The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-03
(Continued )

 into the face of his superior. ;
 T know very well, my son." the president continued. "I know it all. Put her out of your heart, my boy. Would you shame yourself and her and mel"
 ''No! Never would I do that, MT. Jefferson, believe me. But now must beg of you, please. sir, let me go soon let it be at once"
 The older man stood looking at him for a time in silence as he went on hurriedly: ~-
 ''I must say goodby to you, best and noblest of men. Indeed, have said goodby everything"
 'As you say, your case is hopeless ?'
 .'Yes, sir.'
 "Ah, well, we have both been plan ming for our western expedition these ten years, my son. So why should we fret if matters conspire to bring it about trife earlier than we planned?" ''I asked you. when was a boy to send me, but you could not then." ''No, but instead sent wonder maun- dering Michaux. He, Ledyard and all the others failed me. They never saw the great vision. There 1t lies, un- known, tremendOuS-nO man knows what-that new country. I have had to hide from the people of this repub- lie this secret purpose which you and I have had of exploring the vast west ern country. have picked you as the one man fitted for that work. I do not make mistakes. You are born woodsman and traveller. You are ready to my hand as the instrument for this magnificent adventure. I cannot well spare you now, but-yes, you must go!' They stood there, two men who made our great. adventure for us vision seers, vision owned, gazing each into the others eyes. .
 "Send me now, MT. Jefferson" re- peated Meriwether Lewis. "Send me now. I will mend to usefulness again. I will work for you all my life, if need be, and I want my name clear with you.'
 The old man laid a kindly hand upon his shoulder.
 'I must yield you to your destiny" l said he. "It will be great one.". He turned aside, a hand to his lip as he paced uncertainty. But still am wondering what our friends are doing yonder in France" said he. ''That, is the question. Livingston, Monroe and the others are they doing with Napoleon Bonaparte? The news from France-but stay,' he added. "Wait. I had forgotten. Come, we shall see about ii"
 With the sudden enthusiasm of a boy he caught his young aid by the arm. They passed down the hall, out by the rear entrance and across the White House grounds to the brick stables, which then stood at the rear.f MT. Jefferson paid no attention to the sleek animals there which looked in greeting toward him. Instead, he pass ed in front of the series of stalls, and without excuse or explanation hurried ly began to climb the steep ladder which led to the floor above. They stood at length in the upper apartment of the stable buildings. It was not now or feed loft, but rather
  pigeons. All about the caves were ar ranged many boxes-nesting places, ap- parently, although none of the birds entered the long room, which seemed free of any occupancy. Mr. Jefferson stood for a moment, eagerly scanning the rear of the tie1 of boxes. An eXclama ton broke from him. He hurried forward with a sud- den gesture to little flag which stood ice at the side of the box to which he pointed.
 ''Donev' said he.
 He reached up to the box that he had indicated, pressed down a little catch opened the back and looked in. Again an exclamation escaped him. He put in a hand gingerly and, ten derly imprisoning the bird which he found therein, drew it forth, his long
 fingers eagerly lifting it's wings, ex- amining it's legs.
 It could easily be seen that the box was arranged with door on trip : ping latch, so that the pigeon on enter ing would imprison itself. It was ap- parent that MT. Jefferson was depend ing upon the natural homing instinct of his carrier pigeons to bring him some message.
 ''I told them,'' said he, "to loose a half dozen birds at once. See! See!'
 He unrolled from one leg oe +se czris oner little cylinder of paper covered with tinfoil and tied firmly in its place. It was the first wireless mes sage ever received at Washington. None since that time has carried a greater burden. It announced trans action in empires.
 MT. Jefferson read and spread out the paper that his aid might read: General Bonaparte signed May 2-Fifteeu millions-Reioice!
 In no wider phrasing than that cams
 the news of the great Louisiana pur
 chase, by virtue of which this republic whether by chance, by result of greed