The Jasper news., 1909-05-20

nervous strain of the situation was be,
ing rapidly diminished. Frankly, I'm
glad to be reassured.' he replied.
There are lot of things we'd rather
know"
"And which / shall b. glad to ex'
plain II you and dozen of your i'm.
mediate subordinates win come aboard
as my guests"
The invitation was Immediately &C.
cepted; but it was .sying interview
for the Britons. Tia machine on
which they were received was the
Roberts, which was the latest pro.
duction of the plant on the key II
was larger than It's predecessors, and
had been made the most pretentious
1t was elegantly appointed. Amid
ships 1t contained drawing room on
which the most careful workmanship
had been lavished. The guests gath
cred round a huge mahogany table
Whose polished top reflected the light
from the colored ports of the DOME
and were served with refreshments be-
fore Bevins required to the object OF
his visit. He drew from his pocket
an official packet and laid it open be
for him.
Gentlemen" he began, 'of course
you are interested in all that you have
seen, and in the attitude of the United
States. What | shall read to you are
my orders. | have come out here to
meet you for the purpose, first of all.
that Won NAV hoor than
The Roberts had assembled to an al.
titude above the others of the Ameri.
can fleet, and was resting In mid air
1t was very STILL the light hum of a
small dynamo from behind the parti
tions being the only dlsturber of ST.
lence. He opened the document and
read:
You are instructed to intercept the
British fleet and assure its officers of
the good will of the United States to-
ward his majesty, King Edward VII,
and all his subjects. You are to ex.
plain to them that the United States is
compelled, in pursuance of it's adopted
policy formulated at the commence.
ment of the war with Japan, to main.
tain the secret Of Its power until such
time as it is deemed expedient to an.
nounce 1t to the world. You will then
endeavor to induce the British fleet
to surrender itself into your hands as
guests of this country, assuring those
in command that all damages accru.
ing will be repaired by the United
States. You are to use all due caution
to avoid injury TO life, property, or
pride, and to transport the entire feet
to the waters of Chesapeake bay, after
which for a brief period the officers
and men Of Great Britain will be en-.
tertained by the United States"
Bevins stopped and looked into the
faces confronting him, which ex.
pressed variety of emotions, running
the gamut from stolidity to wonder,
and from compliance to indignation.
The British admiral's visage was a
frowning one. your country asks
too much!" he said. almost explosive.
ly. And really 1t volunteers no ex.
PLANTATION of it's acts or intentions"
Some of his companions nodded their
heads in approval. I'VE can't &C.
cept."
Bevins reopened the parchment. 81
| must then read you the concluding
clause" he said, and began:
ut is strongly desired that there be
no clash at arms; but in any event
you are to return with the fleet"
There was brief silence in the room,
which was broken by Fields, who
| jumped TO his feet. Bevins rose, and
the other officers did likewise. The
situation threatened unhappy conclu.
sions; but Bevins held up restrain.
| ing hand and went on:
Here! Before you underestimate
the force of this last clause, let me
| give you DEMONSTRATION of what we
| can do and how difficult 1t would be
for you to offer any defense or effec.
| tive resistance whatever"
He turned to speaking tube, gave
a curt order and requested his visi
tors to look through the transparent
ports, which were suddenly opened be-
meath their feet. The Roberts swept
up into the air to such prodigious
height that the internal pressure
against her shell became terrific. She
was at such an altitude that no mortal
being could have withstood the strain
In great circles she descended, until
| the water again became visible, then
the vessels upon it, and last Of all
the crests of the waves. Now she
swooped lower, and then at speed OF
nearly 600 miles an hour whipped a
straight line close above the tops o,
the fighting masts, slowed down, and
whirled in and out, about and above