Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-09-20


Masferman went down Info his grave
without warning the human race OF
what was coming.
"Sir, If the public knew a 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.
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 I can associate my name
with theirs. If it wasn't for our mag
azine, in which our articles appear, and
our excellent organization, l couldn' t
bring myself to it."
"Who edits the magazine?" inquired
Donald.
''That was matter Of some diff
Guilty" replied Masterman. 'It proved
impossible to find a member sufficient
~ 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 I am not going to talk to you
in the smoking ROOM" continued Mas
terman, 'fOr that atmosphere would
prejudice you against believing what
[ am going to say. And / must con-
vince you, my dear boy, because those
+ho dc,
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"
Paget nodded, and resigned himself
to his friends guidance.
"We1 have a little dinner first,'
said the captain. eve have an excel
lent chef here, and, between ourselves,
I have eaten nothing but ships biscuit
for the past three weeks. And after
ward, when we have got our cigars
aiight, I'll take you into the cardroom,
which is never in use, and give you my
message to the world. 1t is embodied
more fully in my manuscript, which
shall hand you before you go. And
now let US forget that melancholy ex-
hibitiOn of human folly and fall to-"
Pleased with his phrase, he led the
way into the dining room, where he
did full justice to an excellent meal.
After dinner the two lit their CT
CARS, and the captain led the way out
of the dining room across a small hall
and into the cardroom, a little, de-
serted place, through the opposite
door of which they could see the
smoking room and hear the noisy cries
of the members.
Masterman closed it, and the sound
subsidized to a distant rumble.
1.-THE cardroom was built to be
sound-proof," he explained. "It is,
except In the case of voices of IN
usual timbre"
'Quite So" said Donald.
The old sea captain hesitated queer
ly, tried the chairs, and at last
stretched himself out in comfortable
one before the fire, inviting Donald
to be seated opposite him.
you're my only hope now, my lad"
he said in an even voice. I've sailed
on my last voyage, Donald. I'm going
to die"