The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1917-09-14

1 q high order.
My dear lieutenant. am extremely
glad to have met you. Nothing could
have been more fortunate" said Mas
| terman, recovering his equanimity
with suddenness that surprised his
friend. "Can you find the time to
come into my club and have little
chat with met It's the Inventors, but
they call 1t the March Hares,' be-
lieve, because Of some Of the queer
characters there. In fact, between
ourselves, / believe that am the only
member who Is entirely sane. Joined
it for professional reasons-that is to
say, we have an organization and a
magazine, for 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 like myself, with no nonsense
about him."
| "a little trying, can imagine" Mas
terman," said Paget automatically.
"Trying, sir7 It's a COMPOUNDED
bore to listen to theml For instance,
there's Brum, who has just been re-
fused a patent for his eighth perpetual
motion machine. And Hatfield, our
president-he had to resign from three
other clubs because he insists that
Shakespeare was really James I.
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 I
said, the organization helps. But can
you dine with meT
1--WE 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 I'm not going to
| 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
I am. But I believe that Providence
| has sent you to me, and If can't
make you believe me, at least don't
want it said that Jonathan Roderick
Masterman went down into his grave
without warning the human race Of
what was coming.
"Sir, If the public knew 1.-THE of
what know, they would make peace
with France-Germany? Thank you)
and arm themselves against the most
relentless enemy that ever threatened
mankind. Sir, you will yet live to see
old Jonathan Roderick Masterson's
statue in gold, standing in front Of the
capitol"
Paget, now quite convinced that his
| old friend was raving mad, followed
him into a 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
the book, Paget looked in through the
drifting smoke clouds.
A dozen men had the floor, and were
gesticulating furiously. -t
Captain Masterman, having en-
tered his guests name, touched him
upon the arm.
They're all mad, my lad, said the
old man, surveying the assemblage
with a look Of pity. mo doubt you
wonder how can associate my name
with theirs. IF it wasn't for our mag
azine, In which our articles appear, and
our excellent organization, couldn't
bring myself to it."
"Who edits the magazine?" inquired
Donald.
'"That was a matter Of some diff
Guilty." replied Masterman. "It 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
antagonism. Each wanted to utilize
the entire available space for his own
crazy ideas. So we drew lots for It.
Fortunately, I won the editorship 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 to talk to you
in the smoking room," continued Mas
terman, "for that atmosphere would
prejudice you against believing what
I am going to say. And / must con-
vince you, my dear boy, because those
lunatics are utterly beyond the bounds
Of reason, and much is at stake. A
cataclysm is impending which will in
evitably destroy humanity unless we
devote our common energies to the
maintenance of our lives, our liberties
and our civilization"