The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-04-17
CHAPTER ..
A Sleeping Nation,

had droned a final protest, idleness
was spreading, and throughout the
land the subject of the impending con.
f1ict was gravely discussed. Distin-
guished orators in great cities pre-
dicted dire losses in prestige and
honor, and every hamlet had its
prophet of woe. The nations position
as a 1rst-class power, even its very in
tegrity, seemed at stake.
And in all this ominous unrest, this
clamor for action, the administration
ut Washington sat unmoved, smiling
what seemed to the country and the
world at large a fatuous smile of COM
placency. 1t was then endeavoring,
as in previous crises, through the use
of high-sounding words, to avert an
actual clash at arms.
For some years there had been
mooted questions between Japan and
the great American republic, due in
the first instance to troubles of a pure
ly racial character. The Pacific coast,
which for many decades had been COM
PEELED by it's geographical situation
to face an economic invasion from the
orient, wanted none of the small men
from across the water.
Other complications followed. ia
pan by example and precept rejuv-
enated the sleeping giant which spoke
her sister tongue and had with her
an offensive and defensive alliance
that could be invoked in time of need,
and by further adroit policy main
tanned a similar compact with Great
Britain. She waxed prosperous, de-
handing trade concessions where
once she had begged them. Nor had
she neglected the perfecting Of her
navy, which from the time of her war
with Russia had been one of the most
capable. Now it equaled in size and
probably excelled in fighting efficiency
that Of the United States.
In the Philippines the racial wal
came to such an acute stage that ia
pan demanded immediate adjustment,
although following the same diplo-
matte methods which characterized
her career as an advanced nation
pitifully pleading to the world at large
that she was a small power whose
only wish was for peace; invoking
sympathy on the one hand and pre-
pairing to strike before hostilities were
anticipated on the other.
And in the midst of all this turmoil
of mind and ~passiveness of accom-
plishment, Guy Hitler, secretary of
the British embassy in Washington,
found other and more personal annoy
ances. The particular %vexation was a
woman's perversity.
He brooded over his love affair
more than the welfare of nations, as
he stood in the great railway station
of the capital on this night, watching
for the arrival of the Florida special
which was to bring to him Norma
Roberts, after an absence of nearly a
month.
With some bitterness he recalled
that it was not the first time within
six months that he had loitered in
this station. To him it seemed that
since he first had known the girl he al
ways had been waiting and longing.
She had held him in thrall since the
night he met her more than a year
before, when half reluctantly he had
accepted an invitation to a reception
given to her father; and yet in all
that aftertime he had been in per-
petual suspense. The reception had
been much like other receptions, and
was given in honor Of another inven-
ton by "Old Bill Roberts" as he styled
himself and was known to his init
mates. -.
Guy had gone through mere curl
osity, wishing to see at short range a
man who only a few years before had
been dubbed a %"harebrained crank"
but whose work had proved him other
wise. He remembered the lights of
the drawing room, the throng of
guests, and that Roberts had forgot
ten the event and kept some of the
most distinguished men of the nation,
including every member of the cabi-
net, waiting till he could be dragged
from his laboratory at the end Of the
garden.
Everyone had taken the remissness
with American good humor, laughed
and chatted till q search could be
made, and then given way to the in
ventor's entrance. which was not tri-
umphal. It was effected with something
approaching q lack Of proprieties.
There had been the sound of q high
strung, snarling voice in protest from
the lower end. of the drawing room,
which was >luxuriously furnished and
presided over by Norma. There had
been a moments silence, then an ex-
eIamation loud enough to be heard by
those who were curiously e%xpectant.
"well, l couldn't help It," the petu-
liant words came. Il got tired of wait
ing around, and went back to work.
You got me into this mess. You know
I don't like dress affairs, and hate
dress suits. Working clothes suit me
best. So there!"
Everyone had looked at n another
understandingly and smiled when the
eminent scientist and inventor had
been led into the room. Guy, craning
his neck in q sudden desire to see this
entry. had q confused picture OF .