The Grand Stand roared and shook as the crowd below let loose. Hats flew high in the air, men thumped each other like boys. Once more the world’s altitude record belonged to America--to the United States--brought to it by the two dauntless aviators, far out of sight in the vast space above. Those in the Grand Stand began to stamp and shout in unison and stopped only when the stand threatened to break under the strains of the thousands of thumping feet. At the rear of the mass of people, a boy with a toy balloon struggled to get through to the platform. “Hey, kid, look out or you’ll get hurt crowding in like that,” a man addressed him. “I caught the pipe,” the boy cried as he held aloft a pipe tied to the balloon string. “Kidwell’s pipe--Kidwell’s pipe”--the man shouted as he gathered the boy up and held him above the crowd’s head. From hand to hand they passed the boy to the platform, where the President of the Fair met him and led him to the front of the platform where the boy held up the toy balloon with the pipe tied to it. The boy was still panting, for he had caught the pipe nearly a quarter of a mile away and had run all the way back to the crowd, while other boys chased him. The President took a five dollar bill from his pocket and gave it to the boy and took possession of the pipe. The boy struck through the crowd, headed for the refreshment stands, while the President returned to his seat. “Forty thousand feet up and cold as fifty North Poles.” The people became quiet with awe. Not satisfied with breaking the world’s altitude record, these two daredevils were steadily climbing higher and higher. Forty thousand feet--miles high--how far would they go? “We have just noticed a queer color of the air just a short way to our west, although we can hardly call it color. It might be just our imagination; anyway Dex has headed the machine in that direction--yes we notice the difference more as we get closer--turn her Dex--turn her-- My God it’s a whirlwind--loop her back, Dex--turn----” The last, regarding turning the machine, came from the horns in a shout and must have been meant for Dexter. It broke off suddenly as Kidwell must have changed the plug from below to connect with Dexter. * * * * * Thousands of eyes unconsciously looked upward, although all knew that it was impossible to see to the great height the aeroplane had attained. But all realized that something serious was happening miles above. What had happened? Would the aeroplane come flying down from above and land a shattered wreck? Minutes passed and no voice was heard through the horn. The suspense became unbearable. Several more minutes passed and at last came--