The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-06-09


lief.
1T would be almost impossible" he
asserted. for anything worse to be
fall them than delay. They may have
been cast away in the air or on the
land by an accident to their steering
gear. which would require fight in
straight lines. Nothing but q blow
such as was sustained by Seventeen
in battle could even temporarily stop
both dynamos: hence it is improbable
that they lost their lives"
Step by step he reasoned out the
course which would be pursued, and at
last gave 1t as his opinion that the
Norma had come to ground In Cana
dian woods. He suggested searching
expeditions, even though it entailed
the exposure Of the secret, the aban-
donment of the Oriental campaign,
and the opportunity to establish per.
manent peace. The president alone
stood steadfast for the latter hope,
and was quick to offer Q new plan. It
was that the people Of Great Britain
themselves should have q conclusive
and final demonstration. and, yielding
to his arguments, It wis agreed upon.
The project was no less daring than
those which had been executed before.
The Dreadnought was to be deposited
in the Thames under cover of dark
ness, and in an apparently impossible
position, where the people of London
might look upon it as an object les
son. Immediately afterwards the king
and his most powerful omcials we're
to be shown the working of the radio
plane, that they might be in q position
to advance measures for peace and
disarmament, terrifying their argu-
ments by their own observations. The
utmost secrecy was to be maintained,
because in the meantime the Chinese
armada might have sailed. In case 1t
had not. the secret would be given out
and search begun actively for the
missing Norma and her distinguished
passengers; but in any event British
support would have been assured.
Bevins, foreseeing the diniculty of
his task, asked and obtained permits
sion to invite the British admiral to
accompany him. the wisdom Of which
was evidenced. Favored by the diff
ference in time, the speedy Roberts
on that very night crossed the Allan
tic and deposited letters to secret
service agents In London. instructing
them to obtain positive knowledge of
where the king might be found the
following evening. On her return she
conveyed Fields and the Dreadnought
to the key. preparatory to the mo-
mentous journey.
That fight which was again to dis
turb the thrones of Europe was &C.
complished without incident, but not
without difficulty. The Roberts
swooped down from the heights of
air, untenanted save by her, to find
spread between the earth and sky a
blanket Of fog, thick and impene-
trable. Into 1t she slowly dropped,
cropping this way and that over the un-
suspecting city, whose sounds came
up to her but gave no hint as to
locality. Aimlessly she wandered here
and there in the murk, taking desper-
ate chances in her quest Suddenly
something doomed directly below the
open port, from which Bevins was
leaning and peering down, and only a |
quick change If course avoided a col
lision. Fields Joined him, and fden-
titled the dome of Saint Paul's. 1t |
was narro' escape, but enabled.
them to set their course and gain the
deserted green's Of Saint James Park,
where Bevins was lowered by ropes
to the earth.
He stood for moment while the |
bulk Of the radioplane and the dread
nought which she was carry!n, rose |
into the air and disaprea1c, from