Show CHASED CROOK iN BALLOON I Thrilhimg Yarn of the Old Detective Who Was Bound to Capture His Man The most thrilling Incident In my career na a detective occurred when I thrI1n first became connected with the force began the detective at a recent meet Inc of the Mendacity club The narrator lighted his pipe and puffed out a volume of smoke narrtor lghted Nearly half way across the continent I chased a clever criminal finally found him and was just on the point of arresting the rogue when At this Juncture the old detective stopped and flicked some ashes from his piper pipe-r was about to tell you of the startling climax to the pursuit he continued con-tinued but It would be better to start at the beginning However as I was about to say the chase reached from Washington to a point half way across tho country 1 that distance It was a game of hide and seek between the fugitive and myself At times I would be close upon him and again I would lose the trail almost completely Finally I learned that the rascal was hiding In a small country town In a western state What a sense of relief it was to realize that my efforts were at last to be crowned with success The discovery imbued me with renewed energy en-ergy and I made a solemn pledge to myself that he would never escape from the net I was weaving around him With stealthy steps I made my way to the city determined to run the wlllothewisp to earth When I reached the town I found that a circus was holding the Interest of the natives This was a contingency I had not counted upon From one point of view this was an advantage but looking at it in another light It was a decided handicap J 1 realized that the fugitive might feel secure from justice while mingling with the crowds and again I saw that my purpose might be accomplished more easily on account of his overconfidence l was at the circus grounds we came face to face Had a bolt of lightning light-ning suddenly descended neither of us could have shown more activity Like a Hash he started to get away Urged on by a determination to conquer l followed Through the throngs we sped like two frightened deer causing intense in-tense excitement by our actions As we reached the exit of the tent the fugitive spied 1 balloon that was about to ascend He made directly for i and I followed In hot pursuit With one leap he jumped into the basket cut the ropes holding the balloon to the ground and In the fraction of a second was speeding upward As the contrivance con-trivance soared heavenward he looked out and actually had the nerve to laugh Although the sudden turn of events completely unnerved me I did not lose my wits completely As I made rapid calculations In my mind for a means to stop his flight I spied another balloon near by that had been inflated and was about to start Then I leaped Into the dangling basket I cut the ropes A moment later I also was ascending through space VFor about a half hour the two aerial ships sped through the ether By a sudden turn of the wind we came within a short distance of each other Selling the opportunity I drew my gun and shot at the other balloon A loud report followed The bullet had taken effect The wreck fell to the earth rapidly I feared the criminal would be killed by the fall Immediately after this I unfastened the parachute and descended slowly to earth When I finally reached the ground I could find no trace of the wrecked balloon I searched for some time Finally I came across a goat that was chewing on some substance I made an examination and found that the animal had almost finished consuming the wreck Then it dawned upon me that my game had not been Injured and had escaped In faqt the goat had finished him before starting on the balloon That was an awful blow but I managed to get over It he continued as the nlpe went out Washington Times |