The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-02-03
THE AIRMkN
BY JOSEPH T. kESCEL.

/ that escaped MS lips.
He was seated on the ground, his
back against tree, to which he had
painfully crawled after his fall In
half delirium he muttered to himself
numerous broken sentences.
Commanding officers orders were
Go out over enemy's position, ascer-
tain strength. and report Immediately
upon your return Tried to do it, and
would have done it, hadn't been for
that devilish shell. Machine damaged
and old Fred badly wounded.
Cant forget his words and action
when he saw we were hard hit. Good
by, George, old man, good-by,' he
yelled. Pm badly wounded Informal
ton very much needed at headquar-
tiers. Alone there is a chance to make
it. With me in the machine it is i'm
possible. Tell Katy my last thoughts
were of her. Then for love of coun-
try he threw himself out into space.
Struck the hard ground inside the en-
emy's lines, and was killed.
Rotten luck. Just downright hard
luck, after everything had gone so
well. Splendid flight we made to
| headquarters, with the information
they wanted. when that whistling devil
caught us. With Fred's weight gone,
the machine partly righted itself and
would have made safe landing, but
for this beastly tree.
Steering gear broken, no chance
to guide. Leg busted, arm broken,
and head feels smashed. Worst luck
Is In being unable to make report.
Now my head has gone wrong.
Saw the moon above, now see moons
all over, going everywhere. Funny.
Wish l had drink Of water and cam
teen empty. Wow! Big moon is COM
ing right toward me. There it comes.
Hear voices, strange, and the man in
the moon has an automobile. Can hear
the purr Of his engine"
With a start "'The Bird" realized
that it was an automobile from his
corps. He attempted to raise an arm
and uttered a faint shout. Figures
alighted and came rapidly toward him.
In low, audible tone he said:
II wish to report position very strong.
Heavily REINFORCED and more coming
up rapidly" Then he lapsed into un-
consciousness.
Days had passed. One cool bright
mn inv SnJp l.;
now free from delirium.. A gentle sigh
passed his lips and a figure bent over
him. Two questioning brown eyes
gazed into his. In a weak voice he
whispered: Report enemy's position
strong, heavily REINFORCED. This is
tvery important. ''--
Good nurse Winthrop grasped the
situation at once and, knowing it best
to humor the patient, hurried away.
Returning to the bedside of the wound
ed man she said quietly, "Your or
ders have been obeyed. Headquarters
have been informed"
81 know you" he gasped. katy,
dear old Fred's sister, His last words
were Of you. l say good-by for him.
Am tired now and sleepy" With this
he lapsed into peaceful slGmber.
The late afternoon sun, streaming
through the big hospital windows,
found nurse Winthrop again standing
beside her new patient. The head
nurse gently chided Miss Winthrop
for the decided interest In patient
No. 254.
The girls eyes filed with tears and
che answered humbly. please don't
scOld, for he was with my brother
Fred. The two were together when
the machine was hit"
"Forgive me, dear. did not know"
replied the older woman. "Stay here
until he awakens. will attend to
your other duties" .
"The Birds" eyes opened.
The injured man gazed in wonder
ment at the face before him. 81 know
you'll have seen you before" he re-
peated, you are Fred's sister Katy"
Two small white fingers were placed
on his lips and a sweet voice admon-
ished. "You must not talk now"
With the uninjured hand he re-
moved the fingers from his lips. Ex-
erting his whole strength he held them
firmly while he insisted, II won't be
quiet, must talk. Want you to under
stand Dear old Fred, my best friend,
comrades since war started. Sends all
his love to you"
Her eyes filled with tears and with
gentle firmness she released her hand,
saying. "Please do not talk any more.
You must be quiet, for you are in
jured and ILL.,"
His cOnvalescence was very rapid.
When he was almost well one day
they were seated on the cool, wide,
sun-shaded porch, the small white
hand Of Miss Winthrop nesting in his,
and he recited the adventures of her
brother and himself. Her eyes over.
flowed with tears and she murmured,
Dear brother. So noble. good and
truew
Firmly he held her hands and In
a gentle voice beseeched, won't you
be my Katy now? Fred's last words
were. Look after her, George i
know it would please your brother,
and to me you are everything. love
you, dear, and want you to be nv
wife," he pleaded.