The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-09-15

For fifty years the continent of North
America had been isolated from the rest
OF the world by the use of Trays, Won
derful invention of Hannibal Prudent
The invention had saved the country
from foreign invasion. and the continent
had been united under one government
with Prudent as president For half a
century peace and prosperity reigned in
this part of the world. The story opens
with President Prudent critically Ill. His
death is FASTENED by the receipt of a
message from Count Won Werdensteln Of
Germany that he has at last succeeded in
his daughter Astra that this means for
eign invasion. He tells her to hurry to
the Island Of Ciryne. but dies before he
can tell the location Of the place. Astra
continental party. Napoleon Edison calls
on Astra, informs her that he was a pu-
Pill OF her fathers, and promises to help
her. He gives her a ring made of a new
" discovered substance which, he says,
VIII solve the problem of flying. Cheval-
Ter di Leon appears in Europe. He calls
on Won Werdenstein and offers him the
secret Of making gold in return for abso-
lutte disarmament and peace. The cheval-
Ter Is suspected of being an American.
He is seized at night and carried off in
an aTeoplane Astra is inaugurated as
president. She receives a message from
Edison. whose long silence has worried
her, that he has been a prisoner for two
months or the island of Helgoland and
has just escaped. He announces that the
confederated feet of Europe has sailed
Tor America He promises to call on her
the following night Countess Rosiny
spy, becomes a prisoner in hope of secur-
ing NapOleon's secret. She falls in love
with him, She agrees to join him in an
attempt to escape. By the use of fire.
works he summons a curious flying ma
rhine which resembles a monster eagle.
He ESCAPES and sends his message to
Astfa Edison calls on Astra as promised.
ne tells her his plans for defense have
oee9 completed but that he will give fun,
of, Ctryne in the Pacific. They make the
trip in three hours. His plans are based
on the. popularity Of the new substance.
cirynith which is lighter than any known
The Europeans succeed in passing the
iine Of Isolation. but find that the Ameri-
cans have established a second one. Ed
son delvers a note to Won Werdenstein
In his flagship demanding that the fleet
De Withdrawn. Edison is attacked, but
ny the use of some mysterious power he
destroys two warships and several aero
planes. Realizing his helplessness Wer-
denstein witAdraws hts fleet and consents
To universal disarmament Edison's moth
er ts III on the island Of Ciryne. Countess
Rosiny offers to go and comfort her, hop
ing to discover Edison's secrets. She be-
gins to weave a net around Santos Du-
prel, EdIson's assistant The countess
gets letter from Werdenstein offering
ner the princedom OF Schomburg- Lithow
for Edison's secret. Edison and Santos
start in search OF new deposit of ciryn-
tn, their supply being almost exhausted
They find II on the estate of Schon burg
lAthow. The countess finally gets Santos
into her clutches. She gets another letter
from Werdenstein asking her to find out
why Edison is interested IN the Schom-
burg estate. Edison applies personally to
Werdenstein with an offer for the prop
ertv, but gets no satisfaction. Astra and
Edison set the date for their wedding.
Werdenstein gets letter from the coun-
tess. promising to reveal Edison's secrets
her ~