The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-06-19
CHAPTER xxuI.-continued.

The British officers exchanged
quick side glances of relief. Barr
alone had the temerity to break into
an open smile of satisfaction. They
were not, then, to be censured by
their country, and the situation would
bear no disgrace. His majesty con-
tinued:
You have unwittingly assisted In
reuniting the Anglo-Saxon race, /
hope, after its separation of nearly
century and a half. You have been
made involuntary guests by a man
whose friendship esteem, and whom
/ honor above all men. i refer to the
president of this nation. and l ask
that you remember him as kindly as
/ do. Your countrymen will have no
just cause for criticising you or your
actions. Instructions will be sent you
in Que time through the admiralty.
Until then you are to maintain pa
thence. i wish you good night"
With dignified grace he bowed to
them, took a step backward, turned on
his heel, and was going before they
grasped the significance of his speech
or awakened from the wonder of his
unexpected visit to this alien land.
The clang Of an elevator door recalled
them and stirred them to action.
They ran after him, rang for and
surged into the elevators, to debouch
on the street a minute later a group
of hatless men craving further ex-
plantations and wishing to honor their
ruler. They crowded to the edge of
the pavement beside which the motor
car was humming in readiness for its
start.
The king saw them coming, smiled
at their eagerness, and turned to
Bevins with a question which they
could not hear. The American ad-
miral gave laughing reply, and the
monarch leaned over to Jimmy Barr,
who was standing on the curb close at
hand.
MY host, the admiral" the king
said. says lack of time prevents your
accompanying us. Otherwise we
should ask you to witness our en-
barkation. We are returning to Lon
don on a radioplane tonight, and the
worlds mystery is at an end. We
must say good night"
The lights of the hotel entrance
were full upon them, bringing out in
detail to the curious guests who were
gathering on the marble steps the
men with barred heads and the gray
bearded English gentleman in the ma
chine. They saw him nod to the
chauffeur, who was looking back, saw
the latter turn to his work, and then
the machine leaped away into the
broad drive toward the nearest park
entrance. And to the amazement of
the onlookers the men in uniform
stood at salute until the machine had
disappeared. Not even then did they
dispense, but stood there silently
watching the skies. Pedestrians joined
the group, specializing as to the cause
of this uniformed gathering.
Several minutes elapsed, and then
from one and another came startled
EXPLANATIONS. Up from the silent
park. soaring aboveo the trees and
shrubbery with stately sweep, came
strange row of brilliant lights. The
secret was out at last, and the Amer
lean officers gave frantic cheer,
which was Joined in by the English
men, and taken up by the crowd. AS
IL to recognize their parting shouts,
the searchlights of the Roberts in daz-
zling ripples of color fiared suddenly
upward and round In fan-shaped
sweeps, which were finally directed
full upon the streets below. At a
comparatively low altitude the craft
went slowly across the city and head
ed toward the Atlantic. while men
upon the pavements beneath took UP
the cry. until from all sides windows
| opened and the people rushed into