L. P. M. (The End of The Great War) | Page 2

in reality, giving more dignity to
my office by bringing it closer to and by placing it at the services of,
those from whose hands it first received its dignity, the sovereign
people. 'The master is greater than the servant'; and to my mind you as
a citizen are even more entitled to the aid and co-operation of this
Department than are its accredited envoys, our ministers and
ambassadors, who, like myself, are but your hired men."
His face lighted up with the memory of the many stirring campaigns
through which he had passed and his wonderful voice rang out,
responding to his will like a perfect musical instrument under the touch
of the artist.
"I tell you, sir," he declared, "I would rather be instrumental in bringing
to an end this cruel war which is now deluging the pages of history
with the heart's blood of the people, whose voices may now be
drowned in the roar of the 42-centimeter guns, but whose spirits will
unite in the black stench clouds which rise from the festered fields of
Flanders to descend upon the heads of those who by Divine Right have
murdered them,--I would rather be instrumental in bringing about this
result, than be President of the United States!"
He had risen, as he spoke, and had stepped from behind his desk to give
freer play to this burst of eloquence, but he now paused at the entrance
of a secretary for whom he had sent, and changing to that quizzical
drawl with which he had so often disarmed a hostile audience, added,
"And they do say that I am not without ambition in that respect."
He turned then to the waiting secretary, and letting his hand drop on
Edestone's shoulder:
"Mr. Williams," he said, "this is Mr. John Fulton Edestone, of New
York, whose name is no doubt familiar to you. He is desirous of
meeting and discussing quite informally with the potentates of Europe,
a little matter which he thinks, and I more or less agree with him, will
be of decided interest to them."
He chuckled softly; then continued in a more serious tone: "Mr.

Edestone hopes, in short, with our assistance, to bring about not only
the end of the European war, but to realize my dream--Universal
Peace--and his plan, as he has outlined it to me, meets with my hearty
approval.
"I wish you to furnish him with the credentials from this Department
necessary to give him _entrée_ anywhere abroad and protect him at all
times and under all circumstances.
"And, Mr. Williams," he halted the retiring subordinate, "when Mr.
Edestone's papers have been drawn, will you kindly bring them to me?
I wish to present them in person, and I know of no more appropriate
occasion than this afternoon, when I am to receive a delegation of
school children from the Southern Baptist Union and the Boy Scouts of
the Methodist Temperance League. I will be glad to have these young
Americans, as well as any others who may be calling to pay their
respects--not to me but to my office--hear what I have to say on peace,
patriotism, and grapes."
With the departure of the secretary he unbent slightly. "Well," he
smiled, "you cannot say, as did Ericsson with his monitor and Holland
with his submarine and the Wrights with their aëroplane, that you could
not get the support of your Government until it was too late. In fact, my
dear fellow, when I think of the obstacles so many inventors have to
contend with, it strikes me that you have had pretty easy sailing."
"Perhaps," Edestone raised his eyebrows a trifle whimsically, "it has
not been so easy as you think, Mr. Secretary."
"Oh, I know, I know!" the other replied. "You still must admit that in
comparison with most men you have been singularly fortunate. You
have had great wealth, absolute freedom to develop your ideas as you
saw fit, and finally the influence to command an immediate hearing for
your claims. Do you know that perhaps you are the richest young man
in the world today? It is this which, I must confess, at first rather
prejudiced me against you."
Edestone laughed good-naturedly. "It is lucky that my photographs

were able to speak for me."
"Yes," the Secretary assented. "As you probably have recognized, I am
not a scientist, and all your formulae and explanations were about as so
much Greek to me, but those photographs of yours were most
convincing, and prove to me how simple are the greatest of discoveries.
I fancy," he added slyly, "that they will penetrate even the intelligence
of a monarch."
"Ah!" He rubbed his hands together. "I can imagine the chagrin and
fury of those war lords when they find themselves so unexpectedly
called