The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-07-20
(CentInued from Iast Issue

most instantly man In uniform stood
before II and saluted the admiral. who
started back In surprise.
"A message for you. sir. from the
president and secretary OF the navy,
with requests that II be opened and
read Immediately" the officer an.
nounced.
Bevins returned to the light Of hood
and resd: L.;
Kindly report TO the White House
Immediately upon arrival. In case
his majesty. the king OF England. has
returned with you. which we earnest
ly hope Is the case. present to him
the hearty good will OF the president
and people OF the United States OF
America, and extend TO him our urgent
invitation either to accompany you.
with those who may be his com.
panlons. OF await the return OF a COM
mittee of invitation and reception
which will wait upon him as soon ~
1t becomes definitely known that he Is
with you.
In case he did not accompany you
on your return, II will be necessary
for you to return TO London at once.
inviting him to a conference OF great
importance, which is occasioned by
the exigencies OF events which have
taken place tonight. In any case you
will report TO us Immediately for In
structions."
Puzzled by this explicit message.
Bevins paused for a moment, with his
brows drawn down In thought. and
then returned to the drawing room.
where a shaded light rested in the cen
ter OF the table round which his
guests were seated. With a brief ex-
PLANTATION he handed the order to the
king. who calmly placed his glasses
upon his high. fine nose. leaned across
the table. aad perused IT,
Everything OF the night was strange
and unusual. A few hours ago he had
gone TO a thea;er TO rest HIS nerves.
and here he was across the Atlantic.
Informally. and learning new lessons
or receiving astounding revelations
with each beat Of time. He had gone
thus far, and would go through TO the
end. and would go informally.
we prefer to accompany you" was
all the reply he made. and the party
fled out into the night. where two big
automobiles brought for this very
emergency were In waiting. They
whi.led away TO the White House.
where they were met in the blue room
~ the president and his immediate
,dvisers. The king himself established
he basis Of etiquette by extending his
hand to the president and his com
anions. lie assumed no dero5tment
4 royalty; but as the first gentleman
u England greeted the first gentle
man Of America.
Your majesty" the president be
gan. the time is at hand when the
United States has no further object In
,oncealing the power at her com
nand: the sole cause OF coacealment.
hat Of meeting the Chinese feet. hay
ing been nuliified by the action Of that
country itself China has broken her
alliance with japan. is ready to make
such overtures as We wish for peace.
and Is dispensing her feet"
The president paused for a moment.
and looked at those around him. The
kiag. steadily watching him. was i'm
pressed with his simple dignity. and
read Alright the, great and high pur
pose that shone 10 his eyes Once
more he resumed:
1t has come 10 this issue. your
majesty. much sooner than | had ex-
pected; but events which make for
war and peace move fast They are
in the hands Of God Almighty. and
not OF rulers. desired this inter
view. because you can assist me in
what ! have to do, and for which
believe | am a mere instrument In the
hands Of a power before whom all
must bow"
And | am honored." the sovereign
instantly responded.
With his ofiicials he was conducted
to the president'sfprivate apartments,
where they were followed by the sec.
ItidTs Vi bldle anu the SecEetdIy Ol
the navy.
The king looked round the room
which he had entered on but one
other occasion. long years before.
when as a prince and without hope OF
throne he had been received by a
former president of the United States.
How many men had occupied II since
then, and how few OF them had left
any great individual mark on the
worlds history, He took the
proffered seat and waited for the pres.
ident to speak. only half compre.
bending that he was entering upon
one OF the most important conferences
that the world had ever known.
Your majesty and gentlemen" the
president began in his low, finely
modulated voice. Il told you wished
your assistance. I need more than
that; want your advice. have been
man with a dream. and that you
may know how much 1t has meant to
me. ! must tell you something OF my.
self. come OF race that for genera
lions has given its blood for country.
Il was almost obliterated In the wars