New-York tribune., 1907-11-17

-. =, "NoH round the little group |
from the key and admonished each other r. |
silence ''i01 %
Gentlemen said the in ventor. we have
rendered warshpS useless. We need no arr1ori
increased NPeed on the waters Is OF no value
10 us We have created a machine that Aies
not thing Of gas, OF planes, or a kite, We
cannot explain here as well As If xo,, ,y,o-, >.
go with Us and see It. and what use we have
made of Your money"
The Secretary of the Navy looked disa-
pointed. His mind was too intensely NJ
ucal TO Jump to happy conclusions Can a
living machine whip a battlcshp." he asked,
and would have continued; but the Admiral
brought his fist down on the desk with a
mighty bang
This one alone might do it, The Others
We'll have ready before they are called uDon
can whip the world He stopped as II abashed
by his own enthusiasm and lack of etiquette
looked at the President and the secretary
alphabetically, and then in a less tenpestuous
voice went on MI We ask Is that YOU come
with us,-So no one may see YOU, of course
and then you'll have no cause for complaint "
His request was reasonable but they were
curious. Atcr brief discussion and arrange
ment they decided to go in motor cars, which
many of those present knew how to drive
and within half an hour the entire party was
whlrlng away through the side streets OF the
city, out into the residence sections through
long avenues of trees, past suburban homes
and finally TO their destination.
The night was lighted only by the stars
which failed to disclose that strange monster
of marvellous metal and unprecedented power,
which loomed up dimly before them in the
field. 1t stood there on the stubblc, dark and
inert. massive and without grace, like some
gigantic turtle of prehistoric age Sentries
halted them as they approached even as IN
time of strife, and compelled them to expose
their identity. They went aboard while the
Admiral stood at the door waiting for the
guard to come within, the last one explaining
a slight delay 10y saving he thought for a
moment that he had heard NOISE as OF some
one creeping over the field, but had found
nothing.
Sorry We can't illuminate" the inventor
explained; but we shall little later after you
have seen how II works.
Jenkins threw a lever and the heavy doors
over the port came to with dull metallic
Claug and were ClaSped
Within a little hooded space forward n dim
light exposed great banks OF levers, switches.
and dIals and by its faint rays they found
seats improvIsed for the occasion Roberts
threw out hand and the hum of great dvua-|
mos told that machinery had been set in mo-
ton. Bacl, of them. in another apartment SO
closely screened that no streak OF light might
expose their presence to the outside world,
they saw Jenkins and Junior engineer watch
ING the pav Of the wheels. Norma took her
place beside her father They felt vibrant
shocks as the great air5hip throhbed and quv-
cred, and then, save tor the song OF the ma
chincrV, all was scrcnclv quiet and motionlcss
began vaguely T. wonder when the flight was
to take place, If that was the intention Of their
hosts The voice OF the Admiral, pcnt with
eation, called
Mr. President and gentlemen, if YOU will all
lean over back of YOU and look down, you may
see something
They obcycd with a promptncss that sug
gested some nerve strain, and saw that they
had been seated over broad glass plates OF
great thickness while far below was an un-
anticipated picture They had left the earth
with that first preliminary Jar, and now saw
on it, surface, prclled out by the lights, the
streets of the national capital They were
already mile above ii and rapidly gaining
higher altitude, the horizon W re other
light5 shone in the lar distance expanding
saucer like while they gazed. The sea, with
here and there u slow moving ship. came before
their vision, and a httlc dotting of fire exposed
a railway trala crawling along on 1t journey
1t wa as if the earth had fallen away into
pace and they alone were IN a position OF
security and solidItv
We shall require four hours OF Your time
at least" the Admiral called, and with starts
OF surprise they looked to where he stood
outlined against the light OF the hoods finding
il hard t. realize that they were not addrcs cd
10y being Of another world. The officer
leaned over t. the Secretary OF the Navy and