The Washburn leader., 1908-07-10

confronted the worried head of the
nation.
"You forget" she said, that have
youth, strength, will and knowledge
Neither my fathers nor my country's
cause shall suffer-"
He walked across the room, tower.
ing above her in ungainly strength,
took both her hands in his and looked
deeply into her eyes. "You mean"
"That if my father is too i'll to go,
myself will fight the japanese. l my
self will give what expert advice is
needed, and will demonstrate to the
others what must be done in battle" "
Inflamed by the thought of what was
dependent upon her, pride in her ia
ther, and Americanism, she was ready
to accept the responsibility, even
though it might cost her life.
They stood in silence, holding each
others hands. He stopped over her,
his sad eyes filled with an admiration
which was akin to veaeration, and
kissed her.
Joan of Arc! Joan of Arc!" he
whispered, and said no more.
She had been told that train
awaited. Together they walked to the
door of the presidents study through
the halls, and to the outer portal I'm
needing those who were near, he
caught her hand and held it to his
breast, looking once more into her
eyes.
God bless and keep you, my child!"
he said. and abruptly turned back to
his seclusion, his head dropped for
ward between his massive shoulders
and his arms swinging loosely at his
sides.
The day was not yet done, and be-
fore the next had dawned came the
announcement that the Hawaiian is-
lands had also been surrendered to
the foe. The coterie of men within
tie secret held their meeting and con.
graduated each other that orders had
been obeyed, no defense made, and
loss of life obviated. But the public
must be pacified. The swift convening
Of congress, it's authorization of the
administration to act, and the appeas-
ing notice to the public that a we'll
defined policy was being pursued, fol-
were not understood.
Night and day now the president
and his associates toiled and planned.
Report after report came to them, un-
til they knew that the hour to act had
come. The spell of seeming lethargy
was at an end, and with unprece-
dented swiftness the Gordon was
thrown round the nation, its ports
closed, and it's communication shut
of save through channels Of the secret
service, which was intensely active.
Time was computed to the minute,
and when the fleet of conquest sailed
from Japan the very latitude and
longitude of the point where it was
to be met were communicated to the
headquarters in Florida, where had
been renewed energy.
Hence it was that, as darkness once
more mantled that isolated spot, q
strange scene was witnessed. 1t was
the departure Of that invincible
squadron of the air for the scene of
battle. Night after night they had
maneuvered, till those who manned
them were masters of their craft and
of the new form of signals which were
to be used in case of emergency. Every
detail was complete, every possible
rroao,,tfny RI ouarf aNn{.
dent.
And what difference there was
between this fleet and those to which
the men aboard were accustomed! On
those battleships Of the seas were
magnificent forces of men trained to
fight, which were numbered by thou
sands; but here each crew consisted
of bare half-dozen. In the hulls Of
those vessels Of the sea strove Q
small army, watching over and
driving huge engines, and supplying
them with steam; here were only one
man and an assistant standing be-
fore levers, switches and buttons.
which did their work instantaneously
and with no noise. In those destroy
ers of the waters throbbed mighty
engines considered the modern trt-
umph Of speed; here was craft that
by fingers pressure could almost
run abreast the sun. Those ships
bristled with mighty guns; here were
no frowning muzzles or unwieldy tur-
rets. Science was bringing an end to
brute force, and the last battle against
barbarism was at hand.
For the first time since Its birth
the great plant was silent and idle
and the men who had created 1t and
by its means built this new fleet of the
air we're at rest. They had done all
they could, and now gathered silentl,
round the radioplanes. which stood in
orderly array with rortlike doors
yawning wide to receive their crews
Fighting" Bevins stood by his flag
| craft, the Norma, and looked at the
force under his command. Captains
who had handled hundreds Of mer
and driven their great floating crafts
of steel, and engineers who hat
learned new callings waited attentive
| ly for his last instructions.
The battle-scarred veteran ad
dressed them In q voice that needet
no high pitch to be audible to al
! his hearers. Gentlemen" he said. !" g