The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-06
Q WAS ALONE

Absorbing eradicating. the physical frame itself"
The other, dated later in the same day from the
same CITY. announced: Professor Muehlanrk was
arrested while trying force his way into the White
House this afternoon. He will be examined a. to ,
his sanity. His errand was to inform the President
of astounding discovery. he said"
This was all that Newspaper Row had to offer.
From it he deduced that the annihlating fosee at
tackled congested eenters first What it consisted of
he could not conceive. unless Professor Muehlanrk
had limited at the truth. Whether other cities had
been devastated he had no idea. But the instinct Of
self-preservation allowed him to but one path
to make Brooklyn and seek the open country beyond
His gait accelerated by the gathering
gloom. Night was slipping upon him. and regardless
of the Gathering echoes he rushed with distracted
speed for the bridge entrance As he tumbled down
some steps the gloom increased and became thick;
and he sank against the cool rock in despair. Even
while he was hesitating and dumby essavinR sum-
up the courage of despair the tumultuous throb-
bling of his heart stopped at the soft ptpat Of APP
preaching footsteps. The steps were coming to him
from out the Darkness and with lolling tongue that
sought to sound wild shrek he turned and stag
gered up the steps and into world.
For in place of the gloom a myriad of lights
twinkled on every side. TIL city was illuminated.
Now surely the people had returned; and yet the
streets empty. Still fearing he might hear the
soft pit-pat behind him he for nearly mile
through the lighted before exhaustion brought
him to halt He looked back. expecting he knew
not what He could not conceive Of the Things
shape size, but the narrowing lines of lights
encompassed any moving thing he believed reason
would desert him and that he would fall an easy
prey. else unwittngiy escape wander aimlessly
about, babbling automaton.
He sought to divert his mind from this fancy By
turning his eyes to the building the way The
lower floor had been occupied by leather dealer
and the skins and hides took fantastic shapes as
he gazed. The Office was brilliantly lighted and II
seemed if some bit of life must pass within his
ken. Then he feared it might. and with one glance
his shoulder resumed his flight. What agency
had turned the lights. Had he waited at the
bridge entrance would his eyes have beheld the
Thing that walked softly. like woman?
He was now approaching tall structure which he
could not remember having seen before: structure
exceeding in height any other in all New York. he
told himself. And even in his soul-terror he paused
in awe and craned his neck count the innumerable
lines of lighted windows that in ever diminishing
streaks of white led up to the vast dome. where
glowed huge ball of green FIRE.
"Godv he shrieked falling PROSTATE "The home
of the Thing! The home Of the Thingi It's grow
ing"
For the ball of FIRE seemed to ascend higher and
higher he stared. if the building elonGat-
ing and pushing it up
Give me back my people" he cried. stretching out
his hands to the evil pile. "Yes my people. Give
them back. Give back the good and the bad! Yes,
yes! Give me back the selfshi The evil! Where
are they aIl:"
AS if in answer there came mighty clanling and
the huge double doors of the structure slowly began
to open.
You'll be all right in a minute" declared the po-
.liceman mo bones broken just bumped"
you're all here! You've come back?" gasped the
injured man, opening his eyes and staring at the
circle of faces you've come back; the good and the
bad. All come back"
Take brace, old man. and don't go dippy. Youse
amt hurt none" assured the policeman. kindly a.
he helped him to his feet.
Sympathy, sympathy" cried the injured man IN
an exultant voice "Ah. it all sounds good IL
guess I'm all right now. No, don't want the
number of the It's all right It don't matter.
But how long I unoonseious?"
LESS n = half minute," informed the potieemaa.
Au-uu.>A - n-n~a a~u.