The Huttig news., 1913-07-19
CHAPTER XII.
Casting the Net.

SoStHS tfS tNFt.
 Six months had passed The cap tured army and navy had been sent home to Europe and disarmed The various monarchs had ragged at the ] Count yon Werdenstein for acceding to the terms of the agreemen. submit. ted by the United Republics, but the people were happy.
 The United Republics of America offered large tract of land in the in. terior of Brazil, Venezuela and Co lombia for emigration purposes. D, ain. age and irrigation had been so per fected that those great plateaus were habitable and supplied the richest az. ricultural districts in the world
 meeting had been called to for mulate the rules of peace. Napoleon, with full sanction and authorization of Congress, made short work of the agreement with the orientals. He ap peared above the Island Empire and announced the ultimatum: that he would blow up every man-of-w3r un. less they were turned over to the Unit. ed Republics of America peacefully, In which case the latter would pay one third the value Of the monsters The orientals had been prepared for this action and agreed to the terms. China the young Oriental Republic, followed Japan's example.
 Christmas was nearing The war vessels of the world were harbored in the ports of the Americans and turned over to the Navy Department. with the command that they be used for commercial purposes.
 The disarmament went on all over the world. When Christmas day dawned peace reigned. Not Christian l peace, but peace begotten of fear.
 The 24th of December found the American Continent open 70 everyone
 Napoleon Edison, on aceotnt of ths service he had rendered ms country had been appointed president of tn, world peace committee.
 His mothers illness had caused hin anxiety. He spoke of it to Astra on, day while the Countess Rosiny wa. near The beautiful Rositta had un 1ergone a great change. She was be lieved to be thorough American in spirit, and had thus gained the con fldence Of the people surrounding Astra.
 She begged Astra and Napoleon to let her go and comfort Mrs. Edison. They consented, glad to have her go 'os the Island of Ciryne, even though the secrets of the aerodromone were there. to be companion to Mrs Edi- | son.
 Astra said it would be very lonely without her, and Napoleon solved the problem in way that pleased the countess the most
 'I will take you to Ciryne in the Eagle and send you back in few days by Santos. and you can thus divide !our time between Astra and my nother."
 She could hardly repress her trium- ,hant joy.
 Tbat evening Napoleon took Rositta o Ciryne. to his mother. She won the mothers sympathy at )nce. Her pleasant companionship vas a relief to the stately matron as ave the servants there were no other women on the island It was she who watched over the precious plant dur ng the long and repeated absences f Napoleon
 Notwithstanding the difference in heir ages, they became good frierde tos;tta was anxious 10 see the raani, acturing plant. where the aerodro nones were made, but she was mol permitted to enter the wct mop. as she had failed to obtain Napoleon z permission to do SO. He had promised q to return for her within few days or to send Santos. One balmy morn. ing the two women were enjoying the sea breeze on the porch, when they saw the aerodfomone anproachine from i've east. The great bird settled in it's hangar gracefully. The two women went down the path te meet, as they supposed, Napoleon. Gut il was Santos Duprel, bringing two let ters, one from Napoleon to his mother and the other from Astra to the countess.
 Santos honest eyes glowed when he saw Rositta,. who took pains to give him a friendly glance as she shook hands
 | Her letter said that Santos and the Hawk were at her disposal, and that Astra would be glad to see her again as soon as Mrs. EdisoDs condition permitted her to leave. She also in vited Mrs. Edison to come to the cap ital, but the mother knew that her l 4t.5. island so declined
 Rositta expressed deep disappoint- ment when Mrs. Edison gave her req sons for not going back with Santos and the Hawk, but the chance to talk to Santos on the return trip suited her best After some hesitation she decided to make flying trip to Wa~.-