The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-09
The Land Of the Changing Sun.
By WILL N. HARDEN.
Copyright. 1897. by the Merriam Company

Copyright, 1897. by the Merriam Company.l
CHAPTER 1.-Two men, Harry johnson. an
American, and Charles Thorndyke, an Eng
lishman, enter hole in the earth and descend
10 the abode of new people, where they find
a world of mechanism lighted by mechanical
electric sun. III and l1l--From the bottom Of
the lake a submarine boat rises and approaches
the two strangers. Its captain. Tradmos,
conducts them into the kingdom, Alpha, where
they are subjected 10 a medical test which il
they do not pass they will be left in a desolste
place TO perish. w, V and VI-They are
brought before the king The Princess Ber-
nardino sails in love with Thorndyke. VII
johnson. on account OF physical defect is
left without the walls to perish. He meets
Branasko who has been banished for similar
purpose. VIII--Thornkyke is sent 10 the
dungeon Of Nordeskyne.
CONTINUED
The bodies whirled over and over and
disappeared in the pit, and the man
closed the door The machine then rose
and gracefully winged its flight 10 the
east In moment others came with
their grim burdens and still others till
the mouth Of the pit was dark with
them.
Something has happened" whis-
pered Branasko, "some great calamity
for surely so many people do not die i'll
Alpha in a single day"
For an hour they watched the COM
ing and going Of the vultures, till final
ly the last one lowered over the lake of
fire. Suddenly the machine swerved so
near to Branasko and Johnston that
they shrank close to the earth to keep
from being seen. Something was evil
IDENTIFY wrong with the machine, for
there was wild look of desperation on
the drivers face as he tugged excitedly
at the pilot wheel. But all his efforts
only caused the airship to dart irregu-
larry from side to side, and now ard
then TO strike the rocks Of the pits
mouth, to shoot up suddenly, or to sink
dangerously down toward the fire.
He is losing control Of it, " whisper
ed Branasko. He does not know what
to do. See; he is trying to tighten the
load by kicking out the body"
That was true, and as the machine
made sudden plunge toward the cliff
few yards to the left of the refugees
managed to move to the door with his
feet, fell out and lodged upon the edge
of the cliff, instead Of falling into the
fiery depths. The machine bounded up
few yards and paused, now apparent
ly under the control of its driver. The
man looked down hesitatingly at the
corpse for a moment and then lowered
the machine to the sloping rock near
where the body lay. He alighted and
cautiously crept down the steep incline
to the body He raised it in his arms
and was about to cast it from him when
his foot slipped, and with cry of hor-
ror he fell with his burden over the
cliffs edge into the red abyss.
Johnston uttered an exclamation of
horror, but Branasko was unmoved. Aft
er moment he rose and, carefully
scanning the space overhead, he crawled
on hands and knees toward the ma
chine. Johnston heard him chuckling
TO himself and uttering spasmodic
laughs, and he watched him closely as
he reached the machine. For several
minutes he seemed to be inspecting it
critically, both inside and out; then he
stood away from it, bold, black sill
houette on background of flame, and
motioned the American to come to him.
Johnston promptly bat not without
many misgivings obeyed his signal.
What are you up tor asked he as the
Alphian assisted him to rise from his
hands and knees.
Branasko touched the machine and
smiled. His face was shining with en-
thusiasm.
1.-The question of our returning to
Alpha is settled, ~ he said sententiously.
How"
1--WE can go in this.
Can you manage it?"
Easily. That fellow must have been
drunk. The machine is in good order, I
think.
when do you propose TO START"
And the American eyed the funeral car
obviously.
1.-The night is before us. We could
not get better time. - AS he spoke he
entered the car and laid his hand on
the wheel Johnston, obeying his nod,
followed, shuddering as he remarked
the traces of blood ON the floor.
"All right" Branasko turned the
wheel slowly, and the wings outside be-
gan to flap, and the car mounted into
the air like startled bird and few out
quickly over the pit.
Branasko bit his lip, and Johnston
heard him sti6e an exclamation of i'm.
patience As for the American, he was
at once thrilled and fascinated by the
awful sight below. He could now see
beneath the overhanging mouth of the
pit and look far down into boundless
lake of molten matter that seemed as
restless as an ocean in q storm.
Then the air became so hot he could
hardly breathe. He looked at the
Alphian in alarm. The latter was
whirling the wheel first one way and
then another, with a startled look of fear
in his eyes, and then Johnston noticed
that the walls Of the pit were rising
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