The Washington times., 1912-03-04

Those who had thought Of building
arks hurried to see II the work might
them had begun their foundations on
low land, which was already SUBJ
merged.
Then a cry arose, terrible in its sig
OF those cries that the vanished but
uncomfortable god Pan occasionally
sets ringing, nobody can tell how:
Cosmos ark Get aboard! Storm
itr
And thereupon there was mighty
rush for Mineola. Nobody who caught
the infection stopped to reason. Some
of them had to wade through water,
came from various directions, and
united in a yelling mob. They meant
to carry the ark with a rush. They
would not be denied. AS the excited
saw its huge form rising like a mount
of safety. with an American flag flap
ping about It, and they broke into
mighty cheer. On they sped, seized
ing, falling over one another, strug-
CLING, fighting for places, men drag
Eing their wives and children through
the awful crush, many trampled help
less under the myriads of struggling
feet-driving the last traces of sanity
from one anotheTs minds.
The foremost ranks presently spied
Cosmo Versal watching them from an
heads. They were dismayed at finding
the approaches gone. How should they
get into the ark? How could they climb
up its vertical sides?
would re-elect the approaches. They
would get in somehow.
Cosmo waved them off with frantic
gesticulations; then, through trum-
pet, he shouted In voice audlpie ABOVE
keep back, for your lives!'
But they paid no attention to him;
they rushed upon the raised wall, sur
buried his mysterious lines of wire,
Then the meaning of that enigmatical
work was flashed upon them.
As the first arrivals laid their hands
as IL shot through the brain: tumbling
backward on those behind. Others
pushed wildly on, but the instant they
touched the wall they, too, collapsed.
flashed above the struggling mass.
The explanation was clear. Cosmo,
foreseeing the probability or de-
spairing attack, had surrounded the
rier. The sound Of a whirring dyna-
mo could be heard. A tremendous cur
rent was flowing through the hidden
wires and transmitting Its paralyzing
energy to the metallic crest or the
wall
Still those behind pushed on, until
rank after rank had sunk helpless at
the impregnable line of defense. They
were not killed-at least, not many
but the shock was so paralyzing that
those who had experienced its effects
made no furtehr attempts to cross
the barrier. Many lay for time
helpless upon the Sodden ground.
Cosmo and Joseph Smith, who had
now appeared az his side, continued to
shout warnings, which began to be
needed when the nature of the obsta-
rIA hno II hn Naah q
stopped and the multitude stood at
bay, dazed and uncertain what to do.
Then murmur arose, growing louder
and more angry and threatening. until
midst Of the crowd. and Cosmo was
seen to start backward, while Joseph
Smith instantly lodged out of sight
cry arose:
devil! He's a witch! He's drowning
the worldw
They meant it-at least, half of
| them did. 1t was the logic of terror.
Hundreds of shots were now fired
from all quarters and heads that had
been seen fitting behind the various
portfolios instantly disappeared. The
bullets ratified on the huge sides of
pistols and had not force enough to
penetrate.
Cosmo Versal alone remained in
sight. Occasionally a quick motion
phO"eu hhdI eve mus NERVES were not
steady enough to defy the whistling
| of the bullets passing close: but he
! held his ground and stretched out his
hand to implore attention.
When the fusiilade ceased for mo-
ment he put his trumpet again to his
| lips and shouted:
Il have done my best to save you,
but you would not listen. Although /
know that you must perish, would not
myself harm a hair of your heads. Go
back, implore you. You may prolong
your lives II you will fly to the high
| lands and the mountains. but here you
cannot enter. The ark is full"
Another volley of shots was the only
| answer. One broad-shouldered man
| forced his way to the front, took his
stand close to the wall, and yelled In
| stentorian tones