The Columbus journal., 1909-06-02

purpose. Nature seeming to lend her.
self in behalf of peace. The Norma,
now fully fitted and comfortable, was
utilized for the mission. Like all
others of the American feet, she car.
ried provisions sufficient to enable
her to pass many times round the
world in case of emergency.
The kaiser marveled at the display
of ingenuity. and was told all but the
secret. without which no one could
cast the radioactive metal. He was
even permitted to handle the steering
levers and direct her flight for time,
and entered into this with the en-.
thusiasm of a boy. He would have
driven her through the air at q speed
which would have heated her interior
had he not been cautioned, and re
linquished his place in the hood only
when the shores of the western con.
tinent were reached and loomed dark
ly far below.
1t had not been Brockton's intention
to show him over the plant on the
key; but the sovereign insisted that
he permitted to alight, it being his
first visit to America, which he had
always longed to make, but had never
anticipated. He was permitted to
traverse the great machine shops and
view the working of the blast furnace
and also to 0aze at the formidable feet
OF monsters that rested idly along the
beach. Mumed in his greA coat to
avoid recognition, he was strictly in
cognito. and met neither the inven'
tor, the assistant" nor Bevins., who
many hours before had retired to their
rest
His mood of curiosity had given
way to one of thoughtfulness when the
Norma again took him aboard and
started northward. He sat silently in
the central chamber of the radioplane
taking no part in the conversation be.
tween the chancellor and Brockton,
until the machine lowered over the
waters of the Chesapeake, on the
bosom Of which. at anchor, rested the
British feet, and then discussed the
possibilities of crossing the continent
to Lake Washington.
BrocktOn was compelled to enter a
protest, explaining that inasmuch as
the element of time for his return
must enter into their calculations,
they had only a small margin. The
kaiser remembered that he was in q
machine which annihilated space: but
that in travelling from the west to the
east the difference in the rising hour
of the sun meant much In maintaining
secrecy; SO he reluctantly relinquished
the idea.
But it will not trouble you. will it,
to carry me across the Gordon which
has been established between your
country and Canada on the homeward
fight" he asked. and to this Brock
ton assented.
They turned to the north, and at a
high altitude saw far below them the
constant glow of searchlights dotting
out in streamers of white the bound
airy line between the two countries. AS
fas as the eye could reach to the east
and the west the watch was being
maintained increasingly. The kaiser
recovered his good humor, laughed.
and then. having nothing more to view
below, returned to the hood. where he
again asked to manipulate the ma
chine
jenkins was not pleased by the
recklessness with which his august
guest experimented with the levers
and switches; but feared to remon-
strate. though uttering IN occasional
word Of caution. Suddenly, a. IL con-
fused. the kaiser opened three
switches at once. The machine gave
mighty lurch. and failed to obey the
expert hand that was instantly reached
forward to control it. The needle