Williams news., 1914-04-16
T hope ft will cease forever" inter

hope 1t will cease forever" inter rupted Miss Prudent. The element that ring is made of will drive 1t from land and from sea, | but carries 1t into the air" But if no one knows the secret?" There are no secrets, Miss Pru- | dent; there are many things we don't know yet. but there are no secrets. Nature is an open book to those who can read and understand" Again you are right, MT. Edison" /"
 Then. with your permission, I will go. I hope that the service I am of. fer1ng to our continent will be accept I ed as freely as I am offering it." I T can assure you of that, as the nominee for the presidential chair" !" She offered her hand again and Napo- leon Edison kissed 1t reverently. He | bowed once more and started toward the door. Miss Prudent hesitated a moment-a question was on her lips but as she hesitated it was too late i; | the visitor was gone.
 "Cirynith- she sighed, more than uttered, and looked at the chair that had a short moment ago held that splendid man.
 It seemed to her as though the stranger had carried away something l-something ?-what? She did not know. She sat down before the desk and taking the ring in her hand looked at 1t, and finally she slipped 1t on her finger. It fitted perfectly. Then she looked at it more closely and saw some small tracings on it She could not distinguish the lines with her unaided eyes, so took mag nifytng glass and examined 1t curious ly. A cry of joy left her lips as she deciphered the strange word "Ciry- nith."
 By some coincidence Napoleon Edi- son, emerging from the portal, again encountered the man he had met three days before; the only difference was that this time he was leaving and Am | brosio Hale was coming. The tall man with those ferret-like eyes, fox nose and brittle mustache was evidently surprised. AS he passed the porter's gate he asked who the stranger was. The porter could not remember, but 1t was a name that made him think of Napoleon; whether it was Bonaparte or Caesar he could not recall.
 MT. Hale was received in the green room.
 Astra had peculiar dislike for that color, not in nature, but in furnish ings and clothing, and generally re ceived people she did not like in the green room. That room had a de- pressing effect on her mentality, and the people who visited her there soon left.
 T have come this time, my dear As tra, to congratulate. you. I wanted to be the first. You are nominated by the continentalists, and there is no doubt but you will be elected ;~ there is hardly any opposition on the sec up against you, my dear Astral" He pressed the hand of the girl warmly. He knew that he had Co win her love or he would never reach the goal he was longing for.
 T wish you would consider me your very best friend, my dear. Consult me any time you please. Your wisdom and judgment is great. The whole continent is looking at you as the deliverer; still, once in while the word of an experienced statesman will help"
 Indeed, MT. Hale, I assure you that if I ever need your kindly offered help I will call on you"
 The intimate conversation did not last long, as other visitors arrived and | spoiled Ambrosio Hale's ardently longed for opportunity. Before Astra fell asleep, she kissed the glittering ring on which the word Cirynith was faintly engraved. That evening Napoleon Edison, ac- companied by his short friend, sat in compartment of the fourteen-hour Frisco limited, flying toward the West; the train that was shot through the tube by compressed air was so perfect | that not a rumble was heard, or. . | quiver felt.
 spread plan showing an object of pc | culiar construction. His companion watched him for a while, then fell ! asleep. Edison looked at the fat mans holding head, and turned the light lower. so that 1t fell only on his blueprints.
 He sat studying those lines that ran straight, curved and oblique; they formed a picture that was not intend ed-the outlines, the details of a se- rene, strong face-Astra's.
 The train shot steadily toward the Golden Gate.
 fTo BE CONTINUED