The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1920-05-19
UP IN THE AIR
By CECILLE LANGDON

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"
''TAinkT' repeated Hiram gladly.
"I've done nothing else but think ever
since that happened" and he pointed
sOrrowfully toward the charred ruins
Of burned down shed at the rear Of
the lot. ITO have the model Of my
great invention working like charm,
to have big capitalist offer me for
tune for II, and now-ashesw
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. at simply won't come to
me. and without it the new model is
simply kindling wood. Oh! I'm not
mourning the loss of a fortune. It's
Miss Tibetts Pm fretting about"
That's bad, Hiram" observed
Wade.
"No, it's good" dissented Hiram with
emotion. tits good because I've found
,ut how much l love her, dear, sweet
angel that she is! Wade, when I had
spent the last cent of the money l 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 thinkT'
SAY? That you could have more If
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 while, and before you know it 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"
sit 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 gor came the order, and
the guy ropes Of show balloon were
released and the distended monster
sagged and swayed.
"Hi out Of the way there"
The yell was directed at Hiram. It
startled him out Of his preoccupation,
but he did not 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 hun
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
flash there came to him, clear, per-
feet, remembrance Of the part Of his
machine that he had so vainly sought
to grasp.
The startled balloonist turned a
valve and began to descend. As
Hiram's feet struck the top of a roof
the rope Stacked and he let go Of it.
The balloon swayed free Of him, but
Hiram, left without support, rolled
down the roof and struck the ground
with a shock.
"Oh. he's killed." groaned Wade, as
Hiram 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 no
bones broken" he reported.
Just then Hiram opened his eyes,
A glorious smile Illuminated his face.
In another moment he relapsed into
Inconsistencies, but not until he had
shouted out rapturously:
"A concentric shaft and two ratch-
ets-hurrahl"
mind gone-concussion Of the
brain" pronounced the physician dole
fully. sect him home quick"
1t was several hours later when
Hiram opened his eyes. Beside his
couch were two willing nurses-Miss
Miranda Tibetts and her married sis
ter.
"And oh, Janetr' the former was
sobbing, "what If his brilliant mind
never recoversl And OIL I love him
90. and If he was a mere beggar ]
would work and die for him, If nee.
sssary."
'You say that. you loving sweetest
Of all womankind ~ cried out Hiram
startling the ladies by boiling upright
"Then life is indeed worth living. Oh
Miranda the golden luck. concen.