The Ordeal of Colonel Johns

Decker watched the Colonel's face, saw it changed from puzzlement to painful boredom as word after word floated from the battery of speakers overhead.

MacCulloch was whispering in Johns' ear in an attempt to draw his attention from the woman's booming voice but the man disregarded him. "Am I really responsible for that?" The Colonel jerked his head in the direction of Mrs. Johns-Hayes.

"I'm afraid, Colonel, that you're getting a distorted idea of what America is like in our time," Decker said. The Colonel didn't even turn to look at him. He was scowling at his Amazonian descendant as her screeching reached new heights.

"... and we hold that this is true! Our simple motto, as you all know, is: One race, one creed, one way of thinking!"

Colonel Johns began to squirm violently in his seat. The professor found it necessary to grasp him firmly by one arm while Decker held h