The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-06-12
bat successfully any nation which
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zee MISREPRESENTATION
Norma looked at her father admir-
ingly; but he seemed oblivious to all
those round him, and sat absorbed in
thought, his eyes fixed in a blank
stare Of concentration into space, and
the thumbs of his clasped hands re-
volving round each other aimlessly.
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 ex-
traordinary measures. We are with
out precedent, and are confronting an
emergency of such immense import
that those of US who were here last
night believe it is a time when all
rules, official routine and regular meth
DDS must give way In behalf of quick
accomplishment. We have no time in
which to seek special appropriations;
but must take 1t upon ourselves to
levy upon the various budgets which
are now open for the considerable
sums of money necessary to prosecute
this work."
One or two, who were evidently late
arrivals and had not heard the earlier
discussions, looked at each other with
some hesitation. 1t was hard to drop
routine and dip into the nations
treasury on such short consideration.
The high dignity Of the presiding Of
ficer, however, forbade any Interrupt
ton, and he went on unchallenged.
1.-The absolute preservation of our
secret is recognized by all as a vital
necessity, and to obviate all leakages
the members of the army and navy
ried on in one of the most secluded OF
the Florida keys. On this they pur-
pose to erect a plant adequate to cast
and perfect this metal on which we de-
pend, and as rapidly as possible apply
it to the vessels of our navy, which
will be sent there as quickly as prepa-
rations can be made for their recep-
ton"
Norma, who had not been informed
Of this part Of the project, gave a
start of protest, f~oreseeing that she,
too, would have to share in this isola-
ton and become an exile until the ex-
periments were concluded. Her father
turned a questioning look toward her,
and then reached yer and patted her
hand in sympathy. The president val
steadily summing up the situation.
"The navy department will attend
to purchasing supplies, including ma
chinery and crude metals necessary
for the first work, while DR.. Roberts
will place his orders for apparatus.
and all will be consigned to the collier
P%enobscot, which will transport them
to the chosen spot. The gunboat Har-
per will accompany her, and will be
the first boat to be experimental upon
and equipped with the icy plates.
Rear Admiral Brockton will be as
signed to her command for the pres
ent. These two ships will sail from
New York harbor, together with a
small transport which will carry such
engineers and mechanics as the navy
department may select for a work OF
this Importance. Communication Will
be maintained by such means as seem
best to Admiral Brockton, and more
men and supplies will be dispatched
from time to time as required. 1t Is
needless to say that the entire expert
mental work, the casting of the plates,
and the general supervision of every
thing, will be under the direction OF
DR.. Roberts,"
"And his assistant" the inventor
again i~nterjected.
The secretary of the navy, obeying a
suggestion from the chair, read off a
long list Of figures, explaining them az
he went, and concluding with an unQual-
flied Endorsement of the plan. So In
fictitious was his blunt enthusiasm and
confidence, that those who at first had
hesitated at the irregularity OF the
procedure found themselves won over,
and bound with complete unanimity
into q coterie which was to assume
responsibility for a war. And thus
was the issue accepted.
The early hours of the morning
were upon them as they dispersed. but
Norma, resting back in the corner Of
tuS NoO WAANA NOASOyS0 hSA A0AAS
ward, did not share the citation of her
father. who was already building work.
shops, conducting new experiments
and equipping a navy. Yesterday she
had looked forward to confiding the
story of their great success to Guy
Hitler; for in the preceding month.
when she and her father had been
trembling ON the very edge Of q great
discovery in unknown fields. she had
given no intimation of their work OF
their prospects, planning this surprise.
and now. by the rigid embargo Of 81
lence thrust upon her, her dream was
dissipated. To her the production OF
the radioactive metal had meant q
goal; but now that It was reached and
she was anxious to satisfy a heart
hunger, she had been given another
task, and was to undergo more silence
and repression and another siege Of
work in q world. of figures, of test
tubes and ~retorts, a slave to the lamp
Of science and her fathers success.
Not eve the knowledge that she wal
sacrificing herself on the altar Of duty