The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-09-19

its tinkling warning. A moment later
Napoleon Edison was admitted to the
library and Astra hurried toward him
with welcoming hands.
She saw at glance that his healthy
bronze complexion was gone and that
he was thinner She also noted the
unfamiliar clothes he was wearing.
II am so glad that you have come
at last!" were her first words.
II have longed to come, Miss Pru-
dent, but was detained in prison,
where l had everything but liberty"
please be seated; you must be
weary after your long trip" She led
him to a chair and took a seat oppo-
site. There has not been day, since
your visit here, that have not longed
for some news from you. And you,
all the time, were in prison"
Edison said: II crossed the isolator
in my aerodromone. ascending thou
sands of feet to get over. My assist
ant engineer, Santos Duprel. was with
me; we landed on the deserted Zug-
Spite, in Germany. alone descend.
ed on skis to Partenkirchen, where
purchased European clothes. Duprel
and were in constant communication
with each other until my imprison-
ment, which came SO quickly that
had no chance to advise him. had
the honor, before was confined, to
meet his majesty, the Emperor of Ger
many, the Prince of Wales and, above
all, the Count Won Werdenstein, who
Is the real ruler of Europe.
Are your plans for our defense Tor
mulated?" Astra asked.
Il will, with your permission, tell
them in a more detailed manner at
the workshop. l hope you will &C
company me there as soon as you
can"
II am ready to go at any time; only
you know cannot leave the capital
for long period. Besides, must
lay decided plan of action before
the continental congress meets, day
after tomorrow. Where is your plant?"
He looked at her in surprise, but all
he could see In her face was frank
expectation, and in a measured voice
he said:
"On the Island Of Ciryne."
"Cirynith!" whispered Astra.
"At last you have spoken the world"
said Napoleon eagerly. "The word I
have been expecting to hear you say"
Astra looked at Napoleon question
ingly; evidently there was something
back of this that she was supposed to
know. Napoleon read her thoughts:
Miss Prudent, will enlighten you.
When l discovered the element of
which your ring is made came to
your father. He was a friend and
teacher. When your father realized
the value of my discovery and saw
the far-reaching possibilities of this
wonderful metal he gave me full in
structions, and 1 based my further
experiments on them.
His prophetic soul fcresaw the
events that are now upon us, and he
was anxious to know the results of
my experiments. Three days before
his death l received letter from him.
had just returned from the trial trip
of my aerodromone. Twas intoxicated
with my success. The American
Eagle, my first aerodromone, was a
marvel but will come to that later. /
hurried to the capital as soon as l
read your fathers letter, but was too
late! How happy he would have been
to know that had won, that no nation
can destroy the work OF his lifetime"
Napoleon's voice softened to whis-
per. But his last letter told me that
you would be instructed to 60 to the
Island of Ciryne and that, when met
you. you would greet me with the
word you have just spoken. 'Cirynith,
the name have given to this ele-
ment."
Astra's eyes filled with tears. The
memory of the last hour of her father
returned to her in its smallest detail,
and then she told Napoleon how the
dying man had tried to tell her every
thing, but that the shock caused by
the message from Count Won Werden
stein had. killed him before he could
do SO, though with his last strength
he had written, in shaking letters, the
word: "Cirynith."
Il cannot tell what he said about
you," finished Astra, smiling at Napo-
leon through her tears. "All can say
Is that am very happy today, for you
have GOMEZ
Her expressive eyes told even more.
and Napoleon Edison felt that he was
amply rewarded for the services he
had rendered, not for the girl he
loved. but for the country they both
loved.
Il have one favor to ask, your excel
lency!"
Whatever it is, l will grant it in ad
vance,
''The Countess Rosiny, whom 1 have
mentioned, and who played part In
the plot, is homeless in our continent
She is In the waiting-room. l brought
her with me, thinking you would not
let her go without trying to aid her
Under your care, feel sure she win
regain all that is good In her nature
and lose all that is bad"
"She is welcome" Astra said, sim
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