Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1920-11-18
UP IN THE AIR
-.
BY CECILLE LANGDoN
Copyright. 1920. western Newspaper Unlonl

"Don't say that, neighbor," urged his
friend, Robert Wade. Think, man,
think! You had 1t once. It's got to
come back to you again."
'"rhink? 2" repeated Hiram gladly.
1--WE done nothing else but think ever
since that happened" and he pointed
sorrowfully toward the charred ruins
Of a burned down shed at the rear Of
the lot. ITO have the model Of my
great invention working like a charm.
to have big capitalist offer me for
tune for 1t, and now-ashes!"
"Cheer up, old FRIEND" consoled
Wade. "You needn't tell me that a
man Of your genius and ability won't be
able to make over what you once
made"
Il can, all but the little jigger that
was the soul of the whole DEVICE" re-
piled Hiram. ut simply won't come to
me, and without 1t the new model Is
simply kindling wood. Oh! I'm not
mourning the loss Of fortune. It's
Miss Tibetts I'm fretting about"
THAT'S bad, Hiram" observed
Wade.
"No, it's good" dlssented Hiram with
emotion. ITS good because I've found
,ut how much love her, dear, sweet
angel that she is! Wade, when I had
spent the last cent of the money got
from mortgaging my place here and
didn't know where to turn to get
enough to finish my model, that lovely,
unselfish being drew her savings out
Of bank. five hundred dollars, and
forced 1t on me to help me out. Oh!
the shame of not being able to pay
her back will crush me. What will she
say or think?"
"Say? That you could have more II
she had it. Think? More of you than
ever. It's the way of women-love,
pity. sacrifice. Don't fret on that
score. Get your mind on something else
for q while, and before you know 1t the
little jigger you can't remember will
pop into your mind. say, there's a
circus in town. Let's stroll down to 1t
and take look at things"
ut won't interest me one bit" de-
clared Hiram.
The two friends reached the vacant
lot where the big white tents invited,
but Hiram was in an distracted mood
and the glowing canvas daubs held no
attraction for the unhappy inventor.
''Let her go!" came the order. and
the guy ropes Of show balloon were
released and the distended monster
sagged and swayed.
Eli! out of the way there"
The yell was directed at Hiram. ut
startled him out of his preoccupatiqn,
but he did noe move quickly enough
to evade bunch of trailing ropes. One
of them whipped about him. tugged,
frightened, and he was lifted from his
feet. He grasped at the rope to steady
himself. Then aloft he went.
Wade was awed, Mortified. The
crowd thrilled, the balloon men on the
ground shouted wildly to the operator,
but up like an arrow, fairly one hum
dred feet, shot Hiram.
Later, when questioned as to his
unique experience, Hiram Scripps
avowed that such thing as fear new.
er occurred to him. He declared that
the sensation was one of exhilarating
buoyancy. His mentality seemed re
leased from all natural bonds. In a
flash there came to him, clear, per-
feet, remembrance of the part of his
machine that he had so vninly sought
to grasp. ~ H..
The startled .balloonist turned q
valve and began to descend. AS
Hiram's feet struck the top of roof
the rope Stacked and he let so of 1t.
The balloon swayed free of him, but
Hiram, left without support, rolled
down the roof and struck the ground
with shock. &
"Oh, he's killed." groaned Wade, as
Hirnm lay insensible. "Get a doctor,
quick!"
A physician happened to be on the
grounds. He hurried to the spot.
"a bad bump on his head, but nc
bones broken" he reported.
Just then Hiram opened his eyes
A glorious smile illuminated his face
In another. moment he reiapsed into
unconsciousness, but not until he had
shouted out rhpturousiy:
"a concentric shaft and two yateh-
ets-hurrahs!'' ~, .;'-..,--
"Aiind gone-concussion of the
brafn,' pronounced the physician dole.
fully. sect him home quick"
II was several hours later when
. Hiram opened his eyes. Beside his
couch were two willing nurses-Atiss
/. Miranda Tibetts and her married sis
ter.
"And oh, Janet!" the former was
sobbing, "what If his brilliant MIND
never RECEIVERS! And oh! love hin
10. and If he was a mere beggar
would work and die for him, If nee
essary."
you say that. y0Y loving sweetest
of all womankind! csisd out Hiram
startling the ladies by boiling upright
0eP~ &C. srdooS .,,n,.Ay.