The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-10-12

school on Long island. two years ago.
j didn't Euyw that you could drive
an uerupiane." slid Olga 10 surprise
"ioa bet be can drive. countess. '
suld Smith. II be- hadn't gone 10
business vsth that rich uncle of nIs
be could have nude living ar an
aviator. He's one q the few amateurs
] know that I'm not nervous about
riding with Don't you want 70 20 ~
with me now. MortOn5 I've got two
passenger rHctor."
do ! want tog" shouted Morton.
as excited ~ boy. ~WelL ! should
suy ! did
Five minutes later. with Morton.
gOggied and leHther-clad. seated be-
side him. Smith. signalling to his help
ers that he was ready. threw Ou the
power and the great prOpellers began
20 revOlye. FOR twenty minutes Smith
performed his ueriaI tuuueuyers Tor
the benefit Of the multitude with
strained Becks and upturned faces a
thousand feet below; then turned his
machine 10 the direction Of the noun
tulns
Nov" he shouted. putting bis lips
close 10 MOrtOu's ear 50 that his words
could be heard above the roar Of the
prOpellers. "the busiuess part Il over
and we'll have little pleasure spin. i"
Higher they climbed and higher. IN
III the fair grounds and the city and
the great plain Of the San Joaquin
lay spread below them like a map in
bus-relief Soon the plain below them
merged Into foothills and the foothills
lost themselves 10 wilderness Of
peaks and cliffs and canyons, and. al
most before Morton realized IL. they
were lowering over the great San Ber-
nardino range. Circllng and swOop-
Ing above the mountain tops Ike a
gignnuc hawk. Smith apparently
found the spot for which be was look
ing, for he suddenly shut of the power
and the machine begnn 20 vOlplane
downward at appalling speed. SO rap
idly were they descending that Il
seemed as though the mountains were
fairly leaplng toward them. Morton.
experienced aviator though he was.
was frightened. Something's hap
pened 30 the engine" be thought.
We're IN for smash for we can
never make a landing on those noun
iuins." Scarcely had the thought
lcaped through his mind when what
had looked un instant before ike a
rocky and iuhOspituble mouutalnslde
resolved itself into a grass-cOvered
mesa on which the machine landed as
lightly as a bird
The mesa or tablelund. on which
they stood apparently ended. a few
hundred feet away, against sheer
wall Of rock which rose skyward as
abruptly as the side OF a house. In
the base Of this cliH was squnre.
black hole. evidently the entrance to
an abandoned mine, and near by stood
a rudely built and dllupldated cabin.
The cabin. he now saw. was built
on narrow shelf Of rock; behind Il
rose the sheer elf: before Il was an
abyss. II stood. indeed. on veritable
Island 10 the air, and the only wuy 10
reach that Island was by means OF a
wire cable which was stretched across
the chasn. From this cable. red with
rust but apparently still strong. hung
a sort OF basket, roughly constructed
by means OF which one could ferry
himself across the river OF space.
Great place for kidnapers or roun-
terfelters. chr The police wouldn't
find 'em here In a year Of Sundays"
Morton had started toward the ma.
chine but, at Smiths remark, he
turned and walked back to the edge
Of the chasm, where he sloOd staring
at the cabin on the edge. apparently
lost In thought
Bob" said Morton. as be aud she
aviator sul that evening at a table 10
cuIe. what are yOu going 20 do after
you have hulsheI your enga agement
hereT
y haven't any engagements ahead"
SmIu answered glOOmIly. I'm think
iug ui lukiug u run East 10 see II
cant book a few dates"
Going TO take the machine with
Jour
"No. Freight's too high aud It's too
much Of a speculation. I'll leave It
on the coast until | get something"
The trip you gave me this after
noon seems 20 have reuwakened ny
enthusiasm Tor aviation" said Morton
lightly Il find that / shall have TO
stay around here for the next few
weeks and I'd IKE 10 pass the time
with something more exciting than
golf Why not rent the your machinei
IN assume all the risks and III pay
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fare Of fancy dairy. Several years