Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1911 — A Columbus of Space [ARTICLE]

A Columbus of Space

By Garrett P. Serviss.

Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co. o CHAPTER XXIII. The Blow Falls. After the scene that I have tried to describe in the last chapter events hurried on with a rapidity which was not apparent upon their surface. 1 believe that Edmund, with all his perspicacity, failed to appreciate their meaning. In fact, he was himself responsible for giving them an impetus toward the inevitable crisis, which, but for the premature step that he and Ala took, might have been delayed considerably. But I shall come to that in a few minutes. As the excitement of the crowd died down the people began to move about in groups, communing together about the marvel that they had witnessed. The unfavorable attitude toward us was spreading among them. It was plain that it had grown enormously in strength since the scene with the augur, and the impression quickly reached those who had not been near enough to see for themselves. I could not speak immediately to Edmund because he was continually in conference with Ala, but, getting Jack aside, in order not to alarm Henry, who was already in a pitiable state of moral collapse, I operted my mind to him. “.Tack,” I said, “Edmund has promised to get away soon.” “Well, that’ll be a good thing, I reckon,” was the reply. “What do you think of the sentiment of this crowd,” “I shouldn’t like to trust myself alone In it. But, say! Didn’t we back the old medicine-man down in great shape?” “I don’t think we backed him down at all,” I replied. “He has better ways of ruining us than by attacking us with a big stick.” “Hump!” said Jack. “I’d have had the drop on him if he’d made another move.” “But you are in favor of our getting away at the earliest possible moment?”

“Oh! yes; I think we’d better go. I've had enough of Venus. But I’m not for backing down.” If Edmund can take Ala along, all right. That’s a little romance that’s got to go through.” “We’ve got the religious sentiments of these people against us now,” 1 said, “and we can't afford to stay an unnecessary minute.” “Their religious sentiments be hanged!” exclaimed Jack. “What’s their religion? A set of pagans! But, by Jove! these girls of Venus are great. I only wish I could have had Edmund’s luck.” “He may not be as lucky as he seems,” I replied. “But, come, Jack, I want you to help me persuade Edmund to start even sooner than he has promised—in fact, right away.” Jack stared at me a moment “See here, Albert,” he said. “I’m with you in thinking that the sooner we’re off the better, but I'm not for budging a step until Edmund gives the word. He knows his affairs and Ala’s. “When they’re ready, off we go, as far as I’m concerned. But that girl has got to be left to choose her time, and, if Edmund wants to stay and become King of Venus, I’m not the man to coax him away.” There was no more to be made out of Jack. I thought it would do no good to tell him that Ingra was here, for probably he would be all the more eager to stay and fight it out. At first opportunity, however, I brought Edmund back to the subject of getting sway. He saw what was In my mind before I could speak. “What does your watch say?" he asked, good-naturedly. “Is It day after tomorrow yetT"

“No, of course nbt, but listen, Edmund. Don’t you Bee how the peril thickens around us? I protest that I am no coward, but it would he defying fate to stay here any longer. Can’t you persuade Ala to go at once?” Edmund paused a minute before replying, and then he said, with some embarrassment of manner: “I promised you to start in fortyeight hours. I thought it coufd be managed, else I shouldn’t have promised, but things have taken another turn. Ala refuses to go, and you know,” laying his hand on my arm, “that I can’t leave tfer.” “But what do you propose, then—to stay her all your life?” “That’s it!” There was no trace of regret in his tone. It was plain that henceforth this, and not his mother earth, was to be Edmund’s world. 7 Before I could say anything in reply, he went oh: “But of course, I don’t mean to keep you and Jack and Henry here. I am going to show you exactly how to manage the car, and I feel sure that you pan navigate her home as well as I could myself.” The idea of parting from Edmund, of leaving him alone on this distant planet while we returned to the earth, had never cfossed my mind. Now, coming so suddenly, it quite overwhelmed me. ..... I had long ago forgotten to feel the least resentment because he had practically kidnapped us and had brought, us way off here against our will. It seemed to me like desertion to leave him, and I could not reconcile myself to the thought. I felt a lump rising in my throat, and it would not surprise me If there were tears in my eyes. “But, Edmund,” I finally managed to say, “you can’t stay, you know, and Ala can’t stay. The lives of both of you will be sacrificed. Your enemies are too numerous and too powerful.” “No,” he replied cheerfully. “We shall run no great danger. Ala believes that she can stem the tide, and I believe it, too, for there never was another such a woman! She proposes that we meet the machinations of the chief priest with a counterstroke.” “What sort- of counterstroke can you deal ” “Ypu know how popular Ala has always been, and you know also how charmed the whole population was with the news of our romance. It is the ingrained nature of these children of the sun. They passionately love the romantic and the beautiful. •- *JS » “We believe that we can overcome •he opposition of the superstitious element and rouse enthusiastic devotion to ourselves by publicly proclaiming our bethrothal and celebrating our nuptials at the earliest possible moment, and we ar* going to do it.” \ I was struck dumb—the thing was so unexpected and, to my mind, so preposterous.

“Why, Edmund,” I at last managed to say, “that’s the very thing to bring your enemies down upon you. “If you are determined to stay here on Venus, all right. For Heaven’s sake don’t take a step so openly defiant as that which you propose. Keep in the background, and get Ala to try her arts of persuasion until the storm blows over.” Nothing that I could urge moved him. He and Ala had made up their minds, and that was the end of it He wound up the discussion by asking me to go at once to the car, in order that he might instruct me in the management of the controllers. Ala, as well as Jack, Henry and Juba, accompanied us. The mere knowledge of Ingra’s presence was sufficient to make Edmund wish to have Ala continually under his eye, and the others followed where they saw us going. The lesson was not long, for already I had a general idea of the management of the machinery, but it was rendered a little difficult by the tacit understanding between Edmund and me that Henry should not be told what was in the wind. He would be glad enough to go home, but we were sure that he would oppose anyone acting as epgineer except Edmund. The affair was managed without exciting Henry’s suspicions. Afterwardß I got Jack aside and told him the whole story. As I expected, he adopted Edmund’s view at once. “Ju&t the thing to do,” he declared. “But, I tell you what, I’m more than half disposed to stay here myself, if Edmund does.” “Do Just a* you like, Jack,” I replied, “but I'm going to get away Just as soon as I am certain that Edmund and Ala cannot after all be persuaded to go, and that they are in no immediate danger.” Ton are not to suppose, from what I have said, that Ala was deserted by her people in the midst of the serious trouble in which she and we had Involved ourselves. Her self confidence, as exhibited in the plan which she had formed .with Edmund, was alone a sufficient indication that she had plenty of friends left and that her rank and character still protected her. As soon, then, as she had informed of her design they loyally aided her to put It into execution. At a loss

anxious moment I should have eagerly examined into all the details of the singular ceremony by which the betrothal of the queen to a stranger of another race and from another world was to be proclaimed to her people. As it was, my mind was too full, and only the culminating scene was stamped on my memory. The immense palace tower and hundreds of other towers all over the city were decorated as we had never seen them before. The display of color was amazing, even after our experience. But even while I stood admiring it I could not drive away the thought that this wonderful display was, in itself, simply a defiance to our enemies, the waving of the toreador’s scarlet flag, and I shuddered at consequences which I could not forsee. The hour for the final ceremony was now close at hand, and we were all to take a conspicuous part in it, standing with Ala and Edmund to receive the congratulations of the people, after a priest whom Ala had won over to her side had publicly proclaimed their betrothal. Ala, beautiful as I had never yet seen her, was already habited in white garments glittering with diamonds, and Edmund had been fitted out in appropriate dress which splendidly set off his magnificent figure, with a jeweled fillet resting amid his dark curia. While we waited thus in one of the upper apartments of the palace tower an irresistable impulse came to me to examine the car, which had been removed to a neighboring tower. I do not know why I suddenly felt this desire —it may have been some suspicion of possible meddling by Ingru —but, at any rata, 1 immediately yielded to it. I had a key to the chamber in which the car was looked, and I said to Edmund, who was in high spirits: "I want to run over to look at the car." “All right,” he replied, “but you must be back in a quarter of an hour, without fail.” • “11l be back,” I responded, and summoned an airboat waiting at the landing. (To be continued.)