Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-08-14

VI" Union)
He was SO bright, brisk and smiling
that It was no wonder that the" town
took to him and voted it quite natural
that Its acknowledged queen Of beauty,
fair, sprightly Eva Blum, should pair
of with this city.bred newcomer.
Jasper Lee got OF the trolley at
woodville one morning carrying Q
heavy grip. BE Went down the foad
whistling cheerily. to pause as he got
Just opposite Low Bluin's home. Levi
himself was tussins over q faulty mag.
neto. Jasper swung up to the stalled
machine. gave It look over, and said
pleasantly:
Let me-"
It'll do no good" uttered Lew ir.
ritably, i've wasted q whole hour on
It."
Jasper examined the magnetic,
opened his satchel, selected tool and
proceeded to manipulate the stubborn
accessory.
"All right" he announced, and
turned to bow and smile to very
pretty girl, Eva Blum, who had come
out to view the manipulation Of the
magnetic. -ar
Eva held in one hand a string Of
coral beads and in the other a pair Of
pincers. The quick glance OF Jasper
Lee swept the presentment with intel
ligence. .s.,. .t...
"Chain out of order, clasp jammed7
l see. Shall I fix it for your
If you would" replied Eva, with
shyness, but gratefully and Jasper
dallied over the easy task Of restoring
the clasp to order, for he made Eva
hold the beads while he did the repair
ing necessary.
1--WE come here to help man
named Austin Brooks do some expert
mental work" narrated Lee. Perhaps
you know hfm?'' ~5- s
ooh, yes, indeed!" answered Eva.
'@That is where he is working on his
great balloon idea," and she pointed
to an Isolated house.
That was the beginning Of most
charming acquaintanceship for those
choice young spirits. Lee slept at the
old rookery with Brooks, but the in
ventor had been taking his meals at
the Blum home and Lee became fel-
low boarder. This brought him great
deal into Eya's company. He fancied
that his grim employer rather discour-
aged the growing friendship.
It did not take long for Lee to dis
cover that Brooks Vas a visionary and
his idea that he was inventlng an air
float that could go to the sun and back
again was fallacy pure and simple.
The balloon reached completion and
Lees services were dispensed with. He
fingered at Woodville, for he was deep.
~ in love with Eva.
"Where's Eva?" he inquired of Mrs.
Blum late one afternoon.
"Why, you know she is great ia
vorite Of Mr.. Brooks, and he came for
her an hour ago and asked her to go
and view his first flight. He wanted
Eva to make the flight with him.
II hope she does not" spoke Lee
quickly, and with shade of anxiety.
Between you and myself, Mrs. Blum,
the balloon is not yet equipped as to
safety. Mr.. Brooks is relying upon
gas generator that will never do what
he thinks it WILL" and he hurried to
the old rookery.
The balloon was swaying, anchored
In clear space, and standing beside it
was It's inventor and Eva. AS he ap-
preached Lee discerned that Brooks
was trying to induce Eva to join him
in his flight, but she dissented. Sud-
denly Brooks seized her about the
waist, gave her a fling into the basket
of the balloon. He sprang in himself
and began unfastening the anchor
rope. Eva uttered sharp scream.
Lee ran to the balloon. He saw jeal-
ousy, rage, insanity in the eyes Of
Brooks, as the latter observed him and
beat at him with piece of iron. Lee
maintained his hold, going up with the
rising balloon. He managed to climb
over into the basket, but as he did so
Brooks directed frightful blow ut his
head and Lee sank inert
"My grand dream!" fell upon his
awakening hearing in the exultant
tones of Brooks. 'It's come true. Why,
always I have loved you, Eva, and
worked only to construct float that
could Take us to some far isle Of peace
and beauty, where life will be free
and glorious. Then, too, we can voy.
age up among the very stars AS to
this intruder. we will drop him over to
tighten ship, and soar, and soar, and
sOar!"
Lee realized the situation In flash.
The balloon was ascending with great
velocity. Fortunately he was entirely
familiar with the mechanism Of the
balloon. Its one essential feature was
a gas generator placed beneath the
door Of the basket. He CROPPED for 1t,
detached it. let it drop through space
and Brooks, at the operating seat, in
stantly set up shout Of concern.
1.-THE gas has stopped!' he ex.
claimed, 1--WE are dropping. 1t must
be the supply tank-ha"
He had sprung down beside Lee. The
latter grappled with, held him and
called up a quick order to Eva. She
had seen enough during the construc-
ton of the balloon to follow out Or
ders. Then as the exhausted gas bag
landed safely, but collapsed, she faint
ed away.
That same night the old rOOkery was