Frank Reade Library No. 73: Six Weeks in the Clouds — page 2: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

2 SIX WEEKS IN THE CLOUDS. The subscription Price of the FRANK READE LIBRARY by the year is $2.50: $1.25 per six months, post-paid. Address FRANK TOUSEY, PUBLISHER, 344 and 36 North Moore Street. — ————— a Six Weeks In the Clouds: Box 2730. Frank Reade, Jr.’s Air-Ship ‘the Thunderbolt of the Skies. By ‘“NONAMEB,” Author of ‘‘ Frank Reade, Jr., and His Electric Cruiser of the Lakes,” ‘‘ Frank Reade, Jr., and His Electric Prairie Scnooner,” ‘¢From Zone to Zone,” ‘* ‘The Black Range,” ete., ete. CHAPTER I. A ROMANTIC WEDDING ONE morning in August, 18—, a man of distinguished appearance alighted from a carriage before the entrance to the machine works of Frank Reade, Jr., in the uhriving little city of Readestown. These works which covered acres were devoted wholly to the manu- facture of Frank Reade, Jr.’s wonderful inventions. From these shops had emerged such inventive triumphs ag the **Steam Man,” the ‘* Electric Horse,” the “Submarine Boat,” and Mavy others. Frank Reade, Jr., the inventor, stands to-day as one of the widest known and most famous men on the face of the earth. lu every clime his name is known coupled with his works. He came honestly by his talents, his father having been an. inventor befors him. The litule city of Readestown had been founded by the elder Reade. Frank, though quite young, had excelled by far the exploits of his father. Of course, this inventive genius had brought the Reades plenty of money i3 well a3 fume. They were rich enough for al] needs. A morning train had brought the visitor into the town. He lad at once entered the carriage and directed the driver to take him to the works of Frank Reade, Jr. This request had been complied with. entered the vestibule of the office. A boy met him here. ‘¢T wigh to see Frank Reade, Jr.,” he said. ‘«Name, sir!” said the boy, brusquely. The stranver tendered a card. The boy took it and vanished. Upon the ‘card had ‘been the name: ‘““SYLVESTER WARDEN, ‘* Boston, Masa.” The gentleman paced the vestibule in a manner which showed ex- citement and unrest. There were deep lines upon hig face which would seem to indicate that he was in great trouble. It seemed an age before the hall boy came back. When he did, he said: “Mr, Reade will gee you, sir. Please come this way.’ Warden followed the boy through a broad hall and into a spacicus and richly furnished room. At a desk saat a handsome and athletic built young man. He arose with a pleasant smile and said: ‘Ah, Mr. Warden, I am glad to see you. The vistor’s face lit up. ‘“‘Do 1 read the truth?’ he exclaimed. ‘‘ Indeed, it is almost too 200d Lo believe. Do you really mean to grant my request?” ‘You ask for too much at present,” said Frank Reade, Jr., pleas- aptly. ‘* Let us talk over matters first.” Warden seated himself, and a* once eagerly began: ‘+ Of course, you are familiar with the matter? You read my letter?” ‘‘T read it,” replied Frank; ‘‘ yet, perhaps, I had better hear the @ matter from your own lips. I confess that [ was much interested.” ‘Ts it not all like a story from a novel?” said Warden. ‘* But Jet - me proceed. ‘‘ You see, my daughter, Hattie, was engaged to be married to an estimable young man of Boston, named Charles Allen.” ‘* Yes.” ‘‘In a very unwise moment they conceived the striking idea of being married in a balloon.” ‘¢ Mercy! that was an idea!” ‘* A friend of Charlie’s, Prof. Digby Denham, an aeronaut, was re- sponsible for that. He influenced Charlie to attempt the thing. ‘You see, Denham had just completed what he believed to “be the largest and safest balloon in the world. Of such size was it that the Ife now left the carriage and Please be seated.” basket was commodious enough to set up housekeeping ip, as the professor put it. ‘¢ Like all young people Hattie and Charlie are romantic and be- lieved that it would asaure Liem greater happiness if they could be married in midair.” ‘¢ The theory is good,” laughed Frank. “But the result was terrible to relate,” continued Mr. Warden. ‘'The ueronaul agreed to transport them safely up into the’clouds and back again. My ‘arguments were of no avail. The day was set and a large crowd assembled to see the feat performed. “The balloon was truly the largess | ever saw. Indeed, my fears were sumewhat assuaged as | saw how gracefully it rocked at ils anc- horage, “To cut a long story short the party all got into the basket. There was Prof. Denham, Hattie and Charlie and “the minister, Rev. Schuy- ler Wall, of the Boston Tabernacle. Then the ballon leaped up into the air. ‘* It was Denham’s promise to remain aloft only long enough to tie the marriage knot, Then he hau agreed to descend. “ But his plans evidently miscarried. The balloon did not descend. Instead it kept growing smalles and smaller until after a while it went out of sight altogethe;. sa Froin that day to this, the balloon nor its passengers have not been heard from.” Mr. Warden paused, and Frank saw that he was deeply affected. ‘‘Tndeed, that was very unfortunate,” said the young inventor. “Yes,” replied the millionaire, ‘I set my heart by those young people. Some people have tried to encourage me by asserting that the party are safe, and have descended in some remote spot and will yet ture up all right.” ¢ ‘* Which is quite possible,” agreed Frank. ‘¢Yeg, but I don’t believe it. What is your opinion? yond human aid?” Frank was thoughtful a moment. ‘¢ That is hard to say,” he replied. do else but to wait for their return.” ‘If they have really made a landing somewhere safely.” oe Yes.” ‘*But I do not believe that.” ‘6 Ah!” ‘It is my firm belief that they are yet up there in some upper stratum of the atmosphere, and that they cannot get down.” “Why, how could that be?” exclaimed Frank, in amazement. ‘It should be easy erough to get down!” ‘* Why should it?” ‘* The law of gravitation!” Ab, but the elevating power of the balloon overcomes that!” OW here ia the valve?” ‘That is just it!” declared Mr. Warden. work. Indeed, I am quite sure that it did. “* Why simply cut the gas bag!” ‘At that height? Wh y, it ‘would be madness. are six balloons inside the outer case of this one.” Certainly he intended to make his balloon safe.” ‘¢ There is just the idea, Prof. Denhem’s balloon would float for months in the upper atmosphere. There would be no possible way for the vovagers to get down!” ‘That is sol!” agreed Frank. « You can see what their fate would be!” “ Starvation!” ‘* Certainly!” ‘¢That is horrible. Did they not take provisions with them?” ‘For six weeks. Prof. Denham intended taking a trip after the bh But six weeks will not terminate their likely stay in mid- alr. Are they be- ‘¢ Yet I do not see how you can ““Tt may have failed to In that case——”’ Moreover, there COMnnICOOO SS (CO)