The Washington times., 1929-12-24

pull the cord! PULL TIL
YOU'RE CLEAR!"
Hypnotically, unconscious Of
her own obedience. Pats fin
ger sought and found the ring.
With a bitter jolt that tore her
arms from their frantic en-
brace about the child. the risers
jerked her upright.
She found herself crying. She
cried in protesting terror Of
that rough jolt which had torn
her arms apart.
Dazedly she felt the child'S
hands still clasped at her neck:
sobbing. she heard his muImurs
In her ears.
Then her brain cleared. He
couldn't fall. Oh, lucky she's
strapped him so and blinded
him so! No sensation of falling
told little Billie Bryce that he'd
plunged from the stark, precipi-
touS ledge.
"Pat, let me get down. Why
did you scream? Why do you
stand so still? / can't breathe.
Take the bandage off"
Through the long. panic
filled moment while the chute
opened, Pat felt his arms tug
ging at her neck, heard his in
Sistent questions. But she
glanced upward; she trembled
with an insane relief. The
huge folds of silk spread out
oh, functioning perfectly float
ing on pillows of blue tran.
guilty.
She gave, soft, hysterical
laugh, wound her arms eagerly
about this little struggling form:
Quiet remember. That's the
game. Not q word. Pussy
hush! Leave the blindfold on.
Tn running I. like o fairy
runs, so quickly you can't even
feel me moving. You'll see.
Oh, please moment rnorel"
God If his terror should
spoil it now, should tear him
from her now
They floated past canyon
walls, drifted gently down the
vast purple chasnaS. Ledge
upon ledge. column by column.
Sharp, terrifying, trenaepdo dollsly
sheer, the cliffs went plllnging.
Somewhere. an eternity distant,
they mingled with the ShadOWy,
abysmal g0rges.
In these they would land.
With flashing brightness, all
Pat had ever read Of parachute
Jumps and parachute landings
{ went careehing through her
raind. She must guide the
chute. Look down now and
find q suitable area.
But how? Almost slnotfered
with the overpowering response
liIity, Pat looked down. They
were frighteningly near the can
yon floor. They were lowering
over a sharp, rocky creek bed.
A black, formidable ravine. Lost
IL they hurled into thatl
She gave a sharp yank at the
chute. 1t went further across
the ravine. These terrible river
beds that In a night. in an hour
and without warning fill with
raging waters. Shed heard Of
them!
She pulled nightly on the
other lines, pulled with all her
strength and pleaeded bitterly:
Billy don't jerk don't cry
were almost there almost In
fairy land 2 Waitp
The chute swept over the.
raviae swept above smooth,
safe ground. Another iastantl
They went humping went fling
ing, the safe, sweet earth be-
meath their feet. The chute
dragged them over the ground.
The child clung TO Pats neck
and cried franticaIly.
But for q dazzling moment
Pat lay with the youngster hug
ged in her arms, for a heavenly
moment with the tears stream
Ing down her cheeks. Saved!
Wondrously saved oh. beauti-
fall, astonishing goodnessp r
She rolled the parachute into
It's pack, she told the little boy.
hysterical, incredulous tales.
Yes we jumped. From way
Move DIDN'T! / know
when you jump. / can jump.
Then we flew. Seethe
parasol carried us doWn--we
f1oated here
we'll want to see. Why
didn't you let me see? How did
YOU do it,"
Fat gave a crazy, delirious
laugh: Il don't know! That's
one thing I'll never knowi"
Shaking from head to foot
unable to believe that the thing
had happened and she had lived
through it, had brought the
child safely out Of it, Pats
dazed eyes now searched the
ledge from which she had
jumped.
Everywhere with endless, stu
pefying sweep. the walls rose.
They chot upward to the ekies.
hnlfi ahr1ir<t Hforysi sirislala E-ay1.