Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-03-14
THE YELLOW
PERIL
BY John FORBES
1copyriehi. s. Daily story PuD. oo.l

II
twilight, penetrating with dificult,
heavy black masses Of tobacco smoke
was the only illumination. No one haa
cared to press the electric button
Occasionally one Of a dozen or mor'
glowing cigar ends seemed 70 awaken
from reverie to beam brightly for |
| moment-then relapse again like thu
{ eye Of drowsy tiger. There was NJ
sound In the room and scarcely q per
ceptible movement, save now ant
then a finger fiecked the ashes away
or hand removed weed from close
shut lips.
For several minutes thus-then the
deep-voiced cabinet secretary, with
dignified elaboration, resumed, And
gentlemen, when all Is said and done
the entire situation may be briefly
summarized. AS the general has OK
planned, they have encroached upon
our northern boundary until barrier
of armed men extends from the PACT
&c to the Atlantic. Our southern
boundary Is a glittering line of bayo-
nets from gulf to gulf. II we drive
back regiment we retreat to our
lines before a brigade"
"A corps, Mr.. Secretary, an entire
army corps" interposed the general.
and" continued the secretary,
their fleets protect their commerce
in every harbor Of the world. For
every torpedo boat we possess they
have a cruiser, and for every destroy
err over whose decks our flag floats
battleship faunts their colors to the
breeze. They have naval stations
within so hours Of our most seques-
tered sea ports They have invested
our Great Lakes. Our insular posses
sions we have coded to them, with
honor. indeed, but cannot say, gem
tlemen, without coercion subtle, per-
haps, but still coercion,
Lo Toon; their prime minister, is
exceedingly frank. 1t is not he says,
a matter Of conquest, but struggle
for existence. My people must have
breath-they are suffocating. We
have our fisheries at the very south
pole, and every foot Of the bleak 81,
berian steppes yields its quota Of rice
or mlllet-nay, even though 1t needs
be rooted with glass to keep the earth
from strangling in its frozen clutch
the sprouting seeds. There Is no area
in all the western hemisphere, from
icebound valleys OF northmost bays
and rivers to lofty snow-capped Cor
dillera in the south, save what Is oc-
cupied by these United States Of
yours, but responds to the industry Of
my people. And you have room,
room, room You are encompassed
You must see the Inevitable This,
gentlemen, is the situation. We are
encompassed. Our navy is helpless,
our army but barely holds at bay the
hordes upon our borders. Our lines
Of Notifications are problems which
cannot long remain unsolved. The
time when craftsmanship awaited us
has long. long since gone by.
Gentlemen" and the secretary's
voice was scarcely audible, Il fear,
greatly fear we are undone"
There was silence again and the
cigar ends glowed more iminously in
.he deepening gloom. An onyx clock
IN the mantel over a closed fireplace
licked aggressively and the match
with which the secretary relighted his
'igar sputtered noisily.
''Mr. Secretary" The professors
voice sounded afar of,
nut every eye, startled and new
lighted, turned toward him. The sec
etary responded:
"Professorl"
"Slnce 1t appears, Mr.. Secretary"
Ie calmly continued, that this disas-
er which has been impending for SO
sng is about to fall upon and crush
IS. Since 1t is evident from what you
ay that the defense of our beloved
ountry has passed beyond the pow
RS of its natural agencies. Since dip
1macy and force Of arms are alike
opeless. may not submit the propo-
Ition that the defense Of cur nation
as entered the realms Of science and
s humble disciple of truth volun-
Ter my services in its behalf. It
lust still be war-most horrible,
lost hellish war-and God alone
nows how hate 1t and shrink from
I; but ! make the sacrifice gladly"
Il had forborn hoping, professor,
nd must still forbear." The secre-
Try breathed deeply.
The professor had arisen and 6
assed silently from the room and the !.
gar ends Cleaned brightly In the !
rection Of the half open door.
10 Toon, the prime minister, sat In
ate. oourtiers In siIken flowing
,Wns paused in their goings to and
0 and clerks and scribes, low bent
their writing, looked up expectant q
/. 10 Toms face was expression 4
g az ever. but his eyes glittered \
,rhaps more than usual. and his 1
ice was oversReet Il
Why he Queried, have not
zen informed Of this beforsf-
The courtier quailed and mur. n
ufsd, because, Oh. Light OF the !.
ant Of TIE Word, It was feared that Il