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Show IN NICK OF TIME Two Airmen Stranded in the Mountains Narrowly Esoape Being Strung Up. BY GERTRUDE MARY SHERIDAN. "I'm afraid that pretty sister of Ijoure will never use my much vaunt ad trophy," laid Elwyn Moore, airman. air-man. "She's sot to. I promised her. I wrote her all about It, and you. Bo brace up, old man. Take your pick. The long stick south. The short ,-A stickeast. Choose." P It was an Impressive scene and an unusual one. Upon a broad plateau in the heart of the North Carolina mountains rested the monoplane Victor. Vic-tor. The two expert bird men had just carried off the honors In an aero meet at Savannah. They designed a trip to the home of Nelson Barton, In Delaware, where his father and his Ister awaited them. Now, In a flight over a desolate, well nlgh uninhabited' country, the "juice" had given out In the carburetor and tho Victor was "stalled." Qasollna must be found or the machlno abandoned. After a brtet consultation the two men had decided, to start out In searoh ot some town. Barton hid all but tho ends ot two twigs In his hand. Moore drow the long one south. Barton Bar-ton started east with the laughing boast that he would be back first with the needful fuel for tho engine. It was nightfall when Barton tolled slowly down a winding valley lost. All that day he had not como across a Bingio numan ueing or uaoiiauon. "This 1b getting pretty desperate," decided Barton. "I cannot hope to find my way back to tho airship. I may wander for days without coming to a town or settlement. Ah, at last a light." He traced It to a rudo hut. But though ho knocked repeatedly at the door and rapped on tho windows, no one responded. Suddenly loud shouts and then shots in tho distance attract- A Vivid Picture Halted, Appalled Him d his attention. Following the same a great lurid glow sprang up across , the eastern horizon. "A Are!" exclaimed Barton, and he started toward It A terrific hubbub inoreased as he advanced. He had progressed to where he could see the flames through the trees, when com-i com-i lng rushing towards him, uttering tor- rifled moans, ho mado out a palo-taced, wild eyod woman. She clasped a little babo close to her breast, and holding her by the hand dragged a little girl sobbing pitifully piti-fully with fright and weariness. "My good woman," spoko Barton, stepping directly In the path ot tho flying fugitive, "what is the trouble?" She gavo a shriek at being so Btart-llngly Btart-llngly challenged. Then: "It Is a stronger! un, sir, wo arc iosu mo Dolllvars nro making a raid. Thoy have burnod four of our houses. They will be to ours next, and jrobably kill us If thoy discover ub." "Tho Dolllvars 7" repeated Barton vaguoly, und then n quick memory ot tho desperato dolugs In thesa lonely Carolina mountain fastnessos came to him, and ho asked! "You mean a family feud?" "Just that," nodded tho woman. "Oh, hldo us quickly I Thoy nro coming com-ing this way." Barton got tho throo refugees Into a copse and saw a party ot a dozen rough mon armed nnd carrying torches torch-es pass them by. Then thorn wero more shots and shouts and a now 1 lurid glaro crossed tho sky. "It Is our homo," mourned tho woman. wom-an. "And they will search for mo and 1 my little ones. I can run with tho baby, but I cannot carry the llttlo girl, too, Oh, sir, holp us." "I'll try, at least," announced Barton Bar-ton firmly, roused by sympathy for -- the poor creatures. Jjy 4L? "My husband and his baud aro In a "' ' refugo camp twonty mlluB south of hore," explained the woman. "The ) Dolllvara havo taken advantago ot their absence. I must reach them and tell of whut Is going on." Tho woman carrying the babo and I leading tho way, Barton with the little girl In his Arms, thoy Btnrted on a J forlorn tramp. "We aro almost thoro," announced tho woman nrarly four hours lator as they started down a tortuous gap lt the mountains. "There 1b tho glow ot their camp Are. Oh, I am so glad, so thankful to you.." And then with the words oho sank to the fc'.aas nnd waoned dead frtfty, Bartofi plaood tho babe In a safe position In It blanket, and told the little girl to Btay thoro and watch her mother. Twenty steps brought the aviator In full view of the outlaw camp. A vivid plotura halted, appalled him. A group ot man ware gathered near a camp fire, and over a branch ot a great tree close at hand ran a rope. Oua nd encircled the neck ot a man with arms and feet tightly bound. "Why I Why! Why!" shouted out Nelson Barton In threo tones of rising horror, "It Is my friend, ray partner, Elwyn Moore! Stopi Stop!" he screamed, rushing forward and waving wav-ing his arms wildly. Half a dozen rifles covered him In an Instant, but ho never halted. Straight up to the outlaw leader ho dashed. "What's this?" fiercely challenged that person, keen suspicion In his swarthy faco. "This Is my friend," proceeded Barton, Bar-ton, pointing to Moore. "Oh, maybe you're another deteo-tlve, deteo-tlve, eh?" demunded the outlaw. "Detectlve7 Why, we are airmen." "And found a new way to sneak Into our district where we Bhoot strangers on sight? Here, boys, tie thlB one, too!" Suddenly the outlaw turned. The little girl had followed Barton. Now, arms outstretched, she came Into view. "Mary, little Mary!" gasped tho outlaw. "How did you como here?" "I brought her," said Burton quickly; quick-ly; "your wife and baby, too. They are back near the spring, The Dolll-vers Dolll-vers have raided your homes, and " A cry of rage wont up from tho rough crowd. Tho strange! s wore for a moment forgotten. Tho woman and babo wore brought into tho camp. Then thoro were rapid explanations. Half of tho men sprang to their horses, and with direful threats swept north to rdd another sanguinary chapter chap-ter to tho great Dolllvor fumlly feud. The outlaw chieftain came back to the camp fire with tears In his eyes, and gentle ub a lamb. Instantly Moore was released. He overwhelmed Barton with thanks Ho learned tho real mission of tho aviators In that forbidden district. "Four of you," ho shouted to his men, "get to Shelbyvlllo fast as you can, and bring back fifty gallons of gasoline. It tho town Is asleep, shoot It up. Be back by daylight. Thoso friends of ours must bo back to" their airship and tho rust of us on the trail of tho Dolllvers." "Ask him to glvo me my trophy," whispered Mooro to his friend. "Your trophy?" "Yos, seo It's been a tnrget fastened fast-ened to thnt tree yonder Theso Illiterate Illit-erate fellows can't read, and Insisted that the badge was that of a secret servlco detective." The trophy, plus ono doop bullot dent, was returned to Its owner with apologies. Tho airship mado a brilliant nonstop non-stop flight, almost beating the ircord. A guest at the Barton homo, Klw n Mooro had tho covotod chanco to present pre-sent himself and his trophy to pretty Mabel Barton. She admired It, and Its owner aB well. Tho result was natural. The trophy became a family heirloom. It wns not only a reminder ot tho Bklll ot Its owner, but ot that weird hour In tho moonshiner's camp when the loyal Nelson Barton arrived "just In time!" (Copyright, 1912. by W. O. Chapman.) |