The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-08-19
CHAPTER XIII
The Blow Falls.

a FTER the scene that I have
~ tried 10 describe IN the last
n chapter events hurried on
with a rapidity which was
not apparent upon their surface
believe that Edmund, with all his
DersDicacity. failed 10 appreciate their
meaning In fact he was himself
responsible for giving them an i'm
petus toward the inevitable crisis,
which, but Cor the premature step
that he ana Ala took, might have
been delayed considerably
But I shall come TO that in q few
minutes
As the excitement Of the crowd
died down the people began TO move
ABOUT IN groups, coumunlnE together
about the marvel that they had Wit
messed The uufaVOrable attitude to-
ward as was spreading among them
II was plain that IL had grown
enormously in strength since the
scene with the auEUr, and the inn
preston quickly reached those who
had not been near enough 10 see for
themselves
could not speak Immediately to
Edmund because ne was continually
III conference with Ala. but. getting
Jack aside IN order not 10 alarm
Henry. who was already III a pltlable
state OF moral collapse, / opened my
mind 10 him
ised to get away soon"
'Well, IhaLu be q good thing /
reckon was the reply
What do you think OF the seuCi-
m6nt OF this crowd"
81 shouldn't like TO trust myself
alone III IT. But say Didn't we back
the old medicine-nan down IN great
I don't think we backed him down
at all" ] replied He has better ways
OF running US than by attacking US
rrHn d.
.sHumphr' said Jack. I'D have had
the drop on him II he'd made an
other move
.Eut you are in favor Of CIR getting
away at the earliest possible uoment2'
oh yes 1 think we'd better go ] We
had enough Of Venus But i n not Tor
along, all right That's a little romance
that's got 20 90 through
We've get the religious sentiments
Of these people against Us now ! SAID
and we can't afford 30 stay an unnec-
essary min 1te-
Their religious sentiments be hang
edTr exclaimed Jack WHATS their
religion a set Of paSans- But BY JoTe-
these girls Of Venus are great Only
wish I could have had Edmund luck
He may not be as lucky as ne
seems I replied But come. JACK
want you 10 help me persuade Ed
mund TO start even sooner than ne
has prOmised-In fact, right away
Jack stared at me a moment
See here Albert he said 4 n Win
YOU in thinking that the sooner We re
of the better but I'm not for oUdElug
a step until Edmund gives The word He
knows his affairs and Ala s
When they're ready, on We 60 Is
far as I'm concerned But that girl has
cot 10 be left to choose her time and
II Edmund wants 70 stay and become
King OF Venus, I'm not the man TO
Tie vas no more 10 be made out Of
Jack I thought il would do no good
20 tell him that Ingra was here, Tor
probably he would be all the more eager
20 stay and fight II out
At the first opportunity, however, /
brought Edmund hack 10 the subject OF
getting away He saw what was II my
mind before I could speak
What does your watch SayZ' ne
asked goOd-natTedly is II day after
tomorrow YETI
NO of course not. but listen. Ed
muud- Don't you see how the perm
am no coward, but II would be denying
Tate 70 stay here any longer Can You
persuade Ala 10 90 al once
Edmund paused a minute before re-
r,1y7-z- ard then he said with some en-
oarrassment of manner
Il promised you TO start N forty
eighth hours thoLsht my II Gouiu
be mana ged. else shoUlan nav
promised. but things have CIken anoJH-
ar turn Ala refuses 70 80, and you
know laying his hand on my arm,
that I cant leave her
.sFDt what do you propose, then-to
stay here an your hteE
That's ST.
There was no trace Of regret IN his
tone II was plain that henceforth this
and not his mother earth was 10 De
Edueund-s world
Before I could say anything in reply.
But of course. I don't mean to keep
YOU and Jack and Henri here am
goiuz 10 show YOU exactly how TO man
age the car. and 1 feel sure that You
can navigate her home as wei as
could myself"
The idea of parting from Edmund. Of
leaving him alone on this distant planet
while we returned TO the earth had
never crossed 10Y mind Now coming 50
suddenly. II cutie OverW helTled me
I had long ago forgotten 70 feel the
least resentment because he had prac-
ticaIIv kidnapped as and had brought
Us way or here against our knowledge
and AGAINST our Will II seemed 10 me
ike desertiGn 10 leave him. AMI ] could
NOT reconcile myself to she thought
I felt a lump rising N my throat and
II wOuTd not surprise me # there were
tears IN my eyes
But. Edmund finally managed 10
saw. You can't stay you know and
Ala cant stay The lives Of both Of YOU
viii he sacrificed Your enemies are too
numerous and too powerful
No he replied Cheerfully- we shall
run no great danger. Ala. believes that
she can stem the tide and 1 believe IL,
} too for there never vas another such a
EomanI She proposes that We meet the