New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-14

The latter nodded and corrected his drec-
ton. Then he drove the machine in a mad
curve into the clouds. For fully ten minutes
they flew with strained nerves Soon they
must reach the bridge Wegehaupt looked
qrestioningly at StefFeck The latter slowly
brought the machine down in spiral. There
to the right. about three kilometres, stood the
bridge. Soon they lowered directly over it.
"Now keep COOL" thought Wegehsupt.
If he could only destroy this connection. 50
important for the enemy.
The sentinels patrolling the bridge had seen
them and given the alarm. Almost at once
two aeroplanes, mounted with machine guns.
got into action and rose from a neighboring
meadow. There was no tins TO lose
Wegehaupt grasped a bomb. Now he stood
ever the middle span Of the bridge. He let the
bomb fall. Both followed it with their eyes
for what seemed small eternity. Then a,
last Kissing, as If glowing iron had plunged
into water. He looked under. The bridge
stood unframed.
He bit his lips in disappointment The bomb,
driven out Of its course by the wind, had fallen
into the river thirty feet from the structure.
From below the French fred steadily. The
machine, slanting in the wind, lay only about
500 feet above the earth A couple Of bullets
penetrated the planes.
mo use. We must get back" Steffeck
shouted about the clamor Of the motor.
The hostile aeroplanes were getting danger
ousy near. Yet mad obstinacy possessed
Wegehaupt
Again the double-decker described a circle
Wegehaupt reached for the second bomb. He
cropped it somewhat further to the right in
order to neutralize the interference Of the
wind.
The apparatus reared and recovered. In
the bridge cleft appeared through which the
water could be seen. Two arches were com
pletely destroyed.
"A hit" exclaimed Wegebaupt jubilantly.
One of the enemys machines had disap
peared. The second had risen above them and
begun to fire. Steffeck recognized the danger
and drove his own aeroplane higher. Now
they came again into the clouds. He turned
the head around and steered a northeast
course. Homeward. The wind, which should
have been with them now, had turned against
them The machine seemed to be struggling
against hundreds Of hands, which gripped II
fast and paralyzed its motion. The clouds
swept by them and the machine seemed TO be
standing almost still Wegehaupt'a head be
gan to ache.
"Forwards Colt i'm Himmel, forwards"
Like a steersman in a small boat he began
to strain forward with his body. But he soon
stopped to liste to the motor. 1t clattered a
little and threw out sparks Slowly the speed
register sank. Perhaps the machine was hang
ing back. Care ly Steffeck steered upward
God be praised The motor recovered itself.
They breathed again.
Steffeck cooy attempted, now going higher,
now sinking lower, to find the most favorable
fying zone Now he vent deeper. But they
had come within the range of the German bat
teries Under them earth Fountain played,
splitting shrapnel into the air. Up again. 1t
seemed to them that they ought now to be
about twenty-five kilometres from their start
ing place.
Then it came-the incomprehensible. II ali
happened in less than minute.
To the east, hardly 1000 metres before them
and 500 metres higher, they saw hostile bi-
plane bearing rapidly down on them.
Look out. Steffeck" cried Wegehsupt-
Already through the din Of the motor ne
heard the cracking Of machine gunfre. Shots
hailed about them. lie ducked deep into the
carroserie to cover himself-and 70 get his
carbne. Then he felt the machine fitting.
Wegehaupt tried TO straighten himself out.
tried to reach toward the steering gear. But
there-there was another steersman. Motion
less behind the dead Steffeck sat strange
passenger. lie turned his head around, tried
TO call "Steffeck." But the latter hung with
his body over the steering apparatus. From
under his helmet trickled a thick streak OF
blood.
Oh yesl He knew the other now--the man
cut of his dreams. Over the white frontal
bone and the empty eyes he wore mask. But
about the naked jaw was that sinister EXPIRES
sion of mockery. And now the two long hands
tore the steering apparatus out. The machine
plunged its last plunge into the depths.