The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-11-23

a high order.
my dear lieutenant, am extremely
glad to have met you. Nothing could
have been more fortunate" said Mas
tefman, recovering his equanimity
with suddenness that surprised bis
friend. "Can you find the time to
come into my club and have a little
chat with me7 It's the Inventors, but
they Gull It the March Hares.' ! be-
lieye, because Of some Of the queer
Characters there. Ia fact, between
ourselves, believe that ] am the only
member who Is entirely sane joined
| II for professional reasons-that Is to
say. we have az organization and a
magnzIne gor the purpose Of getting
into touch with people who are inter-
ested in our projects. But it's queer
company, Paget, for common-sense
man IKE myself, with no nonsense
about him."
"a little trying, can imagine" Mas
! terman." said Paget automatically.
aIryng, sir7 It's a confounded
bore to listen to them For instance,
there's Brum, who has Just been re-
fused a patent for his eighth perpetual
motion machine. And Hatfield, our
presidenthe had to resign from three
other clubs because he Insists that
Shakespeare was really James !.
Eyes, it's a queer world, lieutenant;
and the oldest thing OF all Is that
when one has something of the utmost
Importance to the human race to make
public, not a single man will take the
least interest In 1t. / can't induce a
single member TO listen to me. How
ever, we live and let live; and, as /
said, the organization helps. But can
you dine with met"
i've nothing particular to do this
evening---for the first time In years."
"Then do come In and have dinner
with me-" said the old man eagerly. II
won't pretend that Pm not going 10
try and enlist your aid to save the
human race In spite Of those benight-
ed, besotted, blind-as-a-bat blasto-
derms In the admiralty office, because
/ am. But believe that Providence
has sent you TO me, and IL can't
make you believe me, at least / don't
want IL said that Jonathan Roderick
Mnsterman went down into his grave
without warning the human race of
what was coming.
"Str, II the public knew 1.-THE of
what I know, they would make peace
with France-Germany2 Thank yon)
land arm themselves against the most
relentless enemy that ever threatened
mankind. Sir, you will yet live to see
old Jonathan Roderlck Masterson's
statue in gold, standing In front of the
capitol"
Paget, now quite convinced that his
old friend was raying mad, followed
him into queer little building, appar-
emily combination of club and hotel.
The smoking room, which was stu
ated on the ground floor Immediately
behind the clerks desk. was crowded
with members, all talking at once at
| the top OF their voices. AS the captain
paused to enter his guests name in
tho book, Paget looked In through the
drifting smoke clouds.
A dozen men had the floor, and were
gestIculating furiously.
Captain Masterman, having en-
tered his guests name, touched him
upon the arm.
''Theyre all mad, my lad, said the
old man, surveying the assemblage
with look OF pity. "No doubt you
wonder how can associate my name
with theirs. III 1t wasn't for our mag
azine, In which our articles appear, and
our excellent organization, couldn't
bring myself to It."
"Who edits the magazlnef" inquired
Donald
''That was matter of some diff
Guilty." replied Masterman. sit proved
impossible to find member sufficient
| ly broad-minded to consider the others
and allow them space, and nobody
would accept my own offer to become
the editor, simply out Of professional
antagonlsm. Each wanted to utilize
the entire available space for his own
crazy ideas, SO we drew lots for It.
Fortunately, won the edltorship last
month, Here is a copy" he added
| picking up an attractive little publica.
ton that lay on the Clerks desk.
"But | am not going 60 talk to you
In the smoking ROOM" continued Mas
terman, "for that atmosphere woult
prejudice you against believing whai
am going 10 say. And ! must con
vince you, my dear boy, because thos'
lunatlcs are utterly beyond the bounds
of reason, and much is at stake. A
cataclysm Is impending which win In
evttably destroy humanity unless W.
devote our common energies TO tn,
maintenance OF our lives, our liberties
and our civilization"
I Iy~~----~-=a~~-------
l Captain MRsserman explains