The Marshall republican., 1913-05-23
cHAprER Z.
Astra's inheritance.

A gloomy forebodipg Of approaching
disaster hung over the capital.
Hannibal Prudent, ex-P president OF
the United Republics, was dangerous
~ III. The people walked quietly and
talked In subdued tones, az though
they feared TO disturb him.
Hannibal Prudent, the scientist
whose invention had saved the coun-
try. was eighty.four years old, but he
had carried the weight Of his years
lightly and had worked INCREASINGLY.
On a flying trip to Labrador he had
contracted a eevere cold which devel-
oped into pneumonia. Just N the dis
ease was nearing the crisis q curious
thing happened, something that had
not happened In the h~aifcentury
which had passed since he had put an
isolator between America and the
other continents.
A wireless message had come from
Europe.
The great man had been awakened
by the ringing OF the %,500miie bell on
thes small eiectro-stylograph that stood
by hie bedside. To his establishment
~. hhoN auNoHi&tltHDy Etk-
istered tho sending station pointed to
Berlin, Germany. He stared In amaze
ment at the instrument and saw epark
following spark on It's small. square.
m~ilk-glass plate.
He put forth a shaking hand and ad-
justed the receiving horn. The cleo
trio sparks then formed a picture-a
moving picture that talkedl A man
In military uniform looked ut him
with q Ger1pnn accent said In English:
Professor Prudent"
"Yes. sir. Hannibal Prudent"
The figure bowed reserently. Il am
Count Won Werdenstein. As you see.
I have bored through your isoiating
rays with my sparks of electricity.
This Ia the beginning. The next time
talk TO you there win be nothing TO
keep the feet Of consolidated Europe
from entering the ports Of the Ameri.
cas-. am giving you this warning be
! admire you-you were my
honored fathers teacher"
The figure on the plate bowed again.
then v~enished.
Hannibal Prudent gazed ~curiously
Mt the glass OF the apparatus. trying
TO believe that he had experienced a
vision: but when he saw the words OF
Werdenstein clearly printed by the
magnificent instrument on n sheet OF
paper By the stylus he tainted. The
vitality mat could combat physical
suffering could not bear the menacing
news that the little instrument had
brought.
When he opened his eyes his daugh'
ter Astra stood nj the bedside aud the
house physician was counting his
pulse. The scientist still held Wer
denstein's message crumpled up in his
old f~ngers-the message that con
veyed such crushing news. Impatient
ly. as n who knows his time is short
he asked 70 be left alone with his
daughter. A the door closed behint
the doctor he cried out In agony: al
my hopes and all my life work arr
threatened. l had hoped that here
where ! had established II peace would
abide-peace that has spread comfort
contentment aud happiness ove ouI
continent; peace that created and
conserved fortunes greater than any
ever before known TO man; peace thai
permitted developments SO high thai
even the boldest would not have dared
TO dream them fifty years ago.
"AIl this will 60" His voice failed
for q moment. Read this" As the
startled girl read Werdenstein's mes
sages he cried bitterly: "They want
vengeance" He felt his own pulse
watching the large chronometer on
the wall opposite his bed. MY will
is in the cafe In my library. Here IL
the key. The Europeans think thai
the Gray alone binders them from
entering our beloved country. but they
are mistaken" He gasped for air. 81
viii defy them again. Astra, write
what l have TO say"
His breath came gssplngly; HIS c.aaI
eyes grew dull; a whirlwind seemed
to possess the great brain that had
been able to create peace In America
for half a century.
Astra watched him with apprehen-
sion; she did not speak, as she real.
lied that II would be a waste of time,
and the short time left her adopted
father was precious indeed. The old
man rested a moment, then seeing
Astra was ready, he said; :
when the isolation has been brok'
en- through or destroyed (both are pos
sible. II n knows howl. then new
isolations must be created. one ray
after another. We can gain a year
that way, and that year must be used
to prepare for q Wari That hor
0 will destroy the work Of a peace.
full country. But we are forced to It;
we will win. and peace will come for
ever. Plans arr ready for z new craft
that will be invincible. Navigation OF
the air will solve the problem" His
voice had grown 20 weak that Astra
could hardly understand him, but she
had taken every word down IN short,