New-York tribune., 1907-11-10

nope NltN lbUiltlCQ on i W.tI 10Y peace
PART H., CHAPTER II.
T IKE criminals afraid Of the light. and seek
ing the cover OF darkness. a score 90 the
most distinguished men of the United States
occupying its most responsible positions and
bearing the burden of government, came to
the White House, which doomed massive and
apparently untenanted. They came singly.
obeyIng the instructions given them, lett their
conveyanccs at a distance. and walked I'm
attended 70 the dark portals, which opened
and closed behind them. All were aware NJ
the pOrtentOuS reason tor their visit, and the
Importance OF the utmost secrecy ObScTV,tnt
indeed would have been the foreign spy who
could have SurmISed that they were gathering
20 discuss a plan involving the defense OF the
nation, or the acceptance OF a challenge
20 var.
There were only two visitors who came to-
gether. the inventor and his daughter. and
they were the last to enter the room. where
those who preceded them were divided into
groups round four officers OF the navy. who
were answering questions. quoting ngureS, and
volunteering details which were not written
The men at the head OF the nation were PIE
pairing TO plunge headloug into what under less
immediate menace would have seemed a sea
OF folly ready 10 Submerge them and their
country
The entrance of Norma was the signal for
an abrupt halt IN the conversation. and some
OF those who were not entirely familiar with
the part which she played IN her father work
looked At her diSapproviuglv.
He, interpreting these glauces. introduced
her As his assistant, and concluded bv saving
- can't do anything without her She knows
more about my work than do myself. and as
far rs know she's the only woman living
who can keep her mouth shut.
They smiled at his manner and CVnicISm
while the President rendered her u seat At his
side and waited tor the Others 70 resume their
chairs
All of YOU are familiar now with the pos
Siblllties OF the invention offered by Doctor
Roberts
And his daughter Norma" interiected the
inventor
The President accepted the alteration and
continued without a halt,--'s and have gone
over the reports OF the four most expert men IN
the United States navy. who have passed the
day with the inventor and his daughter IN
their laboratory. are convinced OF the merit
and praCtlCabihty of the discovery. and
have prepared statements of what sup
plies would be needed. the time in which
they could be obtained. and their aPProXi-
mate cost.
There was a look of acquiescence. and the
Secretary OF the Navy, who had been paying
no heed whatever to the chief executives re-
marks. ruStled the reports in his hand as he
turned another page To sean Its contents
The room became still again, and the speaker
went
Doctor Roberts tells US that he does not
regard himself as beyond the experimental
stage but further experiments cannot decrease
known values. and may perhaps add to them
This invention aS it stands IN the opinion of
the four men who have passed the dav in
testing it, is sufficient to enable us within
three months to combat successfully anv nation
which might begin hoStihtieS ."
Norma looked at her father admiringlv
but he seemed obliviouS to all those round
him. and sat absorbed in thought his ewes
fixed IN a blank stare of concentration into
space. and the thumbs of hi. claSped hands
revolving round each other aimeSSlv The
President reached over to a mass OF papers
before him. referred to some of them in quest
of data. and then looked very grave and earnest
as he continued in a lower voice
Extraordinary times demand extraordinary
measures We are without precedent. and are
confronting emergency of such immense