Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-09-05
BY Edwin
Banner
copyrlsht, 1915, BY En-. Chicago Tribune

| 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 a leader
in sports at the country club. BE had
his own roadster, and he owned mo-
| torboat on the river. Above all, he
| Just had won. as hts wife to be. Agnes
| Ware, the sweetest and most sought
after girl In his world Altogether. life
as Jim Ashby found 1t lived In I'LL
nois--was a most satisfactory, safe and
delightful institution.
| Jim sat. awaiting Bob's retort Re
| ceivirg none, he looked about and saw
that Wendell had produced from shoe
box which was beside his chair a
| 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 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 thatT'
Bob handed 1t over. What do you
make of it,"
Jim examined tx thing gingerly. It
was a heavy meta. bulb, cast very
thick. with narrow neck and with
pins-wllich appeared TO be plunger
pins-protruding all about The purpose
Of these so obviously was to detonate
a 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 within
"Picric acid or any good high e1plo-
sive: not q particularly large charge
T.. required. 1t seems to be an incep.
diary bomb, with only small cham
ter of explosive in the center surround
ed by a chamber for the burning fluid.
OF course, if required 1t might all be
filed with high explosive"
Where did you get it,"
1T was sent to me from Chicago this
afternoon"
What forY
"As a sample" r., -
"Of what!"
Wendell pulled his chair a little near
er and leaned toward his brother-in-
law. "Of the sort of weapons--or.
rather. as one OF the sort OF weapons
witch are being distributed to the Sc
.cret agents .,of the prince regent
throughout tie middle west"
THE secret agents.
Eyes, 1t was made under your nose
at che Ashby brass works
"Giye 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"
11op stiAS1 tAC pOuiu anu ulut-
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 a graceful, slightly
built girl OF twenty-four. with dark.
iustrous 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 qIiveriug
now, and her cheeks 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 happenedY'
Nothing, thanks, Jim" ~
you don't want to tell meT'
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 wife's lips. Neighbors had
said when she was little girl that
there was something appealingly i'm
practical-idealistic. some called It
i about Helen Asnpy. 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 $500 an
nually, but Nellie's family had just
learned that third person was to ar
rive to share that slender pay. This
had caused more personal criticism OF
| Wendells circumstances during the
present visit In Elgin and made 1t more
difficult than ever for Nellie as we'll as
| for Bob. .-[.
whats he been saying now, dearie r
'Oh, he's going to tell you'll" Helen's
glance caught the headline Of the pa
per which Jim had left. Bob. what's
the news tonight"
We'll, the prince regent is withdraw
Ing cruisers from the Caribbean"
"And pledging recognition Of the
Acn,ce doctrineT
mot yet"
| 'But you're not telling me all that's
happened or all you've found out since
I've seen you. Isn't that sop
He could not deny 1t. He glanced
down once, doubtfully, toward the
chair which was hiding the shoe box;
then CHANGING bie mind drew tolc-