The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1909-03-18


and may perhaps add to them. This
invention as 1t stands, In the opinion
OF the fetr men who have passed the,
day in testing It. is sufficient to en-.
able us within three months to com.
bat successfully any nation which
might begin. hostilitiesi"
Norma looked at her father admir-
aingly, but he seemed sobliyious to all
those round him, and sat absorbed in
thought, his eyes f&ed In blank
stare of concentration into space, and
the thumbs Of his 'clasped hands re-
volving 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 e lower voice:
Extraordinary times demand ex-
traordinary measures. We are with
out precedent, and are confronting an
emergency of such immense import
that those of us who were here last
night believe 1t is 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 It 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 were evidently late
arrivals and had not heard the earlier
discussions, looked at each other with
some hesitation. 1t 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 lnterrup.
ton, and he-wenton unchallenged.
The absolute preservation of our
secret is 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 plant adequate to cast
and perfect this metal on which we de.
pend, and as rapidly as possible apply
it to the vessels of our navy, which
will be sent there as quickly as prepa-
rations can be made for their recep-
ton"
Norma, who had not been informed
of this part of the project, gave a
| start of protest. foreseeing that she,
too, would have to share in this isola.
| ton and become an exile until the ex-
periments were concluded. Her father
| turned a questioning look toward her
and then reached over and patted her
hand in sympathy. The president was
| steadily summing up the situation.
THE navy department will attend
to purchasing supplies, including ma.
for the first work, while DR.. Roberts
will place his orders for apparatus,
and all will be consigned to the collier
| Penobscot, which will transport them
to the chosen spot. The gunboat Har-
per will accompany her, and will be
the first boat to be experimental upon
and equipped with the new plates.
Rear Admiral Brockton will be as
signed to her command for the pres.
ent. These two ships will sail from
New York harbor, together with a
small transport which will carry such
engineers and mechanics as the navy
department may select for a work of
this Importance. Communication will
be maintained by such means as seem
best to Admiral Brockton. and more
men and supplies will be dispatched
from time to time as required. 1t is
needless to say that the entire expert.
mental work, the casting of the plates,
and the general supervision of every.
thing, will be under the direction of
DR.. Roberts"
And his assistant" the inventor
again interjected.
(To BE CoNTINUED)
SOME LARGE FRENCH EAMiI.