The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-08-01
Astra's Inheritance.

Astra's Inheritance.
A gloomy foreboding of approaching
disaster hung over the capital.
Hannibal Prudent, ex-Pres1dent OF
the United Republics, was dangerous
~ ILL., 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 eighty-four years old, but he
had carried the weight Of his years
lightly and had worked increasingly.
On q flying trip to Labrador he had
contracted a severe cold which devel-
oped 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
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 4,500-mile bell on
the small electro-stylograph 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 it's small, square,
milk-glass plate.
He put forth shaking hand and ad-
justed the receiving horn. The cleo
trio sparks then formed picture-a
moving picture that talked! A man
In military uniform looked at him
from the picture and clear voice
with German accent said in English:
Professor Prudent?"
Eyes, sir Hannibal Prudent"
The figure bowed reverently. " am
Count Won Werdenstein. AS you see,
I have bored through your isolating
rays with my sparks of electricity.
This Is the beginning. The next time
talk to you there will be nothing to
keep the feet Of consolidated Europe
from entering the ports of the Ameri-
cas-. am giving you this warning be-
cause / admire you-you were my
honored fathers teacher"
The figure on the plate bowed again,
then vanished.
Hannibal Prudent gazed curiously
ut 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
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.
house physician was counting his
pulse. The scientist still held Wer
denstein's message crumpled up in his
old fingers-the message that con
veyed such crushing news. Impatient
ly, as one who knows his time is short
he asked to be left alone with his
daughter. AS the door closed behind
the doctor he cried out in agony: cal
my hopes and all my life work are
threatened. l had hoped that here
where had established it peace would
abide-peace that has spread comfort
contentment and happiness over ou1
continent; peace that created ant
conserved fortunes greater than an,
ever before known to man; peace tha
permitted developments so high tha
even the boldest would not have daret
to dream them fifty years ago.
"All this will CO." His voice failed
for moment. Read this" AS tn,
startled girl read Werdenstein's mes
sages he cried bitterly: "They wan
vengeance" He felt his own pulse
watching the large chronometer OF
the wall opposite his bed. my will
Ii In the safe in my library. Here Il
the key. The Europeans think tina
the Gray alone hinders them from
entering our beloved country, but the,
are mistaken" He gasped for air. Sc
will defy them again. Astra, writ
what have to say"
His breath came gaspingly; his clea
eyes grew dull; whirlwind SCENE,
to possess the great brain that ha,
been able to create peace In Americ,
for half century.
Astra watched him with appreher
sion; she did not speak, as she real
lied that it would be a waste OF time
and the short time left her adupte
father was precious indeed. The oil
man rested moment, then seein
Astra was ready, he said:
When the isolation has been brol
On through or destroyed (both are DO,
sible. II one knows howl, then me-
1solations must be created. one IA
after another. We can gain 4 Yea
that way. and that year must be nae
70 prepare for war. War! That ho
TOR win destroy the work Of peao,
fui country But we are forced 70 Il
~ WIN win. and peace win come "a