The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-06-19
THE AILY
SHORT STORY
When Some One Cares.
(copyright, 1920, BY the Mcclure
Nervananar SYndicate.l
By r. RAY BAKER.

JACK REYNOLDS, in fur coat dnu
heavy head-dress, sweltered under
Js June sun, as he stood on a texas
lying field and conveFsed with tntee
men clad in army olive drab. :.
Nearby was an airplane, loaded
with eas and oil, the motor tuned
to perfection. Several mechanics
we're going over the machine 70 see
that every nut and bolt was tignt, eV-
cry connection secure.
About the field a crowd had as
sembled. PredOminating In the as.
sembly were many men, although q
number OF civilians and several won-
en-, old and young, were on hand.
The three men grouped about JACK
we.e arguing with him.
~ tell you It can't be DONE" one
Of them, a venerable officer with
With m1stache, protested, III you
should get up 10000 feet you'd DIE
from c9ld and lacx Of oxygen; be-
sidec, the air would be 100 rare 70
hold the ship up
aNeyertaeless," sale Jack, firmly
sI'm going W 10000 feet II there's
any possible way Of getting there.
MAI. Schroeder made 1t S6,OVV feet a.
Z Dastoa. you know
you never 1--we to tell Of It, said
another Of the group. Schroeder
nearly paid with his life, you'll re-
m0mber, BE was lucky. that's all.
Better lie. him keep the altitude
Z arm going 10 try for it.. anyhow.
declared Jack, expelling a cloud Of
tobacco smoke. j
III you don't think anything Oh
your own life" said tho third mem.
Der Of the group, have a thought
Tor those you leave behind and who
VIII suffer because Of your foolhard-
mess. Think Of your father, your
mother, your brothers, your sisters
your sweetheart
Jack smiled somewhat grimly.
Il have none OF those" and be
turned. to the waiting plane. III l
bad Just one Of them I'd stay down
here on the ground"
He mounted to the seat and tied
the controls. His lifebelt was buck
led round him, the engine started by
) o. assistant, and the big bird took a
quick run and scared alott, gradually
circlfng higher and higher until It be-
rat1e speck.
The group Of three kept vigil in a
building at an edge Of the flying
Held. The officer with the white
mustache sat at a wire!es telephone.
I've got him." he announced after
listening for some time. He says
he's up $4,000 feet and still going
VA In the attic Of a modest dwelling
4 n q middle western city girl sat
IN an old rocker and united blue
ribbon from bulky pack Of letters.
The girl was pretty, although her
for always rather frail. She had an
abundance Of burnished-gold hair.
There was much grayeness in her
looks and demeanor, and something
expressive Of sadness about the down.
ward curves at the lip corners.
She sighed as she separated the
letters one from the other, and Sc
Letting one haphazardly drew 1t from
rs envelope
Good Old Jack she said, some
what wistfuly, as she read, and
stter she had finished she sat hold
AZ Il idly In her hand while she
oked throug the attic window at
: t-nothng.
She. resumed her perusal o. the
message from the past. but as she
separated the letters her eyes sud.
denly took on an expression OF
Z astonishment and she held up a
bulky envelope, addressed 10 her, but
unopened.
Here's one never read!!" she
exclaimed. "How could it have hap
: Dened2 Possibly when ! was down al
The lake last summer little sister got
this from the postoffice."
She looked at the 2ostmark AMI
made out that the letter had been
mailed IN Texas just a year-ago,
s lacking q few days.
1t must have ben his last, she
decided, and suddenly she tore open
! the envelope. As she read her face
1isGthis is a tragedy she
breathed, but this time she did not
hol the letter idly and look out the
al window at-nothing.
She left the rest Of the letters on
the Noor and rushed down to the
library, where she busted herself
WITH papes and pen, and wrote a
sfelegran Calling the telegraph Of
lies on the telephone, she read the
MESSAGE. Then she sat and again
perused the closing lines Of the letter
ale had unearthed IN the attic. These
lines we're:
i II know Il may be a forlorn hope
this hope that you will consent 70
marry me; but Just can't keep still
anyslonger. So consider this a pro-
bosal and will look for your an
swer BY return mail. II ] do not re-
ceiye a letter ! will know that your
answer Is no. nd then-well. then,
I shall enter the aviation service, as
! have been considering doing Tor
wv with t4 love, JACK"
Tie earth was so far below it look
i ed IKE a hasy dream world. Many
clouds intruded between the distant
Globe and tho aviator; it was like
tossing about in boat on a white
capped sea, looking down through
The depths to an ancient city engult-
Cd. BY a flood.
Frost covered the flyers clothing;
II hung to bis eyebrows and his nose,
md q film Of It held its mouth shut.
What little OF his face showed
through the headdress was almost
devoid Of blood. He was breathing
heavily but he was smiling, some
what grimly, as he looked at MS
nltimeter and saw that he was 10000
feet above the earth,
Mechanically he pulled back the
stick and began climbing further:
4 As he went up the difficulty Of
breathing became more pronounced,
and frost gathered; but he did not
hesitate. Into a wireless telephone
strapped about his shoulders he call
y Hello Major $1,000 feet. he said
10 vas struggling 10 breathe, but
he managed 10 speak the few words
rather, calmly, although the effort
REQ nrniiginnS.