The Marshall republican., 1913-06-20

the bearer OF such an impudent mes
sage?" tity t3N
Napoleon moved the wheel a trife
and the bird slid toward the count
who took the sealed package from his
hand. He broke 1t open and read:
1.-THE bearer, Mr.. Napoleon Edison,
Ia the all.powerful representative OF
the President OF the U. r. Of A.
tSigned) ASTRA PRUDENT.
,(Seal) ..,I.t. fl.. President.
The count smiled and said while fold.
ing the paper; Tell to those who sent
you that l.. Count Won Werdenstein,
commander IN chief OF the navfes and
armies Of the European confederacy,
will break down all the resistance that
may be before, me, and will land and
occupy the countries that you call the
United Republics of America. The
warning that you give me will not be
considered, neither will your actions
be feared. ! am headed for the Amer.
lean continent and I will land"
This ia your final answer, your ex.
~cellencyr"
cit is."
please listen 20 mo for a moment,
not as a courier and representative,
but as nan TO man.
Not SO very long ago I was your
prisoner. and when I told you that I
would escape. you only laughed. !
escaped, and am standing here before
you as proof that ! can do what !
say. Count Won werdenstein, how will
you anewer for the mass murder that
you will be responsible fort We have
tried TO avoid conflict"
You speak as IL a mighty army and
navy were ut your elbow! What can
you, a single man, do against the force
back OF me7"
"Then you will not believe me. will
not heed the warning ! give you?
Count, look into your own hearth ],
a single man, have the power to send
you. with all your force. to the bot.
tom OF tho sea. !. alone, plead with
you TO return TO your own land and
let your armies and navies disband,
for II you don't, many will " see
their loved ones again." The count
was impressed by Napoleons sad
voice, but there were many things 10
BIO considered, and. above all else. his
own pride. A thousand deaths would
be easier to account for than the fact
that he. Count Won W%erdenstein, at
the command OF "A single nan In an
odd airship turned homeward and
abandoned the invasion OF America.
NNhan Ia. aNAuA shAra xgou htftatnaoN
In his voice:
"Mr. Edison, something tells me
that you can do ms you say. I know
that. yet / viii forget II until = arrive
on American shores; l will not hest
tate for n second. | will 90 forward
10 win or die. II there Is only one
chance In n million. ] will try IL. Nc
shame shan besmlrch the name Of
Werdenstoin."
II am sorry, Count o Werdonsteln
but we must defend our country ant
liberty. l viii now remove the flag O
truce and return 10 America and from
this second on you a consider m'
an enemy"
lie closed the window. touched
lever and with n mighty beat OF thu
flexible wings tho machine ascende,
at least Il hundred feet.
The count looked after Napoleon
His face was pale AS he hurriedly de
seconded TO tho bridge.
The eagle fingered above the righI
wing OF the first line of dreadnoughts
Napoleon could infilct any damage h'
chose. He could almost count thu
number of men aboard each vessel
Werdenstein gave hurried orders. ant
watched eagerly for their execution.
A few minutes later two armores
monoplanes glided up from the flag
ship and turned toward the eagle.
Napoleon must have suspected theiI
Intention, for he circled higher ant
higher up. The bats followed th'
eagle; each m%onoplane carried foul
men, each OF whom carried small call
Der. mitrelious bombs and other am
munition OF war.
Still the eagle went higher an'
, higher. lowering above the north win
/ OF the long line Of war boats. Il wa
SO high now that II appeared only
speck TO the naked eye. The plane
assembled In a spiral. and they wer'
] far behind. The eagle turned and LEI
! the two planes along the line. lea tn,
3 flagship. II descended quickly an
made a dip similar to the swoop o
! the eagle on Its prey that caused tn
thousands of spectators to believe |
was falling. but before II touched tn
I water It darted forward and skimme
/, the waves, its great wings touchin
q the water occasionally.
Napoleon watched the enemies VIII
7 we're now above him. One had droppe
several bombs. but none had touche
the swiftly moving aerodromone. A tur
OF the wheel caused the eagle to max
q circle before the Brigitta. then
went higher and higher until Z
reached the two monoplanes. Befor
Napoleon knew what they were abo,
the two planes had opened fire; b
was 30 close 10 them that the bullet
r fell On his aerodromone like hail. tn
result was surprising. The deadly mi