The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-06-20
CHAPTER XIV.
The Birth Of q City.
ROY NORTON

oil the Ohlteu otaics, OSSupyHtS ft1
most responsible positions, and bear
ing the burden Of government. came
to the White House. which loomed
massive and apparently untsnaptsd.
They came singly. obeying the In.
structions given them. left their con
veyances at a distance. and walked
unattended to the dark portals. which
opened and closed behind them. All
were aware OF the portentous reason
for their visit. and the Importance of
would have been the foreign spy who
could have surmised that they we're
gathering to discuss plan involving
the defense OF the nation, or the ac-
ceptance Of a challenge to war.
There were only two visitors who
came together. the inventor and his
daughter. and they were the last to
enter the room. where those who pre-
ceded them were divided into groups
round four officers Of the navy. who
were answering questions. quoting fg-
ures and volunteering details which
were not written. The men at the
head OF the nation were preparing to
plunge headlong into what under less
immediate menace would have seemed
a sea OF folly ready to submerge them
and their country.
The entrance of Norma was the
signal for an abrupt halt in the con.
versation, and some of those who were
not entirely. familiar with the part
which she played in her fathers work
looked at her disapprovingly.
He. interpreting these glances. In
troduced her as his assistant, and con-
cluded by saying: Il can't do any
thing without her. She knows more
about my work than I do myself, and
as far as ] know she's the only woman
living who can keep her mouth shut"
They smiled at his manner and cyni.
cism, while the president rendered her
seat At his side and waited for the
others to resume their chairs.
the possibilities OF the invention
offered by DR.. Roberts"
And his daughter Norma" inter-
jected the inventor
The president accepted the altera-
ton and continued without a halt
'and have gone over the reports OF
the four most expert men in the
United States. who have passed the
day with the inventor and his daughter
In their laboratory, are convinced OF
the merit and practicabillty OF the
discovery, ard have prepared state
ments Of what supplies would be
needed. the time In which they could
be obtained, and their approximate
cost"
There was a look OF acquiescence,
and the secretary OF the navy. who
had been paying no heed whatever to
the chief executives remarks, rustled
the reports In his hand az he turned
another page to sean its contents. The
room became sim again. and the
speaker went on
DIR. Roberts tells US that he does
not regard himself as beyond the ex.
perimental stage; but further expert
ments cannot decrease known values,
invention as II stands. In the opinion
Of the four men who have passed the
day In testing II. Is sufficient to en-.
able us within three months to com
bat successfully any nation (which
might begin hostilities."
Norma looked at her father admir-
lngly; but he seemed oblivious to all
those round him, and sat absorbed In
thought. his eyes fixed In blank
stare Of concentration into space. and
he thumbs OF his clasped hands re-
yolving round each other aimlessly.
The president reached over to 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 lower voice:
Extraordinary times demand ex-
traordinary measures. We are with
emergency of such immense import
that those OF us who were here last
night believe II 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 II 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 we're evidently late
arrivals and had not heard the earlier
discussions, looked at each other with
some hesitation. II 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.
THE absolute preservation of our
secret IL recognized by all as . vital
necessity. and to obviate all leakages
the members Of the army and navy
board suggest that our work be car
ried on in one Of the most secluded OF
the Florida keys. On this they pur-
pose to erect Q plant adequate to cast
and perfect this metal on which We de-
pend. and - rapidly ~ possible apply.