“On the Wings of the Evening” (New Story Magazine, cover illustration)

The present work was published as the cover of the December 1912 issue of New York Story Magazine, accompanying Wright Beach Paulman’s short story “On the Wings of the Evening." Set in Washington State near the Puyallap River, the story centers on aviator Fred Connover and Perry Oliver, who both are seeking the love of heiress Alice Patterson. Sabatoged by his mechanic, Henri Bell, Connover's plane crashes and Oliver captures Alice, only to be thwarted by Connover. The present scene depicts the moment after Connover defends Alice from his two-timing mechanic, Bell, who lays on the ground defeated: “...A ghastly figure bounded in, brandishing an ugly, curved-edge dirk. With a snarl it leapt at the aviator. He whirled Alice behind him…Two shots rang out from his coat pocket. The mechanic stopped short…he fell easily sidewise, and moved no more...” (W.B. Paulhan, "On the Wings of Evening," New York Story Magazine, p. 70)