The Jasper news., 1909-03-04

DeIore ne again appeared, ana Inc
president turned toward him,
DIR. Roberts seems little an
noyed,s the secretary apologized, "and
insisted on my coming back to tell
you that he wanted to see you now"
The president and others in the
room laughed tolerantly, knowing the
inventors pecuiiarities.
What else did she sayf"s the presi-
dent asked
said he'd be hanged II he'd go I'M
til no saw you." The laughter inithe
room increased said he had found
something that would enable the gov
eminent to whip the Japanese; had
been reading reports showing there
was no time to waste, and wanted to
tell you about it at once"
The merriment subsidized as. quickly
as it had been provoked, and, the hi
larlous ones, grown grave, looked at
each other in establishment and won
der. Here at the very moment of dis.
tress was a man who had done more
toward Strengthening the nations
agents OF offense and defense than any
other individual, confidently asserting
that he could show them the way out
of their difficulties. The president
ordered that the caller be conducted
to the room at once.
Had 1t been any less a parsonage
than the famous inventor they would
have paid small heed to the promise
of hope; had they been informed In
less troublous times that such an in.
vention was pending, they would have
looked upon it with great interest and
curiosity; but now, when all avenues
OF escape seemed closed, when the
eagles perch was rocking beneath its
talons and It was threatened by merci.
less foemen, they stared at each other
In amazed silence like men who had
been reprieved.
1t was in the midst of this stiffness
that the inventor entered the room
and stood bewildered for a moment,
peering from beneath the thatch of his
brows at one and another. Then, sat.
isfied that his visit was opportune and
that none was present whom he did
not know, he gave them individual
greeting as his S2quaintanceship war
ranted.
You were not expecting me-" he
addressed the president; but 1t ap-
pears to me that there Is no one here
who should not know what have to
say, and who is not directly interested
in what | have to show. / am glad
you are all here, gentlemen" he con-
n hn nth I'D
then, following the example OF the
president, he seated himself, and the
| others did likewise. They were strung
with a suspense which he did not
! share. Informal, isn't it?" he asked
the president, and when assured that
| such was the case he calmly drew a
handkerchief from his pocket and
swept 1t across the dome of his fore
| head.
All were waiting for him to speak;
but, with exasperating slowness, and
without asking permission from the
president, he thrust a hand into the
roomy folds of his sack coat and pro-
duced bundle of long stogies, one OF
which he carefully withdrew and ex-
amined with great care. He thrust 1t
into his mouth and revolved 1t, appar-
emily for the purpose of tightening a
loose wrapper. He turned to the
chief executive. There was an air of
expectancy in the room and leaning
| forward, that no word of the great
secret might be lost. They caught all
he said
Got match, Mr.. President?" he
asked with the utmost nonchalance.
They dropped back into their seats.
some with evaporation and others
smiling. The president gravely sup
piled his want, and then, as the evil
odor Of the weed was waited round
the room, he sat back In his chair
with the tips Of his fingers touching
each other. The secretary of war was
beginning to fidget with Impotence.
Roberts pulled three or four times
fixed his eyes on cornice as If he
was the sole occupant of the room
then calmly reached into pocket and
drew out parcel which he laid on the
presidents desk. While every eye
was fixed upon him he tilted the stogy
in his mouth to an angle where the
smoke would not interfere with his
operations, and began unwrapping the
package, throwing the newspapers or
the floor at his feet. Then came q
fold of silk, and last of all sheet o.
tissue paper; whose cracking crisp
ness sounded startlingly loud in the
stiffness of the room.
"There!" he remarked triumphantly
exposing two small plates of metal moi