Williams news., 1914-04-02
Astra's Inheritance.


 A gloomy foreboding of approaching disaster hung over the capital.
 Hannibal Prudent, ex-President of the United Republics. was dangerous ly 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 eighty-four years old, but he had carried the weight of his years lightly and had worked unceasingly On a flying trip to Labrador he had contracted a severe cold which devel- oped into pneumonia. Just as the dis ease was nearing the crisis 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 astonishment 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 shaking hand and ad- justed the receiving horn. The cleo Iric sparks then formed picture win ,f<1fr k-1Y iI military uniform looked at him from the picture and a clear voice with a. German accent said in English: |:
 Professor Prudent?"
 "Yes, sir. Hannibal Prudent"
 The figure bowed reverently. q am Count Won Werdenstein. AS you see, 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 fleet of consolidated Europe from entering the ports of the Ameri- cas. I am giving you this warning be- cause l admire you-you were my honored fathers teacher"
 The figure on the plate bowed again, then vanished
 Hannibal Prudent gazed curiously at the glass of the. apparatus, trying to believe that he had experienced a vision; but when he saw the words of iWerdenstein clearly printed by the magnificent instrument on 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- .denstein's message crumpled up in his old ingers-the message that con- 7veyed such crushing news. Inpatient ny. 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: "All my hopes and all my life work are threatened. I had hoped that here where 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.
 .."All this will go." His voice failed dor a moment. Read this" AS the startled girl read Werdenstein's mes cages he cried bitterly: "They wan, vengeance" He felt his own pulse watching the large chronometer or the wall opposite his bed My will is in the safe in my library Here is the key. The Europeans think that the Z-ray alone flinders them from entering our beloved country, but the, are mistaken" He gasped for air. e will defy them again. Astra, write what have to say"
 His breath came gaspingly; his cleal eyes grew dull; whirlwind seemed to possess the great brain that has been able to create peace in Americ; for half century,.
 Astra watched him with apprehen sion; she did not speak, as she real ized that it would be waste of time and the short time left her adoptet father was precious indeed The olt man rested moment, then seein, Astra was ready, he said:
 When the isolation has been brok en through or destroyed (both are DOS sible, if one knows howl, then ney isolations must be created, one ra, after another. We can gain a yea that way. and that year must be use, to prepare for war. War! That ho1 TOT will destroy the work of a peace full country. But we are forced to it We will win and neaca will cono fo,