The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1909-04-22

swift and unexpected Announcement
that the Japanese had fallen upon tho
Philippines, War WAS on, and the long
expected gauntlet lay In the lists,
while the nation heayed and rocked
In fnrn1il (. qulYered with insnlt, and
cried aloud for yengeance.
When Norma appeared at the White
House she was told. Of her. fathers
condition by the president himself.
who was plainly harassed to the limit
by anxiety.
You can go at once he said but
what tfenf Are there any who can
work the radioplanes7"
YES, by nightly flights we have,
trained crews for all and more than
we have built,
s. But there should be some expert
guiding mind who knows the secret Of
the craft"
Father had Intended to accompany
them and himself direct the leading
radioplane in case Of attack
The president threw up his hand In
a gesture of hopelessness The time
for attack was fast approaching, and
could not be postponed on account Of
the inventors illness. Norma, who
had been standing beside window,
confronted the worried head of the
nation.
You forget" she said, chat have
youth, strength, will and knowledge.
Neither my fathers nor my country's
cause shall suffer,
He walked across the room, tower
ing above hC7 in ungainiy strength.
took both her hands In his and looked
deeply into her eyes. "You mean
That II my father Is too Ill to go, Il
myself Will fight the Japanese. | 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 1t 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 yeneration, and
kissed her.
Joan of Arc, Joan Of Arcls he
whispered, and said no more.
She had been told that train
awaited. Together they walked to thu
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 tito 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
the 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 paclfied. The swift converting
of congress, its authorization of the
administration to act, and the appeas-
ing notice to the public that we'll.
defined policy was being pursued, fol.
lowed one after the other, but still
were not understood.
Night and day now the president
and his associates toiled and planned.
Report after report came tofthem, un.
til they knew that the hour to act had
come. The spell Of seeming lethargy
was at an end, and with unprece,
| denied swiftness the Gordon was
thrown round the nation, It's ports
closed, and its 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 1t was
to be met were communicated to the
headquarters in Florida. where had
been renewed energy.
Hence 1t was that, as darkness once
l more mantled that isolated spot, q
strange scene was Witnessed 1t was
the departure Of that inyincibie
squadron OF the air for the scene 81
battle. Night after night they had
Unanswered, till those who manned
them were masters of their craft and
of the new form Of signals which were
to DO used In case Of emergency. Every
detail was complete, every possible
e2ecaution was taken to avert acci
dent,