The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-04-21
SYNOPSIS.

might have happened" opens in Wash
ington with the United States and Japan
near war. Guy Hitler. secretary OF the
British embassy, and Miss Norma Rob-
-rts. chief aide OF Inventor Roberts. are
introduced as lovers. Japan declares war
and takes the Philippine Guy Hitler
leaves Washington for the Florida coast.
Hawaii is captured by the laps. All ports
are closed Tokyo learns OF missing Jap
anese fleet and whole world becomes con-
WINGED that United States has powerful
war agency. England decides to- send
fleet 10 American waters as Canadian
pose is a terrible submarine fotiila. Hill
ier is sent with a message. Fleet mys-
reriOusy disappears. The kaiser Is miss
ing. King Edward of England is con-
States. The Dreadnaught. biggest Of Eng
lands warships. is discovered at an i'm
passable point in the Thames. The story
now goes back to a time many months
before the war breaks out. and Inventor
Roberts visits the president and cabinet,
telling of and exhibiting a metal produc-
ton. This overcomes friction when cleo
rrified and is TO be applied TO vessels to
increase speed to over so miles an hour
\ city for the manufacture of the mys.
FERROUS discovery is built on the coast OF
Florida DR. Roberts first after, to cleo
rrfy plates proves failure. In second
effort Norma Is knocked unconscious. but
making the most important discovery OF
centuries Roberts evolves great living
machine. rendering warships useless
CHAPTER xVi.-Continued.
There where the heart of the Amer
ican government beat was nothing but
anxiety and suspense. Each succeed
ing days events had made it more
certain that Japan would force the is
sue to war, and, like an athlete, was
no oh
The men who had taken upon them
selves the tremendous responsibility
nf intrusting the nations defense to a
single discovery. and were backing 1t
with funds for which they must &C
count some day. saw the days slipping
by. and grimly realized that they were
.irrevocably bound to the success or
failure on the key. 1t was too late
now TO attempt other projects, and
glory or defeat hung suspended on the
Issue
No reports had been received. and
no news had come from that deter
mined little army that had sailed away
10 the south. Hence it was with some
thing Of a shock that the first word
received was to the effect that the dry
dock could not be utilized. 1t seemed
like the first dread handwriting en-
blaZoned on the wall. fOretelling fail
ure, disaster, disgrace and war. and
the president as he read it quoted
with ineXpressible sadness: Meme.
Meme. Tekel-" and his half-opened
lips framed the rest.
Then followed the requiSition for
supplies. and once again before any
detailed report had been received
came another demand. The island in
the solitude seemed an Unsuitable
monster. devCuring national funds and
giving back nothing in return. More
days went By. bringing nothing save
distressing stories from the orient
where a clash had taken place at Che
mulpo between Japanese sailors and
American marines. This was of such
serious nature that apologies were
rendered the Japanese embassy, and
then from the entire country burst a
storm of protest and reiterated criti-
cisms of the administration. which was
the white feather From the western
coast came appeal on appeal. the
whole Pacific seaboard calling atten-
ton to its unprotected state and the
imminence of its danger
Distressed and irate at the dearth
OF information. the secretary of the
navy was on the point of sending a
message to Brockton demanding news,
when he received from Miami the terse
message that in two nights more the
admiral would report in person. That
he bore nothing but tale of disap-
pointment was SurmiSed from the
closing words Of the admiral. who re-
quested that all those who had been
party to the project should assemble
secretly as before at the White House
after nightfall
Haggard and worn. they came to-
eether. read the brief dispatch and
waited. The president, his melan-
cEoly face set and grave. looked al
them from cavernouS eyes: but could
offer no consolation. There was moth
ing to do but wait-sit and wait-fOr
that messenger of i'll omen who was to
sound the knell of hope and tell what
letters had been combined to spell the
word failure" In hushed voices they
discuss ed the situation, and tried to
evolve come project for its alienation.
And then without preliminary an
nouncement the door swung open I'M
der the hand of the presidents private
secretary, and there stood framed in it
the huge form of the admiral. his hand
az salute. his eyes shining in triumph.
and back of him stood Norma, her IA
Their and jenkins. BrocktOn advanced
10 the presidents desk. and faced him
and the secretary of the navy.
Il have come to deliver my report
in person, and with me are those who
have given this nation the greatest
engine Of war that science has ever
known"
The room was electrified; but the
president sprang to his feet and threw
ny restraining hand commanding 81
lence
-Well?" he queried. inviting further
words; but Brockton's place had been
taken by the shriveled figure of a
diminutive old man, who put a trem-
bling hand cut to his friend and in a
voice of affection, hushed but exultant.
exclaimed:
Paul. Paul. we've made good"
The others hand came out to meet
his. and the only sound heard was the
presidents fervent, Thank God!
Thank Cod"
The gates Of repression and emotion