The Columbus journal., 1909-06-16
CHAPTER xxil.-Continued.


CHAPTER xxii.-Continued.
The British officers exchanged
quick side glances of relief. Barr
alone had the temerity to break into
Al 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
reunitinS the Anglo-SaxOn race.
hope. after its separation of nearly a
century and half. You have been
made involuntary guests by a man
whose friendship / esteem. and whom
l homer above all men. / refer to the
president of this nation. and ] 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
Until then YOU are to maintain pa
thence. | 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
CT 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
sureed into the elevators, to debouch
CA the street minute later a group
OF hatless mel 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
Eevins 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-
barkatiCn. We are returning 10 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 uark
entrance And to the arazemea: Of
the oniookers the men in uniform
stood at salute until the machine had
disappeared. Not even then did they
Gisperse. bu: stood there silently
watching the skies. Pedestrians Joined
the group, specializing as TO the cause
CT this uniformed gathering.
Several minutes elapsed. and then
from one and another came startled
EXPLANATIONS. Up from the silent
Park. soaring above the trees and
shrubbery with stately sweep, came
:, strange row of brilliant lights. The
secret was cut at last, and the Amer
lean officers gave a frantic cheer.
which was Joined in by the English
men, and taken up by the crowd AS
If to recognize their parting shouts.
the searchlights Of the Roberts in Caz-
.iins ripples of color flared suddenly
upward and round in fan-shaped
sweeps. which were finally directed
fall 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
the streets for sight of this mysteri-
Gus aerial visitor. Reaching the low
er edge of the city. the radioplane shot
UP and up until it was speck of light
against the stars, took one last cir
cling fight. and with marvellous
speed disappeared in the east. And
while America was gaining her first
knowledge of this incredible fiying
machine. the Roberts was shooting
away in a long straight track for the
old world.
The king had watched the sights
below as long as they were visible |
Through his glasses he had seen the |
streets become filed with excited