Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-12-18
THE LOST GIRL.


that he was going to do 1t.
He had tingling rush down long,
straight stretch OF road when, slow
ing as little as he might for turning,
he shot through wooded common
and ran upon something interesting.
Mechanically he came to stop. 80
suddenly that Scarlet Runner--its ar
NOR off for speed-waltzed In yes
terdays mud, and put her bonnet
where her driving wheels should have
been.
Above its head and Christopher's a
charming balloon was poised, It's an
Choir attaching It to earth In an ad-
jacent field, while leaning over the
edge Of its basket-car, at height OF
thirty feet In air, young man drank
cup OF tea and looked down upon
the approaching motor.
"Halloa!" said he In the sky.
"Halloa!" replied he on earth.
That's what you call slide-slip, isn't
it?" !.
"or it's first cousin" grumbled
Christopher, angry with himself and
ruffied with the stranger.
"side-slip's something we never
get" said the young man In the ball
loon, watching the motorist right his
car. "Or tire trouble; Or
1--WE don't have to say our prayers
every time we want to stop" said
Christopher. Good bye. Hope you'll
get somewhere" :.
I'm in no hurry to get anywhere"
answered the other. TN out Tor
fun: aren't your"
'sNo: for business Goodby again"
.pon't co." urged the balloonist
Mice red assassin you've got--only
bit fashioned"
cold fashioned" echoed Christo-
pher. "why. she's the latest thing
out She's"
Excuse me. only meant old-fash-
Toned In comparison with my Little
Stranger. An automobiles the vehicle
of yesterday, balloon the carriage OF
tomorrow"
'Well, they'll both be out Of date
the day after" said Christopher, and
smiled, for there was something en-
gaging about the young man In the
sky.
60, but / bet ! could get you there
quicker than you can get yourself"
What? Could you go from London
to Torquay In seven hours? That's
what I'm trying to do. =.
Shouldn't have to try. Snail !
take your"
Gar and all?" :.
Come, I'm serious Put your red
crab up at the village, which / can
see not far of, though In your worm
like position on earth you can't get
glimpse Of 1t. Shouldn't wonder II
there's q garage Of sorts"
There was microbe in Christopher
Races blood which went mad when
II came In contact with the microbe
OF suggested adventure. His errand
from London to Tourquay was an err
rand OF business. as he had limited and
though he had personally conducted"
two short tours and made a little
money since he had set up as a gentle
man chauffeur, ne could not afford to
vertisement of his had been answered
yesterday by a Mr. Finnington Brown
OF Finnington hall. near Torquay, in
wiling him to bring his car on a visit
of inspection and be engaged for q
months trip II satisfactory,
1t would surprise Mr.. Finnington
Brown II the advertising chauffeur
dropped In on him In a balloon, say
an hour earlier than expected In a
motor car, and explained that--that
but bother explanations!--say that,
owing to unforeseen circumstances
Scarlet Runner would appear later.
Il accept with pleasure your kind
invitation for tea and canter," said
Christopher aloud, ''Will you call for
me or do ! call for your"
We'll make a rendezvous" replied
the other. "a little lower down--or
what you're still accustomed to con-
sidering down When you've put up
1T d.. t.ut,x
along an able-bodied yokel or two TO
help unhitch me from the stars, Ell ?
don't want to let myself down, as
/ can't spare gas"
The news Of the Stree show pro-
vided for the neighborhood spread
mysteriously, and by the time Chris
topher and his attendants were out
Of the village half the able-bodied in
habitants were at their heels. A
growing crowd watched the slow
hauling down Of the balloon, and lis
tened, open-mouthed, to the instruc-
tions given by the aeronaut.
As for him, despite the surging au.
dience, he was as calm as the weather
which. in the lull after the storm. en-.
abled his directions to be obeyed
without hitch. His basket car touched
earth, light as swallow dropping
from flight. Each of Christopher
assistants got half crown for the
work he would have been enchanted
to do for nothing, and while all three
village youths chung grinning to thu
baskets edge the invited guest climbed
over it In a luxurious nest stored with
rugs, books maps, food, a tea basket
and few bottles of wine,
When / say Let go!' do II all to-
gether," ordered the balloons owner
as he pulled in his anchor and deftl,
festooned the rope round the car
Anyone who hangs on may get trans
lated TO another sphere. Farewell
forever. Now--let go.'
And they did let go with scared pre-
cision.
Lets be happy as birds, telling
each other our names and impress
sions Of things in general. I'm Pau
Western
Il might have guessed that" GU
in Christopher. You're the Western
winner of the big balloon race las
week. Delighted to meet you. As fol
me. the only race / have to my credi
is my name--Christopher Race--,Ace
they used to call me at college. woult
it had been the Ace of Diamonds"
II suppose Ace OF Hearts wouls
have suited the case better?"
Never was in love in my life." sale
Christopher. Though one has fan
cies. Of course"
Were bobbing about" said West
ern, "but I'll run her up higher ant
see II we can't catch that breeze"
He began emptying sand out of /
bag; but 80 far as Christopher coult
tell. nothing happened except that tn,
mountain range sank out OF sight ant