Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-05-12
The Terror of the Air
BY ARTHUR B. REEVE.
One of The Stars Week End Fiction Series.
Each story complete in three installments.

/ Run: Tell him not to fly with that
gyrOscope. There's a flve-spot in 1t
If you get over there before he
starts"
Even as he spoke the Norton aero
plane was wheeled out again. In
a Mute Norton had climed up into
his seat and was testing the levers
! Would the boy reach him in timec
He was half across the field. waving
This arms like mad. But apparently
Norton and his men were too en-
crossed in their machine to pay at
tention.
Good heavens" exclaimed Craig.
Hes going to try it. Run, boy. rum
he cried. although the boy was now
far out Of hearing.
Across the field we could hear now
the quick staccato chug-chug OF the
this time really equipped with the
gyroscope. rose from the field and
cIrcled over toward us. Craig fran
tically signaled to him to come down.
but of course Norton could not have
seen him in the crowd As for the
crowd. they looked askance at Ken
needy. as II he had taken leave OF his
senses.
| heard the wireless operator ours
ing the way his receiver was acting.
Higher and higher Norton went in
one spiral after another, those
WHICH HIS kSTOSCOpc hdo al
ready made famous.
The man with the megaphone in
front Of the judges stand announced
in hollow tones that Mr.. Norton had
given notice that he would try for
the Brooks prize for stationary equi-
librium
Kennedy and stood speeches..
helpless. appalled,.
Slower and slower went the air
plane. 1t seemed to hover just like
the big mechanical bird that it was
Kennedy was anXiously watching
with the Other. 4 few in the crowd
could no longer restrain their ap-
plause. | remember that the wire
less back of us was spluttering and
cracking like mad.
All Of a sudden a groan swept over
the crowd. Something was wrong
with Norton. His airplane was
swooping downward at a terrific rate
Would he be able to control 1t: L
held my breath and sripped Kennedy
by the arm. Down. down came Nor
ton. frantically fighting by main
the planes SO that their surface
might catch the air and check his
descent
Hes trying to detach the gyro-
scope" whispered Craig hoarsely.
The foot ball helmet which Norton
than the plane. | shut my eyes. But
kennedys next exclamation caused
me quickly to open them again.
He'll make it. after ALL
Somehow Norton had regained par
tial control of his machine. but it
was still swooping down at trS.
mendous pace toward the level cor.
ter of the field.
There was a crash as il struck tho
ground in cloud Of dust
With leap Kennedy had cleared
the fence and was running toward
Norton. Two men from the judges
stand were ahead Of us. but. except
for them, we were the first TO reach
him. The men were tearing franti-
cally at the tangled framework try
ing to lift it off Norton, who lay
pale and motionless. pinned under it.
The machine was not so badly dam
aged. afr" all. but that together We
could y / bodily Off him.
A doctor ran out from the crowd
chest. No one spoke. hut We all
scanned the doctors face anxiously.
Just stunned-hell be all right in
a moment Get some water" he said.
Kennedy pulled my arm. Look at
the gyroscope dynamo he whis-
pered.
looked Like the other two
which we had seen it also was a
wreck. The insulation was burned
off the wires. the wires were fused
together. and the storage-battery
looked as if it had been burned out.
seemed to regain some degree of con-
seriousness. He was living over
again the ages that had passed dur
ing the seconds OF his terrible fall.
will they never stop? Oh. those
sparks. those sparks. I can't dis
connect it. Sparks. moro sparks-will
they never" SO he rambled on.
1t was fearsome to hear him.
But Kennedy was now sure that
Norton was safe and in good hands
and he hurried back in the direction
Of the grandstand. I followed. Fly
ing was over for that day and the
people were fling slowly out toward
cial trains were waiting. We stop
ped at the wireless station for a.
moment.
rs 1t true that Norton will re-
Govern inquired the operator.
Yes. He was only stunned, thank
heaven. Did you keep a record of
the antics Of your receiver since I
Yes. sir And I made a copy for
you. BY the way. it's working all
right now when I don't want it. If
Williams was only in the air now I'd
give you good demonstration of
communicating with an aeroplane."
continued the operator as he pre-
pared to leave.
Kennedy thanked him for the rec
ord and carefully folded it. Join
ing the crowd, we pushed our way
out, but instead Of going down to
The station with them. Kennedy
turned toward the barn and the vel
low house.
For some time We waited about
casually. but nothing occurred. At
length Kennedy walked up to the
shed. The door was closed and dou-
BILE padlocked. He knocked, but there
was no answer.
Just then a man appeared on tho
porch Of the yellow house. Seeing us.
he beckoned. As We approached he
HAS he a city address-any place
7 could reach him tonight?' asked
Craig.
II don't know. He hired the barn
from me for two weeks and paid in
20. address him the best way was Or.
~ Lamar. General Delivery. New
York city"
,"Ah. then ] suppose 7 had better
write to him." said Kennedy, appar-
emily much gratihed to learn the
away his apparatus soon?"
Cant say. There's enough Of it.
Cy Smith--he's in the electric COM
pany up to the village-says tho doc
tor has used a powerful lot of cur
rsnt. Hes good pay; though he's aw-
today. amt 1t? Was that Teller much
hurtT'
NO; he'll be all right tomorrow. I
think he'll ny again. The machines
In pretty. good condition. Hes bound
to win that prise. Good-by."
How do You know NORTON will dY