Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1914 — SERIAL STORY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SERIAL STORY

Isolated" Continent A Romance of the Future

By Guido von Horvath and Dean Hoard

Copyright, »U, toy W. G. Chapman In the United Btat— and Gt— t Brim In JO SYNOPSIS. For fifty yearn the continent of North America had been Isolated from the rest of the world by the use of Z-rays, a wonderful Invention of Hannibal Prudent. The invention had saved the country from foreign invasion, and the continent had been united under one government with Prudent as president. For half a century peace and prosperity reigned tn this part of the world. The story opens with President Prudent critically ill. His death is hastened by the receipt of a message from Count von Werdensteln of Germany that he has at last succeeded in penetrating the rays. Dying, he warns his daughter Astra that this means a foreign invasion. He tells her to hurry to ths Island of Clryne, but dies before he can tell the location of the place. Astra Is nominated for the presidency by the continental party. Napoleon Edison calls on Astra. Informs her that he was a pupil of her father’s, and promises to help her. ' He gives her a ring made of a newly discovered substance which, he says, will solve the problem of flying. Chevalier di Deon appears in Europe. He calls on von Werdensteln and offers him the secret of making gold In return for absolute disarmament and peace. The chevalier -Is suspected of being an American. He is seized at night and carried off in an areoplane. Astra Is Inaugurated as president She receives a message from Edison, whose long silence has worried her. that he has been a prisoner for two months on the Island of Helgoland and has just escaped. He announces that the confederated fleet of Europe has sailed for America. He promises to call on her the following night Countess Roslny, a spy, becomes a prisoner In hope of securing Napoleon’s secret She falls tn love with him. She agrees to join him in an attempt to escape. By the use of flreworks he summons a curious flying machine which resembles a monster eagle. He escapes and sends his message to Astra. Edison calls on Astra as promised. He .tells her his flans for defense have been completed, but that he will give fuller details at his workshop on the Island of Clryne in the Pacific. They make the trip in three hours. His plans are based on the peculiarity of the new substance, clrynlth. which is lighter than any known metal and is practically indestructible. The 'Europeans succeed In passing the line of isolation, but find that the Americans have established a second one. Edison delivers avnote to von Werdensteln tn his flagship demanding that the fleet be withdrawn.

CHAPTER X^—Continued. The eagle lingered above the right wing of the first line of dreadnoughts. Napoleon could inflict any damage he chose. He could almost count the number of men aboard each vessel. Werdenstein gave hurried orders, and watched eagerly for their execution. A few minutes/ later two armored monoplanes glided up from the flagship and turned toward the eagle. Napoleon must have suspected their Intention, for he circled higher and higher up. The bats followed the eagle; each monoplane carried four men, each of whom carried small caliber, mitrelious bombs and other ammunition of war. Still the eagle went higher and higher, hovering above the north wing of the long line of war boats. It was so high now that it appeared ouly a speck to the naked eye. The planes ascended in a spiral, and they were far behind. The eagle turned and led the two planes along the line, near the flagehip. It descended quickly and made a dip similar to the swoop of the eagle on its prey that caused the thousands of spectators to believe it was falling, but before it touched the waler it darted forward and skimmed the waves, its great wings touching the water occasionally. Napoleon watched the enemies who were now above him. One had dropped several bombs, but none had touched the swiftly moving aerodromone. A turn of the wheel caused the eagle to make a circle before the Brlgitta, then it went higher and higher until it reached the two monoplanes. Before Napoleon knew what they were about the two planes had opened fire; he was so close to them that the bullets fell on his aerodromone like hail. The result was surprising. The deadly missiles rebounded from the sides without leaving a mark on the glittering body. Napoleon had cleverly led them directly in front of the flagship, bo that the scene was enacted before the eye< of the count and his staff. It was marvelous, the greatest play a man's eyes had ever rested upon. Napoleon turned to face the ascending bat. The count saw him reach up to a lever that he had not used before. He hesitated for a moment, but when the first bomb was thrown at him he pulled the lever; a flash followed. Zigsag lines of lightning burst forth and the once armored monoplane was shattered into a thousand bits. Its fate seemed to shatter the nerve of the engineer on the other plane, for be turned and raced for the flagship. It waa too late. Napoleon pulled the lever again and it followed its comrade into space. The count was pale; he had been given a terrible example of his enemy's power, still he did not turn back. Orders were flashed to the two boats nearest the eagle to open fire with their heavy guns. Napoleon read the order on his plate and was sad, but he knew that the only way to save the masses from annihilation was by His right band was on the lever.

th© left on the wheel; as the guns below thundered, the bird man was far away, and their shells were wasted. But the next moment brought the avenging answer; lightning after lightning darted toward the two boats, the powder magazines exploded and the dreaded giants were wrecks, sinking. A few minutes later the boats were gone, leaving a mass of floating debris and dead men. The Count von Werdensteln looked at the scene helplessly. For the first time in his life he realized how puny he was. He looked for the eagle, but it had disappeared. ' Boats were put out at once to rescue those who had not been killed by the explosions; but the experiences of that day. had spread terror over the whole fleet and the effect was demoralizing. The Count yon Werdensteln ordered all the commanders to gather at the flagship, for he felt that he had to decide on some action. He paced the bridge of the Brigitta. The navy and army under his command, that he had thought great enough to conquer the whole world, had been defeated by a single man. When the council of war began the count stood to talk, but before he said a word a message from one of the transport boats was handed him. It read: “We can see the other boats toward the east, but we cannot communicate with them. They are trying to reach us, but can make no progress. Please send orders.’’

CHAPTER XI. Astra and Rositta. The excitement caused by Napoleon’s encounter with the enemy was indescribable. The automatic electrostylograph on board the American Eagle had recorded the action of tlie fleet and had made a copy of the count’s answer to America’s desires. The attack on the aerodromone was shown and the subsequent destruction of the monoplanes. Napoleon Edison’s name was in large print on every board. The Hourly Stylograph said “God bless our deliverer!’*) The American’s comment was “The hero of America." He was compared to Washington, to Lincoln and many other

great American patriots. His name was on the lips of every citizen. No one watched the helloboard with such interest and none prayed for Napoleon’s success more sincerely than Astra as she sat in her library with the Countess Rosiny. Astra’s kindness toward the countess had not soothed the pain she suffered. She would have preferred a dungeon of ancient times, where she could rave at her and curse her, but she was a secret service agent, and had early learned the art of concealing her feelings. With passion burning in her heart she ■tfas able to respond gracefully to Astra. Even while she watched the conflict of the American Eagle and the European fleet she was scheming. She lived for intrigue. Her soul craved the excitement of battling minds. She considered herself still in the employ of the Count von Werdenstein, so she planned as she thought the count would have demanded. Santos Duprel came to report the events of the day at the Z ray station, and to put before Astra suggestions for further defense. Napoleon could not come personally, so he sent his trusted assistant. He was admitted to the library where the countees sat. Santos Duprel was a pleasant individual, having, as most fat men, a keen sense of humor. He greeted the two beautiful women with a broad smile. When Rositta retired to the rooms that had been assigned her she sat

for a long time motionless, maturing a plan for the benefit of the Count von Werdenstein. Astra was still at work in the library, completing preparations for the following day’s duties as she closed her deek a sigh, a prayer left her lips: “God save our country, and shield Napoleon.” The next morning the admiral of the united navies of America received orders to sail With the fleet toward the enemy. Even the formation of the great squadron Was planned in detail. The gray boats steamed toward the east in a broad line; they arrived at the Isolation and could see hundreds of men-ofwar before them, flying the flags of almost every European nation, but no sound penetrated the invisible rpy that stretched before them. The Count von Werdenstein was in despair. He and all his boats had

been Imprisoned between two Z rayw for a week. He had held councils of war and the quickest boats and air crafts were sent out to break through the lines of resistance. He was ready to retire to Europe. The word retreat did not seem so shameful as it had. > They had not seen the eagle during this time, but the arrival of the obsolete men-of-war told the count that some preparation had been made by his enemy to end this terrible state of affairs.

The eagle’s appearance was reported early one morning. It came majestically sliding downward from a great height, flying the beautiful tricolor flag of liberty. This time Santos was at the wheel. Napoleon and a woman stood behind him. » The bird flew directly to the flagship. Not even the flag of truce was shown. When it reached the Brigitta the eagle dropped down toward the count, who stood on the bridge. His face was pale and careworn, and his eyes spoke of many sleepless nights. "Brigitta, ahoy!” shouted Napoleon through the speaking tube. “A message for the commander.” He dropped a large sealed letter at the count’s feet. The eagle then turned and disappeared In the clouds toward the west. Thought and care had been put into the message. It was a great document in itself, but its greatest beauty was in its expression of brotherly love, in its magnanimity in extending mercy to the enemy. Rositta was present when that doo' ument was read, finally. She was one of the last to touch it before It was carefully wrapped in the silk covers; it was she who placed the great seal on the imposing envelope. The count took the message and retired into his cabin, where nobody dared disturb him. He cut the envelope, unfolded the silk wrapping and began to reads 'lt was-a long, concise resume of the present state of affairs; the chancellor was touched by the kindness of his enemies. NotwithstandingThedegradingdef eat, he ‘ knew now that the loss would not be as great as he feared. The document decided upon the following: • 1. The whole navy of the confederate European mights shall be delivered into the hands of Admiral John Earle, the American commander, who will see that all men and officers are safely returned to European ports 2. The war vessels shall be the property of the United Republics of America, in consideration of which the said United Republics of America will pay a sum of money to be decided upon; however, not less than one-third of the actual value involved.

3. The European armies shall be immediately disarmed ana the men in service shall be returned to their homes. 4. No other force, save for policing and a number of bodyguards for the reigning rulers, shall be allowed to elist in any of the countries. The United Republics of America will see that this item, in particular, is enforced! ■5, The United Republics of America will open its ports to all foreign commerce, will give free entrance to all European product?, and also insures free exportation into Europe for American products 6. The oriental foes on the eastern hemisphere will be treated with when a final settlement is agreed upon, but until that time the isolation in Pacific waters will be maintained. 7. Peace shall reign over the earth; national differences shall be settled before an international committee that will make its headquarters in Washington, the capital of the United Republics of America. :=z -- 8. Any further points that may arise in the course of events will be decided upon after the final settlement with the rulers of all the countries. When the count turned over the last page a tiny slip of paper fell to the floor. He picked it up and glanced at the words that were written and not typed, as was the rest of the message. It was a writing that he knew well “Don’t hesitate! Accept the treaty! The future rests in the aerodromone, the secret of which will be delivered to you, sooner or later. I have kept my contract; will talk of my reward when circumstances permit." This was not signed, but it was not necessary.

“And I,” murmured the count, after a moment, “I never thought of Rositta. What a wonderful, clever woman she is. But what will be her price? What is the difference,” sighed the man who had suffered so much the last few days. "The next time we meet it will be in the air." He regained his calmness, finished the paper and refolded it He placed Rositta’s message in his pocketbook. Twenty-four hours were given for consideration. He called his admirals together at four o’clock that afternoon. The council sat until late that night. When the admirals and captains left for their respective boats they were depressed. The world seemed to have reached the millennium. One thing they were certain of. That was that they did not know how they would earn s a living when released from military duty. When Napoleon came for the answer, he received the original document signed by the commander In chief and al) the commanders of the respective nations of the European confederacy. # When the American Eagle appeared for the first time above the capital its mission was tq announce that peace on earth would be established. (TO BE CONTINUED.)

The Once Armored Monoplane Was Shattered Into a Thousand Bits.