The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-12-30
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The Skywayman
By ALDEN CHAPMAN
t@. 1920. Western Newspaper Union.)

| LOU say tudL Neu 1IdViS uaS Dc-
come highwayman p exclaimed old
Abel Coyne, his ear trumpet in play
and his wizened face expressing a
species Of shocked amazement.
"Oh, dear, mol" dissented his favor
lite granddaughter, Priscilla, II said a
skywayman."
Him don't know as quite under
stand yet" half grumbled the old man.
Il know that Ned was always ven
turesome, original sort Of a scape-
grace, and I suppose he has got the
balloon and airshlp fever, eh, Prls-
cilla?'
"That is it, grandpa" nodded Pris-
ella, with something Of a flush Of
pride on her pretty, animated face.
They say, too, he is an expert in that
! line."
I "And came around last evening to
boast about it, suppose" remarked
old Abel Coyne, shaking his head re-
provingly. Don't encourage that
young man, Priscilla. never took to
him. He has spent his life tumbling
into and then out Of experiments.
Time don't seem to have steadied him
down. Joined a circus, then travelled
with minstrel show, then baseball
player"
"And did pretty well at it ALL" vol
unteered Priscllla's brother. Gerald,
who rather admired the magnetic and
lively Ned.
"And don't forget he made a splen-
did war record, grandpa added Pris-
ella. 1T was In the aviation service
abroad that he got his medals, and
when peace came an airship manufac-
turer was glad to hire him as demon
strator."
But Grandpa Coyne refused to alter
his prejudicial opinion Of Ned Travis.
1T would be as we'll not to mention
Ned too often, Priscilla" Mrs. Coyne
said when the two were alone some
what later, and Priscilla was glad that
she had a love conf1dant who sympa-
Ned Travis. She liked him better than
ever when upon his return from France
the town gave him hero's ovation.
She had reason to know that with
Ned at the present time aeronautics
had become a business and not
hobby.
Ned is just attending to business
like Trojan" brother Gerald had
emphatically declared. '"They say he
is the best demonstration and salesman
his company ever had, but it would
be hard to overcome the settled opin-
ion of grandpa. New tangled inven-
lions and avocations are to him follies
Of the hour and those who followed
them devoid Of common sense, you
know"
Ned In his hearty, impulsive way had
!, asked leave Of Priscilla to bring his
aeroplane and give her spin in
cloudland. Capriclous. mandatory
Abel Coyne had at once frowned
down the enterprise. Ned was rather
offended, but made no remark about
his disappointment. He looked long
| ingy at Priscilla, but she did not dis
; pute the dictum Of the old family
| tyrant.
II am coming down here anyhow
on Tuesday," Ned told her, land you
| shall see our new prize model, even. if
your people will not trust me with
you"
''Oh! it is not that mean, mother
would not object, and l. would be de-
lighted with the novelty and daring,
but grandpa must have his way, you
know"
That Tuesday was destined to be
fateful for more than one person then
in the group. Abel Coyne had
hitched up his old nag and wagon
to 60 to the next town, and five miles
deviated from the road, threw out the
driver into swampy spot and dashed
on out Of sight.
At just that moment Ned Travis
was passing over the section with his
aeroplane. From high aloft he noted
the catastrophe, circled to landing
and reached the old man just in time
to save him from death, for he was
insensible and half submerged. Ned
resuscitated him past the point Of
absolute danger, lifted him into the
plane and his arrival in field near the
Coyne home was sensational when he
disclosed his passenger.
BY the time Abel Coyne had opened
his eyes and regained his senses, to
find himself aloft whizzing through the
air he was awed and frightened, but
once landed safely he was absolutely
clipper as to his exploit,
"Tell Ned 1 wish to have a word
with him." he said to Priscilla after
he had changed his soiled and dis
ordered attire and was seated COM
fortably in his favorite rocker.
Ned was ushered into the room to
receive smile and a genial hand
shake from the old man.
"Saved my life, didn't your OBJ
served the latter.
did I?' questioned Ned in his care
less, casual way. "Glad, then"
"You did it fine. And the way you