rr
cKrill
SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTER ONE~
ry Adams, European representative^of
'can Manufacturers, and a H'est Point,
ate, is visiting in Paris at the time of
rtiveen France and Germany. He was
l into conference with the French General
The German invasion has begun on the
astern border. Adams declares this a
He urges balloon reconnoissance to the
nst, and detail of troops to block advance,
housand automobiles are impressed, filled
roops, and are sent northward. Adams,
al Martini, Rechere {expert balloonist),
wireless telegraphy, lead the advance, car-
a field war balloon. The ascent is made
\e main German force is discovered mobil-
tn l^orraine. The balloon is struck by a
us shell and begin- ‘o 'ail swiftly into the
of the troops.
CHAPTER IL
jurtlhad found its mate, Ail, 1 was
try much in love.
«9/1-
Ad*y * was 80 much
_On
the
better that
that 1 insisted on rising, and a
»came and assisted me t® dress.
r., valet
-
,M vFclnt ho« were torn to shreds In the
’Myjclothes
balloon wreck, and I found myself
compelled to accept the count’s offer
°* a complete outfit from his own
wardrobe. Behold me, therefore, seat
ed in an easy chair, clad in a handsome
suit of plum-colored velvet, with short
breeches, white silk stockings, silver-
buckled shoes, and a long-tailed coat.
What with lace and ruffles and all the
trimmings of royalty, I felt like a
trussed goose; but Aimee regarded me
as the very apotheosis of perfection
and grace. This I had from her own
sweet lips. And so completely satis
fied were we with each other that be
fore night I had kissed her a thou
sand times and obtained her consent
to an ultimate marriage, with the un
derstanding that I should be acceptable
to the Count, whose reserve I had not
at that time courage to penetrate with
my request for his daughter s hand.
“But there is no hurry,” I said. “Let
us wait a few days, my precious.” And
I took her in my arms, kissing her
again and again and calling her all
manner of pet names. Very undigni
fied and breathlessly hasty love-mak
ing for an American of thirty-five. But
in love are we not all fools?
I know not how the practical, every
day part of my mind suddenly got to
work again. I was seated in the gar
den, on the fourth day after my descent
upoa Lagunay, musing
I
io balloon was now within half a
, of the earth, and settling steadily,
eath us was a sea of troops. The
ets came in a shower.
Rechere
b a groan and sank by my side,
; through the heart. Martini's hand
shattered as it gripped the rail
¡he basket. I expected death, and
d erect again, grasping the sup-
;lng cable at one end of the basket,
eemed miserable to be thus a tar-
for the bullets of a thousand sol-
s with no opportunity to reply,
ilenly the basket gave a violent
h. Instinctively my grasp tight-
1 on the supporting cable; and well
zas, for at that instant a well di
ed shell from a rapid-firer cut the
le at the other end, end the car
yed, hanging by the one slender
B rope. I drew myself up and got
rm hold of the network surround-
the gas bag. There I hung, grip-
j for my very life with both hands;
as I looked down I saw Martini
rling over and over In mid air, and
body of poor dead Rechere falling
a plummet. Then the single sup-
t gave way, and th® basket went
r'n after them.
closed my eyes, sick with horror
i faint from my tremendous muscu-
efforts. As in a dream I was con-
tus of swift flight through the air.
i sounds of shooting became fainter,
i whistle of bullets ceased. I real-
l that the balloon, freed of Its
ght of passengers, apparatus, and
ket, was rising rapidly into the up-
air. Ah, then I would escape, after
I tried to collect my thoughts,
»wing that should I lose conscious
ly my grip would weaken.
uddenly I felt that I had entered a
itum of cold air. It was sweet and
e. It stimulated me, I opened my
B, and glanced below me. Earth
Id not be seen. I was in the clouds.
Remember, now, that I hung by the
[> of two hands, from a coarse net
le of half-inch rope forming a ca»-
r for the balloon. I knew that I
AIMEE.
luld eoon be compelled to rest or I
gone _ to the
st let go and follow my late com- charms of Aimee who had „
lions. Summoning all my nerve, I house to attend to the preparation or
ew up one leg, and as luck would dinner. Somewhere near by a heavy
re It, caught my foot in a mesh of door shut with a slam. It shocked me,
i net I pushed my leg through un- like a pistol-shot. I jumped to my
the rope was under my knee; then feet with a shout. The Germans—the
ted for a few sweet minutes hang- War—the French—Martini—Rechere—•
! there like a crab, one leg swing- all the exciting events of the past ten
' free. Presently I secured a similar days swept upon me like an avalanche.
d with the other foot; then working Here I sat, in the very path of the in
wly and carefully, managed to get vaders, passing my time In a Midsum-
;h arms into the meshes, and for a mer-nignt-dream of love and seven
ssed interval was relieved of severe teenth-century indolence. I ran to the
ain, though my hold was by no house. Preparations must be made
against the arrival of the troops. At
ans secure.
The balloon seemed now to be mov- the porte-cochere I saw the count, just
r swiftly in the wind, but neither alighting from his ancient chaise. I
Ing nor falling. The steady gliding hurried to his side.
"A word with you in private,
I
tion, the absolute quiet, and the
ariness of body resulting from my said. The serious look upon my face
We passed into the
ht grip of the net, produced a ten- startled him.
icy to sleep. I was compelled to house and entered his study. Here I
k to myself to keep awake, and acquainted him with the events of
(ding that even this would not suffice the past week, of my balloon recon
determined to make myself secure. noissance, of the plan of the Ger
Imminent risk, for I was getting mans. Living, as he did, in such com
lefully cramped, I let go with my plete isolation, withdrawn from the
[ht hand, and reaching in my pocket activity of the world about him since
t my knife, opening it with my teeth. the days of the Second Empire, he had
:ut through half a dozen meshes of heard only rumors, and was quite un-
1 net and thus made a hole large
Dugh to admit my head and shoul-
rs, pushing away the enveloping
ds of the somewhat flabby balloon,
degrees I worked my whole body
itti a prayer of
«•ough, and finally, with
lyself
anks to God found my
— lying
------- flat
ton the strong net work, my back
[ainst the gas-bag. So great was the
lief of this position that I sank mw
Btant sleep.
It seemed an age later when I awoke,
larlng my name spoken by the voice
a woman.
I opened my eyes and
oked around me. I lay in a b®d
irrounded by silken drapery. My
hole body ached, and my head seem-
i to be several times Its ordinary size,
hen a voice—that of the woman—
■toke again, in soft, rippling French: |
“Monsieur must be quiet. It is best, i
onsieur is safe and will soon be well
fain.”
.
I looked In the direction of the sound
nd saw approaching me what I
lought to be the most beautiful wo-
in I had ever seen. Fair and tall, of
i® old French type, she seemed a ver-
able angel. Upon her head sue wore
white lace cap, which served only
Lrtially to restrain her brown curls,
er dress was simple—of white, with
touch of blue at throat and shoulders,
le came to the bedside and leaned
r®r me. I shall remember to my dy-
g day her soft, cool hands pressed
>on my aching brow. Her loose «lce-
js showed her fair, plump arms nigh
i the elbows, and I recall even now,
le desire, as I fell asleep, that I could
ave those arms about my neck.
I awoke again, some time later, feei
ng much refreshed. My fair nurse
rought me a glass of cool milk, ana
eld my head In the hollow of her arm
e I drark, smiling and nodding at me^
Then I lay quiet for a while, and
resently found myself able to speak.
• Where am IT’ was my first ques-
lon.
She told me that I wa» In the Cha-
■au Lagunay, on the west bank of the
ieuse River, some distance northwest
I Verdun. In the prettiest French,
hlch I could readily understand.
_kough my own pronounciatlon was
execrable, she told me how at
■ny balloon had come crashing into
IN
grove of trees near the Chateau; how
• gardeners hsd released me from
aware
of
the
approaching
e
rial
a.
But
iv prison In th® net; and how I had
)en brought into the house, by her he rose to the occasion, showing even
other’s instructions, and cared ror In these declining year» unusual powey
jrough the night. I was seriously of decision and action.
_ruised about the head and shoulder«,
Events moved swiftly then.
The
and they thought at first tiffit I was Count summoned his servants and re
_
the wood»
woods
^Bead. Later her father, a French tainers and secreted In
Eble
-**-----
4—-------
■obleman of ‘ the old
regime,
came --- to nearby a large amount of »liver plate,
the bedside, expressed his pleasure coin In chests, and valuable heir
that “Monsieur Ad-dams” (they bad loom«. Aimee was In _ great distress;
insurances that
th
Earned my name from papers found In but I quieted her with assurances
Biy pockets) had recovered, assuring I would protect ber, though bow
»e that I need have no concern as to would stand off a G*rman army
■iv perfect welcome to remain as his had no Idea.
Early
the evening
IL--'-, In ttC
- .Z-*:.—
gu* <
in til 1 should be completely re- came n*ws of the approach of Lanc
■torr ? to health.
ers on the east side of the Meuse, re
’Tl suppose It was the shock that blot connoitering for the engineers; and
ted out. for the next few days, all shortly afterward, a French officer
Mr Hl ect I on of my identity, or my re rode up to apprise the Count, with
gent experience. I knew simply that I whom he waa acquainted, of the pres
Was In Paradise, with tbls adorable ence of French skirmishers a short
1 always at hand to minister to distance to the south of the Chateau.
figs ger or thirst, and to talk softly to It became evident to the Count that
me at intervals between naps.
She we w->uld be In the sone of battle. TT*
te4d me much about herself. ffhe was accordingly made baste to m*ve to a
but twenty, an only child, with no safe distance as much as poeslble of
—“ther that she could rem*mt>*- She his personal property. My heart went
I her father, and the faithful ser- out to the old nobleman Re made no
ts. lived alone fifce seemed very complaint. We was ready for what
(py And If she was happy, what ever might come though It should cost
mywlf? Fofnro T was aMo to sit him hl« magnificent estate.
AD through the night we worked
and eat solid food 1 knew that my
IQAA
lawn. I went to the door and met a
ponderous colonel ox Chivalry about to
enter. 1 had taken the precaution to
uuu myself with a rapier taken from
the wall of the armory, and with this
slender weapon 1 felt reasonably se
cure, expecting to meet only gentle
men.
1 bowed to the Colonel. “This is pri
vate property,” 1 explained. ”To the
grounds you are welcome.”
he pushed me aside with an oath
and strode into the hall, lie was fol
lowed immediately by another officer,
brilliant with military trappings. The
two surveyed me insolently, then
looked around them.
“This will do admirably,” said the
Colonel to his companion, lie advanced
to the immense drawing room. "1
think we may even have a ball here
tonight, if Monsieur—” he bowed
toward me, “will but introduce the
ladies.”
1 felt the hot blood rising in me as
1 replied. "There is but one lady, sir,
and she is accustomed to gentlemen.”
He understood my lame German ex
pressions, for his face reddened. But
at that moment Aimee, brave as a lion,
appeared on the stair, and approached
us with dignity. The Colonel's face
broadened in a leer. "Ah ha.” he cried.
“Here is my lady now, to welcome me.'
Advancing he threw his arm around
her and but for her sudden shrinking
would have kissed her. I was crazy
with anger.
Drawing my swora a
rushed at him. “Dog,” I cried in good
American. “This is the way we treat
scoundrels.”
My West Point swordmanship was
not forgotten. Though the Colonel
drew his heavy calvary sabre he was
not quick enough. I caught ’m in the
side, below the ribs, and ran him
through before his companion could
interfere. Drawing back I would have
pierced his bowels had not a sudden
shout at the door startled me.
The
next moment I was seized from behind
in an iron grip and thrown violently
to the floor, my rapier spinning a dozen
feet away. A heavy knee came down
upon my chest; a pair of strong hands
held my own; two cold gray eyes
looked into mine. I felt that I had met
my master. Yet I protested, strug
gling violently. "Let me up,” I cried.
“I did but protect my sweetheart from
the insult of yonder cur of a Colonel.”
Then I became suddenly quiet, star
ing into the determined face above
me, smooth-shaven but for a pair of
fierce, upturned moustaches. The recog
nition was mutual. "Your Majesty,” I
said ‘T acknowledge your superiority.
I am conquered.”
My captor arose and lifted me to
my feet. “Mr. Adams,” he repied with
a smile, “had I recognized you at first
I should have been less vigorous in
my treatment of your person. Now ex
plain this unseemly circumstance.”
It was the Kaiser, the War Lord
himself, whom I had met a dozen time..
(To bo continued next week)
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When
morning
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dawned the Count left us, going south
to offer his services to the General
issimo—a somewhat childish proceed
ing, I thought, though I did not op
pose him, as Aimee was thus left m
my care. I had confided to him my
tender sentiments, and after blessing
us both he bade me watch her care
fully and at the approach of the en
emy to set out for Bethel, a small town
to the northwest, where Aimee had
numerous cousins.
The Meuse in front of the Chateau
Lagunay was perhaps a quarter of a
mile wide, running swiftly beneath
high, precipitous banks in which there
Made of superior quality of Batiste, medium
was no break tor a considerable dis*
tance n6rth and south.
Some three
high bust, long on hips, /nil bias gore ; hose
miles down stream the river nap-
rowed, at the town of Ramune, Where
supporters attached, price, $1.00 per pair. If
a massive stone bridge spanned the
deep waters. This point was selected
not for sale at your dealers, sent upon receipt
by the Germans for crossing. Leav
ing Aimee with a strong guard of
armed servants, some of whom were
of price by
veterans of the Franco-Prussian war,
I set out on horseback for Ramune,
looking like a French dandy in my
elegant clothes.
• f
I found the town in great confusion.
Many persons were loading up their
household goods and making ready for
departure; others had already fled. So
stealthily had the Germans approached
that their advance at that point was
unknown half a dozen hours before xny
arrival.
From a stone tower on a wooded
DEPT. 25.
hill back of the town I looked across
into the valley beyond. As far as the
eye could see stretched the ranks of GREA T SKILL WITH THE NEEDLE.
the invaders. They had risen out of
Prussia and Baden and Saxony, out of
Wurtemburg and Brunswick, out of Women of the North Earn Money by
Hesse and the Mecklenburgs; and mob
Skillful Manipulation.
Id
ilizing rapidly had swarmed across the
fro tier of Lorraine, that ancient bone
The
women
of
New
England,
from
of contention, and neutral Luxemburg.
As I learned later, once they stepped eanly colonial days, have been noted
upon French soil they swept down like for their wonderful skill with the
a storm. Spies preceded them cutting needle, yet It remains for the house
telegraph wires in all directions. The
thirty miles between the frontier and wives of Hancock County, Maine, to
the Meuse River had been covered in utilize this art as a means of earning
ten hours, the troops moving at a
swinging trot. And here they were at sufficient funds with which to purchase
the crossing without the least show winter clothing. More than a thousand
Nearly three yard» long and one yard
of opposition.
women in this county alone are busily
wide, they gather up nicely and furuiab
Meanwhile the French were advanc engaged each winter knitting nippers
ing with characteristic deliberation,
an elegant drapery for even very broad
their main force being then at and j for the fishermen who sail out from
around the great military camp of Gloucester, Mass. A fisherman’s nip
windows for parlor or living room*.
Chalons, some fifty miles to the south per is a heavy short-wrlsted wool mlt,
west. They had been apprised on the
previous day of the appearance at the with a forefinger protection for the
frontier of several bodies of Lancers thumb and first finger, and a padded
and Hussars. There had been no palm. It is designed for protecting the
further reports, (the wires were cut
Send us your name and address, and
about that time) and it appeared un hands of fishermen who haul wet lines
necessary to make any decided move. in cold weather.
we will mail you 24 piece* of famous
Of the detachments sent out in auto
Fully 50,000 pairs of nippers are worn
mobiles at the time of my departure in
jewelry novelties to sell at 10c. each.
the illfated La Jaune, I could hear out every year, of which more than 75
When sold, send us the |2.40, and we
nothing. It was not until monins per cent, are knitted by women who
later, when I returned to Paris for a
will send you the curtain* at once.
honeymoon with Aimee, that I learn live in the shore town east of Penob
ed the facts.
Our wireless message scot River. As a rule, a woman with
Write to-day. Address
had not carried. Martini’s sacrifice active fingers can knit four pairs a day,
was vain. The scouts in their ma
chines reached the rendezvous, did a in addition to doing her housework.
little scouting on their own hook,
The pay for making a set of nippers
found nothing suspicious, and toured is four cents, which is taken up in
leisurely back to Paris and Chalons,
where they reported that the story or store trade from the agents. In actual
11 SARATOGA ST.
a northern invasion was a canard. cash value no more than three cents a
Therefore the mobilizing proceeded, all
eyes being centered on Luneville, Bel pair is given for the work.
East Boston. Mass.
fort and Besancon, where th® German
The knitters begin their labors late
Crown Prince, with his Bavarian, army in November and continue until Febru
manoeuvred at a safe distance, threat
ening, retreating, building mock forti ary or later, the busiest season being
fications, and steadily pulling th® Ger from December 15 until the New Year.
man wool over the French eyes.
There was no defense possible for It it not uncommon to see aged women
Ramune. an old, provincial town with walking along the streets knitting nip
weak fortifications. Yet the small pers in quickstep time, holding balls of
garrison, with true military spirit an yarn in their apron pockets.
nounced its presence by a volley of -
. -____‘
cannon, which seemed to anger the
A smart knitter can use up greater
Germans.
A battery of mortars was length of yarn than she can cover In
!’h^ULwnUw.U thrown1» bi" dred"^. »»'king along a good road, her finger,
more tixteen-inch shells, which brow®, outstripping het feet In a ratio Of 7 to
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A FEW MINUTES THE EN TIM TOWN WAS ABLAZE.
and released a tlerld liquid emlttlnr a
horrible stench. A shower of fiercely
burning rockets was sent after the
shells, and In a few minutes the en
tire town was ablaze.
The heat
turned the strange liquid to gas—a
dense, slow-burning, heavy vapor that
settled upon the place like a pall. Buch
of the residents as had failed te leave
were Immediately overcome. People
fell In th* Htteets by the hundred.
It
was a slaughter pen. Being high
above the town I was not thus affected,
and looken on with Indescribable hor
ror at this method of warfare. Tet It
was, perhaps, no less justifiable than
an attack with exploding shells and
death-dealing rapid-fire guns The pity
was that It was necessary at all.
Unhindered.
the Germans swept
across the bridge and climbed the
steep banks passing through the town,
now cleared of gas. I put sours to my
horse and made for the Chateau.
1 had hardly arrived and arranged
for carriages to take Almce and her
servants away when I was astounded
at hearing the galloping of horses In
the courtyard. To my dismay I found
a body of German staff officers bad
taken possession of the ground«, and
were picketing their horses upon the I
5. She Is con nt M > poor knitter who
cannot knit a mile of yarn while she
is walking a mile, though when knit
ting rapidly a brisk walking pace 1»
not easily maintained.
The women carry their knitting work
about with them, no matter wttat else
they are doing. At evening prayer
meetings the flash aid click of the
needles are not nnusual accompani
ment*. Cases are known in which
women have taken their knitting to
funerals, though near relative* of th*
deceased are barred from tbls privilege.
A* the communitiea are strictly ortho
dox, no knitting Is done on Bunday*
The nipper business furnlsne* good
revenue to railroads, steamboat* and
stages, and Involve* *n eipeadltur* of
about 110.000 a year.
Hyacinth* nd lutea ara arti Sciali y
«olor*d.by.puiriM U«ir »temi la liquid
d/W