Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1913-12-19
CHAPTER XIX.

The Garden of Eden.
Napoleon and Astra kept the flight
of the Countess Rosiny and the disap-
en- sunshine. They reached an enor-
nous height, then Santos reversed the
machine, turned off the power and
they slid downward. Rositta stood
by his side, embracing him with one
arm. In her exuberance she reached
up with her free hand and pulled the
lever that emptied the brass recep-
tacle; binding flash came, striking
downward, zigzagging through the
clouds, and mighty thunder echoed
through space.
She realized her might, and in that
moment of intoxicating delight she
dreamed a dream-she saw herself as
the ruler of the world.
How long will it take to have twen-
ty machines like this, Santos?" asked
Rositta, eagerly.
Five or six months, my queen!"
Then, then we will see." Her eyes
glittered strangely with fire that was
not love.
When they landed on the spot from
where they ascended, the Emperor of
Germany handed Santos Duprel the
parchment with the great imperial
seal attached, and said: Count Won
Duprel, want to be the first to con-
gratulate you"
An hour later the newly made Count
Won Duprel was receiving the matri-
monial blessing from the court vicar.
pearance Of Santos Duprel secret
Even Mrs. Edison did not know that
Rositta had left.
Astra watched Napoleon's thought
full face with some apprehension. At
times he would sit gazing into space,
entirely oblivious to his surroundings.
Rositta's flight had made him aware
Of the harm that could come to his be-
loved country.
Their honeymoon had been short, as
neither could be absent from their
posts long. The following week Astra
returned to her presidential duties and
Napoleon to his aerodromone.
Shortly after their return he talked
long and seriously with his wife. Then
the American Eagle left the roof of
the Crystal Palace and flew toward
the west. He stopped at Ciryne and
questioned Sullivan, and found that
Santos and Rositta had left the aero
dromone in Russia. So he knew that
they had, by this time, perfected their
plans, and the fact that Rositta signed
herself as the Princess of Schomburg
Lithow alone made it plain that they
would try to take warfare into the air.
Jerome Whistler was at the labora-
tory and Napoleon give him instruc-
lions. He inspected the stock OF avail
able cirynith, then spent many hours
over his drawing table, but when he
was through with his work began to
whistle a pleasant melody. Rolling
up his drawings. he said In low,
exultant voice: This will come as a
surprise"
He called Jerome Whistler and
turned the drawings over to him. 1t
was an aerodromone.
Il am glad we have enough material
to do this, friend Whistler; besides,
we will have enough left over for other
purposes"
Napoleon returned to the capital to
report and advise Astra that he would
make a longer trip for reconnoitering
purposes. He left that evening. He
visited Suemeg, and there saw what
he expected to see. People were
busily at work. making the peak like
an Immense ant hill. He saw Santos
emerge from one building and walk
across the plain to another, and the
knew. then, that Santos had betrayed
him; that aerodromones would fight
against aerodromones in Gods clear,
pure air.
He was sad that the man whom he
had trusted SO implicitly had turned
traitor at the instigation of the count.
ess.
Satisfied that his surmise was cor.
rect, he turned homeward and after
a short conference with Astra left
again. This time he traversed the Pa.
cific coast of the Americas. Starting
from Mexico, he went southwark
watching his electro-spectroscope in.
cessantly, while he circled over the
volcanic regions Of the Andes.
Day after day he continued his
search, going farther and farther
south, always near the OCEAN. His