Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-09-24

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Rogers who spoke over the telephone
had persuaded Burton to buy the con-
Germ in conjunction with several other
notables OF the iron and steel trades
The reconstruction had come too late
however, to share in the first boom
resulting from the European war
Very unwillingly, John had beer
coerced by his colleagues on the board
of directors into equipping the works
for the production of munitions. He
was overborne by the argument that
the allies were in desperate need Of
these aids to civilization, which would
be impcriled if American manufacture
ers did not get busy.
By reason of his money, Burton was
appointed president, but he little
ireamed how thoroughly Rogers, the
manager, had manipulated matters
European orders for arms and ammu.
iition had already been gobbled up
/ ~ hundreds of old-established works
in all parts, of the country. A new.
conner found it difficult to obtain any
share of the trade, Purchasing agents
demanded the warranty of experience
and unquestioned excellence in the
finished article, so Rogers had to run
the works at their maximum output
yet bide his time ere picking up any
| part of the golden shower coming
from Europe. Obviously, If America
itself caught the craze for armament,
the trick would be done, and the Bur-
ton & Rogers Iron and Steel company
put on the solid base OF prosperity.
Rogers looked only to the end. He
was absolutely inscriptions as to the
means of obtaining it.
Rogers was man of mystery. He
called himself cosmopolitan, and said
that he was a citizen of the world
When asked what nationality he was,
he always evaded the question. While
he lived and carried on his business
in the United States he never voted.
John passed full day prior to the
meeting in the convention hall. Some
how, his name figured prominently in
the new movement, and kilograms
poured in on him from all parts OF
the country. A few sane people ap-
pealed for restraint and the exercise
of reason, but the vast majority de-
manded the prompt raising OF an army
of 100000 men and the piling up OF
sufficient stores to insure victory in
the threatened war.
In spite OF himself, John was car
ried bodily on the tide. He hated
war, but ever before his eyes lay the
picture OF desolated San Jose and its
hapless victims. These things were
not war but murder, and the arming
of American citizens savored more OF
police protection than militarism.
Before the meeting began he was
met by Rogers, who introduced an
unknown lady as one deeply inter-
ested in the capture and punishment
of Sebastian Pancho, In the hurry OF
the moment John gathered only that
she was a Mrs. Madge Kerr, whose
husband had been killed during a
small frontier Array which took place
long before San Jose doomed into
such prominence.
She was very good-looking wom-
an, young, attractively dressed, and
notably elegant in her movements.
Had Burton given thought to the
matter, he would have decided that
such an exotic must have been re-
markably out of place on a ranch. In
literal fact, she was clever but
hitherto disappointed actress, whom
Rogers had chosen to play a leading
part in drama of real life. a.
The astute manager guessed that
the supplemented president of the
company would surely invite Mrs.
Kerr to share his box at the meeting,
and that very thing John did at once,
none of his disastrous experiences
having uprooted his fixed belief in the
finer qualities of womanhood.
Rogers proved most effective or
ator. Retaining a well-conceived adj
dress until the psychological mo-
ment, he swept crowded meeting off
its feet by an imprisoned plea that
every man and woman in America
should unite in unfolding the flag.
His words raised the audience to a
delirium OF enthusiasm. When he sat
down, cheer after cheer rang through
the great building.
AT last silence was restored. The
chairman was about to call on an
other speaker, who would second the
preparedness" resolution proposed
by Rogers, when Madge Kerr at
tracted every eye by rising and lean
ing we'll over the front OF the box
which she shared with Burton and