The Jasper news., 1909-04-15

word failure" In hushed voices they
discussed the situation, and tried To-
evolve some project for It's alienation.
And then without preliminary an.
nouDcement the door swung open ur.;
der he.hand Of the presidents private
secretary, and there stood framed In It
the huge form, Of the admiral, his hand
at salute, his eyes shining In triumph,
and back of him stood Norma, her ia
ther and jenkins. Brockton advanced
!, to the presidents desk. and faced him
and the secretary Of the navy.
Il have come to deliver my report
in person, and with me are those who
have given this nation the greatest
engine of war that science has ever;
known" S
The room was electrified; but the
president sprang to his feet and threw
UP restraining hand commanding ST
lence.
"Well?' he queried, inviting further
words; but Brockton's place had been
taken by the shriveled figure of a
diminutive old man, who put trem-
bling hand out to his friend and in a
voice of affection, hushed but exultant
exclaimed:
Paul, Paul, we've made goodn'
The others hand came out to meet
his, akd the only sound heard was the
presidents fervent, Thank Cod!
Thank God!"
/ The.gates Of repression and emotion
were down. These men had been
tried 80 the breaking point, and now,
when in one moment their skies had
cleared, they gave way. They hugged
each ";other, repeatedly shook hands,
and ip the eyes of some there were un-
restrained tears. They crowded round
the little group from the key and
admonishe2 each other to silence.
Gentlemen" said the inventor I'VE
have rendered warships useless. We
need mo armor! Increased speed on
the waters is of no value to US. We
have created machine that flies, not
thing Of gas, of planes, or kite. We
cannot explain here as well as II you
were to go with us and see 1t, and
| what use we have made of your
money"
The secretary Of the navy looked
| disappointed. His mind was too In
| tenseiy practical to jump to happy con.
clusions. Can a flying machine whip
a battle ship?" he asked, and would
have continued; but the admiral
brought his fist down on the desk with
q mighty bang.
This one alone might do It'll The
others we'll have ready before they
are called upon can whip the world
He stopped as IL abashed by his owl
enthusiasm and lack of etiquette
looked at the president and the sec
retary apologetically, and then in I
less tempestuous voice went on: "Al
we ask is that you come with us-st
no one may see you, of course-ant
then you'll have no cause for com
plant"
His request was reasonable; bu
they were curious. After brief discus
sion and arrangement they decided
to go in motor cars, which many o
those present knew how to drive, ant
within half an hour the entire part,
was whirling away through the sid'
streets of the city, out into the resi-
dence sections, through long avenues
of trees, past suburban homes, ant
finally to their destination.
| The night was lighted only by tn,
stars, which failed. to disclose tina
strange monster of marvellous meta
4 and unprecedented power whicl
loomed up dimly before them in th
field. 1t stood there on the stubble
dark and inert, massive and withou
grace, like some gigantic turtle OF
prehistoric age. Sentries halted then
as they approached even as in time o
strife, and compelled them to expos
their identity. They went aboard Will
the admiral stood at the door waitinl
for the guard to come within, tn
last one explaining slight delay b,
saying he Thought for moment tina
he had heard noise as OF some on
creeping over the field, but had foun'
nothing.
Sorry we can't illuminate" the In
ventor explained; but we shall a III
tie later after you have seen how l
works"
jenkins threw lever, and the heay,
doors over the port came to with
dull metallic clang and were clasped
Within little hooded space fol
ward. dim light exposed great hank
of levers, switches and Hins5. aud b
its faint rays they found seats in
provised for the occasion. Robert
threw out hand, and the hum 9
great dynamos told that machiner
had been set In motion. Back Q