The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-23
His Thirteenth
Bndman Dropped
BY ALAN HlNSDALE

America. married an American wo-
man, and a daughter of his married
william Ellison, an Englishman.
Johnny was sent over TO England
to be educated and came back very
enthusiastic over the English people.
The consequence was that when the
great worlds war broke out he went
over to fight under the imperial Brit
fish nag.
The only person toward whom John
felt a real enmity was Elmer Treat,
whose grandfather came from Ger
many. The two as youngsters had been
chums; but, as luck would have 1t.
they split on girl, and. though nei-
Their felt sure he had gained the advan-
tage over the other. the rivalry sepa-
rated them. Whether or not 1t broke
their friendship this story will tell.
Johnny thought he could serve the
fatherland Of his ancestors-he consid-
cred himself an American, and an
American only-in the flying corps. He
therefore went to London and after a
course Of instruction that fitted him to
make bird of himself was sent to
the front for active duty. At first he
was sent up into the air to locate the
enemy's guns and signal their posi-
tion, but after year at that kind of
service he was made a member of the
fighting corps.
When Johnny left America for the
war he did so partly because he had
been refused by Alice Weatherby.
This was the girl that he and Elmer
Treat had split upon. Whether Treat
had won where he had failed he did |
not know, but he felt very bitter to- |
ward his former friend, because he |
presumed that Treat had taken unfair |
advantage Of him. But was there ever |
q rivalry wherein one party did not
consider that the other had used I'M
fair means? 1t is the girl who throws
the apple Of discord between them.
One day John Ellison went up to get
his thirteenth aeroplane. He had
brought down twelve and had been
duly decorated by the government
John set out about 10 o'clock Of a
spring morning. As he rose about the
treetops he heard the birds singing be-
low him and wondered II they were
not Jealous Of the invasion of their ele-
ment. On reaching the height he de-
sired he started toward the enemy's
lines. Far In the distance he saw Ell
ther an aeroplane or a bird, but his
practiced eye soon told him that it was
the former. Nor was it long before
the aeroplane appeared to be heading I,
for John. =
When the two came to within a mile !
of each other each seemed to realize >
that he was singled out for fight. i,
They circled about each other. either
for observation or for position, neither ,
to care to come to quarters !,
close enough for a fight. John, who
was armed with long range gun, sent
a shot by way of opening the scrim-
mage, but it either fell short or went
wild. His enemy did not seem ready a
for reply.
The combatants were not near enough r
to distinguish each others faces, or II n
they were they were too much covered
for them to do so. Presently the n
stranger suddenly veered from his p
course and. putting on all speed, made n
straight for his enemy's machine. John
swerved, and the other passed him on a
The flank, both firing at the same time. n
Neither man was hurt, but the bodies 4
IF both aeroplanes received several N
bullets.
Now as they dashed past each other II
Johnny got view of his enemy, much Ii
Is he might see it by flash of light
hing. There was something about 1t .,
hat reminded him of his former friend i
md subsequent enemy who he had be- y
ieved had acted unfairly with refer =.
,nce to Alice Weatherby. Nonsense! -
There were a thousand to one chances u.
against his meeting Elmer Treat any
who're on terra firma in Europe and ~
million to one that he would not u.
meet him thousand feet up in the IN
Iir. Nevertheless that brief glimpse %
lie had got of the man in the other
machine was marvelously suggestive
f Elmer.
But Johnny was fighting for life tt
nd realized fully that all his faculties
hould be exercised in taking the life
( the man who was bent on killing
i'm. Besides, the fact that his enemy I'M
eminded him of the man he believed co
ad injured him with the woman he ha
,ved did not tend to extinguish in him sa
he madness of war. Taking advan- pa
age of turn the other made, In
1hich he exposed himself favorably pc
Or a shot, Johnny fired at him and of
aw him instantly collapse. be
THANK heavenw said John. i've aft
assed my thirteenth
The enemy's aeroplane began to sink
owly in spiral. John could not be
ire whether or not the man in her
adj any control over her or not Slow
she circled till she reached an open ~
pace in the rear of the British lines ~
evoid of troops. John followed. al
ruck the ground near him and. when do
; ceased to move. alighted and ran er
-er TO the other aeroplane. III
He found Elmer Treat dead.
A revulsion came over John e. ~
son. H.
Curse my thirteenth he cried Bit h.
rly. Il have killed my chum!' ur
Ellison asked to be transferred from w
e flying corps and later was wounded
terra firma. He was discharged IN