Pittston Gazette

              F.*tulDli»llt-Cl 18*D0. i Vol. XLVII, No. .(H. I Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Valley. PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY, PA., FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1897. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. j #1 .OO per Year i in Advance. bo your prisoner is a pleasure to be remembered. " [^eoSiimeMtoaKBracw^ AUTHOR ?WMITE MARIE•~7 rD:^^: " "almost persuapc feet. Speechless with wonder and with quickly beating hearts, they stumbled .forward over the uneven road till they reached the shore of the lake. The water *as so clear and still that the moon and stars were reflected in it as if in a great mirror. drew a curtain down oehino tiiera, ana, with a vexed look on his face, retired. CHAPTER III though it had been handled with extreme care, the captives could see that it was vibrating considerably, and the room was filled with a low metallic sound that uot only affected the ear of the hearer, but set every nerve to tingling. The medical mau stopped the sound by laying his hand upou the bell. To a tube in the top of the bell he fastened one end of a rubber pipe. The other fiid was finished with a silver device shaped like the mouthpiece of a speaking tube. This he firmly pressed over the Englishman's heart. Thorndyke winced and bit his lip, for the strange thing took hold of bis flesh with the tenacity of a powerful Buction J onus ton mane no repiy, lor captain Tradmos turned suddenly and faced them. except geography." Nothing more was said for several minutes; then an exclamation of admiration broke from the Englishman. The color of the sunlight was changing. From east to west within the entire arc of their observation rolled an endless billow of lavender light, leaving a placid sea of the same color behind it. On it swept, slowly driving back the pink glow that had been over everything. When be was gone, Johnston put his j'ips close to Tborndyke's ear and whispered:"What is it, Thorndyke? What are you looking at?" And the American slowly left the bed and approached his "Till our heads are cut off, auyway," put in the irrepressible American. Tradmos smiled good buuioredly. "I shall leave you now," he said. And, with a bow, he withdrew. "Stand here till I return," he eaid, and he went back into the house. r\o "Did you see that?" "See what?" friend. "Where in the deuce do you think we are?" pursued Thorndyke, with a grim smile. Thorndyke only held the curtain farther back and watched Johnston's face as he looked through the wide plate glass window. "Look at that," exclaimed Thorndyke, pointing down into the depths. "What can that be?" "This is an adventure iu earnest," whispered Johnston. "My stars! What can they intend to do with us?" "Just as he drew the curtain down I saw what looked to me like a cliff ef solid gold. It bad been dug out into a cavern in which I saw a vessel like this and men in diving suits digging aud loading it." "Haven't the slightest idea," sighed Johnston, and he shuddered as he looked down the long wide street, with its borders of human faces. Johnston fellowed Thorndyke's finger with his eyes. At first he thought that it was a comet moving across the sky and reflected in the water, but on glancing above he saw bis mistake. It looked at first like a great ball of fire rolling along the bottom of the lake, with a stream of flame in its wake. "One of the first things will be to take us down to the bottom of this lake where we saw them awhile ago, and I don't fancy it at all. What if this blasted glass case should burst? We may have dropped into a den of outlaws on a gigantic scale, and it may be necessary to put us out of the way to keep our mouths closed." "My gracious!" ejaculated the latter as lie drew nearer. It was a v curircu* scene. The building in which they were imprisoned stood on a gentle hiil clad in luxuriant, smoothly cut grass and ornamented with beautiful fkmeis and plants, and below lay a splendid city— a city built 011 uudulatiug ground, with innumerable grand structures of whito marble, with turrets, domes and pinnacles of gold. Wide streets paved in polished stoue and bordered with lush green grass interspersed with statues and beds and mounds of strange plants and flowers stretched away iu front of them till they were lost in the dim, misty distance. Parks filled with pavilions, pleasure lakes, fountains and tortuous drives and walks dotted the landscape in all directiona "I see you like our sunlight?" said Tjadmos half interrogatively. ' 'Never saw anything like it before." "Yours is, 1 think, Hie sauie color all day long.'' This took the Englishman's breath away for a moment; then he remarked: "That accounts for the heel tap we found. Who knows, these people may be possessors of the richest gold and silver miues on earth." Thorndyke was observant ' 'There is not a breath of air stirring," he said, "and yet the atmosphere is like impalpable delicacies to a hungry man's stomach. Look at that big tree. Not a leaf is moving, and yet every breath I draw is as fresh as if it came from a mountain top. Did you ever see such flowers as those? Look at that ocean of orchids." P" Etc. - D• COPVhiOHT. I»97. aY THE MERRIAM COMPANY a- enough." CHAPTER I. "I am played out, too," grunted the The balloon seemed scarcely to move, American, red in the face. "But it though it was slowly sinking toward looks like our only chance. Ugh I She pump. "Except on rainy days." "Must be a great bore, monotonous, too much sameness. It is white, is it not?" "I am hungry and am going to eat," said the American, drawing a cushioned stool up to the table. ' 'Here goes for some of the wine. Remember, it is a sort of breath restorer. I am curious enough not to want to collapse till I have seen this thiug through. He said something about a palace and a king. Where can we be going?" The bell rang again. "We are rising," said Johnston. "If this is the only way of reaching the king's domain, we can never get back to civilization unless they release us of their own accord—that's certain." "Ouch!" he exclaimed playfully, but Johnston saw that he had turned pale and that his face was drawn as if from pain. CHAPTER II. The two men watched it for several minutes. All the time it seemed to be growing larger and brighter till, after awhile, they saw that the light came from something shaped like a ship, sharp at both ends and covered with oval {{lass. As it slowly rose to the surface they saw that it contained five or six men, sitting in easy chairs and reclining on luxurious divans. One of them sat at a sort of pilot wheel aud was directing the course of the strange craft, which was moving as gracefully as a great flsh. "Yes, rather—between white and yellow, I call it." the ocean of white clouds which huug made a big dip then. We'd better let go. betweeu it and the earth. I'll count three, an$ three is the signal. "Hold still!" ordered the medical man. "It will be over in a minute. Now be perfectly quiet and listen to the bell." "They think we are a regular monkey show," grumbled the American. "Look how the crowd is gaping and shoving and fighting for places to see us." "Something like our sixth hour, I suppose. This is the fourth hour of morning. Then come blue, yellow, green and at noon red. The afternoon is divided up in the same way. The first hour is green; then follow yellow, blue, lavender, rose, gray and purple. Yes, I sbovki lUink you would find yours somewhat tiresome." The two iufnates of the car were in- Now, ready—one, two, three!" sensible, their faces were bloodless, Down shot the balloonists, and up their cheeks sunken. They were both bounded the great liberated bag of gas. young aud handsome. Harry Johnston, The basket and dangling ropes swung an American, was as dark and sallow wildly from side to side The aeronauts as a Spaniard. Charles Thorndyke, an ; touched the water feet foremost at the English gentleman, had yellow hair same instant, and iu half a minute they and mustache, blue eyes and a fine, in- rose, uot teu feet apart. tellectual face. Both were tall, athletic "Now for it," spattered Johnston, iu build and well proportioned. shaking bis bushy head like a swim- Johnstou was the fix at to come to con- miug dog. "Look, the shore is not very sciousness as the balloon sank into a less far." ThC rudyke was saving his wind rarefied atmosphere. He opened his eyes and Raid nothiug, but accommodated his dreamily and looked curiously at the stroke to that of his companion, aud white face of his friend iu his lap. i thus they breasted the gently rolling Then he shook him and tried to call bis billows until finally, completely exname, but his lips made no sound, bausted, they climbed up the shelving Drawing himself up a little with a rocks and lay down in the warm sunhand on the edge of the basket, he ' shine. reached for a water jug and sprinkled "Not a very encouraging outlook," Tborndyke's face. In a moment be was said Johnston, rising when his clothing rewarded by seeing the eyes of the lat- was dry and climbing a slight elevater slowly open. tiou. "There is uothing m sight except "Where are we?" asked Thorndyke a waste of stone. Let's go to that point in a whisper. aud look around." "Heavens, isn't it still!" exclaimed the Englishman. "The machinery of this thing moves as noiselessly as the backbone of an eel. I wish I could understaud its works." The Englishman stood motionless, the sinews of his neck drawn and knotted, his eyes starting from their sockets. Thorndyke felt the rubber tube quiver suddenly afld writhe with the slow energy of a dying snake, and then from the quivering bell came a low, gurgling sonud like a stream of water being forced backward aud forward. "It's your legs they want to behold, old fellow. Do you know 1 never knew "Down into the center of the earth, possibly. " And the handsome Englishman moved a stool to the table and took the glass of green colored wine that Johnston pushed toward him. "Some scientists hold that the earth is filled with water instead of lira Who knows where this, blamed thing may uot take us? Here is to a safe return from the amphibious land." yoc had such knotty knee joints. Did you ever have rheumatism? I wish I had 'em. They wouldn't put me to death—they would make me the chief attraction in the royal museum.'' Thorndyke concluded his jest with a laugh, but the face of his friend did not brighten. "I am more concerned about where we are going. I tell you we are being taken to some wonderful place. People who can construct such marvels of mechanical skill as this boat will not be behind in other things; then look at the physiques of those giants." Thorndyke's breath had clouded the glass of the window, and he rubbed it with his handkerchief. As he did so the sash slowly and without a particle of sound slid to one side, disclosing a narrow balcony outside. It had a graceful balustrade, made of carved red and white mottled marble, and on the end of the balcony facing tho city sat a great gold and silver jug, ten feet high, of rare design. The spout was formed by the body of a dragon with wings extended. The handle was a serpent with the extremity of its tail coiled arouud the neck of the jug. "We can rely on it," said Johnston, speaking for the first time and in a wavering voice. "It is always there." "Doing business at the old stand," laughed Thorndyke, attempting an Americanism. Then the young men saw the man at the pilot wheel raise his baud, and from the water came the musical notes of a great bell. The vessel stopped, and one of the men sprang up and raised an instrument that looked like a telescope to his eyes. With this ho seemed to be closely searching the lake shores, for he did not move for several minutes. Then he lowered the instrument, and when the bell had rung again the vessel rose slowly and perpendicularly to the surface and glided to the shore within 20 yards of where the adventurers stood. Tradmos and the medical man stepped to the bell and inspected a small dial on its top. Just then tho man who had drawn down the shade came in and raised it. Both the captives pretended to bo uninterested in his movements, but when he had withdrawn they looked through the glass eagerly. Both drank their wine simultaneously, lowered their glasses at the same instant, and gazed into each other's eyes. "What was that?" gasped the Englishman, purple in the face. "You bet that medical examination means something serious," be said. "Well, that is a comfort, anyway," said the captain seriously. " In my time they have bad no solar trouble, but some of the old people tell horrible tales of a period when our sun for several days did not shine at all." . "The sound of your blood," answered Tradmos as ho removed the instrument from Tborndyke's flesh. "It is as regular as mine. You are very lucky. You aro slightly fatigued, but you will be sound iu a day or two." "Pooh!" And the Englishman slapped his friend playfully on the shoulder. "Did you ever taste such liquor?" asked Thorndyke. "It seems torun like streams of fire through every vein I have." "Since I have seen that vast crowd of well developed people and remember what that medicine man said I have made up my mind that we are going to be separated." Poor Johnston's lip was quivering. "See," whispered Thorndyke in the ear of his companion, "the walls are close to us and are as perpendicular as those of the lake in which they found us." "Can it be possible?" said the Englishman dubiously. Johnston shook his bead mutely and beld the sparkling, effervescing fluid between him and the light. The air that came in at tbo window was fresh and dewy and laden with tht most entrancing odors. Thorndyke led the way out, treading very gently at first. Johnston followed him, too much surprised to make any comment. From this position their view to the left round the corner of the building was widened, and new wonders appeared on every hand. "Thank you," replied the Englishman, but be sank into a chair, overcome with weakness. "Oh, yes, and the early settlers bad ft great deal of trouble in different ways, but I am not at liberty to give you information on that bead. It is the king'B special pleasure to have newcomers "Rubbish! But there comes the captain. Put on a bold front Talk up New York. Tell 'em about Chicago and the fair and ask to be allowed to ride in their Ferris wheel. If they ain't got any wheel, ask 'em when the first train leaves town." "I don't know," Johnston answered; The ascent was exceedingly trying, "getting nearer to the earth, for we for tbe incline was steep and it was at can breathe more easily. I can't remem- times difficult to get a firm footing. "Could they have seen us?" whispered Thorndyke, drawing Johnston nearer the side of the cliff. "Ugh! Take it down," cried the Englishman. "It throws a green color on your face that makes you look like a corpse." Johnston clinked the glass against that of bis companion, and they drained the glasses. "Hush; what was 'bat?" asked Thorndyke. Johnston said nothing. His attention was riveted to the walls of rock. The vessel was rising rapidly. An hour passed. The soft music had ceased, and the air seemed less dense and fresher. Then the waters suddenly parted over the roof and ran in crystal streams down the oval glass. ''Now, I'll take you, please," said the medical man, motioning Johnston "I think so. At all events, they are between us and the outlet. We may as well make the best of it" to rise. form their own impressions, and he is particularly fond of noting their surprise, and, above all, their approval. People usually come here of their own accord through the influence of our secret force of agents all over the earth, but you were brought because you happened to drop on our island and would have found out too much for our good, and that red light you kept burning night and day might have given ub trouble. There is no telling bow long you could have kept alive on those clams." ber much after the professor fell from But they were repaid for the exertion, "I am slightly nervous," apologized the latter as he stood up and awkwardly fumbled the buttons of his coat. the car. My God, old man! I shall nev- for they had reached the highest point er forget the horror in the poor fellow's of the island and could see all over it eyes as he clung to the rope down there As far as tlieir vision reached there was and begged us to save him. I tried to nothing beyond the little island except get you to look, but you were dozing tbe glistening waves that reached out off. I attempted to draw him up, but till they met the sky in all directions, the rope on the edge of the basket was High up in the clouds they saw tbe baltipping it, and both you and I came loon, now steadily drifting with the neai following him. I tried to keep wind toward the south. The men, all except the pilot, landed and a dazzling electric searchlight was turned on the spot whero Thorndyke and Johnston stood. For a moment they were so blinded that they could not see, and then they heard footsteps, and, their eyes becoming accustomed to the light, they found themselves surrounded by several men, very strangely clad. They all wore long cloaks that covered them from head to foot, and every man There was a sound like boiling water outside and as if air were being pumped out of some receptacle, and the vessel began to move up and down in a lithe sort of fashion and to bend tortuously from side to side like a great sluggish fish. Through the partitions of glass they saw one of the men closing the door, and in a moment the vessel glided away from the shore. The men all sank into easy positions on the couches, and delightful music as soft as an JEolian lyre seemed to be breathed from the walls and floor. Then the musio seemed to die away, and a bell down in the vessel's hull rang. Over the polished stone pavements strange vehicles ran noiselessly, as if the wheels had cushioned tires, and the streets wero crowded with an active, strangely elad populace. "This is no time for jokes," growled Johnston aa Tradmos returned. Tradmos motioned to something that in the distance looked like a carriage, "but which turned out to be a flying machine. It rose gracefully and glided over the ground and settled at their feet. It was large enough to seat a dozen people, and there was a little glass windowed compartment at the end, in which they could see "the driver," as he was termed by Tradmos. The mysterious machinery was bidden in the woodwork overhead and beneath. They were on the surface, and the vessel was slowly gliding toward the shore, which could not be seen, owing to there now being uo light except that inside the boat. Captain Tradmos entered, followed by two of his men holding black silken bandages. "Nervousness is a mental disease," said the man, with professional brusque- "Look at thatl" exclaimed the American, ami from a street comer they saw a queer looking machine, carrying half a dozen passengers, rise like a bird with wings outspread and fly away toward the east. They watched it till it disappeared iu the distance. from seeing bis horrible face as the rope began to slip through bis fingers. I knew the instant he let go by our shooting upward." "We might as well be dead and done with it," grumbled Thorndyke. "Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot and even if they did how could "We must blindfold you," he said. "Captives are not allowed to see the entrance to our kingdom." I "We meant no offense," apologized Thorndyke; "we"— "I came to myself and looked over when the basket tipped," replied the Englishman. "I thought I was going, we give a signal of distress:" Johnston stroked bis dark beard thoughtfully; then he pointed toward "Oh, I know it. I was only explaining the situation," interrupted the officer."This way," said tb« captain kindly, and holding to an Krai of each he piloted thein out of the vessel to the shore. Then he led thein through what they imagined to be a long stone forridor or arcade, from the ringing echoes of their feet on the stone pavement. Presently they came to what seemed tn be an elevator, for when they had enured it and sat down they beard a metallic door slide back into its place, and they descended quickly. Without a word they submitted. "We are indeed in wonderland," said the Englishman. "I can't make head or tail of it. We were on an isolated island, the Lord only knows where, and have suddenly been transported to anew world." too, but I could not stir a muscle to prevent it He said something desperately, but the wind blew it away and covered his face with his beard, so that I could not see the movement of bis lipsi" "It may have been some instructions to us about the management of the balloon."the shore. "There are some driftwood and seaweed," he said. "With my sunglass I can soon have a bonfire." He took a piece of punk from a waterproof box that he carried in his pocket and focused tho sun's rays on it "Rundown and bring me an armful of dry seaweed and wood," he added, intent on his "Get in," said the captain, and the door flew open as if of its own. accord. Thorndyke went in first and was followed by the moody American. "Let up on the ague,'' jested Thorndyke, nudging hia friend with his elbow. "If you keep on qvivering like that, yon may shake the thing loose from its moorings, and we'd never know what became of us." "What is that bright spot to the right?" asked Tborndyke, to change the subject. "We are in the middle of the lake," said Thorndyke, looking through the glass toward the black, cliffy shore. "The next thing will be our descent I wonder"— "The king's palace; that is the dome. We shall soon be there. Now, I must not talk to you any longer. Somebody may be watching us with glasses. I have taken a liking to yon, and some time, when I get the opportunity, I shall "I can't feel at all as if we were in the world we were born in," returned Johnston. "I feel strange." "What teas thatf" gasped the English- mow. But be was unable to proceed, and Johnston noticed in alarm that his eyes were slightly protruding from their sockets. The air seemed suddenly to become more compact, as if compressed, and the water was set into such violent commotion that it was dashed against the glass sides in billows white as snow. Then Johnston found that he could not breathe freely, and be understood the trouble of tbe Englishman. "The wine," suggested the Englishman—"you know it did wonders for us in that subwater thing." uess. "It has nothing to do with tbe body except to dominate it at times. If you pass your examination, you may live to overcome it." "I think not—perhaps a good by or a work. message to his wife and child. Poor Thorndyke clambered down to the fellow!" shore, and in a few minutes returned "How long have we been out of our with an armful of fuel. Johnston was heads?" And Johnston looked over the blowing his punk into a flame, and in aide of the car. a moment bad a blazing fire. "I have not the slightest idea. Days "Good," approved the Englishman, and nights may have passed since he rubbing his bands together over the ' flames. "We'll keep it burning, and it "That is true. I remember coming to may do some good." Then a smile of myself for an instant, and it seemed satisfaction came over his face as be bethat wo were being jerked along at the gau to take some clams from his pocket, rate of a gunshot. My God, it was aw- "Plenty of these fellows down there, full it \*as as black as condensed mid- and they are as fat and juicy as can be. night. I felt your warm body against Hurry up and let's bake them. I'm as me and was glad I was not alone. Then hungry as a bear. There is a fine spring I went off again, but into a sort of of fresh water below, too, so we won't nightmare. I thought I was in hell, and die of thirst." that you were with me, and that Pro- They baked the clams and ate them feasor Helmboltz was salan." heartily and then went down to the "Where can we be?" asked Thorn- spring near the shore. The water was dyke. deliciously cool and invigorating. The 1 don t know. I can't tell what is gun sank into the quiet ocean and night beneath those clouds. It may Le earth, crept on. The stars camo out slowly, sea or ocean. We were evidently and the moon rose full and red from whisked along in a storm while we the waves, adding its beams to the flickwere out of our heads. If we are above ering light of the fire on the hilltop, the ocean, we are lost. " "Suppose we take a walk all around Thorndyke looked over the edge of on the beach," proposed the Englishthe car long and attentively; then he man. "There is no telling what we exclaimed suddenly: ; may fled. We may run on to something I believe it is the ocean." that has drifted ashore from some " What makes you think so?" wrecked ship." "It reflects the sunlight It is too Johnston consented. They bad enbright for land. When we got above the compassed the entire island, which was clouds at the start it looked darker be- oval in shape, and were about to ascend low than it does now. We may be over to the rock to put fresh fuel on the fire tJ".,m"*d*® °' A,'ant'c-' before lying down to sleep for the night, We are going down," said Johnston when Thorndyke noticed a road that gloomily. bad evidently been worn in the rock by "That we are, and it means some- human footsteps. • *®*ious. "Made by feet/'' be said, bending Johnston made no auswer. Half an down and looking closely at the rock hour went by. Thorndyke looked at the and raking up a handful of white sand, Bu?;lli. „ , " but whether the feet of savage or civ- If the professor bad not dropped the ilized mortal I can't make out." he'sfTfd CWnki flUd °nr l*ariU88'" Johnston was a few yards ahead of ToSoh pointed upward. Thin bl^t "?d pic* *™ething clouds were fluting above tbem. "We 1 Y ? "l™ !? ? WaB * " i i i .. tap from the heel of a shoe and was of are almost down, he said, and as they fii]ver. %,? C?k ! "Civilized," he said, holding it out to bifl companion, "and of the very r.v, f* momentater highest order of civilisation. Whoever xiw *•"-bil1™' "I see something that looks like an * •* • -i . . .. _ j , . . ° Are you sure it is silver? ' aHked the island observed Thorndyke, looking EllRllHhD)ari) exaniillinp it clow.ly. "TS -I, „ t "Pm, and unalloyed. See how the s-*--1-"* - « »■ """*""Dot TbZ°; "" "f «•' " i rr,; looM uui i "w° tb.'.'wm™. ot ana watched the sand filter through the ltTL„.ft ,t . • , . . . . . a , # , . .. * . wheT© we are," said Johnston, his tone r ?kng,U 8howiDB that hf- ™ doming more f fl if v despondent. "We don't know how long The great, flabby bag overhead steadied w, wefe nnooMckDus in the balloon, m!r 1*1 U"t ? CD we were taken in the storm. We Z l ut , T tbe,Ia"t may now be in the very renter of the W T k ! ' b,y C°U f T ear" north polar seas-this knob may be the £ see that it was a small island, not very pivot on which this end of the more than a mile in e rcumference earth revolves " How ar is it? asked Thorndyke. The Ell(?li,hn,an laughed. "No dan- About two mi es answered the j the sun is too natural. From the American laconically. "It is a chance ]eg it would look different. " Tu v „ or "I don't mean the old sun that you The balloon gradua ly sank. For 20 read 80 mnrh abont and that J, * f nl0Dg' D0lm0re make so much racket over at home, but than 200 feet above the waves. The is- another, of which we are the original land was now quite near. It was a bar- discoverers—a sun that isn't in old ren mound of stone, worn into gullies Sol's beat at all, but one that revolves and sharp precipices by the action of round the earth from north to south and the waves and rain. Hardly a tree or a dips in once a day at the north and the shrub was in sight. ; It looks like the rocky crown of a ; The Englishman laughed heartily gifat stone mountain hidden in the and slapped his friend on the shoulder, ocean, s;.id the Englishman. "Haifa "I think wo are somewhere in the mile to (lie shore, 100 feet to the water. Atlantic, but your finding that heel tap At this rate of speed the wind would does puzzle mp," smash us against those rocks like aeon- "We are going to have an adventure, pie of birds eggs dropped from the beside which all others of our lives will clouds. We must fall into the water pale into insignificance. Ifeelitinmy and sw im afihore. There is no use try- i bones. See how evenly this road has Ra7®,tbe balloon. been worn, and it is leading toward the We bad better be about it, then," center of the island." said Johnston, rising stiffly and holding a few minutes the two adventurers to the ropes. If we should go down in came to a point in the road where tall the water with the balloon, we would cliffs on either side stood up perpendicget tangled in the ropes and be asphyx- ularly. It was dark and cold, and but a iated by the gas. We had better bang faint light from the moon shone down down under the basket and let go at ex- to them. the same time. " "I don't like'this," said Johnston, water was not more than 40 feet who was behind the Englishman. "We U»aud the island was getting may be walking into the ambusli of an evC*y instant. The two aeronauts enemy." over on opposite sides of the car "Pshaw!" And Thorndyke plunged to face, hung by their hands on into the gloomy passage. Presently , the walls began to widen like a letter * Y, and in a great, open space they saw a placid lake, on the bosom of which the moon was shining. On all sides the \uit walls lihtj (or huuundti t.t Johnston scowled, and the officer, who bad overheard the remark, smiled as be leaned toward the window and gave some directions to the man in the other compartment Tbey could form no idea as to tbe distance they went down. But Thorndyke declared afterward that it was over 10,000 feet. When the elevator stopped, Captain Tradmos led them out, and both of the captives were conscious of breathing the purest, most invigorating air they had ever inhaled. Instantly their strength returned, aud they felt remarkably buoyant as tbey were led along over another pavement of polished stone. "No, the wine has nothing to do with it. My head never was clearer. The very atmosphere is peculiar. The air is invigorating, and I can't get enough of it." The American looked furtively at Thorndyke, but tbe head of theEuglish-111 an had sunk on his breast, and he seemed to be asleep. Johnston had never felt so lonely and forsaken in his life. Prom his childhood he had entertained a secret fear that he had inherited heart disease, aud, like Maupassant's coward, who committed suicide rather than meet a man in a duel, he had tried in vain to get away from tbe horrible, ever present thought by plunging into perilous adventures. "Yon both take it rather coolly," he remarked to Thorndyke. "I took a man and a woman over this route several years ago, and both of them were in a dead faint; bnt, in fact, yon have nothing to fear. We never have accidents.""That is exactly tbe way I feel," was Thorndyke's answer. "Look at the sunlight," went on Johnston. "It is gray like our dawn, but see how transparent it is. You can look through it for miles and miles. It is becoming pink in tbe east. The sun will soon be up, and I am curious to see it." Captain Tradmos came suddenly to tbe door. He was smiling as he motioned toward the wines on the table Johntton wan bloving his punk into a flame. was more than 6 feet in height and finely proportioned. One of them, who seemed to be an officer in command, bowed politely. "You bad better drink more of tbe wine," be advised sententiouely. ' 'It is safe as a balloon, I suppose, and we are at home in them," said the Englishman, with just the bint of a swagger in his tone. Tradmos laughed, mosphere?" "You like the at- Both of the captives rushed to the table. The instant they had swallowed the wine they felt relieved, but were still weak. The captain bowed and went away. Thorndyke's hand trembled us he refilled his friend's glass. I thought I was gone up," be said. "I never had such a choky sensation in my life. You are still purple in the face." "I am Captain Tradmos, gentlemen, in tbo king's service. It is my dnty to make yon my prisoners. I must escort yon to the palace of the king." "I never heard of anything like it," said Thorndyke. "It is so delightful I can almost taste it." "It must be up now, but we cannot see it for the bills and buildings. My goodness, see that!" And the Englishman pointed to the east A Hood of delicate pink light was now pouring into the vast body of gray and was slowly driving the more somber color toward the west. The line of separation was marked—so marked, indeed, that it seemed a vast, rose colored billow rolling, widening and sweeping onward like a swell of the ocean shoreward. On it came rapidly till the whole landscape was magically changed. The flowers, the trees, the grass, the waters of the lakes, the white buildings, the costumes of the people in the streets, even the sky, changed in aspect. The white clouds looked like firelit smoke, and far toward the west rolled the long line of pink, still struggling with the gray and driving it back. At that moment be felt that be would rather die than know the worst from the uncanny instrument that had just tortured his strong comrade till he was overcome with exhaustion. "But your balloons are poor, primitive things at best," returned Tradmos in his soft voice. "They can't be compared to this mode of travel, though, of course, our machines would not operate in your atmosphere." "The/wives and daughters of the king." give you some useful advice, but I must treat jou very formally,.at least till you have bad audience with the king." "Thank you," said the Englishman, and Tradmos stood up in the car to watch their progress through the circular glass of a little cupola on top. Thorndyke smiled at Johnston, but the American was in no pleasant mood. The indifference with which Tradmos had treated him had nettled him. "It was that which made Alpha what it is—the most wonderful country in the universe," said the officer. "There is much in store for you." "That's cool," said Johnston, to conceal the discomfiture that he felt. "We had no idea that you had a kingdom. We have tramped all over this island, and you are the first signs of humanity we have met." . "1 never felt better in my life," he said falteringly, but it seemed to him that every nerve and muscle in his frame was withering through fear. His tongue felt clumsy and thick, and his knees were quivering as with ague. "Why not?" impulsively asked the Englishman. "I thought"— The ears of the two captives were greeted by a vague, indefinable bum, like and yet unliKe that of a busy city. It was like many farofT sounds carefully muffled. Now and then they beard human voices laughter and singing in the distance and the twanging of musical instruments. "Eat of what is before yon," said the captain, looking in at the door. "Yon cannot stand the increasing pressure unless yon do." But he did not conclude his remark, for they were rising, and both he and Johnston leaned apprehensively forward and looked out of one of the windows. Down below the long lines of people were silently waving their hats, scarfs and handkerchiefs as the machine swept along over their heads. As they rose higher the scene below widened like a great circular fan, and in the delicate roselight the whole so appealed to Thorndyke's artistic sense that he ejaculated:He would have recalled his words before be bad finished speaking if be could have done so, for be saw by the manner of the captain that be bad been overbold. "Stand still," ordered the physician sternly, and Johnston was further humiliated by having Tradmossympathetically catch hold of his arm to steady bim. They needed no second invitation, for they were half famished. The fish and meat were delicious, and the bread was delightfully sweet The machine was now slowly descending. A vast pile of white marble, with many golden domes and spires, rose between them and the earth below. Then they knew that tbey wero entering a building of some sort, for they beard a key turn in a lock, and the humming sound in the distance was cut off. They felt a soft carpet under their feet, and the feet of their guards no longer clinked on the stones. "Follow me," answered the officer curtly, and with a motion of bis hand to bis men he turned toward the odd looking vessel. "Look outside!" cried Johnston. The water was now still, but it was gradually rising up the sides of the boat, and in a moment it bad closed over the crystal roof. Both of the captives were conscious of a heavy sensation in the bead and a dnll roaring in tbe ears. Down tbey went, at first slowly and then more rapidly, till it seemed to them that they had descended over 1,000 feet. Qreat monsters like whales warn to the vessel, as if attracted by the lights, and their massive bodies jarred against the glass walls as they turned to swim away. They sank about 600 feet lower, and all at once the lights went out, and the boat gradually stopped."Your people are far advanced in the sciences," went on the physician coldly, "but there are only a few out of their number who know that the mind governs the body and that fear is its prime enemy. Five minutes ago you were eating heartily and had your share of physical strength, and yet the mere thought that you are now to know the actual condition of your most vital organ has made yon as weak as an infant If you kept np this state of mind for a month, it would kill you. ' 'To the balcony on the central dome,'' ordered Tradmos through the window of the driver's compartment, and the adventurers felt the car sw*p rouud in a curve that threw them against each other, and the next moment they had landed on a wide iron balcony encircling a great golden cone that towered hundreds of feet above them. The two adventurers obeyed, and the cloaked men fell in behind tbem. Neither Johnston nor Thorndyke bad ever seen anything like the peculiar boat that was moored to the rocky shore. It was abont 40 feet in length, had a hull shaped like .a racing yacht, but which was made of black robber inflated with air. It was covered with glass, save for a doorway abont six feet high and three feet wide in the side, and looked like a great, oblong babble floating on the still, dark water. As they approached the searchlight was extinguished, and they were enabled to see the boat to a better advantage by the aid of the electric lights that illuminated the interior. It was with feelings of awe that the two adventurers followed the captain across the gangplank into the vessel. When the bandages were removed, tbey found themselves in a sumptuous chamber, alone with tlie captain. The brilliant light from a quaintly shaped candelabrum, in the centerof the chamber, dazzled them, but in a few minutes their eyes bad become accustomed to it. The sun uow came into sight, a great bleeding ball of fire slowly rising above the gilded roofs in tbe distance. "Glorious! Superb! Transcendent!" And he directed Johnston's attention to the wonderful pinkish haze which lay over the view toward the west like a vast diaphanous web of rosy sunbeams. "By Jove, look at our shadows!" exclaimed Johnston, and both men gazed at the balcony floor in amazement Their shadows were as clearly defined and black as silhouettes. "How do you uccount for that?" continued the American. "I am firmly convinced that this sun is not the orb that shines over my native land." "You ask why our airships would not operate in your atmosphere," said the captain, showing pleasure at Thorndyke's enthusiasm. "It is simple enough when you have studied the climatic differences between the two countries. You have much to contend with—the winds, for instance, the heat and cold, etc. This is tbe only known country where the winds are subjugated. I have never been in your world, but from what 1 have heard of it I am not anxious to see it. Your atmosphere and climate are so changeable and so diverse in different localities that I have heard your people spend much of their time in seeking congenial climes. I think it was a man who came from London that claimed he once had a cold—'a bad cold,' I think he called it It was a standing joke in the royal family for a long time, and he beard so much about it that he tried to deny what he had said." CHAPTER V. " ' 'Follow me," said the captain stiffly, for there were several guards in white and gold uniforms pacing to and fro on the battlementlike walls. He led the two adventurers through a door in the base of the dome. At first they were dazed by a brilliant light from above, and, looking up, they beheld a marvel of kaleidoscopic colors formed by a myriad of electric lighted prisms (doping gradually from the floor to the apex of the dome. Thorndyke could compare it to nothing but a stupendous diamond, the very heart of which the eye penetrated. Tradmos seemed to be enjoying the looks of astonishment on their faces as they glanced at the different objects in the room. "Now, listen," he went on as the instrument griped Johnston's flesh and the rubber tube began to twist and move as if charged with electricity. Tbe American held his breath. A sound as of water being forced through channels that were choked, mingled with a wheezing sound like wind escaping from a broken bellows, came from the belL "It is night," he said smilingly. "Yon need rest afteT your voyage. Lie down on the beds and sleep. Tomorrow you will be conducted to the palace of tbe king." It was at onco so dark that the two captives could not see each other, though only the width of the table separated them. Everything was profoundly still. Not a sound came from the men in the other rooms. Presently Thorndyke whispered, "Look, do you see that red light overhead?" Thorndyke laughed, but his laugh was forced. "How absurd, and yet"— He extended his hand over tbe balustrade into the rosy glow, and without concluding his remark held it back into the shadow of the window casement. "By Jove!" ho exclaimed. "There is not a particle of warmth in it It is exactly the same temperature in tbe shade us in the light." He moved baC-k against the wall. ' 'No; there is no difference; the blamed thing doesn't give out any warmth." With a bow he withdrew, and tbey heard a massive bolt slide into the socket of a door hidden behind a curtain. The two men gazed at mob other without speaking for a moment, and then they began to inspect tk* room. "Your frame is all right," Baid the medical mun as he released the trembling American, " but you have long believed in the weakness of your heart, and it has, on that account, become so. You must banish all fear from your thoughts. You perhaps know that we have a place specially prepared for those who a~e not physically sound. I am sorry that you dp not stand a better examination. " The electric light was brilliantly wbite, and in various places pink, red and light blue screens mellowed it into an artistic effect that was very soothing to the eye. The ceiling was hung with festoons of prisms as brilliant as the purest,diamonds, and in tbem, owing to the gently undolatory movement of the vessel, colors more beautiful than those of a rainbow played entrancing!y. Rare pictures in frames of delicate pold were interspersed among the clusters of prisms, and the floor was covered with ci«pets that felt as soft beneatb the foot as pillows of eider down. "Yes," said Johnston. "It looks like a star." "Don't look at it now," advised Tradmos in an undertone. ' 'It was constructed to be seen from below and to light the great rotunda." "It is our bonfire," said Thorndyka "That's what betrayed us." In alcoves half vellMl with silken curtains stood statues In gold and bronze. The walls and ceilings were decorated with pictures anlike any they had ever seen. Before one, the picture of an angel flying through a dark, star filled sky, they both stood, enchanted.Again the vessel began to sink, and more rapidly than ever. Indeed, as Thorndyke expressed it be had the cool feeling that nervous people experienoe in going down quickly in an elevator. Johnston's hands were extended in the light. "I believe yon are right," he declared in awe "Something i« wrong." Mutely the captives obeyed. At every turn they were greeted with a new wonder. The captain now led them round a narrow balcony on the inside of the vast dome, and, looking over the railing down below, they saw a vast tessellated pavement made of polished stones of various and brilliant colors and so artistically arrauged that from where they stood lifelike pictures of landscapes seemed to rise to meet the vision wherever the eye rested. Statues of white marble, gold and bronze were laced here and there, and in squares of At that moment appeared from the room behind them a handsome youth, nttired inasuitof scarlet silk tha; fittw? bis uthletic figure perfectly. He rapped softly on tbe window casement and bowed when they turned. Tradmos regarded the American with a look of sympathy as he gave him a chair and then rang a bell on the table. Thorndyke looked up sleepily as an attendant entered with a couple of parcels and glanced wonderingly at his friend's white face and bloodshot eyes. "If we go any lower," he added, as the great rubber hull seemed to struggle like some living monster, "the sides of this thing will collapse like an eggshell, and we will be as flat as pancakes."Johnston glanced at the speaker nonplused, but the captain was looking at Thomdyke. "What iB it?" askedThorndyke, finding voice finally. "It is not done with brush or pencil. The features seem alive, and, by Jove, yon can actually see it breathe. Don't you see the clouds gliding by and the wings moving?" Ah be entered the door the officer threw off bis gray cloak,, and bis men (lid likewise, disclosing to view the finest nniforma the prisoners bad ever seen. Captain Tradmos' legs were clothed in tights of light bine silk, and he wore a blno sack coat of silk plnsh and a belt of pliant gold, the buckles of which were ornamented with brilliant gems. His eyes were dark and penetrating, and bis black hair lay in glossy musses on hiB shoulders. He had the head of an Apollo and a brow indicative of the highest intellect "Your climate is delightful heie now, "said the Englishman. "Is it so long at a time?" "Your breakfast is waiting for you," he announced. They followed him into a room adjoining the one they had occupied and found a table holding a sumptuous repast. The boy gave them seats and handed them golden plates to eat upon. The fruits, wine and meats were very appetizing, and they ate with relish."You need not fear; we have much lower to go." It was tho captain's voice, but they could not tell from whence it came. Theu they heard again the seductive music, and it was so soothing that they soon fell asleep. "What's the matter?" he asked, but Johnston made no reply, for the captain had opened the parcels and taken out two suits of silken clothing. "Perpetually. It is regulated every moment, and every year we perfect it in some way." "It is light—it is formed by light!" declared the other enthusiastically, and he ran to the wall, about six feet from the picture, and put his hand on a square metal box screwcd to the wall. "Put them on," he said, giving a suit uf gray to Johnston and one of light blue toThorndyke. "We shall leave you to change your attire, and I shall soon come for you." "Yes, of course. Why not? If it ever fails to be up to the usual high standard, it is owing to neglect of those in charge, and neglect is punished severely.""Perfect it?" Pi! living green fountains threw up streams of crystal water. Tradmos paused for them to look down and smiled at their evident admiration. "How far is it down there?" Thorndyke ventured to ask. "Over 1,000 feet," replied Tradmos. "Look across opposite and you will see that there are 50 floors beneath us, and each floor has a balcony like this overlooking the court" (Concluded on Page Four.) IWr of t*e Globe for  | RHEUMATISM,! ■ NEURALGIA and similar Complaints, J and prepared tinder the stringent U MEDICAL LAWS.^ prescribed by eminent physicians;^^® IS) DR. RICHTER'S (Xt ANCHOR ■PAIN EXPELLERl I World renowned! RomarfeaMy successful! ■ ■Onlygennlno with Trade Mark " Anchor, ■ K. Ad. Klchler *Co., 215 Pearl St., New York. I I 3( HIGHEST AWARDS. ■ 13 Branch Houses. Own Glassworks. , Endorwd St recommended h\ & Peek. ■*) Lnwrne Avenue. U■ C\ Gliek, Sll N( rth Main St. H Houck. 1 North Main St Pitttstou, Pa. OR MCHTCR'S I ««ANCHOR" STOMACHAL best fori They had no idea bow long they had slept, but they were awakened by the ringing of a bell and felt the vessel was coming to a stop. They were still far beneath the surface—indeed, the boat was resting on the bottom, for in the light of two or three powerful searchlights they saw a wide succession of submerged bills, vales and rugged cliffs. Before them was u great mountain side, and in it they saw the mouth of a dark tunnel. They bad scarcely noticed it before the vessel rose a little and glided toward the tunnel and entered it "I have it," he said quickly. "Come here." The Englishman advanced curiously and examined the box. "I believe we rre to be conducted to the palace of your king tomorrow," ventured the Englishman to the boy. CHAPTEE IV. Thorndyke's eyes sought those of the American incredulously, seeing which Tradmos looked amused. "Don't you see that tiny speck of light in the side toward the picture? Well, the view is thrown from this box on the wall, and it is the motion of the powerful light that gives apparent life to the angel. It is wonderful. " Tho boy shook his hi ad, but made no reply and busied himself with removing the dishes. As they were rising from the table, they heard footsteps in the hall outside. The door opened. It was Captain Tradmos, ami he was accompanied by a tall, bearded man with a leather case under his arm. In a few minutes the captain returned and found his prisoners ready to go with him. Tliorndyke looked exceedingly handsome in his glossy tights, close fitting saek coat tinsel belt and low shoes, with buckles of gold. The natural color bad come back into his cheeks, and he was exhilarated over the prospect of further adventure. Leaving hiH men in the first room that they entered, he gracefully conducted his prisoners through another room to u smull cabin in the stern of the boat and told them to make themselves comfortable on the luxurious couches that lined the circular glass walls. "You doubt it," he smiled. "Well, wait till you have Iteen here longer. The fact is, any one boru in our climate could not live in yours. The king experimented on a man who claimed to have only one lung, but who had two sound ones when he was cut open. Well, the king sent him to China or America or some such place, and he wheezed himself to death in a week by your clocks. The weather was too fickle for him. Our system has been perfected to such an extent that we live four lives to your one, and our fruits and vegetables are 100 per cent better than those in other countries." In a commodious alcove, in a glow of pink light from above, was a life sized group of musicians—statues in colored metal of a Spanish girl playing a mandnra, an Italian with a slender calascione, a Russian his jorbon and an African playing a banjo. Luxurious couches bung by spiral springs from the ceiling to a convenient height from the floor, and here and there lay rugs of rare beauty and great ottomans of artistic designs and colors. "You must undergo a medical examination," the captain said smilingly. "It is our invariable custom, but this is by a special order from the king." "Our journey will be of considerable length," be said, "and, as you are no doubt fatigued, you bad better take all the rest j on can get. I see that yon need food and have ordered a repast which i will refresh you." As he concluded be touched a button in the wall, and instantly a table laden with substantial food, rare delicacies and wines, rose through a trapdoor in the floor. He smiled at the expressions of surprise on their faces and touched a green bottle of wine with bia white, tapering hand. It was not so, however, with poor Johnston. His spirits had been so dampened by the physician's words that he could not rally from his despondency. His suit fitted his figure as well as that of the Englishman, but be could not wear it with the same hopeful grace. Johnston shuddered as he looked at the odd looking instruments the medical man was taking from the case, but Tborndyke watched his movements with phlegmatic indifference. He steed erect, threw back his shoulders, ex punded his massive chest and struck it with his clinched fist in pantomimic boastfulness. "Cheer up!" whispered Thorndyke as tbey followed the captain through a long corridor. "If we are on our way to the stake or block, we are at least going dressed like gentlemen." "What is the name of your country?" asked Thorndyke, feeling that he was not losing anything by bis boldness. "We ought to go to bed," proposed Thorndyke. "We shall have plenty of timo to see this Aladdin's land before we get away from it." V "Alpha." nearer ' 'The greater part of our journey will be under water, and our wines are specially prepared to render us capable of subsisting oil a rather limited quantity of air during the voyage, so I advise you to partake of them freely. You will find them very agreeable to the taste." There were two large downy beds on quaintly wrought bedsteads of brass, but the two captives decided to sleep together.Tradmos smiled genially, but there was something curt and official in his tone when he next spoke that took the Englishman slightly aback. "Yon must hare your breast over your heart and lungs," he said, and while Thorndyke was unbuttoning his shirt he and the medical man went to the door and brought into the room a great golden bell hanging in a metallic frame. Outside they found the streets lined with spectators eagerly waiting to see them pass. The men all had suits like those which had been given the captives, and the women wore flowing gowns like those of ancient Greece. "I don't know." Tradmos looked out at the window for a moment as if to ascertain that they were going in the right direction; then he fixed his dark eyes on Thorndyke and asked hesitatingly:"Where is it located?" Thorndyke was the first to awaken. The lights in the candelabrum were out, but a gray light came in at the top and bottom of the window. He rose and drew the heavy curtain of one of the windows aside. He shrank back in astonishment" We must blindfold you," he laid. Through the glass walls they could see that it was narrow and that the ragged sides and roof were barely far enough apart to admit them. "These are the common people," whispered Thorndyke to Johnston, "but did you ever dream of such perfect features and physiques? Every face is fall of merriment and good cheer. I am curious to see tho royalty. " "I never thought—I—but do you know where your country is located?" "Why, certainly." dread the plunge," muttered ndyke. "I feel as weak as a sick "We are very grateful," bowed Thorndyke from bis seat on a coucb. "I am sure no prisoners were ever more giucioo«'» »» entertained. To ». I oin ret rorr that I can swim Ustume. but llw »all r ttitikv -»*" Suddenly one of the men came in and The bell was so thin and sensitive to the slightest jar or movement that, al- "Well, I don't know where this one t« w« are taught everything. I think.