Evening star., 1923-12-09

ming rod on it and it's sharp. In
the meantime, and if anything hap
pens, peace to your ashes"
Thanks" George responded, huski-
ly. and looking whittier than ever.
I'm sure 1 shall have no trouble"
And before you CO." said Hypo,
you're not fooling me at all. You're
no author. George. L met an author
once in Battle Creek, and know
those birds They never go any high
er than the third floor, and not that
high when the bar is on the street"
Then he cut the balloon loose and
it rose rapidly. The last Hypo saw
of George he was ciinging firmly to
the crossbar, like a cassowary hang
ing to a telegraph wire. Hypo picked
up his signal gun and the crowd
cheered hoarsely, little voting that
literature was receiving another up
lift. At 1900 feet, with the balloon
drifting swiftly with the brisk breeze
toward Lake Erie and points north,
Hypo pulled the trigger and looked
up expectantly; but at the sound of
arm in an tmbecile manner and con-
tinued ballooning. Hypo stared up
incredulously. Apparently the sub
ject of jumping in parachutes had be-
come distasteful to George, and from
that moment forward he paid no
more attention to Hypo Jones than if
that individual had died in Siberia in
1875 B. c.
Mr.. Jones stood still. observing the
catastrophe and thinking of several
disconcerting things at once. The
balloon headed rapidly out over the
lake. and Hypo kicked his shotgun
petulantly aside and started out of
the grounds. He moved rapidly in
the direction of Klotz's quick lunch,
and when he burst into that caravan
sary of food Muriel Moore was calm
ly making change for a Swedish gem
tleman off an iron-ore boat.
Listen" Hypo said, excitedly, and
He didn't jump. I told him to jump
in plain English, and the boob sits
up there and waves at me. What's
the answer?
Muriel pushed the draw into the
cash register and looked at Hypo, who
continued to talk.
Your brother has gone visiting in
my balloon, and there goes my job.
want to know whyi When Jim
Heneshaw hears that he has now got
none and no one-hundredths balloons
som ebody is going to be buried after
a short and violent death. The last
I saw Of George he was two miles
high and heading for Norway"
Muriel motioned to the proprietor
Of Klotz's quick lunch. whispered to
him, and then turned to Hypo.
"Hypo," she said, solemnly, "come
into the backroom."
He followed her in, fearing that in
about a minute all would not be we'll.
and she closed tho door.
"Sit down, Hypo." she said, in such
a kindly tone that she alarmed him.
'I have a few words that must be
said"
Maybe you can tell me where your
brother has gone with our balloon?"
he demanded. You know balloons
cost money, don't you?"
II can explain everything, Hypo,"
she continued, uneasily. II must trust
you to forgive me. I will begin by
saying that when told you George
was writer of books did not tell
che truth"
"I knew that" he answered, testify.
you didn't fool me there
T was forced to deceive you. Hypo,
and I did, because I regarded you as
a stanch friend who would forgive q
girl almost anything"
Sure" he answered, wonderingly.
Anything you do, Muriel. is all right
with me. But let's hurry this up"
'T am sorry it had to happen Just
this way" she continued. II know
that I have caused you = great deal
of trouble"
you have" he agreed. 1.-THE min
ute Jim gets sober enough to UNDER
stand English l won't have any more