Ceredo advance. [volume], June 02, 1915, Image 6

About Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939

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SERIAL
STORY_
The
Isolated
Continent
A Romance of the
Future
By
Guido von Horvath
and Dean Hoard
SYNOPSIS.
For fifty years the continent of North
•America had been loolater] from the rent
of the world by the use of Z-ray*. a won
derful Invention of Hannibal Prudent.
The Invention had aavel the country
TroJn foreign Invasion, and the continent
had been unite*! under one government
with Prudent as president. For half a
^ntury peace and prosperity reigned In
this part of the world. The storv opens
with President Trudent critically 111. His
death is hastened by the receipt of a
message from Count von Werdensteln of
Oermany that he has at lost succeeded In
penetrating the rays. Dying, lie warns
nls daughter Astra that this means a for
Invasion. He tells her to hurry to
the Island of Clrynlth. but dies before he
J"nn tell the location of the place Astra
l* nominated for the presidency by the
continental party.
CHAPTER III.
The Ring.
Thursday afternoon at four o'clock
the clay abode of the man whoso death
was mourned by the continent re
turned to ashes. The mournful pro
cession started toward the cremato
rium from the chapel of the Crvstal
Palace. Hardens had been devastated
to furnish flowers; the streets were
carpeted with blooms. Immediately
following the coffin rode his only rela
tive, the daughter of Hannibal Pru
dent, In an open carriage.
Her pale face epokn of sleepless
nights and many tears, but her eyes \
now were dry, her classic face calm
and her carriage like that of a queen
And a queen she was. not by the right
of birth or inheritance, but by the
divine might that inhabited her superb
body.
Astra's mind was dazed frr?m the
loss of sleep and the pomp of the fu
neraj ceremony, and her nerves were
well-nigh exhausted by the time she
arrived at her crystal home. As she
slowly mounted the steps her loss over
whelmed her; she had not fully real
ized it before. She went at onco to
her boudoir, locked the door and,
throwing herself on a couch, sobbed
bitterly. Her mind reverted to the
past when the great man she had lost
had played with the little girl of five
years—with her; he was an old man
even then; but oh. how dearly she had
loved him.
Her meditations were terminated ab
ruptly by the entrance of old John,
who brought the card of Napoleon Edi
son. ”1 promised to recelvo him, did
I not?”
Indeed, madam,” bowed the serv
ant.
She thought for a moment.
'‘Take him to my father’s library; I
"will see him there.”
V* hen Napoleon Rdison entered the 1
room he found Astra sitting before the
broad desk. He Btoppod before her
w'ifh a low bow.
‘I have ihe honor to greet you, Miss
Prudent.”
The girl looked Into the fare of the
tall, handsome man and saw in his
large gray eyes an immeasurable cour
age. The strong, wellshaped nose
■curved over a pleasant mouth that
softened the stern expression of the
eyeg The high, broad forehead was
• haded by dark brown hair. The broad
• houlders and the sinewy, muscular
form all gave evidence of strength,
endurance and energy.
The girl did not answer for a few sec
onds; some strange power had cart Its
• pell over her while she studied this
man. She recognized him as the man
who had talked so prophetically at the
contlnentallsts' meeting In the old Hip
podrome.
flood evening, Mr. Edison." she said
at last in her low pleasant voice. The
man thought It the sweep it voice he
had ever heard Then she added;
"Will you kindly he seated'"
The young man sat down without
speaking, and Astra asked "You
wished to see me; may I ask you, sir,
why?”
The expressive face of the voting
man showed a shade of disappoint
ment as he replied fjtilckly
"I was under the Impression that
you expected me, madam, but It < ems
that 1 have been misled However, f
can fell my mission In a P w words.”
He rested his eyes on the girl s face
and seemed still expectant, but the
cairn, beautiful fn< ■« did not change
He continued
"The main object of my rail it this "
He took a small Jewel box from his
pocket, and, opening it, placed it on
the desk before Astra Resting on the
purple pad In the box was a sparkling
white object, a small ring In the form
of a spiral; one piece of scroll woven
Info a shape that formed fh« •■tter
"A" to take the place of flu Jewel.
No Jewel decorated the ring; the
material It was made of was more bril
liant. than diamonds; It sparkled in all
the colors of the rainbow, notwith
standing its smooth surface
Astra could not repress an exclama
tion of surprise "Ah, how beautiful!”
She leaned ovpr the desk Admiring
the weaving colors.
Edison shilled slightly and waited un
til the girl was ready to turn from the
dazzling ring to him. She took the
ring in her hand and saw that, it waH
as transparent, clear and colorless as
crystal; without that sparkling efTect
It would have been Invisible.
She slowly laid It down again and
looked questloningly at the man sit
ting before her. She did not know
that while she was admiring the ring
his eyes had rested on her yearningly,
expressing love and admiration. Or
was it adoration?
He smiled strangely at her and said:
"If I read your questioning gaze aright,
you want to know the meaning of
my gift, a gift that I have brought,
from afar for the daughter of Hanni
bal Prudent." He placed a peculiar
accent on the last four words.
"I thank you, sir. very much," she
replied.
"It is a present for you. and through
you to the whole American continent."
Astra'H face expressed surprise.
“I will have to be more explicit. I
will have to tell you more about It.
May I ask you to let me have the ring
for a moment?"
She handl'd It to Edison with a gra.
clous movement of her slender hand.
He took It from her, and. grasping It
firmly with both hands, he pulled It
apart; It yielded like rubber and
jumped hack to ita former size when
he released It. Then he let It drop
on the polished desk; it sounded like
glass.
"What do you think of that. Miss
Prudent?”
"It is wonderful.”
"Indeed it is, and more: It carries
the solution of aerial navigation, mak
ing the aerial crafts as safe as your
chair. It makes war on land or sea
absolutely Impossible. It strikes the
word ‘distance’ from the dictionary.
What do you think of it?”
Astra’H face took on an expression
full of faith and thankfulness; her eyes
eeemed to look far up to the power
that moves worlds and creates new
stars
‘You—you have come to our aid;
jHiace and happiness will still reign
over our continent. God has sent you
to me in this trying moment.”
Tear drops trembled on her long eye
lashes like drops of dew on a flower.
When the moment of enthueiam had
passed they sat again calmly opposite
to each other. This time Astra spoke:
“My dear Mr. Edison! You have
not proved what you claim can be
done, but the way you said It con
vinced roe that you have the power to
do it. In other words, I trust you and
believe in you implicitly. Women
know much by instinct, and my intui
tion has never led me astray.
‘ I recognized you at once as the man
who spoke at the Continentaliste’
meeting, trying to encourage the
masses and give them heart to brave
approaching events.
"As you know, the Continentallsts
have nominated me because I was the
daughter of the man who made this
continent what it is today. Now that
4 have found a man who promises as
great tilings a6 you do I shall not ac
cept this nomination, but will insist
upon you as a candidate.”
Napoleon Edison shook his head
with a smile.
“Miss Prudent. I appreciate what
you say, but none must know about
our present conversation, I have done
nothing hut give you a jewel. The
other things remain to be proved.”
Astra looked thoughtfully at the
visitor and seemed to agree.
Resides,” continued Edison, “it is
absolutely necessary that no one shall
know what F can do. You will be
elected and inaugurated the 4th of
March this coming year. This is the
15th of September. The isolator now
existing will last until the coming
summer and you will hear from me
between now and then; indeed, you
can depend on me when the crucial
I ^ >
Some Strange Power Had Cast Its
SpeP Over Her While She Studied
the Man.
moment arrives, if you will permit
in*' I will report whenever I ran; that
will tint be Oftrn. 1 will supply you
with Information from time to time
ae to what is point* on on the other
side, and suggestions that you ran use,
if you desire, for defense, should It
prove net» ssary."
Kdlson stopped for a s rond, hit his
Up thoughtfully, then rose.
"f have finished my duty for the
present. You don’t know, Vflss I'm
dent, how much I appreciate the fart
that you look upon my Intentions with
approval, Intuitively knowing that
they are noble and the outgrowth of
your father’s teachings. 1 am sorry I
came too late to tell him the good
news- that war is destined to lose Its
foothold throughout the world.1'
"I hope It wTTl cease forever,” Inter
rupted Miss Prudent.
"The element that ring is made of
will drive It from land and from sea,
but carries it 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, Mr. Edison.”
"Then, with your permission, I will
go. 1 hope that the service I am of
fering to our continent will be accept
ed as freely as I am offering it."
"I 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
| if1** door. Miss Prudent hesitated a
moment—a question was on her lips—
hut as she hesitated It wu* too late;
the visitor was gone.
t’irynith—Cirynith!" she sighed,
more than uttered, and looked at the
chair that had n short moment ago
hold that splendid man.
It seemed to her as though the
Btranger had carried away something
—something?—what? She did not
know She sut down before the desk
and taking the ring in her hand looked
at it, and finally she. slipped it on her
finger. It fitted perfectly.
T hen shp looked at It more closely
and saw some small tracings on It
She could not distinguish the lines
with her unaided eyes, so took a mag
nlfylng glass and exumlne.d it curious
ly. A cry of Joy left her lips as she
! deciphered the slrange word "CMry
nith."
By some coincidence Naiioleon Edi
son, emerging from the portal, again
1 encountered the man he had met three
days before; the only difference was
that this t'me he was leaving and Am
I brosio Hale was coming.
The? tall man with those ferret-like
i eye«, fox nose and brittle1 mustache
was evidently surprised., As he passed
the porter’s gate he? asked who the*
1 stranger was. The porte?r could not
remember, hut it was a name that
made him think of Napoleon; whethor
it was Bonaparte or Caesar he could
! not recall.
Mr. Hale.* was received in the green
room.
Antra had a peculiar dislike for that
j color, not in nature, hut in furnish
ings and clothing, and generally re
ceived people ehe did not like in the
green room. That room had a de
pressing effect on her mentality, and
I Hie people who visited her there soon
left.
I have come this time, my dear As
tra, to congratulate you. ! wanted to
be the first. You are nominated by
. the continentalists, and there is no
| doubt but you will be elected; there
j Is hardly any opposition on the sec
i tionists* part. Whom could they put
; up against you, my dear Astra?"
He pressed the hand of the girl
warmly, lie knew that he had to win
her love or he would never reach the
goal he was longing for.
I wish you would consider me your
i very best friend, my dear. Consult me
; any time you please. Your wisdom
| and judgment iH great. The whole
continent is looking at you as the
deliverer; still, once in a while the
word of an experienced statesman will
help.”
"Indeed, Mr. Hale. I assure you lhr»t
if I over need your kindly offered he lp
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
t'irynith was faintly engraved.
That evening Napoleon Edison, ac
companied by his short friend, sat in
a compartment of the fourteen-hour
Frisco limited, flying toward the West.;
the train that, was shot through the
lube by comprised air was ho perfect
that not a rumble was heard, or a
quiver felt.
Napoleon Edison bent over an out
spread plan showing an object of pe
culiar construction. His companion
watched him for a while, then foil
asleep. Edison looked at the fat
man's nodding head, and turned the
light lower, so that It fell only on his
blueprints.
lie 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
Holden Hate.
fTO BE CONTINt" ED.)
Bound to Have His Joke.
■Token al>oiit the slowness of frnfn*.
especially here in the south, said an
Atlanta railway man, alxo tire mo a b>t
by their ancientness; hut I heard a
new and good one not long ago. I*
seem* that trains are always slow and
far between on a branch line in .Mis
tsisslppl Nobody kno«‘ rti 1h better
than the people at the Junction, except
I the people on the line Itself One day
fh< newsdealer came to trie grinning
A fellow from the other end of tty*
line Juk* said a funny thing," he re
marked. "He had missed his train
and there wasn't another for two
hours He came to my stall to buy
Koine reading matter to while away
the time He asked for a Jok* book,
and I didn't have any. Then In- poked
| around for a while and sold: ‘Weil.
I guess I'll take a time table in*
stead' ' -Judge.
Hug* Electric Furn«c*r
If Is expected that *he electrical fur.
naces of the American Iron and Steel
, company, at Lebanon, Pa.. will b* jn
full operation In the course of a year
I'he furnaces will be of from 20 to 25
tons capacity, and be the largest plant
pant of the Kind In the country. There
will also be standard blooming and
. billet mills, with an annual capacity
i of 80,000 tona.
OHIO WOMAN RECOVERS
AFTER STOMACH TORTURE
Mrs. Nora Britton is well known In
Caldwell. O., where she has lived for
some time. Her many friends, who
know' the suffering she has endured
from stomach trouble are marveling
at the sudden and astonishing im
provement in her condition.
Mrs. Britton credits her good for
tune to a trial of Mayr’s Wonderful
Remedy, and describes her experience
as follows:
"For four years I suffered, no one
knows what. I had six doctors but
received no benefit. One said it was
catarrh of the Btomach, another rec
ommended an operation. I had given
up all hope when I saw an advertise
ment of Mayr’s Wonderful Remedy
and decided to try it- Thank God. re
lief came at last. I can’t say enough
for it. I am pleased and thankful. I
am recommending it to every person
I meet, suffering with this ailment.”
Mayr's Wonderful Remedy gives per
manent resdlts for stomach, liver and
intestinal ailments. Eat qb much and
whatever you like. No more distress
after eating, pressure of gas in the
stomach and around the heart. Get one
bottle of your druggist now and try it
on an absolute guarantee- If not satis
factory money will be returned.—Adv.
His Overtime.
*r see you claim one hour’s over
time, Bill,” said the master of the mill.
"How’s that? I thought no one worked
overtime this week.”
Bill passed a horny hand across his
mouth.
"Quite right, guv’nor.” he replied.
'One hour’s mo due.”
The master regarded him suspi
ciously.
"Come, when was it?” he inquired.
“I.ast Thursday.” responded Bill. "I
was sent up to your owu ’ouse to ’elp
shake the carpets.”
"Yes; I remember that distinctly,”
cut in the boss; "but you got off at six
sharp.”
“Ah, that's true, guv'nor. rs far as
it goes,” assented the man; "but your
missus give me a ’alf a meat pie to
take 'onip, an' that there hour is for
bringln* the dish back!”—Saille Her
rick. Ontario
Fathoms Deep.
The boy yawned over his geography.
“How deep is the ocean?" he in
quired. pointing to the center of the
Paciiic.
“Thousands of fathoms, my son—
thousands.”
“Well, how much is a fathom?”
"A fathom is—er—er—are you look
ing at the Pacific? Well, your Uncle
Karl years ago was shipwrecked in the
Pacific and the pirates came out after
him, and the cannibals—but I’m too
busy now to tell you the story. Run
along to bed.”
Heir. Not a Gale.
The guide suddenly halted the party
of Americans.
“Ah, there comes the heir to the
throne,” he said, removing his hat as
a royal equipage appeared.
The little boy of the party nudged
his mother and whispered:
"Did ho take off his hat for fear the
air would blow it off?”
Every spinster knows of at least a
dozen men who might have married
her If—
Canada is Callin&Yba
to her RiehWheat Lands
She extends to Americans a hearty in
vitation to settle on her FREE Home
stead lands of 160 acres each or secure
some of the low priced lands in Mani
toba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
This year wheat is higher but Canadian land just
as cheap, so the opportunity is more attractive than
ever. Canada wants you to help to feed the world
by tilling some of her soil—land similar to that
which during many years has averaged 20 to 45
bushels of wheat to the acre. Think what you
, can make with wheat kround $1 a bushel and
land so easy to get. Wonderful yields aJso of
Oats. Barley and Flax. Mixed farming
is fully as profitable an industry as grain
growing.
The Government this year is asking
farmers to put increased acreage into
grain. Military service is not com
pulsory in Canada but there is a great demand for farm labor to replace the many
young men who have volunteered for service. The climate is healthful and
agreeable, railway facilities excellent, good schools and churches convenient.
Write for literature and particulars as to reduced railway rates to Superintendent
Immigration, Ottawa, Canada, or to
ALMOST MADE HIM MISS IT
Of Course Wife Was to Blame Be
cause Opportunity Nearly Got
Away From the Man.
Opportunity knocked twice at the
man's door and was about to knock a
third time when the door was hurried
ly opened by a woman.
“Where is the man?” said Opportu- ]
nlty. "Come*. I've no time to lose."
“You're the very one he's looking
for.” said the woman. “Hut— he’s oc
cupied.”
“You’re his wife, aren’t you, Tell
him to come."
“He won’t believe me. He’ll think
I’m mistaken. He’ll think you are
someone else.”
“Oh, please don't go. I’ll tell him.
I’ll try to convince him who you are.
Give me a little time.”
“That Isn’t my fault. I’ve done my
duty. Good-day.”
Just at this moment the man rushed
out and grabbed Opportunity. Then
he turned roughly to his wife.
“Why didn’t you let me know she
was knocking?” he said. “Why, she
almost got away. Just like you!"—
Life.
Not Asking Much.
“So you are ambitious to have a
little garden?’’
"Yes."
“You ought to get a lot of pleasure
out of it.”
“I don’t expect to get any pleasure
out of it, but if I can get a few beets
and turnips in return for a great deal
of hard work I’ll be satisfied "
Her Objection.
“So Maude has come back from the
front as a Itcd Cross nurse?”
"Yes, indeed. She said if she did
all tHe horrid things they wanted her
to do, she would have been a perfect
sight whenever the photographers for
the papers came around. So she quit."
It is a custom among the women of
Java to chew betel nuts, which dis
colors the teeth, giving them the look
of black varnish.
SUBJECT FOR BILL NYE’S WIT
Humorist Made Bright Verse Out of
Question Theatrical People Come
to Dread.
Anybody connected with the amuse
ment world will tell you that the dead
liest and moat maddening question is.
“Where do you go from here?” Bill
Nye, touring the country with James
Whitcomb Riley, had a great many
one-night stands to visit, and came to
suffer acutely through the insistent
repetition of this booh query. At last
ho wrote the appended verse, which,
it is believed, never found life la
print:
“Where do you go from here?”
asks the landlord of our hotel.
And “Where do you go from here?"
asks the boy who answers the bell.
And “Where do you go from here.*
Oh! Lord, aad “Where do you go from
here?”
Till In fancy we stand at the last com
mand, quaking with suddc-n fear.
And St. Peter says, “Oh, you’re those
lecturers. Where do you go from
here?"
A Tale Often Told.
“Society is just now alllicted with
a new species of bore.”
“Still another?”
"It’s the young woman who tells
everybody site meets how the war in
Europe prevented her iron- finishing
her musical education.”
Accoyntlng for Tastes
Bacon—I see expert French butter
tasters claim they can perceive the
flavor of the soil over which cattle
feed.
Egbert—Must have sort of a taste
of shrapnel now’. ,
Just That.
"That fellow certainly can make a
great speech.”
“That so? Then why doesn’t he?”
It makes some men almost as mad
to have people tell 11<A; about them as
It does If they tell the truth.
An engagement ring is a girl's id*#
of a round of pleasure.
Hello Daddy
Please don’t forget to bring home some
Post Toasties
and I’ll have a good hug and kiss for you.
Grocers everywhere sell Post Toasties
W. S. NETHEBY, Room 02, In.
ternrban Sin. Bldg., Columbus, O.
Canadian Government A Kent.