The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-06-16

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 II 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, Mr.. Edison
Then. with your permission. ! will
go. | hope that the service / am Of
fering to our continent will be accept
ed as freely as am offering it."
Il can assure you of that, as the
nominee for the presidential chair.
She offered her hand again and Napo-
leon Edison kissed it reverently. He
bowed once more and started toward
the door. Miss Prudent hesitated
moment-a question was on her lips
but as she hesitated 1t was too late;
the visitor was gone.
"Cirynith- Cirynith!" she sighed
more than uttered, and looked at the
chair that had short moment ago
held that splendid man.
1t seemed to her as though the
stranger had carried away something
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 It on her
finger. 1t fitted perfectly.
Then she looked at 1t more closely
and saw some small tracings on 1T
She could not distinguish the lines
with har unaided eyes, 80 took mag
nifying glass and examined It curious.
ly. A cry of Joy left her lips as she
deciphered the strange word "Ciry.
NTH"
BY some coincidence Napoleon Ed
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
stranger was. The porter could NOT
remember but 1t was a name that
made him think of Napoleon; whethe}
it was Bonaparte or Caesar he coil
not recall
Mr.. Hale was received in the greer
room.
Astra had peculiar dislike for thai
color, not In nature but in furniah
ings and clothing, and generally te
ceived people she did not like in the
green room. That room had DO
pressing effect on her mentality. abb
the people who visited her there soah
left.
81 have come this time, my dear A.
ira, to congratulate you. ! wanted 10
be the first You are nominated by
the continentalists, and there is DO
doubt but you will be elected; th4e
; Ia hardly any opposition on the SIC.
tionists' part. Whom could they I
UP against you, my daar ~ ~
He pressed the hand Of the Ygirl
warmly. He knew that he had to WIN
her love or he would never reach the
goal he was longing for
Il wish you would consider me YOUR
very best friend, my dear. Consult lbe
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, Mr. Hale. ! assure you that
if ever need your kindly offered help
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 family engraved.
That evening Napoleon Edison, &C.
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 rumble was heard, or .
culver felt.
Napoleon Edison bent over an out
spread plan showing an object of pc
culiar construction. His companion
watched him for while, then fell
asleep. Edison looked at the fat
mans nodding head, and turned tht
light lower, so that it fell only on his
blueprints.
straight, curved and oblique; theJ
formed picture that was not intend
ed-the outlines, the details Of a Sc
rene, strong face-Astra's.
The train shot steadily toward thu
Golden Gate.
(TO BE CoNTINUED.)