
great dove-like implement of war, with
It's waiting pilot and observer, was
within the mile.
Osborne wheeled and approached
the taube, which had also returned up
on It's course. Carter looked back and
shouted Osborne could just make out
the meaning of his words. He was d.
recting Osborne to fly diagOnally
across the front of the monoplane, SO
that he could get in his shots. o.
borne made as If to do so; but as the
taube approached, threatening immi-
nent destruction, he shot to one side.
The two vessels passed broadside
on. The occupant of the taube was
shielded by the metallic framework,
while Carriers body was entirely ex-
posed. Flashes and shots sprang
from either weapon, and at once the
two ships were drifting away from
each other.
The look In Carriers eyes almost un-
nerved Osborne. He thought of Mary
Lanning. Once more the mad fury
mounted into his brain. AS the ma
chimes approached each other for the
second time. Osborne deliberately
steered SO that Carriers entire body
was exposed to the fire of the Ger
mans automatic.
This time there was no room for a
miss. Carter collapsed in heap upon
the chassis of the biplane. Osborne
looked at the huddled heap in front of
him, and then, ignoring the renewed
challenge of the triumphant German,
shut off his motor and volplaned down.
ward
In little field the machine came
heavily to earth. Osborne sprang out
and lifted his companion. The hate in
his heart had been succeeded by re-
morse 1t seemed incredible now that
he was responsible for Carriers death.
Carter was breathing heavily. He
opened his eyes, looked up and smiled
at Osborne.
Give me-the photograph in my
pocket" he whispered.
Osborne pulled it out and placed 1t
In Carriers hands. Carter studied it
attentively-then spoke again.
Bend down he whispered. Il want
to tell you that have-wronged you
deeply She loves YOU"
What are you saying?" cried Os-
borne wildly.
She loves yuu." Carter muttered.
She did not know where you were. l
promised her-to tell you. l didn't tell
you because l loved her, Osborne. |
hoped she would forget you. But she
wouldn't have me. 1t was you all the
time, old man. Forgive me-"
His voice gathered strength. Lis
ten," he went on. Il. wanted to tell
you-some time Today, when you
drove into the line of fire IL thought
you knew and were trying to kill me.
/ deserved it"
81 did" shouted Osborne. Il didn't
know she loved me, though, and l had
seen her photograph fall from your
pocket. l tried to murder you. l was
mad with jealousy. Ny blood be on
my own head"
1t was not until the surgeon began
to examine Carriers wounds that Os-
borne realized they had been found.
He watched the doctors face eagerly.
Any hope?" he asked.
But before the surgeon could reply