Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-12-09
CHAPTER TX.
The Ending Of War.

ever met together. Principalities and
all their pride and mystery We're gone.
met In a marvellous new humility
Here were kings and emperors whose
capitals We're lakes Of flaming destruc-
ton, statesmen whose countries had be-
come chaos. scared politicians and
financial potentates. Here were lead
ers Of thought and learned investi-
gators dragged reluctantly to the con,
troll Of affairs. Altogether there were
ninety-three of them. Leblanc's con.
ception Of the head men Of the world.
They had all come to the realization of
the simple truths that the indefatiga-
bic Leblanc had hammered into them
and, drawing his resources from the
king Of Italy. he had provisioned his
conference with generous simplicity
quite in accordance with the rest OF
his character and so at last was able
to make his astonishing and entirely
rational appeal. He had appointed
King Egbert the president. He be-
lieved in this young man so firmly that
AS NoAAp'CSSly HILL, anu uC
spoke himself as secretary might
speak from the presidents left hand,
and evidently did not realize himself
that he was telling them all exactly
what they had to do. He imagined
he was merely recapitulating the OBJ
viOus features of the situation for their
convenience. He was dressed in ILL.,
oil az
suited dingy little packet Of notes as
he spoke. They put him out. He ex-
planned that he had never spoken from
notes before, but that this occasion
was exceptional
And then King Egbert spoke as he
was expected to speak, and Lebanc's
spectacles moistened at that flow of
generous sentiment. most amiably and
lightly expressed I'VE haven't to
stand on ceremony" said the king,
I'VE have to govern the world. We
have always pretended to govern the
world. and here Is our opportunity"
LOT course" whispered Leblanc, nod
ding his head rapidly, "of course"
1.-The world has been smashed up,
and we have to put it on its wheels
again. said King Egbert, las it Is
the simple common sense Of this crisis
for all to help and none to seek advan-
tage. Is that our tone or nOt?'
The gathering was too old and sea
soned and miscellaneous for any great
displays of enthusiasm. but that was
its tone, and with an establishment that
somehow became exhiarating it began
to resign, repudiate and declare it's In
tentions. F1rmin, taking notes behind
his master, heard everything that had
been foretold among the yellow broom
come true With queer feeling that
he was dreaming lie assisted at the
proclamation Of the world state and
saw the message taken out to the wire
less operators to he throbbed all around
the habitable globe. And next" said
King Egbert. with a cheerful excite
ment in his voice, I'VE have to get
every atom of carolinuln and all the
plant for making il into our control"
Firmin was not alone in his increduli-
ty. Not man there who was not q
very amiable, reasonable, benevolent
creature at bottom. Some had been
born to power, and some had happened
upon It, Some had struggled to get it,
not clearly knowing what it was ana
what it implied, but none was irrec-
oncilably set upon its retention ut the
price Of cosmic disaster Their minds
had been prepared by circumstances
and sedulously cultivated by Leblanc,
and now they took the broad, obvious
road along which King Egbert was
leading them with mingled conviction
of strangeness and necessity. Things
went very smoothly. The king Of It.
ally explained the arrangements that
had been made for the protection of
the camp from any fantastic attack A
couple of thousand Of aeroplanes, each
carrying sharpsh0oter, guarded them,
and there was an excellent system OF
relays, and at night all the sky would
be searched by scores OF lights, and the
admirable Leblanc gave luminous rea-
sons for their camping just where they
were and going on with their admins
trat1ve duties forthwith. He knew of
this place because he had happened
upon 1t when holiday making with
Nine. Leblanc twenty years and more
ago. There is very simple fare at
present." he explained, ION account of
the disturbed state of the countries
about us. But we have excellent fresh
milk, good red wine, beef, bread, salad
and lemons. In a few days l hope to
place things in the hands of a more
efficient caterer"
The members of the new world gov
eminent dined at three long tables on
trestles, and down the middle Of these
tables Leblanc, in spite Of the barren
ness of his menu, had contrived to
have a great multitude Of beautiful
roses. There was similar accommodate
ton for the secretaries and attendants
at lower level down the mountain
The assembly dined as 1t had debated
In the open air, and over the dark
crags to the west the glowing June
sunset shOne upon the banquet. There
was no presidency now among the
, ninety-three, and King Egbert found
himself between a pleasant little Jap
anese stranger in spectacles and his
cousin of central Europe and opposite
great Bengal leader and the presi-
dent Of the United States of America.
Beyond the Japanese was Holster, the
old chemist, and Leblanc was a little
way down on the other side.
The king was still cheerfully taIka-
tive and abounded in ideas. He fell
presently into an amiable controversy