The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-03-24

81 far ~ / know she's the only woman
living Who can keep her mouth shut
They smiled at his manner and cyni
cism. while the president rendered he,
a seat at his side and waited for tn,
others to resume their chairs.
"An of you are familiar now Will
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
land have gone over the reports d
the -four most expert men In The
United States. who have pissed the
day with the inventor and his daughter
in their laboratory, are convinced oi
the merit and practicability 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 q look of acquiescence
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.
DR.. 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 1t 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-
voiving 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 a3d earnest as he
continued in q 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, Official routine and regular meth
DDS must give way in behalf of quick
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
and had not heard the earlier
looked at each other with
some hesitation. Ii was hard to drop
routine and dip into the nations
treasury on such short consideration.
The high dignity of the presiding Of
ficer, however, forbade any INTERRUPT
ton. and he went on unchallenged.
The absolute preservation of our
secret is recognized by all as a vital
necessity. and to obviate all leakages
the members of the army and navy
board suggest that our work be car
lied on in one of the most secluded of
he Florida keys. On this they pur-
pose to erect a plant adequate to cast
md perfect this metal on which We de-
,end, and as rapidly as possible apply
t to the vessels of Cur navy, which
will be sent there as quickly as prepa- ]
'atiOns can be made for their recep-
iOn.'
Norma. who had not been informed i
# this part of the project, gave a
tart OF protest, fOreseeing that she,
90. would have TO share in this isola- |
ion and become an exile until the ex- |
'eriments were concluded. Her father,
urned a questioning look toward her.
md then reached over and patted her
land in sympathy. The president was |
teadily summing up the situation.
The navy department will attend
o purchasing supplies, including ma.
hinery and crude metals necessary
or the first work. while DR.. Roberts
will place his orders for apparatus,
nd all will be consigned to the collier
'enObscOt. which will transport them
o the chosen spot. The gunboat Har-
er will accompany her. and will be
he first boat to be experimental upon
nd equipped with the new plates.
lear Admiral Brockton will be as
igned to her command for the pres
Mt. These two ships will sail from
lew York harbor, together with a
mall transport which will carry such
ngineers and mechanics as the navy
apartment may select for a work of
his importance. Communication will
e maintained by such means as seem
est to Admiral Brockton, and more
len and supplies will be dispatched
ON time to time as required. 1t is
eedless TO say that the entire expert
rental work. the casting of the plates,
nd the general supervision of every
ling, will be under the direction of
r. Roberts
And his assistant" the inventor
gain interjected.
tTO BE CONTINCED.)
!"