Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-10

inc cord. his ears alert.
The balloon was in Il boiling surf OF
snowy cloud lit by the moon. They
could sec nothing save the glittcriuc
froth. but there was a sound louder
ana more omnibus than the harp-uke
singing OF the cordasc. From below
came at short. regular intervals 4 deep.
reHerberRtiug boom.
In his excitement. Western had moi
heard. until Christopher compelled his
attention.
The sea- he explained. Were
over the sea"
Another momcn, aud we should
nave been in IT," added Christopner.
Their that house must stand close to
the shore" Western said.
We're being blown cut to sea. aren't
We finished Christopher.
J. m AFRAID we are" The other adj
united. Great Scot. | wouldn't have
mad this happen for anything"
is il so dangerous
Tang danger! ! wasn't thinkinc OF
'nHSeif-or YOU either. vas thinking
ot the girl-tha; beautiful. that divine
girl. We've lost hcr-deserted her. left
her aoahdoned-do YOU understand? We
can't get back to her. We don, know
where She is. We can never find her
again" ~ me-
must" said christopher Ssh,
begged us To save her. From what. |
wonder: What had happened" what
IA secret ~ that terrible
sand. "@ ~
The clouds fell from under Them as
they shot up into more rarcGcd air.
me pest thinS we can hope for now.
nc went on. lis To- get 10
france. and then back again. To 6ur
her and the house. OF to sp.ud an wo
nav anu are in tryin. 10 de ~
We re to make this passage without
s''lnwreck, We must travel hish.'
'heF were racing over a sea Of steel
which they could see sometimes
through a great hole in Il torn c,rno,
OF cloud. Western did not say am.
ming to discourage his guest. In,
thouGh CHRISTOPHER Was novice he
mad heard balloonine mon talk since
,hesp"rt came into fashion. and n.
hnIW thai the English Channel vas
wac. That they might never So, Tho
other side. because the balloon mic,
nor nav ~bu"yancy enough to carry nor
passengers across.
so the flight went on, and as the bal.
room h"id her own. the adventure would
nave peGun to seem commonplace. had
!. not becn FOR the dark picture OF
inc tragic house by the sea. rherc
was hothin. to do but TO eat whom
'hcE were hungry. to throw out ballast
"hch the Little Stranger showed Sims
VI 'ai'erlnS. to light their lamps and
meter.
After midnight the gallo grew weary,
hcN sun hung over the sea. I'm, ia,
away shonc Il lamp like a fallen s,,r
u was II lighthouse. Western sal III.
ana though they lost the welcome
CLEAN, ii was not long after when ,hcv
hcard once more the thundcrous boom.
ing of surf.
Land" shouted Western. shes
FOUGHT us safely across. after nl E..
10" Hes tranccS-Normandy. pcrhons
NO" ; our chance. and We must tai.
IT or fare worse"
IL" pulled The valvc-cord ana ,hov
lc'i' thrilled with the Wild iov az dam
Rcr ana uncertainty as they pcercl
W. "a. "uSc OF their frail car into
me Sulf OF moonlight and shadow
The earth flow up at them md ma,
tir on was u group of farm build
'hSS' WIN ~ larS" pond beyond. DELAY
~ Il moment might mcan disaster. fo.
nere was tho place TO ulicht--not on
those pointed gables or in tho shin
ing sheet of water. Western openeJ
M'o' inc waive. the car came quietly
10 earth. and before she comb hu,r
or dras he tuggcd tho red rippipr-rorh
ana tore tho Little Stranger from foo,
10 'ro"h. The GaS Sushed out. and foldr
oi sim developed the two vounn ,n,r
KS In" balloon lost shape and rol.
lapScd. ~ '''-
..e' her lie rs She is" said Western
tooi'!' as u" scrambled OUT; and cxtri-
Gated his Coinpa Mon. 'our hu.in,.. !.
|" get back to that girl
y square Of light flashed vcllov il,
hhrk wall, and a vote" hailed them in
French. "" ~
R"th Young men could speak Tho
language, Race better than W,s,crn.
ana them they explained that
.h'H were not burglars hut balloon.
istS: that they had crossed Tho N,n.bo
and had found Il rcstine-place on me-
'"fh OF monsieur. of whom they beg
S"d assistance. Could he give ,hc,,
Il cart I" the nearest, railway station
~ ne could. they would yiy, hin,
money, much money. in return.
In hNe minute more tho mayor and
me mayors sons wcrc all on, of tho.
house, and some went to gaze curi-
"usiy at the debated balloon. Will.
Others helped their father ge, ready
the whirc-covcrcd earl.
Snccor and protection for Tia. lil,Io
stranger were promised and the En.-
I'shnieh wer" Informed that they had
aiishicd within twelve kilomctcrs Of
IiaNre. They dashed on to the quay
as the last whistle blew for the de-
parturc Of the night boat. and fIiu.
themselves across the .angway ius;
as IT was being hauled ashore.
The Journey back 10 England a.ross
- turbulent and noisy sea was Il vail
gar experience compared 10 their flight
wan the wind among The stars. i;n,
"h hcithc ic!i IN tho mood for rest. il
save tiem line to discuss details OF
ih"ir prcmcditatci quest.
1t was \ ia the morning when they
touched English soil. ana their hrst
'houGhi was to buy Il newspaper, of
Which they scarcely let q paragraph
=" uhrcshrd"d But ihcy learned
-. nothing. SO far. the ba;tlcmcntcd
house kept its secret: nevertheless. If
fortune did not favor them in one way,
II did IN another. for they discovered
u train leaving southampton almos,
'nmcdiaicly after their arrival. which
would take them ACROSS country to
scarlet runner.
All night the expert balloonist had
puzzled OYER The problem Of distances
and speed. tr!.IG To determine from
the map OF England how far and i'm
what direction til" littl" Stranger hnd
hriticd a!tcr taking Race ON board.
before the sudden yale had subsidized
ana IinttIIfH mn IN a .l,h -,,- t-,