Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-05-16
The Future
Power
~
BY JOE H. RANSOM

q Orm, brokers. was dining with his
friend. DR.. Edouard Enz.
Between the eyes fingered a pucker
that meant that his brain was still
digging coldly, mechanically ut the
problem that had stared ut him out Of
the tangled mass Of facts that had
been the portion of this day.
Rumors, contradictions. flurries;
quick, spasmodic leaps and counters Of
the fuctuating market; uncertainties,
panicky settings of nervous clients,
all had contributed to bring Strass to
the point almost of collapse, and had
set the Junior partner. Orm, grim
faced. to clawing his hair.
There's going to be the deuce to
pay" Orm now spoke coolly, his eyes
wandering restlessly over the lighted
cafe. III the conditions that have pre-
vailed today continue. Strass Is about
all in. I never saw him so upset. It's
bad business for n man with nerves."
He looked across ut Enz, who was
watching him under cover of cigarette
smoke.
Il know very little. about finance"
began Enz. but Orm interrupted.
Finance" he snorted. That's a
pretty name. It's chance, Ed, the gam
blers god. wish were out of it
oil. But can't leave old Strass to
be buried in the ruins alone. He has
always been very decent to me. But
what can I do-what can anyone do
that's where butt into the stone wall
every time"
AS they ate, Orm delivered himself
Of the things that vexed and puzzled
him.
En- led him on, asking now and then
question so pertinent that the broker
looked up quickly in wonder. Through
out the meal the conversation was
nearly one-slded.
The conditions were boldly outlined,
graphically depicted by Orm. And al
ways he came back to the elemental
point Of mans ignorance, his moving
always in the narrow lighted space of
the hour, beating helplessly against the
upreared something which marks the
unknown.
If" he cried out in a kind Of mild
frenzy, clinching his fists. "if we could
only know, see."
En- interrupted Mt last. He had fin
ished his coffee and was lighting a
cigarette. His face was slightly
flushed as. he leaned closer to the CEN
ter of the table and spoke in the low
est Of tones.
Foresight" he said. "That Is what
you mean. That expresses all that
you have said. Imprisoned in the con-
+. fines Of weak, enslaving flesh. man is
puppet, moving In spotlight, shut
In On all sides by elemental darkness.
ages have raised him from the
skin-clad, herb-eating animal that
dwelt in caves and was prey to strong
err beasts. He has broadened the cir
Gle Of the lighted space in which he
lives, but he is still the helpless mote,
ringed round with mystery"
Orm sat with his cup raised half
way to his lips.
Jimmie" went on Enz, in the same
voice, do you want to know, would
you like to be able to see? Or would
you be afraid?"
when did you do 1t, Ed?" he whis-
pered
Without replying, he suddenly
slipped his hand into the inner pocket
Of his coat and took forth a small wal
let.
From this he extracted q folded pa
per, with doubled ends, such as ply
sicians affect for sleeping powders.
This he quickly unfolded, and, lean
Inn fnr oAI ~
ly into the coffee cup which Orm had
set before him.
Jimmie" he smiled, "you may now
finish your coffee"
When, at the usual hour the follow
Ing morning, Orm awoke, 1t was to the
realization of a power that was, in its
! strangeness, almost uncanny.
Coming out Of state Of temporary
insenslbility, he was terribly, stinging-
ly alive. His first realization of the
unusual came to him as he picked up
the morning paper. The market pages
were hardly more than q rehash Of
the night editions. He glanced ut the
date line and was surprised to find
that the paper was actually Of the
present.
The things that 1t reclted seemed to
him ancient. Dimly his memory CROPPED
| back to them, took account Of all the
facts that interviewed. Could It be
possible that these things that were
SO clear to him were as yet unknown
| to the worldT
He began to chronicle his informa-
ton. Hunterton would begin his fight
today.
From his apartments he took taxi.
lie could not wait, though the distance
was slight. He even urged the chauf-
Knnr "a hinhnr cnnnd IIn hIrncolf 4hrn,..