The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-06-18
UP ALOFT!
BY cENEvIEvE ULMAR.

3, Western NeWspal
Union.)

thdI II was HO WOuutI ludt Tie toWH
! took to him and voted it quite natural
that its acknowledged queen of beauty,
fair, sprightly Eva Blum, should pair
off with this cfty-bred newcomer.
Jasper Lee got off the trolley at
Woodville one morning carrying a
heavy grip. He went down the road
whistling cheerily, to pause as he got
just opposite Levi Bluin's home. Levi
himself was fussing over 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 Levi ir-
ritably, 1--WE wasted 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.
Eva held in one hand a string of
coral beads and in the other pair Of
pincers. The quick glance of Jasper
Lee swept the presentment with intel
ligence.
"Chain out of order, clasp damned?
I see. Shall fix it for your"
eff you would" replied Eva, with
oh h,,f faf nd Toc
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.
'T've come here to help a man
named Austin Brooks do some expert
mental work." narrated Lee. Perhaps
you know him?"
"Oh, yes, indeedl" 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 q 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 fell
low boarder. This brought him a great
deal into Eva's company. He fancied
that his grim employer rather discour-
aged the growing friendship.
1t did not take long for Lee to dis
cover that Brooks was a visionary and
his idea that he was inventing 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
y in love with Eva.
"Where's Eva?" he inquired of Mrs.
Blum late one afternoon.
"Why, you know she is a great IA
Torite of Mr. Brooks, and he came for
Ter an hour ago and asked her to go
ind 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,
he balloon is not yet equipped as to
afety. Mr.. Brooks is relying upon
.as generator that will never do what
e thinks it WILL" and he hurried to
he old rookery.
The balloon was swaying, anchored
q clear space, and standing beside 1t
vas its inventor and Eva. AS he ap-
reached Lee discerned that Brooks
7as trying to induce Eva to join him
] his flight, but she dissented. Sud-
emily Brooks seized her about the
'aist, gave her 81 fling into the basket
the balloon. He sprang in himself
nd began christening the anchor
ope. Eva uttered sharp scream.
zee ran to the balloon. He saw jeal-
usy, rage, insanity in the eyes Of
rocks, as the latter observed him and
eat at him with piece of iron. Lee
aintained his hold, going up with the
sing balloon. He managed to climb
yer into the basket, but as he did so
rocks directed frightful blow at his
cad and Lee sank inert.
MY grand dream % fell upon his
hearing in the exultant
mes Of Brooks. ''It's come true. Why,
ways I have loved you, Eva, and
orked only to construct a float that
,uld take us to some far isle of peace
Id beauty, where life wills be free
Id glorious. Then, too, we can yoy-
,e up among The very stars AS to
is intruder, we will drop him over to
yhten ship, and Soar, and soar, and
arr"
Lee realized the situation In flash.
ne balloon was ascending with great
locity. Fortunately he was entirely
miliar with the mechanism Of the
lloon. Its one essential feature was
gas generator placed beneath the
or OF the basket. He CROPPED for 1t,
tached 1t. let it drop through space
d Brooks, at the operating seat, In
antly set up shout of concern.
THE gas has stopped!' he ex.
aimed. 1--WE are dropping. 1t must
the supply tank--ha p
He had sprung down beside Lee. Tho
ter erappled with, held him and
He'd up quick order to Eva. She
q seen enough during the construc-
u of the balloon to follow out or.
re. Then as the exhausted gas bag
lded safely, but collapsed. she faint