The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-06-14
THE ISOLATED CONTINENT
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idenr. ne executive. stretched his
arm toward him An invisible force
bent first his hand, then his arm
back. He could not touch the man
from any side.
After several experiments the as
founded President was convinced Of
the Importance of the discovery.
The intruder removed the force from
about him and told of his plans to
save the country They talked until
long after the first rays of the morn
ing sun shone through the windows
When the midnight visitor had fin
ished his condolences the Presidents
face was brighter than it had been for
many days. The careworn expression
was gone. He escorted his visitor to
the gate, putting his hand Familiarity
on his shoulder as he babe him good
morning
The midnight visitor was Hannibal
Prudent, the greatest scientist of the
new world.
The President spent the morning
preparing dispatches for the represen-
tatives of the European and oriental
nations. He gave them twenty-four
hours to order their vessels from
American waters, advising them that
If they had not obeyed the order in
that time the United States would not
be responsible for their future.
The new laws that had been formu-
lated by the United States govern
ment and which were so Objectionable
to the powers would stand, and the
United States would see that they
were enforced
Three days later Hannibal Prudent
created a current of the impenetrable
z ray that isolated the whole Ameri-
can continent from the rest of the
world
Fifty years had passed; fifty years
of independent peace. The Central
and South American republics had
joined the great United States and a
confederacy was formed that secured
their independence and the freedom
of commerce.
Those fifty years of peace had Gre
ated wealth, happiness and scientific
progress such as had never been
equaled.
Now the man whose genius had
made this possible lay dead, and his
last words urged preparation for war.
Astra sat before her fathers desk;
before her lay document that de-
manded careful study-the will of her
adopted father.
She did not look at the long list
of bonds and stocks; she did not care
| for the vast wealth that from now on
would belong to her alone. The pa
per she was reading contained far
reaching instructions, prophetic in
sight into the future. The last, page
was farewell letter:
'My dear Astra, knowing that / am
nearing the limit of human existence,
and that rest awaits me after long
and full life, set down such facts as
will enable you to make the best use
Of the knowledge that I, the old tree,
wish perpetuated in the poisoning
| plant; it is you who will be respon-
sible for the coming prosperity of the
! country. God gave you broad mind
that has developed to its fullest ca
/ pacity under my care and / am proud
| of you, dear girl; you are chosen to
| do great things for your country and
/ humanity.
There is only one man on earth
who is worthy of calling you wife;
you will find this man, or he will come
to you. as you two are ordained
] mates, comrades.
When go to my rest feel that
will leave turbulent times behind me.
| My z ray will not remain impene-
| trable forever, and when the day
comes that it is destroyed, the coun-
/ try will need a brave, competent man
to drive away the dreadnaughts. He
will come, as he has been fully in
structed. Trust in him, my dear
daughter.
"This country was not developed to
be blasted by war; the adventures of
warfare and strife are not for it. Our
| Creator selected this country to pro
mote freedom, equality and science.
laundering cannons shall never more
sound ON our shore; our land shall
| be land of love and peace.
81 have labored hard to spread THE
gospel. After am gone the task is
your inheritance, dear Astra
Before / die will tell you where to
find the one man competent to assist
you and will further instruct you in
your duty.