The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-01-04
Copyright. by w. G. Chapman,)

AoJ IA
mean financial disaster for him, and
the threat is our only hope, since the
time is too short to permit any other
form of intervention"
Seven days later-on the day be-
fore that set for the fulflment of the
conspiracy was seated with Jor-
dams in his private office at Broadway
and Pinto streets, New York. And all
America was hurrying to it's work
outside, never dreaming that the NOR
row would, unless my mission sue
ceeded, see events that would shake
1t to its foundations and undo the re-
suits of a century and more of demo-
cratic government.
He was a man of some seventy
years, obese, with little, shrewd eyes
n thin wisps of hair plastered down
over his temples. The dispatch which
handed to him was nominally from
Lord Rothschild, for of course the
British government could hold no
communication with him in person:
but it was easy for him to understand
its illusions.
He read it through silently while I
sat near him. Then he placed it in
his pocket and turned to me.
Captain Adams," he said, edo O
know what was in this dispatch?"
admitted it. l told him. He smiled
coldly.
IF I succeed" he replied. England
will be glad enough of my alliance
without daring to carry out this threat.
If l fail-well. we will discuss that
afterward. My answer Is: No"
He rang a bell and his secretary en-
tered. With a curt adieu, he babe
him show me to the door.
One day only before the debacle-
and, in his New York Office, this man
could sit calmly, planning. scheming,
secure of the success Of his scheme.
One thing alone could overthrow it:
the d~isloyalty of the army. But the
army were totally ignorant of the part
they had to play; and who could
doubt but that, when brought to the
White House, they would follow their
W general, especially at the price of
a fortune each?
I went to the White House. The
president was attending a political
meeting in Delaware; he would not be
back until the following morning. 1
made an appointment to see him the
moment that he returned, and, with a
sense of being completely baf1ed, re-
tired to my room in the Hotel Boule-
ward. All night 1 tossed upon my
pillow, following in anticipation the
result of the next nights work.
1t was so deadly simple, so impos-
sible of failure. Stay! A thought
came to me. What if the millions Of
Jordans could be offset by more mil
lions? What if Bramwell and his Of
ficers could be bought over? The
price Jordans had paid them must
have been ~uncountable. Where could
the president obtain a larger sum? In
the national treasury!
I found him quite unperturbed when
he accorded me our interview the fol-
lowing morning. And when, suffering
and stammering, l began to tell him,
l found that the whole plot was
known to him.
"But-but are you going to do moth
ing?" I burst out.
What is there for me to do?" he
answered. Let the glory of opening
a new chapter of civil strife in this
nations history belong to my enemies.
I might proclaim martial law, close
the shops, enroll volunteers secretly
and SO mmenc the struggle myself.
I prefer to do nothing. Captain Ad-
ans, the moment that Jordans is pro-
claimed emperor I shall shoot him
through the head with the revolver
that carry in this pocket. If I am
not slain instantly, my second bullet
will be for the traitor Bramwell. 1
can do no more"
You ear do MORE" I cried. There
is a hundred millions in the treasury.
Take it, bride Bramwell and the SOL
diery-"
1T isn't mine,' the president an
swered. 1T is the credit of the ma
ton, and that l will never tamper
with"
I could make no rejoinder to this.
DICK anu respondent, l maze my way
back to my hotel. I looked at my
watch. 1t was past one in the after
noon. In less than twelve hours, a
single revolution of the hour hand,
the destiny of the nation would have
been altered. And there was no hope.
I heard a boy calling an afternoon
newspaper, and bought a copy, and,
opening it, read: "Maneuvers in Mary
land ended. General Bramwell will
lead troops past the president tomor-
row." But I knew how, at nightfall,
the swift and silent march cityward
would begin, with it's ensuing tragedy
for American freedom.
Well, l had done everything that I
could do. Suddenly the idea came to
me to take a steam car out to Laurel,
half way between Washington and
Baltimore, where the troops were in
camp, to see them. 1t would not avail
me; yet there was a curious fascina.
ton in the idea. I wondered whether
the officers had yet been told of the
conspiracy, whether they would ex-