The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

142 mains of as many white sun-umbrellas as could have been collected at half a dozen seaside resorts. “What is it?” I said with a blank smile. “ Junk?” “No, it?s not junk. That mass of ribs and white silk which looks hke junk to vour unaccustomed eye consti- tutes a set of aéroplanes or wings.” * But the other thing is merely the common or domestic variety of wash- basket, 18 1t not?” | r—yes,” admitted Haw- kins with cold dignity. “ That hap- pened to be the most suitable thing for my purpose in this experimental model. Now, you see, when the wings are spread the basket is suspended beneath just as the car of a balloon 1 is suspended from a gas-bag, and “Aha! I see it all now!” I cried. “You fill the basket, point it in the right direction, and it flaps its wings and flies away to the washlady! ” “ That, Griggs,” sneered Hawkins, “is about the view a poor little brain like yours, permeated with cheap hu- mor, would take. Really, I don’t sup- pose you could guess the purpose or the name of that thing if vou tried a week.” “Candidly, I don’t think I could. What is it? ” “It’s the Hawkins Anti-Fire-Fly!”’ said the inventor. “The Hawkins—what?” I ejacu- lated. : “The Anti-Fire-Flv!” repeated Hawkins ~— enthusiastically. ° Say, Griggs, how that will sound in an ad- vertisement: ‘Fly Away From fire With The Anti-Fire-Fly!’? Great, isn’t it?” “So it’s a fire-eseape 7” “Certainly,” chuckled Hawkins, dig- ving around among the ribs and bring- ing into tangible shape what looked like several sets of huge hird-wings. ‘* No more climbing down red-hot lad- ders through belching flames! No more children being thrown from fifth story windows! No, siree! All we have to do now is to place the Anti-Fire-Fly on the window-sill, spread the wings, jump into the basket, push her off, and ” “And drop to instant death!” “ And float gently awav from the fire and down to the earth!” concluded THE ARGOSY. Hawkins, opening the window and shoving out the basket until it fairly hung over the back yard. “ Just watch me.” “See here!” I cried. “ You’re not going to get into that thing?” “Tm not, eh? You watch me!” Hawkins had clambered into the basket before I could lay a hand on him. “Now!” he cried, giving a push with his foot. My breathing apparatus seemed to go on strike. Hawkins, basket, wings, and all dropped from the window. For an instant they went straight to- ward the earth; then, like a parachute opening, the wings spread gracefully, the descent slackened, and Hawkins floated down, down, down—until he landed in the center of the yard with- out a jar. Really, I was amazed. It seemed to be either a special dispensation of Prov- idence or an invention of Hawkins’ which really worked. A minute or two later he had labored back to my side, up the stairs, with the aérial fire-escape on his back. “There!” he exclaimed. “ What do you think of that?” “It certainly seems to be a success.” “ Well, rather! Now come up to the roof and have a drop with me. We'll go into the street this time, and 7 “Thank you, Haw kins,” I said posi- tively. “Don’t count me in on that. I'll wait for the fire before dabbling with your Anti-lire-F ly.” “ Oh, well, come with me, anyway. I’m going down once more. You’ve no idea of the sensation.” It was a considerable feat of en- gineering to persuade thé Anti-Fire-Fly into passing through the scuttle, but Hawkins finally accomplished it, and pushed the contrivance to the edge of the roof. “Now, that thing will carry a small family with ease and safety,” he said proudly. “ Jusf sit down in the basket and feel the roominess. Oh, don’t be afraid. Ill come, too.” “Yer, it’s verv nice,” I said some- what nervously. after crouching beside him for a moment. “I think [ll get out now.” GORMIGOOO (COL