Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-05-20

Thank you, monsieur! And you7"
He glanced with a deprecatory smile
at the fiimsy-looking continuance to
which they were presently to intrust
their lives.
Somehow" said he doubtfulIy, ct
don't feel in the least upset or exhil-
arated- 1t seems little out of the av-
erage run of life-an in the days
work."
Il think" she replied, that you're
very like the other lone wolf, the fic-
titious one-Lupin, you know-a bit of
humbug. If you're not nervous, why
keep starines hither and yon-as if you
were rather expecting .somebody-as
if you wouldn't be surprised to see
Popinot or De Morbihan pop out of the
ground-or Ekstrom!"
"Humi" he said gravely. st 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, please,% Fugitive
ly her hand touched his arm Were
ready"
moving toward them again
"All is prepared" he announced in
sonorous accents.
In a sober silence they approached
the machine.
Lanyard and a young officer helped the
girl to seat on the right of the pilots
and strapped her in. When the adven-
hod Sir ;1or vi
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 and 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
nable 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. A 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 f1irted
gay hand to his brother officers.
There was a warning cry from the
rear. The crowd dropped back rapid
ly to either side. Ducroy lifted his hat
in parting salute, cried Bon voyagei"
and scuttled clear like 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
rio was in motion.
1t swept down the field like a
frightened swan, and the wheels of its
chassis, registering every infinitesimal
in the surface of the |
ground, magnified them all a hundred
fold. 1t was like riding in tumbrel !
1riven at top speed over the Giants |
Causeway. Lanyard was shaken vio- |
emily to the very marrow of his bones; |
ne believed that even his eyes must be |
-attling in their sockets
Then the PARROT began to ascend.
enough, this change was
marked at first by no more than a
slight lessening of the vibration-the
machine seemed still to be dashing
over a cobbled thoroughfare at break
neck speed; and Lanyard found it diff
icult to appreciate that they were
lfoat, even when he looked down and
discovered hundred feet of space be-
ween himself and the practice-field-
In another breath they were soaring
,ver housetops