The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-09-03

absorbing, eradicating the physical frame .tselfn
 The other, dated later in the same day from the same city, announced: Professor Muehlanrk was arrested while trying to force his way into the Whts House this afternoon. He will be examined as to his sanity. His errand to inform the President of an astounding discovery he said"
 This was all that Newspaper Row had to offer. From it he deduced that the annhi1ating force at lacked congcsted first What it consisted of he could not conceive, unless Professor Muehanrk had hinted at the truth Whether other cities had been devastated he had idea But the instinct of self-preservation allowed him to see but one path to make Brooklyn and seek the open country beyond
 His gait was now accelerated by the gathering gloom Night was slipping upon him; and regardless of the claterng echoes he rushed with distracted speed for the bridge entrance As he tumbIed down some steps the gloom increased and became thick; and he sank against the cool rock in despair Even while he was hestating and dumbly essaving to sum mon up the courage of despair the tumutuous throb ping of his heart stopped at the soft pitpat of ap- preaching footsteps. The steps coming to hin, from out the darkness, and with loing tongue that sought to sound one wild shriek he turned and stag gered up the steps and into new world
 For in place of the gloom myriad of lights twnkled every side. The 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 ran for nearly mile through the lighted before exhaustion brought him to halt He looked back, expecting he kn ~. 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, or else unwittngly escape wander amiessIy about babblng automaton.
 He sought to divert his mind from this fancy by turning his eyes to the building across the way The lower floor had been occupied by leather dealer and the skins and hides took fantastic shapes as he gazed The office brilliantly lighted and it seemed if some bit of life must pass within his ken. Then he feared it might. and with one glance over his shoulder re resumed his flight What agency had turned on the lights? Had he waited at the bridge entrance would his eyes have beheld the Thing that walked softly, like womanr
 He was now approaching tall structure which he could not remember having seen before a structure exceeding in height any other in all New York, he told himself And in his soul terror he paused and craned his neck to count the innumerable lines of lighted windows that in ever diminishing stresks of white led up to the vast dome where glowed huge ball of green fire.
 "God!" he shrieked falling prostrate ''rhe home of the Thng The home of the Thingl It's grow ing"
 For the ball of fire seemed to ascend higher and higher he stared if the building were elonsse- ing and pushing it up
 Give 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 badl Yes, yesl Give back the selfshi The evil Where they all?"
 As If in answer there came mighty clanking and the huge double doors of the structure slowly began to open.
 You'll be all right in 1nnute," declared the pae liceman "No bones broken Just bumped"
 You're all herel You've come back?" gasped the injured man, opening his eyes and staring at the circle of faces "Youve back; the good and the bad. All come back!'
 "Take brace, old man, and don't go dippy. Youse an't hurt none," assured the policeman kindly. as he helped him to his feet
 Sympathy! sympathy!" cried the injured man in an exultant voice. "Ah, it all sounds good. I--I guess I'm all right No, I don't want the number of the car, It's all right. It don't matter But how long was unconscious?"
 "Less n a half nlinute,' informed the policeman.