The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1911-10-17
CHAPTER XXI.
The Compact.


A room, low-ceilinged, dim, gloomy.
sinister as an inquisition chamber; a
single large table in the center. hold
Ing kerosene lamp. writing materi-
ais and n metal spheroid shade
larger than one-pound shell: and
around IL semicircle of silent.
masked and cowled figures. There
were twelve of them. eleven men and
woman. In the shadows, which grew
den2ei' at the far end of the room.
was squat. globular object. mas
sive. smooth-sided. black. threatening
thing of iron.
One OF the men glanced at his
watch-it was Just two o'clock-then
rose and took a position beside the
liable. facing the semicircle He placed
Inc umepiece on the table in front OF
him.
Gentlemen" he said and there was
The faintest trace OF foreign accent.
II shall speak English because | know
that whatever your nationality all of
you are familiar with that tongue.
And now an apology for the theatric
aspect of all this-the masks. the
time and place of meeting, and the
rest OF It," He paused a moment
There is only one person living who
knows the name and position of all
OF you and by a sweep of his hand
he indicated the motionless figure OF
the woman. 1T was by her decision
that masks are worn. for while we all
know the details OF the Latin com
pact. there is bare chance that some
VI . l.
sirable that the identity of that per
son be known TO all Of us. The rea
son for the selection of this time and
place is obvious, for an mixing of the
proposed signing has reached the Sc.
cret Service. / will add the United
States was chosen as the birthplace
Of this new epoch in history for sew
eral reasons, one being the proximity
to Central and South America: and
another the inadequate police system
which enables greater freedom OF
action"
He stopped and drew from his
pocket folded parchment. He tapped
the tips of his fingers with It from
time to time as he talked.
The Latin compact, gentlemen. is
oct the dream of a night. nor of
decade. AS long as fifty years ago
1t was suggested. and whatever differ.
ences the Latin countries of the world
have had among themselves. they
have always realized that ultimately
they must stand together against
against the other nations Of the world.
This idea terminated into action
three years ago. and since that time
agents have covered the world in ito
interest. This meeting is the fruition
OF all that work, and this" he held
the parchment aloft, is the instru.
ment that will unite us Never has a
diplomatic secret been kept as this
has been kept: never has a greater
reprisal been planned. Il means. gen
uemen. the domination OF the world
socially. spiritually. commercially and
artistically; II means that England
and the United States. whose sphere
OF influence has extended around the
globe, will be beaten back. and that
the flag Of the Latin countries will
wave again over lost possessions. It
means all Of that. and more"
His voice had risen as he talked
until II had grown vibrant with en-.
thusiasm; and bis hands pointed his
remarks with quick. sharp gestures.
'All this" he went on. was never
possible until three years ago when
the navies of the world were given
over into the hands Of one nation-my
country. Five years ago fellow.
countryman Of mine happened TO be
present at an electrical exhibition I'm
New York City. and there he wit.
messed an Interesting experiment.
practical demonstration OF the fact
that a submarine mine may be ex.
plodod by the use Of the Marconi
wireless system lie was O practical
electrician himself. and the idea lin.
gered IN his mind For two years he
experimental. and finally this result
cd He picked up the metal spheroid
and held Il out for their inspection.
As Il stands Il is absolutely perfect
and gives worlds supremacy to the
Latin countries because Il places all
the navies Of the world ~ our mercy.
u IS variation Of the wellknown
percussion cap or fuse By which
mines and torpedoes ore exploded.
The theory Of It Is simple. as are
the theories OF all great inventions:
the secret Of its construction n
known only TO its inventor man OF
whom you never heard 70 e. merely
that tho mechanism Of the cap IS 80
delicate that the Marconi wireless
waves and only those--wiil Ore the