davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18

first quarter and full moon the laboring
hours rapidly shortened. being confined to
the latter part of the afternoon, until at
full moon complete silence reigned in the
mill"
We'll, well," l broke in, greatly as
tonished by Halls singular recital, you
must have thought DR.. Syx was a cross
between an alchemist and an astrologer."
Note this" said Hall, disregarding my
Interruption. 'the hours when the engine
worked were invariably the hours during
which tie moon was above the horizen!'
What did you infer from that?"
"Of course inferred that the moon was
directly concerned in the mystery, but
how? That bothered me for long time,
but a little light broke into my mind when
| picked up on the mountain side dead
bird, whose scorced feathers were bronZed
with artemisiim. and some time later an
other similar victim OF mysterious form
OF death. Then came the attack on the
mine and its tragic finish. have already
told you what l observed on that occasion
But instead Of helping to clear up the mys-
terry It rather complicated it for time.
at length. however. l reasoned my way
partly out OF the difficulty. Certain things
which / had noticed In the Syx mill con-
WINGED me that there was a part of the
building whose existence no visitor sus-
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18

pected. and putting one thing with another
inferred that the roof must be open above
that secret part Of the structure. and that
II l could get upon a sufficiently elevated
place l could sec something Of what was
hidden there
AT this point in the investigation pro-
posed to you the trip to the top OF the
Teton, the result Of which you remember
l had calculated the angles with great care.
and felt certain that from the apex of
the mountain should be able to get view
into the concealed chamber, and into Just
that side of it which wished particularly
to inspect. You remember that 1 called
your attention to shining object under
meath the circular opening in the roof. You
could not make out what it was. but saw
enough to convince me that it was a gil
ganuc parabolic mirror. I'll show you
smaller one of the same kind presently.
Now, at last, began to perceive the
real truth. but it was so wildly incredi-
bic so infinitely remote from all human
experience. that hardly ventured to
formulate it. even in my own secret
mind. But l was bound to see the thing
through to the end. 1t occurred to me
that l could prove the accuracy of my
theory with the aid of kite. You were
kind enough to lend your assistance in
that experiment, and it gave me ire
fragible evidence of the existence of .
shaft of flying atoms extending in a di-
rect line between DR.. Syxs pretended
mine and the moon!'
'Hall!' exclaimed, you are mad"
Ny friend smiled good-naturedly and
went on with his story.
The instant the kite shriveled and
disappeared l understood why the works
were idle when the moon was not above
the horizon, why birds flying across that
fatal beam fell dead upon the rocks. and
whence the terrible master Of that mys-
FERROUS mill derived the power OF de-
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18

all on fire . see the thing tried. Hall
was no less eager. and, calling In his
two faithful assistants to make the final
adjustments. he led the way into what
he facetiously named .'the lunar cham
ber."
If we fall he remarked with a
smile that had an element of -worriment
in it, cit Wilt become>t the 1unatic cham
ber'-but no danger of that. You OBJ
serve this polished silver knob, support
ed by metallic rod curved over at the
top like crane. That constitutes the
pole from which I propose to transmit
the energy to the moon. and upon which
| expect the storm OF atoms to be CEN
tered by reflection from the mirror at
whose focus it is placed
"One moment" said. Am I to
understand that you think that the
moon is a solid mass of artemisium and
that no matter where your radiant force
strikes 1t 'kathodic pole will be
formed there from which atoms will be
projected to the earth?"
NO" said Hall II must carefully
choose the point on the lunar surface
where to operate. But that will present
no difficulty. l made up my mind as
soon as l had penetrated Syx's secret
that he obtained the metal from those
mystic white streaks which radiate
from Tycho. and which have puzzled
the astronomers ever since the inven-
ton of telescopes. l now believe those
streaks to be composed of immense
veins of the metal that Syx has most
appropriately named artemisium. which
you, OF course. recognize as being de-
rived from the name OF the Greek god
dess Of the moon. Artemis. whom the
Romans called Diana. But now to
work.
1t was less than a day past the time
OF new moon and the earth's satellite
was too near the sun to be visible in
broad daylight. Accordingly. the mirror
had to be directed by means of a
knowledge Of the moons place in the
sky. Driven by accurate clockwork, it
could be depended upon to retain the
proper direction when once set.
With breathless interest / watched the
proceedings of my friend and his assist
ants. The strain upon the nerves Of all
of us was such as could not have been
borne for many hours at a stretch.
When everything had been adjusted to
his satisfaction, Hall stepped back. not
without betraying his excitement in
flushed cheeks and flashing eyes. and
pressed a lever. The powerful engine
underneath the floor instantly respond
ed. The experiment was begun.
CTo be Continued Next Sunday.)
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18
A CURIOUS RELIC.
InterlOcked Deer Antlers in the
Georgetown College Museum.

Georgetown College Museum.
There is a strange and. in a manner.
tragic relic in the museum Of George
town College in the shape of two pairs Of
deer skulls with antlers interlocked.
The animals were found dead. evidently
through starvation, they being unable to
discover their horns, which had become
firmly interlocked. and thus prevented
their gathering food.
An equally striking and pathetic curl
osity In deer horns is that Of one thrust
apparently right through the middle of an
oak tree. The tree has been estimated to
be between forty and fifty years old. This
forest in Michigan, Is in the zoolozical
collection of the State Museum of Natu-
raj History at Albany.
OF course. there is room for much spec
ulation as to how this odd thing occurred
The most plausible theory seems to be
that the deer, in rubbing the velvet off his
horns, caught tine of his antlers in
strip OF bark, or. perhaps, drove the antIer
through the wood of the oak when 1t was
d mere saplng.
While growing the horns are covered
with a soft. sensitive. velvety covering.
filled with blood vessels. When the ant
lers have reached their proper growth the
supply of blood to the velvet ceases and
the velvety covering dries and peels oil.
exposing the sensitive. hardened, perfect
antler. The deer aids this peeling-off pro-
cess by rubbing the horn against tree
trunks, and 1t is not at all unlikely that
in doing this the unfortunate animal that
once owned the pair OF antlers was caught
ia some way in the young and growing oak.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18

stand her chance Moonlight or no moon
| light, she would risk it. . Two
francs more-and the devil take the hind
F, most!
|
They came face to face-she had
| planned 1t so-and her slight gesture OF
| surprise was perfect.
Mr.. Maxweif-you? Is it possible?"
How do you do. Mrs. Jernyngham.
I" He was going to say he was pleas
ed to meet her, but decided not to.
Il did not know you were in Dieppe.
Have you been here long?"
II have been here. with my wife. about
a month" he answered.
with your wife? Really!" She gave a
faint smile-a smile he remembered very
we'll. so you are married-am l to con-
graduate your
Thank you" he said; you are very
kind. Your husband is"
Hes dead. so don't inquire about his
health. You were always making blum
ders OF that sort" She laughed. 81 used
to correct you in that fashion long ago.
didn't I? I told you you'd marry-you
didn't believe me them"
"Ah, but you were right"
"Of course / was right. Shan't we sit
down-or won't your wife let you? I say.
are you henpecked? Perhaps you've i'm
proved SINCE tnOSe Gays.
Perhaps have. There are two chairs
Thanks. Do you know this is very funny
to meet you In the capacity Of married
man? Do you remember how you used to
VOW that never, never, never" She
broke of and burst into laughter again.
and shall I own something? After you
were gone-sometimes when I was inclined
to be sentinental-I used to half believe
you
She leaned forward, and fixed her eyes
on him in Just the manner he used to find
so Irresistible. Somehow it seemed less
distracting now. The eyes had not al
tered perhaps. but her face was older, and
that expression looked out OF place On it.
There was even sadness to him in be-
holding the change that time had wrought
in her. The woman whose memory had
thrilled him so was gone. He had thought
about her SO much. and now she did not
exist. 1t was pathetic, and-what was
more painful still-this wreck of Nora
Jernygham could not join with him in
mourning for her. He wept alone.
You are not glad to see me!' she said.
He was not; he was sorry. His very
soul was full of regret, Of sympathy. But
he could not tell her SO. and he listened
for ten minutes courteously to her dis
tressing provocations. her disheartening
pleasantries. Then he rose.
She would not make a conquest of him
again. she knew it perfectly; he had es-
capped from her chariot wheels for all
time
Then l suppose this is the last time
you will be likely to see me?" she said,
shaking hands in goodby.
~ suppose so,'' he answered. But to
himself he said that the last time he lad
ever seen her had been nine years ago.
Mrs Maxwell looked up enquiringly as
he returned to her.
Amused yourself, dearest?" she said
innocently.
II shall be amused tomorrow" replied
Maxwell, when 1 can laugh at myself!
Tonight, somehow, 1 cannot"
And Mrs Maxwell, understanding, was
content-Black and White.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18
THE TINES WASHINGTON. SUNDAY NOVEMBER 10 1900

periments. At last L found that I could
transform the energy OF an engine into
undulations of the ether, which, when
they had been concentrated upon a me-
tallic object, like a chunk OF gold. Inn
parted to it an intenseyicharge of an ap-
pareutly electric nature. Upon thus
charging a metallic body enclosed in q
vacuum. l observed that the energy i'm
parted to it possessed the remarkable
power of disrupting It's atoms and pro-
jecting them off in straight lines, very
much as occurs with a kathode in a
Crookes tube. But-and this was OF su-
rreme Importance found that the limo
of projection was directly toward the ap-
paratus from which the impulse producing
the charge had come. In other words,
could produce two poles between which
a marvellous interaction occurred. My
transformer, with its concentrating mir
ror, acted as one pole, from which ener-
gy was transferred to the other pole, and
that other pole Immediately flung OF
atoms OF it's own substance in the direc
ton of the transformer. But these atoms
were stopped by the glass wall Of the va
CUM tube, and when l tried the expert
ment with the metal removed from the
vacuum, and surrounded with air, 1t failed
utterly.
This at hrst completely discouraged
me, until l suddenly remembered that
the moon is in a vacuum. the great
vacuum of interplanetary space. and
that it possesses no perceptible atmos-
phere Of its own. At this a great light
broke around me, and l shouted 'Eu-
reka!' Without hesitation construct
ed transformer of great power. fur
nished with large parabolic mirror to
transmit the waves in parallel lines.
erected the machinery and buildings
here, and when all was ready for the
final experiment telegraDhed to you"
Prepared by these explanations 1 was
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18
Isrnonsis of Preceding chapters.l

The story opens with the startling news of the
discovery OF god near ihe south Pole. The out
put becomes so great that the market is flooded,
god loses its value, and panic follows AT all
,n.eruat nat colgress OF fnancler,, DIR. syx intro
duces a peculiar metal called Al temisium to take
the pace of gold. DIR. Syx conducts the party
10 his E.ines and furnaces in the Grand Teton
in the Rocky Mountains. The wonderful metal
is accepted by the fnaueicrs, adopted as a none
tary standard, and commerce is revived. Andrew
Hall, a mining engineer. by means of a tunnel,
discovers that the metal is not taken from
the rock. as was supposed, but the secret of its
source is still unknown. DIR. Syx reduces the
supply. general dissatisfaction prevails, and a
mob attacks his mine, but is repulsed by the
guards Hall. still pursuing his investigation
plan. makes two trips TO the peak of the Grand
Teton and light is thrown on the profound mys-
tery of DIR. Syxs wonderful mine
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18
struction that could wither an army, az
the Assyrian host in Byron's poem:

struction that could wither an army, al
the Assyrian host in Byron's poem:
Melted IKE snow in the glance of the Lord "
but how did DR.. Syx turn the flying
atoms against his enemies?" / asked.
I'm very simple manner. He had
a mirror mounted so that it could he
turned in any direction, and would
shunt the stream of metallic atoms,
heated by their friction with the air,
toward any desired point. When the
attack came he raised this machine
above the level of the roof and swept
the mob to a lustrous IL expensive
death"
And the light at night"
WAS the shining of the heated atoms
not luminous enough to be visible in
broad day, for which reason the engine
never worked at night. and the stream
of volatilized artemisium was never sat
flowing at full moon, when the lunar
globe is above the horizon: only during
the hours of darkness"
II see." l said. whence came the mug
gets on the mountain. Some of the
atoms, owing to the resistance Of the air,
fell short and settled in the form Of i'm
palpable dust until the winds and rains
collected and compacted them in the
cracks and crevices of the rocks.
THAT was it, Of course"
And now" I added. my amazement at
the success of Halls experiments and the
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18
The Reason why.

lFrom the IIcitcre Welt)
$50 you are going to be married agsin? To
NiiomY'
ITO NY late wi.e's sister"
'ls she handsome or richf''
Neither
80 IL 10 rou marry har7"
To ten the truth. it's because want only cns
motheI.in-hv,S
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18

accuracy of his deductions increasing
every moment, do you say that you nave
also discovered the means employed ty
DR.. SyX to obtain artemisium from the
moon?"
Not only that" replied my friend, but
within the next few minutes shall have
the pleasure of presenting to you but
ton of moon metal, fresh from the veins
of Artemis herself"
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18

The Parent--My boy. do you want me to tell
you what fappers to boys who tell liesf
The hor-Yes. -op; hut, goy! can you remem'
~ that far backf
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18
x1II-THE LooTING OF THE MOON.

| shall spare the reader recital of the
tireless efforts, continuing through many
almost sleepless weeks, whereby Andrew
Hall obtained his clue to DR.. Syx's meth
that the agent concerned must be some
form of etheric. or so-called electric, en-
ergy: but how to set it in operation was
the problem. Finally he hit upon the ap-
paratus for his initial experiments which
have already described.
Recurring to what had been done more
than half century ago by Hertz, when
he concentrated electric waves upon a
focal point by means of a concave mir
ror," said Hail. II saw that the key
wanted lay in An extension Of these ex-
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-04
A RATE WAR IS FEARED.
Situation. as Usual at This Season, Is De-.
morallzed.
A LITTLE TILT IN PASSENGER RATES.
Fight Being Made for the +. p. A.
""siness-Fiood Situation shows
Little ChanEe-A Fast Run,

WIN a general and disastrous war in
freight rates be the outcome If sba me-.
Gnu unsatisfactory state of affairs? That
is something railway managers and traffic
men are Just now asking of themselves
Every year at this season there is
scramble for business. The cutting gem
orally begins in April and winds I'D about
sne last OF June, Whether it is started
by some road which is anxious to make
good showing in Its June report at the end
OF the fiscal year is a problem that the
most astute freight traffic man is unable
to solve. 1t is question which has given
freight men much concern in the past and
present and promises 70 continue to do so
in the future.
sometimes rate wars. like fires, can be
checked in their inciplenoy, while at other
times they get beyond control and are not
checked until the decentralization they
cause results in serious damage finan-
cialiy.
Inc "gentlemen's agreement" entered
into by the railway presidents has failed
10 accomplish its object as rate cutting
continues Just as 1t did before the presi-
dents took the matter up seriously.
Wednesday The Post published the open
tariff on certain commodities made by
the Huntington lines from ST. Louis 10
Ie2as common points. A glance ut the
bureau report shows that the first official
notice OF the open cut in these rates had
been given by the Missouri Paclnc and
Texas and Pacific, but whether it was to
meet surreptitlously made rates is not
stated.
While hoping that. the situation may not
become more serious than it is at present
the conservative traffic men are free 10
admit that they fear further demoraliza-
ton. Perhaps they are thus pessimistic
because, as stated above, 1t is customary
for the railroads TO indulge In a scrlm-
mage over freight rates during the last
quarter of the fiscal year.
The rates as published by the Hunting
ton lines are now being openly quoted by
all roads. II is rumored. though the facts
can not be ascertained, that even lower
rates than those openly made are to be
secured on the q. t.
In discussing the freight rate situation
a railway man gave it as his opinion that
there was liable to be further cutting.
Each road was being suspected of being
willing to make concessions. AS he put IL,
the freight man would say to the shipper.
THE rate is so much. How much II YOU
glve?"
The claim Is made that the war was
Started in the scramble to secure num-
her of cars Of round bale gin machinery
coming into Texas
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-04
Votes nnd PERSONALS.

Favorable crop reports are being re-
ceived by Western roads from points along
their respective lines,
w. L. Lane, chief clerk to General Man
sger Van Week Of the solthe Pacific.
went down to Wharton yesterday on a
business trip.
T. X. Hawkins, travelling auditor; l..
5eauman. assistant engineer, ana j. w.
Evans. claim agsnt, all OF the Santa Fe,
spent yesterday IN the city.
Captain S. R. TuggIe, superintendent Of
motive power of the Houston and Teas
Central. returned yesterday from Hot
Springs, Ark, much improved in health.
A typographical error in The Post yes
terday made II read that The Pest could
place $500 people annually In Sour Lake, Il
good hotel were erected there. 1t should
have read $4,000
A. e. vandervoort left last night for
Mexico, where be has accepted pr1mi-
uent position with one OF the Meziean
roads. ed" as he Is generally known Is
an efficient railway cle.k and his friends
wish him success in his new fed.
proposition has been submitted 10 the
Southwestern Passenger association to
extend the tickets to the annual reua!ol
OF the United Confederate Wee ans ts-
ISOLATION at Louisville, KY to June -,
the holder of a ticket paying 80 cen
extra.
Statistics collected by committee Of
the American Railway association show
that at the beginning Of this year 80 $40
per cent OF the cars used by l6T railroads
were supplied with automatic couplers, and
SO 7-10 per cent with air brakes, where
"a 4-l0 of the engines have power brakes.
: The international ami Graat Northsn
announces rate Of one fare plus 81 az
count OF the general convention OF the A.
AZ Z. church at Columbus, ohlo, May
to June 5. Tickets on sale May ard 5,
final limit May s. Extension may be had
untn June II By depositing ticket with
agent on May or and paving so cents
extra.
In 1856 Herman Pastsch OF San Fran
cisco bought an unlimited ticket 70 81.
Louis via the Southsrn Pacific. Rio Grande
Western, Denver and Rio Grande and Bur-
lington. for which he paid $50. Before he
started on the trip rate war came on and
he was able TO make II tor less money, r.
tanning the ticket for future use As It had
no limit he was able 20 do this. and re-
Gently he made second trip on this ticket
and was an object OF much suspicion on
account OF It's age.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-04
THE SCHOOL TRUSTEE ELECTION.
"A Card from Superintendent Barnett.

| a Card from Superintendent Barnett.
Editor Post: A card printed In red ink
headed "Why? Why9 Why" is being cir
e-iated by the candidates for school trus.
tees on what Is known as the Shearn-
Cado ticket asking inslnuating questions
for the purpose OF rejecting discredit upon
my character and also upon that Of the
Candidates for trustees on what Is known
as the Charlton ticket.
Answering the first question, ] desire
to state that neither myself nor the Charl-
ton ticket arc in favor OF changing the
text books now used In the public schools.
except to provide free school BOOKS for the
children.
Referring 10 the second question would
say that Mr.. w. II. wilkins Of Dallas,
who is the State agent OF the American
Book company, called at the ofice Of the
superintendent as any other person would,
Just as no had done many times during
past years when Mr.. Kimbroush and
his predecessor we're superintendent, The
office Of the superintendent is always 0pen
TO persons who haf business with him af-
feoting the interests OF the public schools
No transaction OF any character whatever
parsed between MIR. wilkins and myself
and any statement or lnslnuation 70 tho
contrary Is absolutely false.
In answer 90 the next statement can
only say that. as | am not an agent Of the
American Book company nor OF any other
book company under the sun, have no
explanations TO make for its employees.
understand. however, that this agency has
been maintained here for number OF
years
There is no desire 20 change the books
adopted by Mayor Brsshear two years
ago; nor is there any promise or agree
ment TO change a single book In the
schools.
On the question OF text books the charl-
ton boara saySF 1--WE will furnish free
books by gradual process" This could
be no more explicit to those who desire
20 he Just in their Interpretation of the
English language.
On the last insinuasion let me say tina,
the duties Of the superintendent are clear.
~ defined In t.n rules and resulstions
governing tho schools. The superintebd-
ort cen neither EMPLOY nor dismiFs teach
ers; that Is a power vested ia the board.
have no desire 10 see any teacher who
does his duty and works harmoniously
Dismissed ! have interviewed the rentle-
men who are candidates on the Charlton
ticket and they say most positively thai
they will not dismiss any competent or ef-
icient teachers or principals now employed
In the public schools az Houston,
W W. Barnett,
Superintendent Schools.