Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-10-14
The Flyers
Trophy
By HAROLD

q
she's got to. l promised her.
wrote her all about it, and you. Sc
brace up, old man. Take your pick
The long stick-south. The shorl
stick-east. Choose
1t was an impressive scene and an
unusual one. Upon a broad plateau
in the heart Of the North Carolina
mountains rested the moroplane Vic
tor. The two expert birdmen had
just carried off the honors in an aero
meet at Savannah. They designed a
trip to the home of Nelson Barton
in Delaware. where his father and his
sister awaited them. Now, in a flight
over a desolate. we'll nigh uninhabited
country, the Juice had given out and
the Victor was stalled" Gasoline
must be found or the machine aban,
doned.
Barton hid all but the ends of two
twigs in his hand. Moore drew the
long one-south. Barton started east
with the laughing boast that he would
be back first with the needfui fuel for
the engine.
1t was nightfall when Barton toiled
slowly down a winding valley-lost.
"This is getting pretty Desperate
decided Barton. "Ah, at last-a light"
Suddenly loud shouts and then shots
In the distance attracted his attention..
Following the same a great lurid glow
sprang up across the eastern horizon.
"A fret p exclaimed Barton, and he
started toward it. A terrific hubbub
increased as he advanced.
A woman, clasping a little babe close
to her breast, and holding her by the
hand dragged a little girl sobbing pitk
fully with fright n WEAKNESS.
my good woman" spoke Barton.
what is the troubleY'
"Oh, sir, we are lost! The Dollivars
are making a raid. They have burned
our houses"
Barton got the three refugees into
d copse and saw a party of a dozen
rough men armed and carrying torch
es pass them by. Then there we're
more shots and shouts and a new
lurid glare crossed the sky.
1T is our home" mourned the WONT
an. "Oh, sir, help us.
my husband n his band are IN a
refuge camp twenty miles south Of
here" explained the m
The woman, carrying the babe and
leading the way, Barton with the little
girl in his arms. they started on a
forlorn tramp.
1--WE are almost there" announced
he woman nearly foul hours later as
they started down a tortuous gap In
the mountains. "There is the glow OF
their camp fire. oh, l am so glad, SO
thankful to you" And then with the
words she sank to the grass and
swooned dead away.
Twenty steps brought the aviator In
full view of the outlaw camp. A vivld
picture halted, appalled, him. A group
of men were gathered near a camp
fire, and over a branch of a great tree
close at hand ran a rope. One end
encircled the neck of a man with
arms and feet tightly bound.
why! Why! Why!" shouted out
Nelson Barton in three tones of rising
horror, sit is my friend, my partner,
Elwyn Moorel Stop! Stop" he
screamed, rushing forward and wavI
ing his arms wildly.
Half a dozen rifles covered him.
whats this?" fercely challenged
the outlaw chief.
"This is my friend" proceeded Bar
ton. pointing to Moore.
"Oh. maybe you're another detec-
tive, ehY' demanded the outlaw.
Detective? Why, we are airmen.
Suddenly the outlaw turned. The
little girl had followed Barton.
MARY. little Mary!" gasped the
outlaw. "How did you come hereT'
81 brought her." said Barton quick
ly: your wife and baby, too. They
are back zeal the spring. The Dolli-
vars have raided your homes, and
A CRY of rage went up from the
rough crowd. The strangers were Tor
a moment forgotten.
The outlaw chieftain came back to
the camp fire with tears in his eyes,
and gentle as a lamb. Instantly
Moore was released. He overwhelmed
Barton with thanks. He learned the
real mission of the aviators in that
forbidden district.
-Four of you," he shouted to his
men, get to Shelbyville as fast as you
can, and bring back fifty gallons OF
gasoline"
ASK him to give me my trophy"
whispered Moore to his friend. ,
your trophy? .
"Yes, it's been a target fastened to
that tree yonder."
The trophy, plus one deep bullet
dent, was returned to its owner with
apologies.
The airship made a brilliant nom
stop fight, almost beating the record.
A guest at the Barton home, Elwyn,
Moore had the coveted chance to pre-