Roy Norton

“ Don’t you think of yourself? Don’t you value your own life?”
His smile was melancholy as he frankly met her inquiring eyes.
“No,” he said, “I can’t say that it is of great value to me; I’m slightly tired of it, and am willing to part from it without regret. I’ve lived it out in so many ways that it has become tedious. I’ve seen all there is to see, and experienced almost all there is to experience. Otherwise,” he added with a soft laugh, “I should not have visited Coney Island in search of something new and been lured by a barker into a captive and captious balloon. ”

“ The warmth expanded the imprisoned gas above, and they ascended until the sun dipped away into the western edge of the feathery blanket and the dusk came on as if drawing the final curtain on the scene. It grew colder in that high altitude, and he threw his light coat round her shoulders as, hunched up and disconsolate, she sat and shivered. Each was absorbed in thought. ”

“ He glanced back at the girl and became eager for a change of wind and avid for a chance to live. The mere sight of the drooping, girlish figure aroused in him a wistful longing to take her in his arms and solace her in the hour of approaching death. Impulsively but with care he lowered himself into the car and tiptoed toward her. She might be frightened, she might believe him a madman: but in any event he must try to extend some sympathy. ”

“ On the Slavonia passengers were swarming out to the rail, excited, voluble, and anxious.
“That’s they, the man and the woman the wireless warned all ships to watch for! They say he’s wealthy. What’s this his name is? Do you think the boat will get there in time? They say the rope broke from the drum at Coney Island. Just think nearly three hundred miles west of here! What an escape!” And so on in a confused babel of exclamation, while the boat dropped away from the davits as the Slavonia, reversed and slowing down, slipped past the rapidly sinking balloon. ”

“ It does seem too bad that one so young and—pardon me again—so beautiful should be robbed of life. But what brought you to Coney Island? What brought you here into this predicament? If your life is of value to others, what right had you to risk your neck in a captive balloon merely to experience the sensations of soaring? ”

“ He paused at last when her weight grew heavy, and saw that she was asleep in his arms, still clinging to him as to her only refuge and hope.
Thoughts, great or insignificant, surged through his mind, bringing a vague discomposure and regret. He wished he might have life to do over again; that he might make amends for glorious opportunities lost and—his arm insensibly tightened round her with a shielding caress and he stooped to where his lips might rest against her fragrant hair. The arm became numb ”

“ He started to shrug his shoulders as if it was a habitual gesture and then, remembering her presence, paused and turned more fully toward her. “If we sail out to sea. nothing but a miracle can save us.” ”

“ His other hand reached for the brass lever, and the siren shrieked the signal for “Man overboard!” Bare feet pattered hastily across the ship’s deck to stations, and a boat swung out ready to lower away as the liner approached the half collapsed bag that had descended so unexpectedly from the overhanging pall of fog. It had rested on the surface when the car struck, the water thus lightening its burden, and the man could be seen clinging to the network of the outside and struggling to hold the girl’s head above the water. ”

“ To sit here in this car. this prison in the clouds,—to be starved, to drift and drift, and wait and wait, for—for the end?” Distracted, she leaned toward him and twisted and wrung her hands till one of the worn fingers of her glove burst open and displayed the soft, white flesh beneath.
“Yes,” he replied, but more patiently, “just that. See, the mist is everywhere. Listen, if you wish, and you will hear no sound. We are high above the point where we are likely to hear any noise; but in height, unless we go too far, is our safety. ”

“ I work, always work, and give, always give, to those whom I can. This trip to Coney Island was a trip to fairyland for me. I couldn’t afford it before. I’m a bookkeeper in a commission house, and it was a day off and—and—”
She broke down and threatened to whimper; but once more bravely controlled herself, while he continued to watch. She stood up in the cagelike car and strained her eyes out into the silent mist that still hung round them in a cloud. She was not certain that she should have told this quiet stranger so much of her affairs. ”

“ There they are!” yelled the officer on the bridge of the big Slavonia, which was nosing her way, outward bound, toward the Mediterranean. He jumped to the tubes, telegraphed hurriedly to the engine room, and then called to the quartermaster at the wheel. “Port your helm and run down on them! ”