The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-09-02

ally you're entertaining, but doesn't it
sometimes occur to your Annapolis
and West Point alumni that your bust
ness must horribly overdevelop the
bump Of foreboding?"
"In other words?"
"Of course know we haven't all the
ships and all the men ready to take
on the regent at the drop of the hat,
but does any sane man suppose that
the prince is going to attack us for
the sake of few first successes when
he knows we're bound to lick him in
the end? You bet not. So therel he
no war unless we want it. We don't
want 1t; so that's all there is to it,
He speared his driver violently back
in the bag among the other golf clubs
and sat staring away.
At twenty-five, after finishing an ell
cheering course at the University of
Illinois, he had started work in the
shops Of the Ashby Brass company,
which his grandfather had founded
and of which his father now was pres
ident. After two years in the Shops
two more in the sales department, an
other at credits and accounting, he
now-at twenty-seven-had his own
Office with the title of assistant SUI
perintendent under his name on the
door. His salary had doubled in the
last year, and all the future was his.
Outside Of business, he was leader
in sports at the country club. He had
his own roadster, and he owned mo-
torboat on the river. Above all, he
just had won, as his wife to be, Agnes
Ware. the sweetest and most sought
after girl in his world. Altogether, life
as Jim Ashby found it lived in ILL.,
nois-was most satisfactory, safe and
delightful institution.
Jim sat, awaiting Bob's retort. Re
ceiving none, he looked about and saw
that Wendell had produced from shoe
box which was beside his chair u
strangely shaped brass and steel OBJ
ject, somewhat larger than two fists.
1t had been cast at the Ashby Brass
works, or, at least, part Of 1t had, for
the rounded part was precisely accord
ing to a pattern in use there, but this
piece had been combined with others
to compose an instrument which, as a
whole, was quite unlike anything IA
miliar to Jim.
"What the deuce is that?"
Bob handed it over. what do you
make of it?'
Jim examined the thing gingerly. 1t
was a heavy metal bulb, cast very
thick. with a narrow neck and with
pins-which appeared to be plunger
pins-protruding all about. The purpose
Of these so obviously was to detonate
contained explosive that Jim looked
quickly at his brother-in-law before
touching any of the plungers.
"Push it In Bob said. "The thing
isn't loaded
What should it be loaded with?"
"Picric acid or any good high explo
sive; not particularly large charge
Is required. 1t seems to be an incen.
diary bomb, with only a small cham
Der Of explosive in the center surround
ed by chamber for the burning fluid.
OF course, if required it might all lie
HlIe0 WITH Ngn explosive.
"Where did you get it?'
ut was sent to me from Chicago this
afternoon
"W'hat for:''
"-As a sample"
"Of WHAT"
Wendell pulled his chair little near
er and leaned toward his brother-in-
law. ''Of the sort of weapons-or,
rather. as one Of the sort Of weapons
which are being distributed to the Sc
crct agents of the prince regent
throughout the middle west.''
''The secret agentS!'
Eyes, it was made under your nose
at the Ashby brass works.
Give it to me or hide it now,
please! Bob ordered sharply as some
one came toward the screen door.
Jim looked about. ITS only Nellie -
Bob seized the brass bomb and drop
ped it into the shoe box and laid on the
cover. He was standing, and Jim
arose also as his sister came out upon
the porch. She was graceful, slightly
built girl of twenty-four, with dark,
lustrous hair and delicate brows, with
quiet, beautiful eyes, deep blue in color,
and with sensitive lips and good, round
ed little chin. Her lips were quivering
now, and her checks were flushed. She
was SO agitated herself that she did
not notice the attitude of dissension be-
tween her brother and her husband.
and Jim spoke to her in quick SYM
patty.
'Hello, Helen. what's happened?"
Nothing. thanks. jim"
You don't want to tell me!'
Its only fathers been talking to ME
again."
OH Her brother understood. He
looked from Nellie to her husband,
picked up his golf bag and went into
| the house.
Wendell showed the shoe box with his
| foot so that chair hid it. then he
kissed his wifes lips. Neighbors had
said when she was little girl that
there was something appealingly i'm.
practical-idealistic, some called it
about Helen Ashby. She was consider
ed to have proved to be impractical
when, at twenty-five and against the
violent opposition of her father, she
had married Bob Wendell. who then
was only an ensign in the navy with
pay less than $500 year. He was
junior lieutenant now, with 5000 an
nually, but Nellie's family had just
learned that third person was to ar.