Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-07-17


York. Tell 'em about Chicago and the
fair and ask to be allowed to ride in
their Ferris wheel. If they ain t got any
wheel, ask 'em when the first train
leaves town"
This is no time for jokes" growled
Johnston as Tradmos returned. Trad
mos motioned to something that in the
distance looked like a carriage, but
which turned out to be flying ma
chine. 1t rose gracefully and glided
over the ground and settled at their
feet. 1t was large enough to seat doz-
en- people, and there was little glass
windowed compartment at the end, in
which they could see 1.-THE driver" as
he was termed by Tradmos. The mys-
terious machinery was hidden in the
woodwork overhead and beneath.
"Get in," said the captain, and the
door few open as if of its own accord.
Thorndyke went in first and was follow.
ed by the moody American. Let up on
the ague," jested Thorndyke, nudging
his friend with his elbow. IF you keep
on quivsring like that, you may shake
the thing loose from its moorings, and
we'd never know what became Of us."
Johnston scowled, and the officer,
who had overheard the remark, smiled
as he leaned toward the window and
gave some directions to tho man in the
other compartment.
"You both take 1t rather coolly," he
remarked to Thorndyke. II took a man
and a woman over this route several
years ago, and both Of them were in q
dead faint; but, in fact, you have moth
ing to fear. We never have acct
dents.''
1T is safe as balloon, I suppose,
and we are at home in Them" said the
Englishman, with just the hint Of a
Swagger in his tone.
But your balloons are poor, print
tive things at BEST" returned Tradmos
in his soft voice. "They can't be COM
pared to this mode Of travel, though, Of
course. our machines would not operate
in your atmosphere.
"Why not?" impulsively asked the
Englishman. II thought
But he did not conclude his remark,
for they were rising, and both he and
Johnston leaned apprehensively forward
and looked out Of one Of the windows.
Down below the long lines Of people
were silently waving their hats, scarfs
and handkerchiefs as the machine swept
adong over their heads. As they rose
higher the scene below widened like a
great circular fan, and in the delicate
roselight the whole 30 appealed to
Thorndyke's artistic sense that he ejacu.
lated:
GLORIOUS! Superb Transcendent!"
And he directed Johnston q attention to
the wonderful pinkish haze which lay
over the view toward the west like q
vast diaphanous web Of rosy sunbeama
"You ask why our airships would not
operate in your atmosphere, said the
captain, showing pleasure at Thorn
dykes enthusiasm. 1T is simple enough
when you have studied the climatic
differences between the two countries
You have much to contend with-the
winds. for instance, the heat and cold,
etc. This is the only known country
where the winds are subjugated. I have
never been in your world, but from
what I have heard Of it am not anx.
ious to see it. Your atmosphere and eli
mate are SO changeable and SO diverse
In different localities that have heard
your people spend much of their time
in seeking congenial climes think il
was a man who came from London that
claimed he once had q cold-'a bad
cold,'I think he called it. 1t was q
standing joke in the royal family for q
long time, and he heard SO much about
1t that he tried to deny what he had
said"
Johnston glanced at the speaker non.
plused, but the captain was looking a,
Thorndyke.
"Your climate is delightful hert
now" said the Englishman. lis 1t &c
long at timer"
"Perpetually. It is regulated every
moment, and every year we perfect i,
in some way"
Perfect it?"
Eyes, Of course. Why not? If it eve,
fails to be up to the usual high stand
ard, it is owing to neglect Of those il
charge, and neglect is punished Sc
verely."
Thorndyke's eyes sought those Of thu
American incredulously, seeing which
Tradmos looked amused.
"You doubt it," he smiled. "Well
The fact is, any one born in our climate
could not live In yours The king ex
perimented on a man who claimed K
have only one lung. but who had tw,
sound ones when he was cut open. Well
the king sent him to China or Americ,
or some such place, and he wheezet
himself to death in q week by you
clocks. The weather was too tickle fo
him. Our system has been perfected t,
such an extent that we live four lives {,
your one. and our fruits and vegetable
are 100 per cent better than those il
other countries.
what is the name Of your country?'
asked Thorndyke, feeling that he wa
not losing anything by his boldness.
alpha"
"Where is it locateds"
II don't know" Tradmos looked on
at the window for moment as If I,
ascertain that they were going in tn,
right direction; 1len he fixed his darl
eyes ON Thorndyke and asked hesitat
ingly:
Il never thought-I-but do 20,
know where Eour country is located?"
why, certainly"
well, don't know where this on
is. We are taught everything, think
except geography" Nothing more wa
said for several minutes; then an ex
clamation of admiration broke from tn
Englishman. The color of the sunligh
was changing. from east to west with
in the entire arc Of their observation
rolled an endless billow of lavende
light, leaving placid sea of the sam
color behind it. On it swept, slowl,
/ driving back the pink glow that hat