Harrah News (Harrah, Okla.), Vol. 4, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 9, 1913 Page: 5 of 12
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Harrah News and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
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H A R R A H, OKLA., NEWS
<
SERIAL
STORY
Isolated
Continent
A Romance of the
Future
Guido v-»n Horvath
and Dean Hoard
Ooprrtjbt, 1913, by W. G. Chapman In Um Unltoa
States ana Great Britain.
1
CHAPTER I.
I
Astra’s Inheritance.
A gloomv foreboding of approaching
disaster hung over the capital.
Hannibal Prudent, ex-Presldent of
the United Republics, was dangerous-
ly 111. The people walked quietly and
talked in subdued tones.
Hannibal % Prudent, the scientist
whose invention had saved the coun-
try, was eighty-four years old, but he
had carried the weight of his years
lightly and had worked unceasingly.
On a flying trip to Labrador he had
contracted a eevere cold which devel-
oped into pneumonia. Just as the dis-
ease was nearing the crisis a curious
thing happened, something that had
not happened in the half-century
which had passed since he had put an
isolator between America and the
other continents.
A wireless message had come from
Europe.
The great man had been awakened
by the ringing of the 4,500-mile bell on
the small electro-stylograph that stood
by his bedside. To his astonishment
the indicator that automatically reg-
istered the sending station pointed to
Berlin, Germany. He stared in amaze-
ment at the instrument and saw spark
following spark on its small, square,
milk-glass plate.
He put forth a shaking hand and ad-
justed the receiving horn. The elec-
tric sparks then formed a picture—a
moving picture that talked! A man
In military uniform looked at him
from the picture and a clear voice
with a German accent said in English
"Professor Prudent?”
"Yes, sir. Hannibal Prudent.”
The figure bowed reverently. “I am
Count Von Werdenstein. As you see,
I have bored through your isolating
rays with my sparks of electricity.
This is the beginning. Thq next time
I talk to you there will be nothing to
keep the fleet of consolidated Europe
from entering the ports of the Ameri-
cas. T am giving you this warning be-
cause I admire you—you were my
honored father’s teacher.”
The figure on the plate bowed again,
then vanished.
Hannibal Prudent gazed curiously
at the glass of the apparatus, trying
to believe that he had experienced a
virion; but when he saw the words of
Werdenstein clearly printed by the
magnificent instrument on a sheet of
paper by the stylus he fainted. The
vitality that could combat physical
suffering could not bear the menacing
news that the little instrument had
brought.
When he opened his eyes his daugh-
ter Astra stood at the bedside and the
house physician was counting his
pulse. The- scientist still held Wer-
denstein's message crumpled up in his
old fingers—the message that con-
veyed such crushing news. Impatient-
ly, as one Aho knows his time is short,
he asked to be left alone with his
daughter As the door closed behind
the doctor be cried out In agony: “AJi
my hopes and all my life work are
threatened. I had hoped that here
where I had established it peace wrould
abide—peace that has spread comfort,
contentment and happiness over our
continent; peace that created and
conserved fortunes greater than any
ever before known to man; peace that
permitted developments so high that
sven the boldest would not have dared
to dream them fifty years ago.
"All this will go.” His voice failed
for a moment “Read this.” As the
startled girl read Werdenstein’s mes-
sages he cried bitterly: "They want
vengeance.” He felt his own pulse,
watching the large chronometer on
the wall opposite his bed. “My will
is in the safe in my library. Here is
the key. The Europeans think that
the Z-ray alone hinders them from
entering our beloved country, but they
are mistaken.” He gasped for air. “I
will defy them again. Astra, write
what I have to say.”
Astra watched him with apprehen-
sion; she did not speak, as she real-
ized that it would be a waste of time,
and the short time left her adopted
father was precious indeed. The old
man rested a moment, then seeing
Astra was ready, he said:
“When the isolation has been brok-
en through or destroyed (both are pos-
sible, If one knows how), then new
isolations must be created, one ray
after another. We can gain a year
that way, and that year must be used
to prepare for war. War! That hor-
ror will destroy the work of a peace-
ful country. But we are forced to it;
we will win, and peace will come for-
ever. Plans are ready for a new craft
that will be invincible. Navigation of
the air will solve the problem.” His
voice had grown So weak that Astra
could hardly understand him, but she
had taken every word down in short-
hand.
"Don't grieve when 1 am dead. I
died in peace. All my life I have been
a true apostle of that gospel—but
hurry! Hurry to the island of—” He
drew himself up with his last
strength; an inarticulate sound came
from his lips; he beckoned to Astra
for the pencil and paper' and forced
his shaking hand to write one word:
“Cirynith,” ran the zigzag lines of
the shaking old hand, then the pencil
fell from his fingers. Cairn stole over
the face of the man who had lived for
one great idea, “Peace.” He had found
it, but his last words advised “War.”
Astra looked sorrowingly at her fa-
ther. Tears filled her eyes as she
called the doctor.
But Hannibal Prudent had reared
her, and after the first burst of grief
she remembered her duty. Taking the
message from Europe and her notes,
she hurried to her father’s library
With a steady hand she transcribed
her notes on the typewriter, but when
she came to the word written by Han-
nibal Prudent, “Cirynith.” the tears
came again.
She could not understand the mean-
ing of the command: "Hurry to the
island of Cirynith.” Was there an
island of that name? She had never
heard of it.
More than fifty years before. In the
year 1919, the now prosperous and
peaceful United States had experi-
enced a great disaster. New emigra-
tion laws and the new tariff had pre-
cipitated an international conflict that
had involved not only the leading Eu-
ropean monarchies but Japan and
China as A/ell. The ultimatum came
from the East and the West, Europe
was mobilizing on one side; the orien-
tals on the other; all the nations
against one. The question was wheth-
er it was best to bow- before the will
of the united enemy, or to lose inde-
pendence. Congress seemed UDable to
decide.
The time given
the window. The next moment the
inliuder jumped into the room.
Before the surprised executive could
cry out tho intruder exclaimed:
“For three days I have tried to gain
an audience with you, but in vain.
Since I know that tomorrow will be
too late I have forced by way to you.”
"What brings you here?” the Presi-
dent asked.
“My desire to save my country, to
repulse the enemy. I can defend the
entire continent against any invasion.
Don’t think me mad—I am not; I have
Invented the greatest power. To be
exact, I have discovered it. A man who
solves one of nature’s problems Is not
an Inventor but a discoverer. My dis-
covery Is an invisible power that re-
sists all attack. Don’t doubt me be-
fore I have finished. I will create
around me a circle that will defend
me and will ask you to try to touch
me.”
He took a small instrument from
his pocket, and stepping back irom
the president, the continued:
“JVhen I motion toward you try to
touch me."
He manipulated springs on the in
strurnent, then signaled to the Pres-
ident. The executive stretched his
arm toward him. An invisible force
bent first his hand, then his arm
hack. He could not touch the man
from any side.
After several experiments the as-
tounded President was convinced of
the importance of the discovery.
The intruder removed the force from
about him and told of his plans to
save the country*. They talked until
long after the first rays of the morn-
ing sun shone through the windows.
When the midnight visitor had fin-
ished his confidences the President’s
face was brighter than it had been for
many days. The carew’orn expression
was gone. He escorted his visiter to
the gate, putting lv!s hand familiarly
on his shoulder as he bade him good
morning.
The midnight vljltor was Hannibal
Prudent, the greatest scientist of the
new’ world.
The President spent the morning
preparing dispatches for the represen-
the freedom
The Great Man Had Been Awakened
By the Ringing of the 4,500-mile
Bell.
the United States
for consideration was rapidly passing.
The President was in despair. He
gave orders to the fleet and land
forces, but In his heart he cried.
“What is the use?”
The night before the day of final an-
swer he stood before the window
tatives of the European and oriental
nations. He gave them twenty-four
hours to order their vessels (rom
American waters, advising them that
if they had not obeyed the order in
that time the United States would not
be responsible for their future.
The new laws that had been formu-
lated by the United States govern-
ment and which were so objectionable
to the powders would stand, and the
United States would see that they
were enforced
Three days later Hannibal Prudent
created a current of the impenetrable
Z ray that Isolated the whole Ameri
can continent from the rest of the
world.
Fifty years had passed; fifty years
of Independent peace. The Central
looking hopelessly
darkness.
Suddenly a man’s head appeared at
into the starless ? and South American
their independence and
of commerce.
Those fifty years of peace had cre-
ated wealth, happiness and a scientific
progress such as had never been
equaled.
Now’ the man whose genius had
made this possible lay dead, r-d hie
last words urged preparation for war.
Astra sat before her father’s desk;
before her lay a document that de-
manded careful study—the will of her
adopted father.
She did not look at the long list
of bonds and stocks; she did not care
for the vast wealth that from now on
would belong to her alone, fhe pa-
per she was reading contained far-
reaching instructions, prophetic in-
sight into the future. The last page
was a farewell letter:
"My dear Astra, knowing that 1 am
nearing the limit of human existence,
and that rest awaits me after a long
and full life, I set down such facts as
will enable you to make the best use
of the knowledge that I, the old tree,
wish perpetuated in the biossen^ng
plant; it is you who will be respon-
sible for the coming prosperity of the
country. God gave you a broad mind
that has. developed to its fullest ca-
pacity under my care and I am proud
of yoif dear girl; you are chosen to
do great things for your country and
humanity.
“There is only one man on earth
who is worthy of calling you wife;
you will find this man, or he will come
to you, as you two are ordained
mates, comrades.
'When I go to my rest I feel that I
will leave turbulent times behind me.
My Z ray will not remain impene-
trable forever, and when the day
comes that it is destroyed, the coun-
try will need a brave, competent man
to drive aw’ay the dreadnaughts. Ho
will come, ae he has been fully In-
structed. Trust In him, my dear
daughter.
Before I die I will tell you where to
find the one man competent to assist
you and will further instruct you In
your duty.
"God bless you, ray daughter, you
have ever been my Joy and pride.”
Astra put down the paper, and, star-
ing out into the beautiful garden, mur-
mured to herself: “Hurry to the Island
of Cirynith! Cirynith? I have never
heard of the place, and he left no spe-
cific instructions.”
The entrance of John, a faithful old
servant, woke her from her reveries.
With shaking lips he announced that
a reporter for the Hourly Stylograph
wished to see her.
Folding up the documents, Astra
locked them in the safe, then said, “I
will receive him at once in the green
room.”
The servant left. Astra hesitated
for a moment, then she said aloud,
with quiet determination:
Father, I will accept the inheri-
tance. I will wait for him to come
and help me; I will take the burdens
on my shoulders and faithfully carrr
out your teachings. God help me to!”
CHAPTER II.
Nominee of the Continentals.
Morning found the great capital in
tho splendor of deep mourning. The
elevated sidewalks, the roof gardens,
the terraces were crowded by people
dressed in black. The newspaper rool
terraces were especially crowded;
there, on immense opal glass plates
sparks of electricity printed the latest
news and illustrated the happening's
of the moment with moving pictures.
On the main tower of the new capi-
tol building (a colossal creation of
pure American architecture) the Bell
Orchestra, comprising four hundred
players, played the march of "Com-
ing Peace,” a march that thrilled the
hearts with its melody, that elevated
the souls with thoughts of Heaven,
that drove away evil thoughts will its
exquisite harmony and foretold the
happiness awaiting beyond.
The tourteen-hour San Francisco
limited had Just slid into the cemrsli
depot of the Tube Lines; tie broad
republics had | gJaS8 doors vere flung open and the
joined the great United States and a ! passengers hurried out
confederacy was formed that secured j txo Bi£ CONTINUED.*
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Todd, J. A. Harrah News (Harrah, Okla.), Vol. 4, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 9, 1913, newspaper, October 9, 1913; Harrah, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc937670/m1/5/?q=War+of+the+Rebellion.: accessed July 1, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.