The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-09

1t was q Wednesday morning early IN
August. was sitting In q bcach-chnir
on tho crowded sands at Broadstaifs.
qa Harry! 'Emy wife cried. LOOK!
l blinked at the water for moment
then l rubbed my eyes sharply and sat
up. rubbed them again before ! would
believe tlem. A cnrlpus pale. pink ioY
was, closing In round the buy from every
direction.
In II few moments, we were wedged In
by people behind us push ns franticaliy
towartls the Steps. looked over their
heads being a tall man, and saw the
pink foam coming across tho shadows
in great sheets. overunning one another.
,Then It crept silently UP the sand.
ut doesn't hurt. anyhow" said, draw
Ing my breath.
MY wife laughed, strungely and uncon-
trollnbly. The sea Of faces looking down
from the steps was moving with laugh
'.rhe muster, my vito cried. "Hark."
1.-THE music!'' cried the crowd On tho
stairs. THE music!"
/ looked round In bewildcrnent. There
was no music that l could hear; but
some were keeping time with Their heads
and others with their hands. The truth
flashed upon. me- Whatever the pink va
por was, and however At came 1t sent l.v-
ing creatures mad l had escaped for
some reason that j did not know. ! do not
know now.
The next morning I learned from tho
papers that London was still sane. so !
decided to get there as soon as posi-
Bile. They were going TO run n last tran
up, Ito carry the good news" the sta
ton master told me. They refused to-
take payment for the tickets. and crowd
ed round us TO shake hands before we
left My wife and children sang and
laughed at nothing. l sat In corner
and read my paper. have the summary
by me now:
"A curious pink vapor. which appears
to produce me ntal alteration. settled
upon England yesterday morning II mas
now attacked the whole of The south and
east coast. and some parts OF France,
Portugal and Span.
cdr. Long, who Ia considered by au-
thorltlcs the only person capable of cop
ing with the epidemic. has disappear~d
and cannot be traced. When last heard
list was contemplating an cxcurs on to
some remote locality in order 70 pursue
his experiments (Which involve consider
a BILE risky In secluslon.
3.'rhree or four cases of persons un-
affected by the vapor are reported. They
include the prime minister, who was
attacked at Seaford, but escaped In his
motor-car. He is ANXIOUS that persons
who have proved immune should cons
municate with him. In order that their
services may be ltil zed In the event o.
the epidemic spreading,
That night in London I woke soon after
two. The Venetian blinds were half
opened, and the moonlight shone in
through them-pink! lay staring at i,
with my lips moving dumbly, TIL the
dawn. Then drew up a blind and look
ed out upon pink world. rheumat tic
old Waterman was dancing stiftiy ~ the
road.
The charwoman was affected life the
rest, but not so violently. She seemed
10 have enough sense to get the meals.
so decided to 80 to the prime min
lister and offer my services.
The prime minister saw mo at once.
He looked pale and worried. but he was
very rcsolnte to fight the evil:
III Is spreading very rapidly he said.
up to now; I propose that 20 men. and
the women should stop here to assist me.
and that tho other 20 should go In search
Of DR.. Long. / know nothing OF any OF
you, so I am compelled 10 trust 70 blind
instinct In selecting q leader. select
you. You must go and \, fight the evil a.
It's source. A naval ofticcr and several
sailors and stokers arc available. You
Will go?"
Yes" ! said. /, " =: tell me about it.
"The evil is etherine. DR.. aLong-who Is
half genius and half madman-discovered
1t In seeking for an anesthettc which.
would destroy sensiblllty to pain with.
out destroying consciousness. TO the best
of my belief, he has deliberately loosed
1T upon the world. with the idea Of bene-
! fitting suffering humanity"
"But surely he could not generate this
| enormous quantity"
ooh. yes! 7 saw hn. experiment OF his
| invisible particle Of matter drowned. on the
| water produced miles of pink cloud. !
| have information, that he IL on one OF