The Washington times., 1910-05-08
THE PLANET JUGGLER
BY J. @. FREDERICK.

I OF al aurora boreaIis, but FOR week
the streE Ks covered The whole sky VIII
an even tint Of violet merging into &.
rose red. The lights flashed ike th=
1 weapons Of battling giants The dis
pay lasted for the next fortnight hu-
after that they gradually faded rs-y-
Ing IN intensity and suddenly diEap-
this bulletin.
Campus has tried 20 pass its power
( ful currents through our screen bur-
breadth out Of its orbit and there Is
nothing 20 fear ] believe there is
nothing which he can now do that we
need worry about
I or. one month there was absolutely
no siE On that Campus had renewed his
attack. Then one CAV there appeared
Co be Ereat alarm AZ Elverson's office,
4 ana ainpn& me Sclentllc mea on ms
staf- AT first they would not say any
. thing, but changed their mind and is
sued q statement. after alarming ru-
nlorS began 20 spread They said
While there IS no cause fer real
alarm. we viii frankly say that Cauo-
pus has made a very clever maneuver.
which Is worrying US
Mars IS out Of her orbit. and Can
opus IS undoubtedly aiming 20 throw
her into the sun.
If he succeeds. the disturbance win
be so great that the earth VIII be I'm
The only thing to he done IS 10 use
our power OF navigating the eartn
through space, and 90 near enough to
Mars TO protect her with our hfEh-fra-
Quency currents and throw our system
Of indUCtive screens about her This
we are preparing 70 do
We beg the people not 20 be alarmed
II our day and night system is upset
or If the moon gets 10 be about -siN
times as big as usual. or 81 81 gees q
little colder than usual. or If Mars get
until II fills One-hUndTedth part OF the
sky
These things will be perfectly nlfmaI.
and al viii be well We VIII be back
IN our orbit in two months time. though
We may have 70 rake circuit around
our entire solar system 70 establish in
GUcr1Te screens against Campus efforts
TO throw one OF our planets into the sun,
Mars VIII give us the opportunity at
last 10 realize the dream Of the tweu-
tieth century, OF talking TO the inhab-
itants on Mars, and We hope to get her
TO cooperate with us in resisting Cano-
pus.
At this announcement the whole world
again stopped its busy life to speculate
and discuss the situation. Nobody talk
ed about anything else and. while there
were many who felt afraid Of the start
Ing journey out of the orbit. nearly all
particularly the Americans and the
French - keenly anticipated the trip.
Motoring and baUooning were given NJ
in the excitement Of the more daring To-
cOmOtiOn which was 10 be undertaken.
Elaborate precautions were taken 70
avoid panic among the -illiterate peO-
PIE, who would not understand the TevO-
luton in the WilliOn-yedT-Old habits Of
the world. Governments volunteered 20
send agents everywhere 70 tell the peO-
pie about what was happening and calm
their fears
Meanwhile. observatorfes were keep
ing an eve on Mars. which was slowly
but surely gaining momentum in her
drop from her orbit toward the sun.
Careful calculations were made as on
a ship which desires to overtake an
other vessel in Enidsea-tO find the
proper place Of meeting Of the two
planets.
Finally. ID in the tower in the pres
e1ce Of prominent scientists and Gov
eminent representatives. Emerson con-
nected the switches on the huge switch
board on the wall which set to work
the terrific electrical voltage general
ed by wave motion in the mOnstTOus
plants on the Jersey shore
''Why. there isn't 2 SCUM to mark
the operation remarked some one with
.No visible sign at ALL replied FL
versOn- except what YOU viii see II
YOU step out on the little bridge on
this side"
And he led the way out Faint echoes
Of a great city came aiOft from the
panoramic scene below them. recorded
by moving lights. for Il was night
Look up he continued
They looked w, and AT the base Of
the fagpole saw a series OF metal forks.
AZ the point Of each OF which gIowed a
nebuious, iridesCenL globe Of light.
changing msmeutarily into many pris-
sustic colora
'gThose deheetors send the current out