The Washington times., 1916-12-09
CHAPTER Y.
The I.Ort Girl.

Christopher had a tingling rush
down q long, straight stretch OF road
whom, slowing as little as might be
for q turning, he shot through wood
cd common and ran upon something
interesting. Mechanically he came to
q stop so suddenly that the car skid
ded half way around.
Above his head a balloon was
poised, Its anchor attaching II to earth
In an adjacent field, while leaning
over the edge OF its basket-csr. thirty
feet In air, a young, man drank a cup
OF tea and looked down upon the APP
preaching motor.
that's what you call sIde-slip. isn't
itT said he In the sky.
"Or it's first cousin" grumbled
Christopher, angry with himself ana
ruffled with the stranger.
.side-siip's something we never
get" said the young man In the bal
loon, watching the motorist right his
car. "Or tire trouble: Or
I'VE don't have to say our prayers
every time we want to STOP" said
Christopher. ''Good-by."
Don't co." ureged the balIoonist
Mice red assassin you've got-only .
bit old-fashioned."
"Old-fashioned!" echoed Christopher.
EXCUSE mo. only meant old.fash-
toned IN comparison with my Little
stranger. An automobiles the We
hicis Of yesterday, . balloon the car
riaGs Of tomorrow"
"weii. they'll both be out OF date
the day after" said Christopher. and
smiled, for, after all. there was some
thing engaging about the young man
In the sky.
II don't know where you want 20
20, but I bet ! could get you there
quicker than you can get yourself"
"whatf Could you 20 from London
TO Torauay In seven hours7 That's
what I'm trying to do.
shouldn't have to try. Shall I take
your"
"Car and ali'"
Come. I'm serious. Put your red
crab up at the village, which I can
see not far on, though In your worm
like position on earth you can't get q
glimpse Of Il. Shouldn't wonder II
there's q garage OF sorts"
There was a microbe In Christopher
Races blood which went mad when IL
came In contact with the microbe or
suggested adventure. An advertise
ment Of his had been answered yes
terdsy by . Mr.. Finnington Brown, OF
Wilmington Hall, near Torquay. invit'
ing him to bring his car on visit OF
inspection and be engaged fer
months trip IL satisfactory.
Il would surprise Mr. Huntington
Brown n the advertising chauffeur
dropped In on him In . balloon, say
an hour earlier than expected In q
motor-car.
~ accept with pleasure your kind
Invitation for tea and . canter,"
Christopher said aloud.
After he had put Scarlet Runner In
the garage Christopher climbed Into
q luxurious nest stored with rugs,
books, maps, food, q tea.basket, and
few bottles OF wine.
Let's be happy as birds, telling
each other our names and impress
sions OF things In general. I'm Paul
Western"
~ might have guessed that" cut In
christopher. you're the winner OF
the big balloon race last week. As
for me, the only race ! have to my
credit Ia my nAme-christophe Race
Ace they used to call me at my
college"
.we're bobbing about said West
ern. "but I'll run her up higher. and
see 10 we can't catch that breeze"
He began emptying sand out OF a
bag; but so far as Christopher could
tell nothing happened except that the
mountain range sank out OF sight and
others, even wilder. came into view.
Though they could feel no wind, as
they bent over the edge OF the basket
the lights In the world beneath APP
peared to fioat rapidly past, as II
borne by an onrushing tide.
"3oodg" said Western. "Now we