Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-07-04
ICoPYRGHT. 1913 BY M@GHAPf1A
Astra's inheritance

a gloomy f~oreboding Of approaching
disaster hung yer the capital
Hannibal Prudent, ex-President Of
the United Republics. was dangerous
Ry i'll. The people walked quietly and
talked in subdued tones. as though
they feared to disturb him
Hannibal Prudent, the scientist
whose invention had saved the coun-
try, was e~ighty-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 severe cold which devet-
Aoped into pneumonia. Just as the dis
ease was nearing the crisis a curious
thing happened, something that had
not happened In the half-century
which had passed since he had put an
dsoiator between America and the
other continents.
A wireless message had come from
Europe.
The great man had been awakened
by the ringing Of the 4.5o0mile bell on
the small Acknowledgment that stood
by his bedside. To his establishment
the indicator that automatically reg
istered the sending station pointed to
Berlin, Germany. He stared In amaze
ment at the instrument and saw spark
following spark on its small. square,
milk-glass plate.
He put forth a shaking hand and adj
busted the receiving horn. The cleo
trio sparks then formed a picture-a
moving picture that talked A man
in military uniform looked at him
from the picture and a clear voice
with a German accent said In English:
Professor Prudent?"
Eyes, sir. Hannibal Prudent"
The figure bowed r%everently. II am
Count Won Werdenstein. AS you see,
4 have bored through your isolating
rays with my sparks of electricity.
This is the beginning. The next time
I talk to you there win be nothing to
keep the feet of consolidated Europe
from entering the ports of the Ameri-
cas- I am giving you this warning be-
cause I admire you-you were my
honored fathers teacher"
The figure on the plate bowed again,
then Yanisked.
Hannibal Prudent gazed c~uriously
at 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 a sheet of
paper by the stylus he tainted The
vitality that 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 at the bedside and the
house physician was counting his.
pulse. The scientist still held Wer.
ldenstein's message crumpled up in his
old hngers-the message that con-
lveyed such crushing news. Impatient.
Hy, as n who knows his time Is short,
lhe asked to be left alone with his
daughter. AS the door closed behind
the doctor he cried out In agony: "All
Emy hopes and all my life work are
Threatened. / had hoped that here
where I had established It peace would
abide-peace that has spread comfort,
contentment and happiness over our
continent; peace that created and
conserved fortunes greater than any
ever before known to man; peace that
permitted developments so high that
even the boldest would not have dared
to dream them fifty years ago.
"An this viii CO." His voice failed
for a moment. READ this" As the
startled girl read Werdenstein's mes
sages he cried bitterly: saThey want
vengeance" He felt his own pulse,
watching the large chronometer on
the wall opposite his bed. my will
is in the safe in my library. Here is
the key. The Europeans think that
the Gray alone hinders them from
entering Our beloved country, but they
are mistaken He gasped for air. II
will defy them again. Astra, write
what I have to say"
His breath came gaspingly; his clear
eyes grew dull; a whirlwind seemed
to possess the grest brain that had
been able to create peace tn America
Tor half q century.
Astra watched him with apprehen-
sion; she did not speak, rs she reaE
lied that 1t would be q 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: 2
sWhen the isolation has been broA-
On through or destroyed (both are pos
sible, IL one knows howl, then new
tsolations must be created, one ray
AFTER another. We can gain q year
that way. and that year must be used
DO prepare for war. Wari That hor-
For will destroy the work OF a peace
full country. But we are forced to it,
we win win, and peace viii come for
ever. Plans are ready for q new craft
THAT will be invincible. Navigation OF
the cir will solve the problem" His
voice had grown 60 weak that Astra