[CHAPTER XIX.]
THE DISGRUNTLED CRONIES.
To say that the departure of the Electric Monarch from High Towers had caused a sensation in Nestorville would be putting it mildly. The town simply went wild.
School was dismissed, business came to a standstill, and the streets were thronged from end to end with excited townspeople.
“What’s the trouble?” demanded Hank Nevins, as the waitress dropped the plate of ham and eggs she was about to bring him and his worthy companion, Miles Sharkey, and regardless of the crash and the spatter, dashed into the street.
“Hark, what’s that they’re calling out?” cried Hank suddenly.
“Listen!”
Miles put down his knife and fork which he had grasped expectantly and pricked up his ears. In another minute the cry,—which had grown to a roar,—came to their ears with the distinctness of a thunder clap and with much the same effect.
“Airship!—Airship!”
The cry reverberated through the village like a call to arms. Men shouted and women screamed while small boys went charging up and down with their heads in the air regardless of whom they bumped into.