The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-06-02
Oopyrsstss, 1913 by W. G. Cha pman In Lhs Unite
States and Great Britain
CHAPTER !.
Astra's Inheritance.


disaster hung over the capital.
Hannibal Prudent, ex-President o
the United Republics, was dangerous
ly III. The people walked quietly ant
talked in subdued tones. as though
they feared to disturb him.
Hannibal Prudent, the scientis
whose invention had saved the coun
try, was eighty-four years old, but b.
had carried the weight of his year,
lightly and had worked increasingly
On a flying trip to Labrador he hat
contracted severe cold which devel
oped into pneumonia. Just as the dis
ease was nearing the crisis a curious
thing happened. something that hac
not happened in the half-century
which had passed since he had put ar
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 establishment
the indicator that automatically reg
istered the sending station pointed tC
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
tusted the receiving horn. The cleo
trio sparks then formed a picture--a
moving picture that talked! A mar
in military uniform looked at hin
from the picture and a clear voice
with German accent said in English
Professor Prudent?-
Yes, sir. Hannibal Prudent"
The figure bowed reverently. Il an
Count Won Werdenstein AS you see
have bored through your isolatini
rays with my sparks of electricity
This is the beginning. The next time
talk to you there will be nothing tc
keep the feet of consolidated Europe
from entering the ports Of the Ameri
cas-. am giving you this warning be
cause | 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
10 believe that he had experienced q
vision; but when he saw the words 0!
Werdenstein clearly printed by the
magnificent instrument on a sheet oil
paper by the stylus he tainted. The
vitality that could combat physica
suffering could not bear the menacine
news that the little instrument hat
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 fngers-the message that con
veyed such crushing news. Impatient
ly, as one who knows his time Is short
he asked to be left alone with his
daughter. As the door closed behinC
the doctor he cried out in agony: al
my hopes and all my life work are
threatened. had hoped that here
where had established 1t peace would
apide-peace that has spread comfort
contentment and happiness over oul
continent; peace that created anc
conserved fortunes greater than an
ever before known to man; peace tina
permitted developments 80 high tina
even the boidest would not have dareC
to dream them fifty years ago
All this will CO." His voice failet
for moment Read this" As tn,
startled girl read Werdenstein's mes
sages he cried bitterly: They wan
vengeance" He felt his own pulse
watching the large chronometer OF
the wall opposite his bed. MY VII
is in the safe in my library. Here Il
the key. The Europeans think tina
the Fray alone binders them from
entering our beloved country but the,
are mistaken" He gasped for air. "
will defy them again. Astra writ
what have TO say"
His breath came gaspingly: his clea
eyes grew dull; whirlwind seerne
TO possess the great brain that ha
been able to create peace in Americ
for half a century.
Astra watched him with appreher
sion; she did not speak, as she rea
lied that 1t would be a waste of time
and the short time left her adopte
father was precious indeed. The oil
man rested a moment, then eeein
Astra was ready, he said:
When the isolation has been brol
en- through or destroyed (both are DO,
sible, If one knows howl, then ne,
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 no
ror will destroy the work OF peac,
full country. But we are forced to il
we viii win. and peace will come 70