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

CHAPTER xIIl.-Continued.
The others looked eagerly at them
as the president held them, wondering
what connection the two little strips
of metal could possibly have with the
defense of a nation against multi
tude of battle ships. Nothing but Rob
ers' known ability prevented them
from looking upon him as a crank
They inspected the objects before
them in turn. passing them from hand
to hand with blank looks. Onlysthe
secretary of war. who in bis earlier
years had been q metallurgist. showed
any signs OF surprise. or amazement.
He turned excitedly away and crossed
the room to side light, against which
glare he held the little plate, staring
at II fixedly. The inventor smiled, and
the others renewed their interest. The
secretary hurried back.
What on earth is ii, Dr. Roberts,
he asked, and then without waiting
for an explanation continued: Il never
It. What is it,"
Gentlemen" said the inventor. re-
covering the slab and balancing it in
his hands, that is new plate that
can be made cheaply and quickly. II
1t does what the laboratory tests show.
it will. when applied to cruisers which
can now steam 20 knots an hour make
so knots an easy gait for them"
There was a gasp of establishment
amounting almost to incredulity
among those who crowded round, and
the scientist, enjoying the effect of his
words. smiled and smoked. A mo
ment's pause ensued while the pos
sibilities of the discovery dawned on
them. Those who knew him least were
again questioning his sanity, and then,
rs il all at once they could wait no
longer for him to explain, they burst
into chorus of questions, which he
did not answer. He waited until no
voice was heard. and then began.
That plate practically overccmes
friction. My assistant, my daughter
Norma. and I have made several tests
before | came here with it. These
were cast and tested last night. l am
not going into scientific details; but
this much Ill make plain: A ship
coated along certain lines with that
metal. electrified only to a point where
she would not sink for lack of support,
can reduce her skin friction caused
by the water to point where her
speed would be something hitherto I'M
known. 1t would. of course, mean
lighter ornaments, because the light
er the dead tonnage the greater the
buoyancy. But a cruiser with a few
long range. high explosive guns, that
can travel at the rate of 40 or 50
miles an hour. or a submarine that
can make that speed for - hours at |
a stretch, would play havoc with any |
navy in the world
The room was alive with excited |
men now as the full force of his state |
ment came in all its clearness. III
that unknown metal had that proper
", and sufficient fighting ships could |
be armored with it in time to meet the |
demands made upon them, the seas
would be whipped into subsection and
legions Of troops transported before
they could be interfered with. The
president himself had lost his calm
ness and was gripping the arms of his
chair. The secretary of the navy,
having the practical poin. of view.
came out Of his trance, and snapped
out question:
How long would 1t take to equip a
cruiser with those plates?"
Roberts turned toward him. DE
ponds On tie plant. The plates can be
s'ast and electrified just as rapidly rs
you could cast sheets of plain iron
and turn a current into them: but l
wish to experiment a little further
flrst and try them oIt on some old gun
boat that wouldn't amount to much II
lost"
fhe roohSwas again file. with q
babel Of sound. as tie officials began
an argument but on one Point they
were agreed. The man before them
was so well known that the govern
ment was taking no great hazard in
a4fording him every means within its
power to carry out his work. and. IL
he could Go what he believed, and of
that there seemed no room for doubt.
the solution of the approaching war.
or any other. was in their hands. The
president alone sat buried in fought,
his brOws drawn into a frown.
Gentlemen" he said, and there was
that in his voice which demanded at /:
tentiCn. Il should like to ask Dr Dob
erts few questions. l wish to know
If this work Of his can be carried on i
so secretly that no other power-aot
one. nor even the people of this coun- /
Iry-can become aware of his discov-
cry; if he can suggest a means for I
srch concealment; if his work can be 1
.cne SO exreditiousiy, with full gov l
ar:nicnt support, thai within three