The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-05-22
The Future
Power
(Copyright.)
BY JOE II. RANSOM


& Orm, brokers, was dining with his
friend, DIR. Edouard Enz.
Between the eyes fingered pucker
that meant that his brain was still
digging coldly, mechanically Mt the
problem that had stared at him out Of
the tangled mass Of facts that had
been the portion Of this day.
Rumors, contradictions, fiurries;
quick, spasmodic leaps and counters Of
the Huctuatlng market: uncertainties,
panlcky selllngs 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 clawlng 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. Strnss is about
all In. never saw him so upset It's
bad business for man with nerves."
He looked across Mt Enz, who was
watching him under cover of cigarette
smoke.
II know very little about finance"
began Enz, but Orm interrupted.
"Finante,r he snorted. "Thats n
pretty name. It's chance. Ed. the gam
bler's god. I wish l were out Of 1t
nll. 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.
Enz led him on. asking now and then
n question so pertinent that the broker
looked up quickly In wonder. Through
out the meal the conversation was
nearly one-sIded.
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, clinchlng his fists. III we could
only know, see."
Enz interrupted at last. He had I'm.
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 10 what
you mean. That expresses all that
. you have said. Imprisoned In the con
/ fines Of weak. enslaving flesh. man Il
/ 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
J er bensts. He has brOadened the cir.
. Gle Of the lighted space In which he
! lives, but he Is still the helpless mote
). rnged round with mystery"
Orn sat with his cup raised half
I way to his lips.
. Jimmie" went on Enz, In the same
i Soice. do you want to know, would
: you like TO be able to see? Or would
Z you be afraid?"
"when did you do II. Ed?" he whis
: pered.
without replying. he suddenly
slipped his hand into the inner pocket
Of his coat and took forth small wal
let.
From this he extracted folded pa
per. with doubled ends. such as ply
sicians affect for sleeping powders
/, This he quickly unfolded, and, lean
= Ing forward. spilled the contents deft
ly into the coffee cup which Orm has
set before him.
Jimmie" he smiled, "you may nov
finish your coffee"
When. at the usual hour Che follow
, Ing morning. Orm awoke. 1t was to tn,
Z realization of power that was, In III
= strangeness, almost uncanny.
'. Coming out Of state Of temporar,
insensibility. he was terribly. singing
y iy alive. His first realization Of tn,
unusual came to him as he picked al
the morning paper. The market page
were hardly more thnn rehash o
y the night editions. He glanced at tn,
: date line and was surprised TO fin,
y that the paper was actually OF tn
present.
The things that II recited seemed I,
him ancient. Dlmly his memory grope,
back to them, took account of all tn,
: facts that interviewed. Could II b,
y possible that these things that wer,
: so clear to him were as yet unknown
y to the world?"
" He began TO chronicle his informa
:, tlon. Hunterton would begin his hgh
A today.
! From his apartments he took taxi
He could not walt, though the distanc
I, -as slight He even urged the chaui
feur TO higher speed. He himself threy
, open the door and pitched the drive
: dollar.
, Reason told him that the elevator