The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-03-13
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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 1t had been provoked, and the hi
larious 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
nave 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 1t 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 hts visit was opportune and
that none was present whom he did
not know, he gave them individual
greeting as his acquaintanceship war.
ranted.
You were not expecting me-" he
addressed the president; but It 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. l am glad
you are all here, gentlemen" he con-
cluded, turning to the others. And
then, following the example of the
president, he seated himself, and the
others did likewise. They were strung
with 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 |
from his pocket and |
swept it 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 It
into his mouth and revolved It. 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 a leaning
that no word of the great
secret might be lost. They caught all 1
he said.
Got a 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
,dor Of the weed was waited round
he room, he sat back in his chair.
With the tips of his fingers touching
Zach other. The secretary Of war was
beginning to fidget with impotence.
Roberts pulled three or four times.
ixed his eyes on a cornice as IL he
vas the sole occupant of the room.
hen calmly reached into pocket and
rev out parcel which he laid on the
Presidents desk. While every eye
vas fixed upon him he tilted the stogy
n his mouth to an angle where the
moke would not interfere with his
operations. and began unwrapping the
'ackage, throwing the newspapers on
he floor at his feet Then came a
old of silk, and last of all a sheet of
issue paper, whose cracking crisp
less sounded startlingly loud In the
fitness of the room.
"There!" he remarked triumphantIy.
xposing two. small plates of metal not
iffering greatly In appearance from
wo pieces of FURNISHED steel Eager.
Y all those in the room crowded for
Yard. while the president gingerly
ook one of the slabs In his fingers.
New explosive?" he asked.
No. they're harmless" The inven-
or smiled.
tTO BE CONTINUED.)