Charlevoix county herald., 1909-05-08
CHAPTER XxI.-Continued.

The waning moon lighted up the
quiet reaches far beneath, and out
Mined in diminutive spectral shapes
the fleet of anchored ships. The great
lmachine swooped lower until they
could descry the telescoped tunnels,
from whose ragged mouths came no
curl of smoke, and the barred decks
iyhose lengths were paced only by
men of the watch Aside from these
there was no sign of life. A mighty
squadron, bereft of power, floating on
still waters beneath a dying moon!
If America wished to prove her SUI
premacy, the lesson was complete.
The royal shoulders outlined against
he light of the port gave one great
shudder Of sorrow, and turned away
When the shutters closed and the
lights returned, the king was resting
his brow upon his hand, the lord of
the admiralty was standing with tight
Iy clasped hands, and the prime min
lister was leaning with folded arms
against the polished frame Of the port
through which he had viewed Briton's
vanquished pride.
eff your majesty pleases.' the voice
of the American admiral broke into
the uuietude, Il have promised to land
Miss Roberts and Admiral Fields be-
fore our return. With your consent
we shall stop in the place chosen for
all our visits to Washington, in the
outskirts"
The monarch still thinking Of the
silent feet assented, and the radio
plane swept downward at tangent
10 the lonely field. Again the lights
went out, the port opened, and the
slight shock Of landing was felt. AL
most instantly man in uniform stood
before it and saluted the admiral, who
started back in surprise.
"a message for you, sir from the
president and secretary of the navy,
with requests that it be opened and
read Immediately" the officer an
nounced.
Bevins returned to the light of hood
and read:
kindly report to the White House
Immediately upon arrival. In case
Ills lldJtolgs lllC hllleo VI lSilSoleii nus
returned with you, which we earnest
ly hope is the case. present to him
the hearty good will of the president
and people of the United States of
America, and extend to him our urgent
invitation either to accompany you,
with those who may be his com
panions, or await the return Of a COM
SF xyif nd inn
which will wait upon him as soon as
It becomes definitely known that he is
with you.
I'm case he did not accompany you
on your return, it will be necessary
for you to return to London at once,
inviting him to a conference of great
Importance, which is occasioned by
the exigencies of events which have
taken place tonight. In any case you
will report to us Immediately for in
tructions."
Puzzled by this explicit message,
Bevins paused for moment, with his
brows drawn down in thought, and
then returned 70 the drawing room,
where q shaded light rested in the cen
Ter OF lle ldDlG IOuuu NulCi MS
guests were seated With a brief eX'
PLANTATION he handed the order to the
king, who calmly placed his glasses
upon his high, fine nose, leaned across
the table, and perused it.
Everything of the night was strange
and unusual. a few hours ago he had
gone TO a theater TO rest his nerves
and here he was across the Atlantic
informally az lcarr'ag new lessons
or receiving sld.ls revelations
with each be- Of time. He had gone
thus far. and would 80 through to the
end, and would go informally.
1--WE prefer to accompany you was
all the reply he made and the party
fled out into the night. where two bis
automobiles brought for this very
emergency were in waiting. They
whirled away TO the White House
where they were met in the blue room