The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-07-03

have rendered warships useless. We
need no armor! Increased-speed on
the waters is of no value to us. We
have created a machine that flies, not
a thing Of gas, of planes, or a kite. We
cannot explain here as we'll as If you
were to go with us and see 1t, and
what 8 WI have made Of Jour
money"
The secretary of the navy looked
disappointed. His mind was too in.
tensely practical to jump to happy con.
clusions. Can a flying machine whip
a battle ship?" he asked, and would
have continued; but the admiral
brought his fist down on the desk with
q mighty bang.
This one alone might do it! The
others We'll have ready before they
are called upon can whip the world"
He stopped as If abashed by his own
enthusiasm and lack of etiquette.
looked at the president and the sec.
rotary apologetically, and then in a
less tempestuous voice went on: "All
we ask is that you come with 1850
no n may see you, of course-and
then you'll have no cause for COM
plant"
His request was reasonable; but
they were curious. After brief discus
sion and arrangement 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 whirling away through the side
streets of the city, out into the resi-
dence 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
doomed up dimly before them In the
field. It stood there on the stubble,
dark and inert. massive and without
grace, like some gigantic turtle of a
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 by
saying he thought for a moment that
he had heard a noise as Of some one
creeping over the field, but had found
nothing.
Sorry we can't illuminate" the In
ventor explained; "but we shall a lit
tie later after you have seen how it
works" ,
jenkins threw a lever, and the heavy
doors over the port came to with a
dull metallic clang and were clasped.
Within a little hooded space for
ward a dim light exposed great banks
of levers, switches and dials, and by
its faint rays they found seats i'm
provised for the occasion. Roberts
threw out a hand, and the hum of
great dynamos told that machinery
had been set in motion. Back 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 a Junior
engineer watching the play Of the
wheels. Norma took her place beside
her father. They, felt vibrant shocks
as the great airship throbbed and
quivered, and then, save for the song
Of the machinery. all was serenely
quiet and motionless. There was no
sensation whatever, and they began
vaguely to wonder when the fight was
to take place, II that was the intention
Of their hosts. The voice Of the ad-
miral, pent with citation, called:
"Mr. President and gentlemen, II
you. will all lean over back Of you and
look down you may see something"
They obeyed with a promptness
that suggested some nerve strain, and
saw that they had been seated over
broad glass plates of great thickness,
while far below was an unanticipated
picture. They had left the earth with
that first. preliminary jar, and now
saw on its surface, pricked out by the
lights, the streets of the national capt.
tai. They were already a mile above
1t and rapidly gaining higher attitudes,
, the horizon. where other lights shone
In the far distance expanding. saucer
A1hC WAANC tAOy 6uAOus 5V0, .
here and there a slow-moving ship,
came before their vision, and a little
dotting Of fire exposed a railway train
crawling along on its Journey. It was
as If the earth had fallen away into
space and they alone were in a posi-
ton of security and solidity.
1--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 1t hard to
realize that they were not addressed
by a being of another world. The Of
ficer leaned over to the secretary Of
the navy and added: Il am going to
give you our preliminary report, which
will save writing It,"
Sessions made no reply, but turned
to his interrupted scrutiny Of the pan
Drama on which the others were intent
once more.
They were being lifted higher and
higher, and in this recession of the
earth, its lights, which only a few
moments before had been far apart,
now appeared Is spangles on a vast