Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-07-12
| !E3ER ~
AROMANCE OF
OLD MEXICO
Shh.AN LOAN
NOyELIZED FROM THE PHO
TOPLAY SERIAL OF THE
SAME. NAME. RELEASED BY
THE UNIVERSAL FILM MAN
UFACTURINC COMPANY
eleventh EPISODE
"Dropped From the Sky"

I've hit them!''
1t was Lopez. He had snatched up
another belt from the ground. and
pushing Manuel aside had taken con-
troll of the gun himself and directed
his fire on the machine lowering over
the canyon.
He told the truth. His bullets had
hit the mark. and they tore through
the wings of the machine, many of
them narrowly missing it's occupants.
Liberty had been so used to thrills
of late that aeroplaning. in the face
of Mexican bullets, high above the
earth, failed to create any extraordi-
nary excitement on her part. But.
with Pedro it was different. He had
not spoken a word since they assembled.
and, as Liberty turned and glanced
at the old slave she noted his eyes
seemed to be bullying from their
sockets.
The shots from the machine gun had
affected the engine and, disorganized
the entire workings of the machine.
In terror. Liberty, when she fully
realized the awful death which await
ed them all, grasped the arm of the
man beside her, while Pedros yellow
skin seemed to turn white with fear.
The aviator struggled with all his
strength 20 move the lever. He rose
from his seat and grabbing the thing
with both hands placed the entire
weight of his body against it. In
the meantime. the machine was falling
-plunging straight to it's doom-with
Lopez and Manuel standing below,
grinning as they looked on. For Lopez
knew he had hit his mark, and had
ceased firing.
Finally, as they neared the earth,
with one powerful jerk, the aviator
managed to throw the lever back, and
the engine, suffering and swapping,
like an angry beast, foiled in it's at
tempt to destroy, gradually softened
its anger and then became silent.
They We're saved by the inevitable
hand of providence. For the machine,
seemed bent on destruction, and before
the operator gained control of it, the
aeroplane crashed to earth, right in
the center of the inSurrectOS camp
Lopez and his followers ran to the
spot. expecting to see the occupants
crushed beneath it's mass of debris.
Instead, however, when they reached
the wreckage they were almost
startled by seeing them crawling out
of the confusion of metal and wood,
which lay in a crumpled heap on the
ground. The only injuries the party
sustained were few bruises suffered
by the aviator, and Il couple of slight
scratches on Pedro's face. Liberty,
who had found herself beside the en-
CINE, jumped up just in time. for an
instant later 1t exploded and set fire
to the wreckage, which soon consumed
the machine, leaving nothing but a
heap of charred remains.
How fortunate" snarled Lopez,
with fiendish grin. into the eyes of
Liberty. You have plunged right into
my arms"
Manuel stood beside his chief await
ing his next order.
For the moment, Liberty's hopes
banished, and she feared that Winston
and his troops were now at the mercy
of Lopez and the inSurrectoS Finally
her courage returned. Stepping up to
the burly Lopez, and looking him
straight in the eye, he said:
You have no right to detain me- ]
am an officers wife and demand safe
conduct for myself and servant across
the border ~
Lopez listened to her and then
laughed heartily. $50. you want safe
passage across the border" he replied
in mimicry. You are the wife of an
officer, all right, but this is not regular
warfare. Do you think we bring you
down from up there, just to send you
across the border? We don't play the
game that way" Then he motioned
to couple of his men. Keep them
under guard he ordered.
The two prisoners were taken away
and placed in tents next to that of the
chief.
Now then, we can carry out our
plans" said Lopez as he turned to
Manuel.
After some consultation, Manuel left
Lopez and went from man to man Civ.
ing orders. which the rangers sOor