The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-07-02

|
versation, and some of those who Wer'
not entirely familiar with the par
which she played in her fathers worl
, looked at her disapprovingly.
He, interpreting these chances, In
troduced her as his assistant, and con
Guided by saying: Il can't do any
about my work than | do myself, ant
as far as | know she's the only woman
living who can keep her mouth shut.
They smiled at his manner and cynl
cism, while the president rendered hel
a seat at his side and waited for the
others to resume their chairs.
"All of you are familiar now with
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 q 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 practcablity Of the
discovery. and 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 acquiesceGce,
and the secretary Of the navy, who
| had been paying no heed whatever to
| the chief executives remarks, rustled
| the reports in his hand as he turned
another page to scan its contents. The
room became still 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,
and may perhaps add to them. This
invention as it stands, in the opinion
Of the four 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 hOstilities."
Norma looked at her father admir-
ingly; but he seemed oblivious to all
those round him, and sat absorbed in
thought, his eyes fixed in a blank
stare of concentration into space. and
the thumbs of his clasped hands re-
volving round each other aimlessly.
The president reached over to a 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
out precedent, and are confronting an
emergency of such immense import
that those Of us who were here last
night believe it is a time when all
rules, Dt1icial 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 |
flcer however, forbade any Interrupt.
ton, and he went on 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 thew DUR
pose to erect plant adequate to cast
and perfect this metal on which we de-
pend, and as rapidly as possible apply
1t to the vessels of our navy, which
Will be sent there as quickly as prepa-
ratons 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 OK.
periments were concluded. Her father
turned 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.
chinery and crude metals necessary
for the first work, while DR.. Roberts
Will place his orders for apparatus
and all will be consigned to the COLLAR
Penobscot, which will transport them
10 the chosen spot. The gunboat Har.
per Will accompany her, and will he
the first boat to be experimental unon
Qr,l |