The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-12-05

and lungs seemed scorcned in the act of
breathing. Some fell unconscious upon
the floor. The marksmen, carrying the
disintegrators ready for use, staggered
and one of them dropped his instru-
ment.
But we had not been destroyed like
our comrades before u.s. In moment
the wave Of heat passed. Those who
had fallen recovered from their momen-
tary stupor and staggered to their feet
The electrical steersman stood hest
tating at his post.
"Move on" said Mr.. Edison sternly,
his features set with determination and
his eyes afre. "We are still beyond
their effective range. Let us get closer
in order to make sure work when we
strike.'
The ship moved on. One could hear
the heart beats of it's inmates The other
members of the squadron, thinking for
the moment that disaster had overtaken
the flagship, had paused and seemed to
be meditating flight.
"Signal them to move on" said Mr..
Edison.
The signal was given, and the circle
of electrical ships closed in upon the as
teroid.
In the meantime Mr.. Edison had been
DOMINIC his alright suit. Before we
could fully com prehend his intention
he had passed through the double trap
ped door which gave access to the ex-
terror Of the car without permitting the
loss Of air and was standing upon what
served for the deck of the ship.
In his hand he carried disintegrator.
With quick motion he sighted it,
AS quickly as possible sprang to his
side. I was just in time to note the IA
miliar blue CLEAN about the instru-
ment which indicated that it's terrific
energies were at work. The whirring
sound was absent because here in open
space, where there was no atmosphere,
there could be no sound.
My eyes were fixed upon the Martians'
engine, which had just dealt us stag
gering but not fatal blow, and particu-
larly noticed polished knob project
ing from it, which seemed to have been
the focus from which it's destructive
bolt emanated.
A moment later the knob disappeared
The irresistible vibrations darted from
the electrical disintegrator had fallen
upon it and simultaneously shattered 1T
into atoms
"That fixes them,' said Mr.. Edison,
turning to me, with smile.
And indeed it did fix them. We had
most effeotually spiked their gun. 1t
would deal no more deathblows.
The doings of the flagship had been
closely watched throughout the squad
ron. The effect of its blow had been evil
dent to all, and a moment later we saw
on some of the nearer ships men dress
ed in their air suits appearing upon the
deck, swinging their arms and sending
forth noiseless cheers into empty space.
The stroke that we had dealt was
taken by several Of the electrical ships
as signal for a common assault, and
we saw two of the Martians fall beside
the ruin Of their engine, their heads
having been blown from their bodies.
"Signal them to stop firingp com-
manded Mr.. Edison. "We have got
them down, and we are not going to
murder them without necessity. Be-
sides" he added, II want to capture
some of them alive"
The signal was given as he had or
dered. The flagship then alone dropped
slowly toward the place on the asteroid
where the PROSTATE Martians were.
AS we got near them terrible scene
unfolded itself to our eyes. There had
evidently been not more than half
dozen of the monsters in the beginning.
Two of these were stretched headless
upon the ground. -S -