The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1919-03-28


was his darling. He abhOrred electric
locomotives. automobiles. gasoline
launches. airships-a anything and ev-
erything that was not run by steam
power
"Old Black Lulu was good enough
for him, he said "OId Black Lulu"
and the sdrag" of express and mail
cars she carried wete good enough for
anybody
Simmons did not know that the big
trunkline was already contemplating
the building of few airships for the
purpose of conveying mail and ex-
press, or his mind would have been
more troubled. 1t was rumored that
the Continental Airship company was
in the process of formation, and con-
tinental airship line would mean more
speedy delivery of mail and express,
cheaper rates, and, therefore, consid-
erable pecuniary loss TO the railroad
company This threatened COMPETE
ton must be met and defeated; so,
while Simmons growled and swore, the
railroad company planned and expert
mented.
BY and by there came young Eng
lishman from the other side of the
Atlantic, with a little money in his
pocket and a grim determination. to
earn more-much more. BY night he
dreamed of cOgs and wheels and
screws and propellers and dynamos
and ohms; by day he worked on these
dreams and made them come true.
He didn't become famouss he want
ed to marry. But he hadn't sufficient
money, and no influential friends.
One day his dreams and his labor
came TO an end. That was the day
that his small model of the Fenimore-
Stokes airship was finished. tested, and
found perfect.
Then Fate brought him into contact
with Hendricks. the recently elected
president of the Never-Mind- What
Railroad company. Hendricks wanted
an airship, and Fenimore- Stokes want
ed money. Each supplied the others
demand. FenimOre- Stokes sold his
patent outright, and went home to
NIerrie England and his sweetheart.
Hendricks went his way, rejoicing |
In the knowledge that he had secured |
the means to combat the Continental |
Airship company. which was still nom |
existent.
The Never-Mind- What company built
two large airships after the pattern Of
the FenimoreStokes model, and then |
hastened TO build more, because. first
~, the Continental Airship line had be-
come a reality; and, secondly, because
of two daring mail and express rob-
Derie@gvhlch occurred only four or FIVE
weeks apart and defied solution.
Five mail clerks and three express
messengers had been found dead in
heir cars, with their skulls crushed.
4 sixth mail~cIerk died without re-
gaining consciousness, and fourth
EXPRESS messenger became so hopeless
Y insane that no clew could be OBJ
aimed from his confused, incoherent
speech.
All the most valuable express pack
Iges were missing, boxes broken open
md safes dynamited. In the mail cars
lot one rhEistered letter or parcel had
'een overlooked. In both instances,
TO-. 3. drawn by "Old Blnck Lulu.
With Surly Simmons at the throttle
vas the train selected by the maraud-
RS. 1t hurt simmons more than any
ne knew. but that did not mend mat
ers. O.
The Nm, w company decided then
0 convey express and mail by means
( che Fenimore- Stokes airships: so
hey broke bottle of vine over the
ray metal body of the FIRST man-made
ird and christened her ne Regis
red Mail" The second ley named
fe Chicago Express
When he heard of ii, Surly Simmons
roke two bottles Of wine over aI1tl-
IS black nose, saying to her; IF
GU amt worth two q Them tiyIng-n,ars
hines, then vols. I'm two miles II
J : !. :. :
LII ~ run two miles
~ he sighed, new
rtll eart fhrobbed ],
made three