The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-04-20
THE MARIAN INVADER


The townspeople stood in. won
derment about the big, ball-shaped,
metallic object which had fallen on
the commons near the town during
the night. AS they watched, the
top of the object began to slowly
reyolve.
Look" cried Harry Crawford. to
his pretty sweetheart, Bertha Dun
bar, there's something or someone
inside!"
In a moment the top had been UNI
screwed sufficiently from within to
enable the living being inside to
topple the cover Of onto the ground
Then from the interior stepped q
being, fashioned in the shape of
man, but covered from head to toe
with peculiar, tight-ftting me-alhc
appearing suit. en- this beings
back reposed tank, and in his hand
he carried the end of a tube at
tached TO the tank
The town policeman, officious as
always, stepped up TO the invader
and grasped him somewhat roughl.
by the arm.
Here, what're you doing her
boz the policeman asked.
For answer the invader pointt
the muzzle of the hose at the o
fetal. From the nozzle issued
thick, heavy, black vapor. AS th>
policeman inhaled this he toppled
over, writhing in a frenzy. Feal
seized on the townspeople and they
turned to run. The bloodshot eyes
of the being swept the ranks of the
multitude before the people ran and
fastened themselves on the fair face
of Bertha Dunbar. The look which
the invader gave Bertha sent cold
shiver up her lovers back.
Come" cried Harry, somewhat
gruffly, lets get away from here"
AS he urged Bertha onward, the
girl, as though fascinated against
her will, cast many backward
glances at the Marian.
Not until Harry had seen Bertha
safely in her home did he breathe
freely again. Then he left her hur-
riedly to see what the town authori-
ties intended to do about Kidding
the municipality OF this dire invader.
He had not been gone from Bertha
over Is minutes when a fear
stricken citizen ran up to him.
"Your girl has been kidnapped by
the Martian," this citizen cried.
Harry. with few quick. stern
questions, learned that the Martian
had followed him to Bertha's home
and, after Harry left. had grabbed
Bertha and made on with her for
ths saball-shaped object. Harry
rushed into . nearby shop, grabbed
revolver and tore through the
| town for the commonA On the COM
mons he saw q little ring OF people
gathered around the invaders ball
and he also saw the Marian roughl,
throw, the girl into the anterior
the ball and then turn to face the
people. ps
"Bertha!" Harry Grief in frenzy,
as he dashed up. A weak cry from
his sweetheart spurred him onward.
Harry ojerked his revolver tom
his pocket and fred It time aud
again at the Marian. The shots had
no effect. Then Harry sprang fol
the invader. The latter directed the
fatal black vapor 1t Harry. Harry
staggered backward, tackling the
Marian about the legs in football
style. Back and forth, the two
struggled. Finally, with q quick
movement, Harry threw the Marian
nearly overcome. then again rushed
in. Quick as lightning Harry grab
bed the nozzle of the hose and d.
rected the vapor at the invader unit
the latter, with final struggle died
With little, thankful CRY of relief
Bertha weakly clambered from tht
| ball and tainted In Harry's arms
while the crowd cheered nightly.