The Carlisle independent., 1917-08-30

along the bottom of the basket. The fire extinguisher was empty.
 The man in the car cast a frenzied look upward at the great balloon, it's silken coat filled with inaammable hydrogen gas. Already the gas was expanding under the influence of the heat, and the balloon was shooting up- ward with prodigious rapidity.
 There's going to be an explosion in 15 seconds" said Leontine's com panion. dragging the parachute from its rest He thrust the handle into her hands. This will carry you down safely" he said. Don't let go. Un- derstand me? Don't let go. Now, jump" And he drew her toward the edge of the car. The basket was ablaze from end to end. Yet Leontine hesitated. It was fearful, standing there in the midst of the circling flames and looking down into those fieecy clouds beneath.
 "Jumpi" cried the man, and forced her over the cars edge.
 Leontine fell into space. As she did so the other pulled the cord that opened the valve. The great balloon shot downward, passing her. Then she fell swiftly, and the parachute passed the balloon in turn. The dizzy rush downward turned Leontine faint. With all the intensity of which she was capable, she clung to the parachute handle. Then the swift descent ceased as the wind opened the parachute. She was falling earthward softly, as a feather might fall. Above her head was the black outline of the burning balloon. And standing in the midst of the flames Leontine saw her com panion.
 The parachute plunged down. The sea rushed up to meet it. Leontine felt the dazing shock of the icy water. She felt the surface close above her head. Then the parachute bobbed up like cork, and, faint and dizzy, the girl found herself afioat on the waves. the parachute and cork supports holding her buoyantly.
 Above her head she saw the fiery mass that hurtled downward.
 AS she watched. horror-stricken she saw a column of flame shoot upward. For one moment the lurid light played about the balloon, gliding it against the sky. Silhouetted beneath the sphere she saw the figure of the pilot. standing bareheaded, tiny outline that disappeared as, with a terrific ex- plosion, the balloon burst and van- ished.
 Then something came falling from above. It was the long rope that hung from the bottom of the balloon. Leon- tines companion was clinging to it. He had jumped for it at the moment when the explosion occurred. Now, from a height of 200 feet, he fell, plunging into the waves.
 Leontine cried out in horror as he fell into the water. not dozen paces from where she fioated. She sprang to her feet, while the parachute tipped dangerously, and straddled the floats, peering downward with agonized gaze into the water.
 Then the waves cast up their booty. She saw the upturned face of the man staring at her through the green. lap ping crests of the ocean. She dragged him, with an almost superhuman ef- fort, upon the float beside her.
 The mustache which had hidden the upper lip had come loose from the flesh. It was a disguise. As Leontine stared into the pilots face he opened his eyes and smiled at her.
 And Leontine found herself staring Into the eyes of her mysterious pro yerver. Ravenr-
 (ENre, or EH HPISODIl