Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1902-08-23

the hallway and thence up three flights
of stairs into a great room. 1t was
feebly lighted. Window was dimly con-
scious that some huge object occupied
large part of the apartment. Then
everything else was sunk in the physi
clan, for on lounge lay an old man
gasping for breath, but with a convul-
sive joy in his face.
Il think my father Is dying" whis-
pered the girl. HE had a stroke only
few minutes ago. l carried him to
the couch"
A look told Window that 1t was a
case Of paralysis, He took a flask of
brandy and was about to apply it to the
old mans lips. The stricken man look
ed at him with glittering eyes. mo
brandy" he said; lone sight was slim
ulant enough. This night have seen
the men on Mars. Show him, Mary,
lest he scoff-show himl'
An enthusiasm like that which light
ed the countenance of the sufferer came
into the girls face She turned great
chair about, sprang into it lightly, and
bending forward looked intently into
small tube.
Window turned from his patient. The
huge object by which the girl sat took
form. 1t was a telescope with an OBJ
jective thrice greater than the largest
he had ever seen.
"Show him, Mary"
The girl sprang from the chair with
great wonder in her face. Quick"
she said.
/ Half believing the whole thing
| dream Window took the chair and bent
over the eyepiece of the telescope. His
senses were staggered by what he saw.
He was looking upon a world. A soft
| light suffused everything. He saw seas
and mountains, even buildings, and
then-men; yes, living men, minute as
the life that is picked out of the water
| drop by the microscope. but still men.
| Window felt benumbed. He turned to
the sufferer. "You have solved the
problems of the universe" he said.
aye, so l have. l, Caleb Strong,
crank as the scientists call me. They
made fOrty-inch lenses that cost a mill
| ion, and can't see beyond the ends Of
their noses with them-the fools.
built that" and his eyes looked at the
telescope. Il made the multiple tense
| tlat science has scoffed at for ages
Each tense does its work separately,
BIT, the results come into one. There Is
no limit l can pick up a pin on the
nethermost star"
There was a triumph in the mans
| tone and face as he continued. "These
small lenses had to be so joined that
the light would not interrefect. I'm
| possible said the wiseacres. did it.
Two years ago Louis Gathmann Just
missed the secret. 1t Is mine and there
is the perfected work.
Il know YOU doctor. | owe you an
| explanation. l came here with my
daughter Mary and built my telescope.
| The fools hereabOuts thought the OBJ
jective was window. dared not look
at star at first for fear of disappoint-
ment. For mile and a half to the
south the ground was open. l focused
on the light in your library. Small
/ though the flame was, it answered nv
purpose, and by it proved my theory
of how to prevent inter-refection. Did
see you? Why, practically you were
in this room with me. At times made
! Mary look, though she shrank from II.
for the steady gaze hurt my old eyes.
AS she counted the reflections | adj
/ justed the lenses, but at times her at
| tention wandered from the light. She
has lived alone with me and shared my
toll and privation, and she made a
friend of you in your PARKWAY library.
When knew l was right changed the
window lens to the roof. This night
! have seen the men on Mars, and to.
morrow, nay, to-day, the world"
At that instant the earth trembled
and the building swayed. There was :
crashing of glass and a rending of iron
a section of the roof was crushed in
and carried lenses and telescope to
ruin. The shock gave the stricken man
momentary strength. He raised him
self from his pillow. "Goner he said
| Nlhuom cduShl ulHl AS he Iell Dack-
ward. The secret had gone with its
owner.
The Chicago evening papers Of that
day, Nov. 3, 1895, gave a scant half
column account of the slight earth
quake shock that early that morning
had visited the southern section of the
city.
1.-THE only property damage" they
said, was the breaking of a hole in the
roof Of Fifty-seventh street residence
by the fall of q partition wall that rose