The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1913-11-27

nothing happened. His American spies
reported that Napoleon could not be
located.
Two weeks later he received news
that there was some uneasiness felt In
Washington IN regard to the inexpli-
cable absence Of Napoleon Edison.
These reports wore repeated day after
day.
What did this mean? The Count
Won Werdenstein was unable to think
OF reason for the absence. but he
was not the only one who was puzzled.
There were many who would have CIV
IN much to know what had become OF
Napoleon Edison.
His absence 1t first had been unno-
ticed, ~ Astra felt that he would re-
turn at any hour. and turned aside
the questions But when the third
week began. and still they had no
word from him, she could not bear 1t
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 ~ well
a. do that he will come as soon a.
he can. fear he has had an acci-
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.
Rositta was one who was really
banned 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 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 devilish
plan to destroy his bare 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-
structed; bomb of such size that its
explosion would cause genuine earth
quake. Great quantities of the high
est grade explosives were to be placed
in a large metal shell, which would be
dropped on the Island of Ciryne and
blow 1t into space.
Ciryne was Napoleon's laboratory;
there were his aerodromones kept,
and If these we're destroyed, he never
would be able to gain the victory. The
fact that Napoleon's mother and all
his mechanics were to be destroyed
did not influence Rosittas plans in the
least.
Seven weeks went by. The situation
was the same, except that the fotilla
of twenty aerodromones was ready at
Suemeg and its crew was practicing
maneuvers day after day. They we're
working on one more machine, as Ro-
sitta was superstitious, believing that
the number twenty-one was her lucky
one.
The European monarchs had all
signed decree demanding the right
OF restoring 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-
fused the European countries would
act according to their own convictions.
No mention was made of the aerodro-
none feet, but American secret
agents had discovered the existence of
this feet and shrewd reporter on
the Hourly Stylograph managed to
gain the information. Whole pages
advertised the fact that it was ready
to swoop down upon the American
continent and conquer It. Then the
rival papers took 1t 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.
(TO BE CvNTINUED)