The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-07-15


week began, and still they had nc
word from him, she could not bear il
any longer. The gray-haired mother,
who suffered even more than Astra
soothed her and said she would come
TO the Crystal Palace at once. to be
with her.
That evening Mrs. Edison arrived
and embracing the wife of her son
she whispered: BE strong and brave
my dear girl. You know just as well
as l do that he will come as soon as
dent to his aerodromone, but my heart
tells me he is in no danger. Above
all, we must have trust in God!'
At Astra's request the various pa.
pers treated the matter lightly.
ROSETTA was one who was really
baf1ed by the heightened absence of
Napoleon. She and Santos talked
about it seriously, but the little count
was as puzzled as she. This disap
pearance had not fitted into her plans
She wanted to gain a victory over Ma.
poleon, not over America.
Her ambitions were great, but one
Of the greatest was to humble Napo-
leon. She had figured out a devilish
plan to destroy his base of supplies.
Ciryne. Even her husband shuddered
when she told about it. He thought
Of the many days he had spent among
the men there, and the pleasant com.
panions that he had left behind
A tremendous bomb was to be con.
=Tr at Cd u sc -,
explosion would cause a genuine earth.
quake. Great quantities of the high.
est grade explosives were to be placed
n large metal shell, which would be
dropped on the Island of Ciryne and
blow it into space
Ciryne was Napoleon's laboratory;
there were his aerodromones kept
and if these were destroyed, he never
would be able to gain the victory. The
.act that Napoleon's mother and all
lis mechanics were to be destroyed
lid not influence Rositta's plans in the
east.
Seven weeks went by. The situation
vas the same, except that the f1Otilla
# twenty aerodrOmones was ready al
Suemeg and its crew was practicing
naneuvers day after day. They were
working on one more machine, as Ro,
;itta was supeTstitiOus, believing that
he number twenty-one was her lucky
)ne.
The European monarchs had all
signed 1 decree demanding the right
If restoring a standing army, and this
demand had been sent to the peace
committee in Washington.
This request was couched in re
spectful terms. but conveyed the infor-
nation that in case the same was re
used the European countries would
act according to their own convictions
No mention was made Of the aerodro-
none fleet, but American secret
agents had discovered the existence OF
his feet and a shrewd reporter on
he Hourly StyIograph managed to
gain the information. Whole pages
advertised the fact that it was ready
20 swoop down upon the American
continent and conquer it. Then the
rival papers took it up and vivid fan.
cies were printed; some declared that
Napoleon Edison was held a prisoner,
and would be compelled to Join the
European forces to save his life
In the meantime the congress and
the peace committee considered the
European demand.
Amrosio Hale, Vice-president, deliv-
cred a great address, urging the union
to isolate the American continent
again.
What need have we of European
| commerce and troubles? The Ameri'
can continent is ours, we love It and
we can live on it. The Z-ray stations
have been kept in order and we can
| easily cut ourselves of from those
warning countries. We will not be the
| losers" So his address ran. He sat
down amid tremendous applause.
! However, another orator arose and
| propounded opposite reasons for open
ports and no determination was
! reached.
Astra and her mother-in-law were
| sitting in the library at the Crystal
Palace depressed and sad. The uncer-
tainty of Napoleon's fate caused long,
sleepless nights.
Thus they had lived, day after day,
hopefully and fearfully.
The life of the woman who had
been the handspring of all their
troubles was different The Princess
ROSETTA had never been happier than
| now The twenty-first aerodromone
was finished, and she, like a general,
would drill her flying squadron per
sonally.
ROSETTA had acquired great skill in
handling the aerodromone, and she
could execute the capturing act very
easily. She was loved by the whole
crew, which was composed of men
from noble families
These men admired their leader,
they were hypnotized by her charms
and she handled them so that they
were, as one man, ready to give their
lives for her
After a successful maneuver day
ROSETTA gave the order to her men to