The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1932-02-12
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All Alice Needed
Was a Firm Hand
BY CLARISsA MAcKIE
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"a by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate,
(WNU Service.1

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"a by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicatsl
(WNU Servics.i
uNF COURSE. II 1 did not have all
~ the money I wanted wouldn't
dream of playing with flying machines" !"
Alice Wayne thought as she prepared
to enter the little machine built for
her own pleasure. She smiled last
good-by to the man who had her ma
chine In charge az she rose from the
ground. Little by little she ascended,
bathed in moonlight, flooded with the
fresh cold air Of the upper planes.
"All my troubles are below" she
thought with bitter little laugh. OF
course, she knew that her engagement
to Charlie Blake was ended-had she
not broken 1t herself yesterday. Still,
he was not the only man in her world.
She hoped that he would 60 to Eng
land on the next boat-that would be
sailing today. So enthralled had she
become In her problem that she was
not aware where she had wandered
when suddenly she heard an odd noise
above the roar Of the engine. She
turned her head.
Another machine was behind her.
Was the driver blind that he could not
perceive her machine7 Could she
drop7 Dared she?
Ignorance dares anything.
In an instant after she touched that
small lever, the machine was volplan-
ing toward the earth. A sudden faint
ness came over Alice Wayne. She
could not find that same small lever to
pull 1t forward to resume her even n.y.
ingl
Suddenly she fainted-she did not
feel 1t when the plane crashed among
the branches Of huge, widespread
Ing oak tree, and stayed there. She
did not hear the voice Of Charles Blake
calling out to his servants as he came
out to view the disaster.
What is 1t, James?" demanded
Blake hurriedly.
"Flying machine, sir" called the
butler. Somebody In here-uncon-
scious, guess"
Better get him down--or do you
want help?"
Hes a little fellow, sir, but wen
have to have ladder"
They shouted for ladder, and pretty
soon great stout ladder crashed
through the branches and found
brace against branch. 'Tll take him
down." said Blake, and picking up the
little form was astonished 1t it's light
ness. He said nothing, however, and
when he reached the ground, called to
his housekeeper, and, still carrying
his unconscious burden, bore 1t into an
unused bedroom.
This young fellows lost his senses,
Mrs. Carey" he said. "Can't you do
something for him while I telephone
for the doctor?"
"Good gracious, Mr.. Blake" cried
the woman, 'it's girlr
"Yes," said Charlie Blake in queer
strangled voice. "It Is girl-one
that I know, too Mrs. Carey, can we
keep this secret from the servantsT
II will try, SIR"
ut will be difficult for you, Mrs.
Carey to take care of her alone"
Mrs. Carey laughed softly. "Not at
all, Mr.. Blake-not at ALL hope you
won't let this accident stop you from
your trip to Europe"
ut may-please do not mention my
name just yet, to this girl"
An hour later, Doctor Smith shook
Mr.. Blake by the hand, assured him
that the patient was resting quietly.
Charles Blake stood there long
time after the doctor went he was
wondering about Alice-what had she
been doing In plane at night? Just
because he had told her yesterday that
he did not approve of airplanes for
women, she had broken their engage
ment.
1t was three o'clock when he tele-
phoned to her family, and 1t was four
o'clock when the Wayne automobile
dashed up the avenue, and Allce's
parents arrived at his house.
shes sleeping like top now," said
Charles, to Alice's anxious mother, 'but
II you will 60 up there, Mrs. Carey
will find a couch for you"
In the library, he talked with Mr.
Wayne for an hour. "She's a kid,
Alice is." said her father emphatically.
"She will never have an airplane
again-what she needs is to be taken
hold of and told what to do. Can
you do thatY'
Rather" said Blake quietly.
"Then she's yours for keeps"
The next morning they all sat in her
room while Alice ate her breakfast.
On her third finger was Blake's dia-
mond ring.
"As for the airplane," said Mr..
Wayne briskly, II will send somebody
over from the airdrome to get 1t down
its mess OF junk"
"Why, daddy, / am sure It could be
mended," broke In Alice, "al.a Charles
and have thought Of honeymooning
in it, haven't WEI" She turned to
Blake, who hesitated for an instant,
then spoke firmly.
ITO tell the truth, we haven't men,
toned the plane, Mr.. Wayne, and for
my part. I'll say that my. wife will
never ride in one again, eh, Alice?'
Alice stared amazed at the man she
loved. at the firm faces of her parents.
mo, Charles" she said In a very
"small" voice.