Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-09-19
The Future
Power
r
(copyrishtl
~ JOE N. RANSOM


Jimmie Orm of the firm Of Strass
a 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 at the
problem that had stared at him out Of
the tangled mass OF facts that had
been the portion Of this day,
Rumors, contradictions, durrles;
quick, spasmodic leaps and counters of
the huctuating market; uncertainties.
pnnfcky 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, IF the conditions that have pre-
vailed today continue. Strass Is about
all In. never saw him so upset It's
bad business for man with nerves."
He looked across at Enz, who was
watching him under cover of cigarette
smoke.
II know very little about finance"
began Enc. but Orm interrupted.
Finance" he snorted. "That's a
pretty name. It's chance, Ed, the gam
bler's god. wish l were out Of 1t
all. But l can't leave old Strass to
be buried In the ruins alone. He has
always been very decent to me- But
what can 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
a 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 kind Of mild
frenzy, cllnching his fists. "lf we could
only know, see."
Enz interrupted at last. He had fin
lshed his coffee and was lighting
cigarette. His face was slightly
flushed as he leaned closer to the cen
ter ofNthe 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
a puppet, moving In spotlight, shut
In on all sides by elemental darkness.
ages have raised him from the
skln-clad, herb eating animal that
dwelt in caves and was prey to strong
er beasts. He has broadened the cir
Gle Of the lighted space In which he
lives but he Is still the helpless mote,
rlnged round with mystery"
Orm sat with his cup raised half
way 10 MS lips.
Jimmie" went on En-, in the same
voice, do you want to know, Would
you like to be able to seer Or would
you be afraidT
"When did you do 1t, Ed2" he whls-
pered.
Without replying, he suddenly
slipped his hand into the inner pocket
Of his coat and took forth q small wal
let.
From this he extracted a folded pa
per, with doubled ends, such as ply
siclans affect for sleeping powders.
This he quickly unfolded, and, lean
ing forward, spilled the contents delft
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
insenslbillty, he was terribly, singing
ly alive. His first realization OF the
unusual came to him as he picked up
the morning paper. The market pages
we're hardly more than a rehash Of
the night editions. He glanced at the
date line and was surprised to find
that the paper was actually of the
present.
The things that 1t recited seemed to
him ancient. Dlmly his memory CROPPED
back to them, took account of all the
facts that interviewed. Could II be
possible that these things that were
80 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 a taxi.
He could not walt, though the distance
was slight. He even urged the chauf.
feur to higher speed. He himself threw
open the door and pitched the driver
q dollar.
Reason told him that the elevators
would carry him faster than his legs.
Impulse urged him to bound up the
stairs. He stamped about the CORR.
dor until car was ready to go up.
He was the first one inside.
On the sixth floor he threw open
door upon which no sign was painted.
The door was unornamented in any
way, conspicuous for its lack Of gold
leaf. A man sat at n desk inside.
0rm advanced.
Andrew" began orm, running his
fingers through his rank name, bow
FARMS WANTED.