THE NORTH PLATTE SEMI WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
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SYNOPSIS.
J'rofrfsor Desmond of Hip Peak observa
tory uiiHiitt a Kteal sensation throuKhout
he country by announcing that whnt up
bears to b ii satellite Is approaching nt
lerrltl'- speed. Destruction of tho. curth Is
feared Panlo provnlls everywhere, rlio
witcllito barely misses tho earth. The at
mospheric disturbance knocks people un-coiihc-Ioiis,
hut does no damage. A Icur
Itoni'ltif; n cabalistic desln llutters down
nmoiiB tl.o KUcstH at n luwn party. It 13
Id. nthnl In deslitn with a curious orna
ment worn by Dorln Fulton. A hideous
nan like being with hUKe wings descends
fn tl.o midst of the KUests. He notices
IJorii" ornament and starts toward her.
Ti men fear ho Intends somo harm to
Hotls and a Jlerco battlu ensues.ln which
Tolllver and March, suitors of Doris, and
Piofessor Desmond are Injured, Hie fly
Inar man in wounded by it Hhot from Tol
llvrr. but escapes by living away. A far
mer reports that tho llylnjr man carried
off his yotinR datmhter. I'coplfl overy
vrhere are terror-stricken at the possi
bilities for evil possesKcd by tho mon
ster. Tho Kovernor offers a reward of
SOO,00() for his capture, dead or alive. Put
nam Is the llrst of the aviators to re
upond, After a thrltllnj;.,chnso In the air
lo In thrown from his machine by tho
flylnc man and killed. Doris tells March
of nwakenlnir In tlm nlRbt to seo the face
of tint monster at her window.
CHAPTER VII. Continued.
"And ou naw "
"HIM. Ycb, I saw him :ib plainly
rw I did that nlRht on tlm lnwn whon
lie fell from Btiaco, only now he wna
a hundred tlmea mora hideous. And
lie was making mouths at mo or try
ing to Hay something or Oh, I don't
lenow what ho meant, hut anyway I
jumped out of bed and ran to father's
room. Ho camo back Instantly with
tho gun ho has jUBt bought, hut thero
wna nothing In Bight then. Why Is
tto haunting mo? What can It bo?
Thd llrflt night on tho lawn ho sceinod
in single me out from everybody olso,
and now again in tho mtdBt of all
these horrible things ho Is doing ho
comon to my window at midnight. I
m frightened, dreadfully frightened
.nnd do not want to bo alono a moment.
I had to call up some protector to bo
-with mo this aftornoon, so I rang you,
Can you lmngluo what tho .creaturo
means?" A cold, prickly chill had en
veloped March, a namoleas fear at tho
thought of tho monstor's apparently
fltrungo fascination for tho sweet
woman at his side, hut while his volco
wan more or less serious n ho an
owered her ho trlod to present tho
matter In as light a form as possible
"I am inclined to think llko this.
Jt Is probable that your trinket with
Its peculiar likeness to' a leaf with
which ho was famlllnr In his own
world and which may havo somo sym
tipllc meaning among his people. Ilrst
Attracted his attention and curiosity
to you. And ho having noticed you "
March had to start his lovo making at
tlio llrst opportunity "and your Bweet
nesB and prettlncss " She checked
him.
"Ah if a monstrosity llko him could
appreciate what wo nro pleased to call
prottlness among ourselves, even as
Binning that any of lis possess It. Why,
wo must look bb grotcsquo to htm as
lio does to us, with our wlngloss bod
ies, earth-bound forms, clumsy looking
limbs, queor flapping garments nnd
HnnlMllto gait."
"Very well. Wo will assume then
that you, personally, wore a secondary
consideration and that ho wan merely
fascinated by tho trinket. That should
,rclleve your mind, and nothing la slm
jicr ttan to leave him tho ornament
outfildn aB a penco offering. Also, you
must remember this house Is tho place
(whore- ho received his first Introduc
tion to human beings, and last night
pn his prowltngs he probably chanced
Oils way nnd stopped for a moment
wneroly out of curiosity."
"But why como to my window ?"
"Probably through coincidence pure
(iuid Hlmplc. Perhaps he merely wished
o sco what was Inside. lie sees like
. bat in tho dnrk, you know."
J3he removed her hands from her
ifacu and once more Hat composedly.
'"Of courao It muy bo that what you
havo su Id Is true, since all any of us
can lo Is guoss. Ilowovcr, I think
differently. I think It was ti doslro
for revenge that brought him here, for
that ho Is malovolont and revengeful
thero can bo no doubt. And It was
here, remember, that ho was first at
tacked, attacked beforo he had offored
violence to us. You know Clay start
ed It by shooting him, and Clay was
hero for several days afterward while
ho was getting well. It Is posslblo
that the creaturo knew that to bo so,
does not know that Clay has loft nnd
camo hero looking for him. And then
Again perhaps ho was after me once
more Oh, I don't know, but I am
terribly worried."
"Doris!" ho crlod almost fiercely.
Vntheru uro all right enough as far
na thoy go, but what you need ubovo
ll other things Is ono who can bo at
3-our eldo In the darkness ns well as
the light, someone who can guurd you,
protect you and comfort you In times
of distress like this as no father can"
"Which I suppose mentis that I need
a husband," she broko In quietly.
"You havo guessed marvelously."
"And thcrofore that the husband
tslioultl by rights bo you."
"Unquestionably,"
A. faint smlla rlpplod across hor face,
"Very well, sir. I will lllo this appli
cation among tho others, nnd u little
later if J flud I havo need of such an
assistant I will bo pleased to commu
nicate with you further," she respond
ed In a monotonous, businesslike voice.
Sho leaned forward, looking down tho
street "Thero comes Clny," she an
nounced. Displeasure amounting to anger, nnd
disappointment approaching disgust
pervnded Alan's being. After ton days
of not seeing her nnd now, just whon
they were getting started on the right
conversational track to havo an ex
ceedingly disagreeable third person
who had Just left hor houso after stay
ing there constantly for da'8 appear
upon tho scono was somewhat more
than Irritating. He would rather Clay
had been the Flying Man himself, for
being urmed now he could havo resent
ed tho Intrusion of tho other with
vigor, whereas he must, now tamely
submit. Ilowovcr, he would ascertnln
if this wob of-Doris' bringing about.
"Did you not expect him?" he In
quired casually. Hor head shook.
"No. it Is entirely of his own mo
tion." "Hnve you told him of your experi
ence of Inst night?"
"I havo told no one but father and
you."
"And nro you going to tell him?"
"I do not know not at prosent at
least. Ho might Infer that the Flying
Man was searching here for him and
bo worried because of Its worry to mo
I shall say nothing to him about It
at present." She arose and went to
tho head of tho stops to greet him,
smiling, hor hand outstretched. He
bowed ovor It, muttering something
Inaudible to March's ears, then nodded
to him.
"Hardly expected to sco you again
so soon," he said drily to the latter
with one of his queer looku. The
whole affair exasperated March. But
a few hours before ho had confessed
to the other man that ho had not heard
from Doris for days, and It must look
to Tolllver as though IiIb rival, not
daring to compete with him face to
fnco, had kept out of his sight until
his hack was turned, when he had at
onco rushed to her upon tho first In
formutloh that, thoro was nobody upon
tho field to dispute with him. Doris,
howover, relieved the situation some
what. "Yes, I sent for him and ho was good
enough to come. Wo had not had a
llttlo visit for somo time wo havo
both boon rather busy, you know."
Clay did not seem in the least dis
turbed at tho possibility that he had
Interrupted a teto-a-tete.
"It was frightfully lonesome to bo
by nfysolf after tho delightful society
of the past wcok, so I just absent
mlndodly followed up my thoughts un
til I found mysolf hero," ho laughed.
"Beastly tho way that flying animal
Ib misbehaving himself. Too bad I
did not get him that first night and
Bavo all this commotion."
"If you had; not attacked him it Is
quite possible no commotion would
havo arisen," she suggested mildly.
Ho scorned a trifle put out at that view
of It.
"I don't think that Is quite appreel-
"He Was Making Mouths at Me."
atlve. He was after you, reaching for
you, nnd of courso I could not permit
nnythlug llko that from man or beast
If tho advance was repellent to you.
You did not wish him to touch you?"
"Most certainly not. Hut diplomatic
treatment might havo boon more effect
tlvo."
"MIsft"Dorl8, .when It cgmea to pro
tecting our women folks from tho crea
tures of this or any other world, I bo
llevo In tho gunpowder treatment llrst
and the diplomatic afterwards If
thoro Is any nftorwnrds. Hut If you
think I was hasty "
"I nm not criticising, nnd you know
how much I npproclated your motives.
But lot us talk about something else."
(IklailaaiaaaaaaBallaHK II ' iftaaai
Joptjri"rjHt , 1912., by
Beforo thorn tho mountains rising
almost ns straight as a wall, vast,
brooding, tumbled as an angry sea
stretched away and away Into tho dis
tance to where the everlasting snow
crowned peaks glinted marblo white
In the sunlight. Lazily tho three upon
the porch talked along In tho warmth
of the sunny afternoon, tho girl
seeming to forgot hor misgivings and
laughing as lightly ns had been her
wont beforo tho coming of tho strange
creaturo from another sphere to haunt
her. In fact, the spirits of nil three
arose and for once all friction between
the rivals for the time disappeared and
Alan even condescended to accept the
clgaretto that Clay condescended to
proffor him. Then In the midst of
their light chatter a grotesque thing
happened. Across Hit mid-afternoon
sun a black cloud camo floating,
sprawling, malformed, a cloud which
had huge batllko wings and a lean,
outstretched arm that ended In a
graspjng hand. And us their tongues
Btopped as they stared at this appari
tion of tho sky Its shadow fell black
upon the lawn, approached them with
silent stealth, ran snakellko up tho
porch until tho claw mounting to Dor
Is' waist held her for an Instant In Us
grasp, then releasing her passed on
beyond tho house. So startling and
reallBtlc was It all that March half
arose to his feet with hands clenched
as though to do battle, while Tolllver
muttered a fierce Imprecation beneath
his breath and tho girl grew pnlo as
death. For a moment they looked at
each other with startlod eyes, then
Tolllver forced n lnughT
"Uncanny that! Too realistic by
half to bo comfortable. But of course
It was nothing but a fool cloud, and
thank goodness we ore not supersti
tious. Listen to that!" From over
head thero camo tho peculiar clanking
whistle of aerial propellers and step
ping quickly to tho lawn they gazed
up. Two now aeroplanes wore speed
ing towards the little treeless play
ground park a little way beyond which
lias been set aside for their uso.
"It Is North and Luthor arriving,"
March told them. "I saw In tho paper
that they were expected to arrlvo to
day. North is an old friend of mine.
Suppose wo go down and seo him.
Doris quickly assented, and walking
one at each side of her March and
Tolllver passed out of tho gato and
waudored towards tho alighting place
of tho planes. Her head uncovered,
her glossy hnlr glinting opalesquo In
the sunlight, exceedingly fair of faco
and faultless of form In hor perfectly
fitting gray gown, no man passed hor
without a second admiring look, fow
women without secrot envy. And proud
of her Indeed wero tho two who
walked so erectly at her side.
Thoy found North buBy about his
machine, tightening this, loosoning
that, testing everything. Ho was a
good-looking young fellow of about
twonty-flvo, determined of face and
slnowy of form and nn aviator of tho
foremost rank, although almost the an
tithesis of tho ill-fated Putnam. For
where tho dead man had been boast
ful North was modest, whore ono had
been reckless tho other was merely
brave, and whero obstinacy had been
predominant In the former In tho man
thoy npw saw cool determination held
sway. Ho greeted March enthusias
tically. "Mighty glad to seo you again, old
man, Remembered that this was your
homo and havo been thinking of you
oft and on nil day. Maybo wo won't
havo n good old tlmo togothor onco
more when I got thnt million. Bo good
enough to Introduco mo." He removed
his cap.
"Dollghted to meet you, Miss Ful
ton." IIo gazed nt Doris with frank
admiration. "Don't know a'a I blame
Alan and tho Flying Man for making
their headquarters here." Ho saw the
shadow that flitted across tho girl's
faco and hastened to apologize. "Beg
pardon for mentioning such a disagree-
ablo beast In your orcBonco, Miss Ful
ton I moan tho Flying Man, not
March. Ho Isn't half bnd when you
got to know him. Glad to know you.
too, Mr. Tolllver." Ho turned to Alan
"I wonder if your friends will ex
cubo you for Just halt an hour whllo
you show mo a decent place near hero
whero I can got a bite to oat merely
for hnlf an hour, you know." Doris
bowed.
"If you will both promise to return
at tho ond of that time"
"It Is a contract." Ho took Alan by
the arm. "Wo havo got to hurry to
make U, and theso are busy days with
mo, you understand. Somehow I al
ways did havo a hankorlng desire to
bo a millionaire and this Is my llrst
chfcsicQ at It, ho rattled on. Off
tefwugh tho loiterers tho two frlonds
wont rapldjy, lcavljig Clay and tho
girl to ramblo about by themsolves
until thoy should return. For lifteon
minutes thereafter, and very contrary
to his usual manner, Tolllver Booming
to bo thinking deeply soldom spoko
and she Anally began Jo wonder mild
ly na to tho causo of It.
"You uro fooling qulto recovered by
now?" sho inquired at longth. Ho
laughed with an uneasy noto In his
Harry Irving GrcowoX
voice that caused her a slight perplex
ity. "Yes, Miss Doris, that Is, physical
ly speaking. But mentally " Ho
halted and seemed to be seeking tho
words ho wished "I nm very much
disturbed." She glanced at him quickly-
"May I ask about what?"
"You may. It Is about yourself,
Doris. Thoso'slx days nt your hoiiac
brought my mental disease to a cli
max, that is, If it bo truo that lovo
is n disease, as somo psychologists
would mako us bellevo. 1 restrained
myself from speaking to you about It
while I was at your Iioubo, although
you mny be very sure It was over up
permost In my mind. Yet tho time
comes when love, like murder, must
out. In my caso that time has como,
and now you must listen to me for a
few moments beforo making rao very
The Claw, Mounting to Dorl6' Waist,
Held Her for an Instant In Its Grasp.
happy or very wretched." She averted
her face that he might not see the
warmth of her color, while he proceed
ed In a volco that was low and pas
sion filled.
"It 1b Impossible that you with your
keen perception have not read my
feelings towards you, for ho woman
could remain oblivious to such a pa
tent stato of mind as mine has been
towards you. Doris,' have you not
known?" Her faco still remained
averted, her voice unchanged.
"I have realized that you have been
kind, courteous, considerate. No wom
an could desire a more gallant admir
er, since you assert that you havo
been such."
"You suspicioned nothing more than
admiration?"
"I think I am by nature unsuspi
cious." His dark face clouded with a Blight
displeasure. "Bollovo rao, I am far too
serious to Jest. "Doris, I have been In
lovo with you with a lovo that has in
creased with each passing moment
slnco tho day I first met you. I havo
tried to make you understand it in
many ways, and I am convinced that
yo'j havo known It for months. And
alwnyB your uniform kindness, and
often your apparent pleasure at seeing
mo havo fanned my hope until 1 havo
Bomotlmcs thought 1 would not be
over-presumptuous In speaking to you
as I am doing now. And your solici
tude I might almost say tenderness
In caring for me during those days
whon I was disabled determined mc to
out with It Therefore I came this
aftornoon to toll you that I lovo you
better than all else, that I would sac
rifice my life for you and I want you
to remember that phrase If the tlmo
should ovor come whon I shall bo put
to tho test and that abovo all othor
things enrthly I wish to marry you.''
His eyes had brlghtonefl, ills ace
grown palo with suppressed emotions.
his rather sharply cut features soemed.
to havo softonod and tho girl, glanc
ing quickly sldowlse at him, thought
him handsome Indood. Sho answered
I him quietly, half seriously, half lightly.
"It would mako almost any woman
proud and gratified to fool that so hon
orable a man so highly esteemed her.
But I had not thought seriously of
marrying na yet."
Thoy walked a dozen stops in si
lence; "Time' said ho at last, "need
not bo considered the esienco of this
contract, should there bo a contract
botwoen ub. I will bo content to nwnlt
any , length of tlmo If I may only
contlnuo to hope, May I have that
hope, Doris?"
"I will answer you tomorrow."
"Today, now" ho bogged. But she
only shook her head nnd he walked
beside hor with downcast eyos nnd
moody face until presently ho Bpoko
again.
"I am going to ask you what you
may consider to bo an impertinent
question. Of course you may Ignore
It altogether, eyado It or answer as
you please without fear of offending
me. 1b there are you "
"No," sho Interrupted quickly. "I
am not promised to anyone else, If
that Is what you nro about to say."
Instantly his faco grow lighter and
ho even laughed a bit.
"Then to overy cloud thero Is a sil
ver lining after nil, I was dreadfully
frightened for a few moments nnd the
relief Is unspeakable. 1 beg your par
don for hinting at such a possibility.
Until tomorrow at least I shall con
tinue to cherish hopes yes oven after
that no matter what the answer may
be. Tonight, even though It be for
the last time, I shall revel In my
dreams."
"I think we had better turn back
now," she said quietly.
Back at his machine after his lunch
North was testing tho motor, March
watching him with mild Interest.
Suddenly the aviator clutched his
friend's nrm with a grasp of steel, his
face llown bloodless his oyeg staring,
his voice coming in nn awed whisper.
"Great Maker of Miracles! Look up
there!"
CHAPTER VIII.
The Pursuit of the Planes.
March raised his eyes and an excla
mation burst from hlB own lips as
well. Just rising from the nearby
range, whero he had doubtless been
roosting as ho watched, swinging wide
over the plain perhaps two miles dis
tant and two thousand feet up, mar
velously distinct In tho tenuous moun
tain air, the Flying Man wns floating
and aonrilig with occasional sweeps of
his thin pinions. Alun had witnessed
his fight with the ill-fated Putnam,
but North, now seeing him for tho
first time, was fairly awed at tho won
derful poise and easo of the enemy's
flight. For perhaps flvo seconds he
gazed at him in fnsclnatlon as ho con
tinued to squeeze his companion's arm
with an undiminished grip, then re
leased his hold and gasped:
"Shado of Darius Green! Now that's
what I call flying!"
He waB speaking in a fierce, harsh
whisper, already working frantically
at his engine. "Don't you dare, looV
up don't you dare mako a move.
They will all sen him In another min
ute and then things will be turned up
side down. I want to get away early
and avoid the rush. Ho sprang Into
his seat and grasped his operating
gear. "Make way, there," ho roared
at the stragglers about. "I am going
to start, and when I do I'll bo a cy
clone on wheels. Mako way, MAKE
WAY!" Like sheep charged by a
raging wolf, thoy scattered before tho
great monoplane, and North, throwing
on the power, shot forward and sprang
lightly into tho air llko a bounded
rubber ball. With his propeller whir
ring at topmost speed he turned at
a dizzy slant and as a bee goes for
its hive bo did he head onward and
upward for tho marvel beyond that
floated so buoyantly In tho limpid air.
Instantly wild tumult and hoarse
uproar burst forth. A hundred volce3
bellowed the discovery at onco and in
half a dozen seconds a score of avia
tors had leaped upon their seats with
Jlerco shouts of warning to tho fleeing
crowd. Monoplanes and blplanea
streaked the oarth as they achieved
their momentum for the upward leap.
Twenty great propellers wero whir
ring, churning, roaring all at once.
Then rising in buzzing flight llko a
covoy of mammoth grouse, they went
whistling away In twos, threes and
clusters In tho wake of North, whoso
powerful "Blue Dragon" was splitting
the air at nearly ninety miles nn hour.
Betts nnd Falrfleld, tho last to rise,
collided bofore thoy had falrjy left the
ground and came down with a crash
and a snapping of wires, themselves
receiving awkward tumbles, but
springing to their feet practically un
hurt. Their mnchlnes, however, wero
temporarily disabled, and calling down
maledictions upon their luck and each,
other's heads they could only stand
rooted to the spot llko other raon and
watch their companions in the mad
million-dollar chase, when but for a
llttlo 111 fortune they would hnve been
elose in their, wake. The greatest op
portunity of a TiFeHmo had gone a
glimmering because someone in his
frantic haste had blundored. Small
wondor that their rage was boundless.
And now ones more tho Flying Man
seemed to have made up his mind to
test them out on masse as he had 4oho
Putnam Individually berbro ho had
slain him. For a minuto after North
hnd mado Jills start tho other remained
like a spidar suspended nt tho end or
his thread, floating practically mo
tionless In tho air, then ns the cloud
of othor planes arose and with his
foremost foe more thnn half way to
him ho became active. Throwing him
solf forward upon a horizontal In much
tho samo position as though he was
ahout to swim In water, he gave a
mighty boat of his wings. Like a
darting flsh ho leaped forward .a hun
dred' feet, nnd starting In a mighty
circle went whistling out over tho
plain, his score of pursuers inBtnntly
changing their courso to a tangent in
order to cut him off. And Boeing that
they bid fair to do so the pursued ono
straightened his course Into direct
flight, and with Ills face turned back
ward over his shoulder led them
straight away. For the next mile tho
Blue Dragon and about half n dozen of
the fastest of tho machines soemed to
bo holding their own with him, whllo
tho rest, unable to keep up tho terrlfio
pace, gradually strung out behind like
a klto's long tall. Whither he was
leading them none but himself could
guess, but as for tho pursuern they
cared llttlo provided they could keep
him In sight. Whether they ran the
race and fought tho fight over jagged
mountain tops or lovel ground mado
little difference to these seasoned sail
ors of the upper air sea, whose con
stant close association with death
had made them almost contemptuous
of It, and as greyhounds course a hare
they went whistling on with strnlncd
muscles and eyes glued upon the blaclj
streak that sped as an arrow before
them. Whether the pursued ono wnti
doing his best or only trilling with
them they could only conjecture,
but this much was evident, doing
thoir own best as they Wero,
they wero barely holding their own
with him. North, still retaining his
Initial advantage over his nearest com
petitor, could not see that he had
gained a foot upon the enemy. To
tho spectators upon the ground and
now far behind, the ones In "the air
appeared but distant floating specks.
Then one by ono even the specks dis
appeared and a great sobbing Bigh of
relaxation welled from the bosom of
tho watching city.
Flro minutes had elapsed since
PJorth left the ground, five minutes
during which time March, grown to
tho spot, had stood staring after tho
flyers with bis heart pounding and
his enthusianm mounting with Its ev
ery beat as he thrilled with admiration
at tho skill and daring of tho pursuers
of this half human-like, half bird-like
creaturo of prey of tho upper air. Car
ried away by the excitement of It, he
had in spirit flown with North In his
aerial rush, seeming to rldo by his
side as he leaned forward In his seat
as a jockey rides a leaping race horse,
overy muscle taut as the singing stays
about about him, the rush of wind In
his face, the throb of tho machine be
neath him, tho roar of tho propeller
behind. Ecstatically ho gloried in the
long, sweeping upward rise' of the
machine when they rose and rose as
a ship mounts a towering, upheaving
billow; Involuntarily ho drew his
breath with a sharp intake aa thoy
swept downward In a long dip as tho
ship sweops down from the towering
crest of a lord of tho ocean when tho
deck falls from beneath one's feet
and he feels as though ho 'floated in
midair, so rapid Is the plunge into the
valley below. Then tho graceful rise
again with the sudden plungo into an
Whither He Was Leading Them, Non
but Himself Could Guess. !
air bank that opposed them with a
iolldness that causnd the light plane
lo shudder and shiver at tho Impact,
and wherein the machlno again
seemed a ship wallowing In ;i sea that
had swept her from stem to .stem,
until shaking herself free she' onco
more raced on. buzzing like a hornot.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Noble Enough for Him.
Miss "Of courso you know, baron,
that my father la not In the remotest
degroo a nobleman?" Ho "Sny no
more, beautiful one. A man who will
glvo his daughtor a dowry of a mil
lion Is noble enough for mo."
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