The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1919-10-16

Second National bank, ''that going up
In an airship does not require an extra
amount Of courage. but when II comes
to looping-the-loop and going through
all those fancy maneuvers-well.
reckon you wouldn't care to try II
yourself"
"Wouldn't, hey? How much do you
want to bet on that?"
"In wager ten thousand" replied
the challenger. that if you will 60 up
In an airplane and let the aviator put
you through program of stunts you
will be crying quits inside Of an hour
after leaving the ground"
''It's CO." said Mr.. Seymour. PUT
up the cash."
A committee was selected to ar.
range for the bet. All that was neces-
sary was to secure the services of an
aviator at the local flying field and
swear him to secrecy, for 1t would not
do for the Seymour family to learn Of
the matter. The arrangements were
duly made and two days later, on
clear afternoon, Mr.. Seymour, attired
in aviation clothes, was strapped to
the passenger seat Of biplane. If he
was nervous be 1t to his credit that he
did not show it. The plane rose grace
fully and Mr.. Seymour's stomach
seemed to climb into his throat with
the same motion. He had read it was
best not to look down. so he kept his
gaze averted, with the result that he
did not suffer severe nausea. In fact,
he enjoyed the sensation of soaring
through space and could not refrain
from mentally "pooh-poohing" at the
dangers of aviation and chuckling
over the ten thousand that would be
his.
However, he had reckoned not with
the man in control of the craft. Sud-
denly the machine tipped and started
nose first at a sharp angle sfor the
earth. The banker lost his breath and
chung desperately to the seat. 1t
seemed that he was going to be dashed
to pieces, but abruptly the plane right
ed itself and shot upward at the same
angle. Then it turned far on one side
and seemed about to tip completely
over, but recovered its equilibrium and
tipped to the other side. Before Mr..
Seymour could realize what had &C.
Cured the machine took another nose
dive. this time dropping so far that it
almost scraped the top of tree. Then
up. far up. it scared again and
heavens! 1t turned completely over
sideways and began rolling over and
over. This lasted for, it seemed, an
hour. although it was actually only fif-
teen seconds. Hardly had the craft
got to horizontal position when 1t
took another dive. but instead of head
ing for the earth the nose turned clear
under. the engine was shut off and the
plane. upside down, began falling
rapidly. The passenger could have
sworn that the machine had dropped
fifty miles. but it was only a thousand
feet, when 1t struggled once more TO
an upright position and began looping
the-loop. ~ ~. h.. s... ~.
.'Enough!" groaned Mr.. Seymour
through the speaking tube "Get me TO
the ground in safety and you can have
anything l own
The next day Mr.. Seymour did not
get to the office until midafternoon.
He found Weldon Miller awaiting him.
The banker glared at him and inquired
bruSquely as to his errand.
''I've got the ten thousand" said the
young man. holding out bank book.
one from the Second National. Sur
the~more. have your consent to mar.
ry Ruth"
Mr.. Seymour stood at his desk and
glared at Weldon.
Where do you get that stuff?" he
said in a voice that was almost a roar
What do you mean, ten thousand?
What do you mean, consent?'
Weldon helped himself TO a seat.
II won the ten thousand in a bet"
he said. "Mr. HOLSTER of the Second
National loaned me an equal amount
and put it up for me. And while we
were doing stunts in the sky you told
me / could have anything you owned
if put you safely back on the ground.
You see, I'm an air mail carrier"
The banker dropped into his chair,
flabbergasted.
"You win," he said weakly.