Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-05-22

with tumult and clan,or, with crash.
ing, banging and scurrying OF heavy
bodies. A final concussion shook the
air. and then, again abruptly, silence
fell.
"Say!" Hallowell's voice spokeup,
a trihe uncertainty. "Tll stand for
most any kind OF 4 dark seance. but
this particular spook business 10 get.
ting on my nerves. Are you there,
Darrowr'
yes, I'm here" answered the sci.
enlist. ...' .s ..... ....
We'll, can you explain that phe'
nomenon?" ... ,
T THAT" drawled' Darrow, a slight
note Of laughter in his voice was that
extraordinary upheaval Of natural
forces known as Brother Mccarthy
going away from here-hastily."
Jack chuckled.
HE hit me on the way out" re-
marked that young man. I'LL testify
he was a solid spook."
The reporter was methodically
striking match after match. without
result After a moment the acrid
smell OF burning WOODEN rose in the
air. ~' 'l"E ....f t'a -
Are you dropping those matches -
asked Darrow.
Sure; they're no good"
well, they're good enough to burn
holes in McCarthy's rugs. Stamp
around little to put them out; and
quit It," .a
what next; and how long?" ask.
ed Jack. What Is it? Have we gone
blind, or Is 1t total eclipse, or
what?" tq
~ don't know how long" came
back ,Darrow's voice calmly. Next
we will get out OF, the building.
want to make some observations. Get
hold of my hand; we'll have to grope
our way out"
"1f we could only get a light" NUT.
tered Hallowell =.
you can't" stated barrow.
They felt their way down the ten
flights OF. Stairs like blind men. A. few
inmates Of the building they jostled,
or passed, or picked upon the way.
"This settles IT," one remarked
profanely. my lease quits, They can
sue and be damned. ! decline to have
anything more to do with any. freak.
lined skyscraper Of this description.
In the lower corridors barrow halt.
ed them. .a5 49,. F...
Here's another thing" said he, IF
I'm right, we should run out Of this
just eleven feet beyond the last
elevator cage" ...l.-,
He felt his way along the grill, made
four PAGES forward. and uttered 1T
tie cry of satisfaction. The two men
followed him blindly. As though step
ping from one room to another they
emerged into glaring daylight!
Both involuntarily looked back. The
darkness hung there like a curtain,
just inside the outer wall of the build
ing. Already, a crowd had gathered to
observe this new and strange
phenomenon, OF the now celebrated
Atlas building. 1t was curious ana
facetious crowd, but not awestricken
as It had ben at the first manifesto,
lions OF this freakish upset Of natural
forces. f,
Az man observing the flight Of a.
aeroplane for the first time loses hi
sense OF strangeness inside OF q few
minutes !; and yet flying has been since
the days OF s1carls considered one Of
the impossible achievements So the
general public OF Manhattan were be
coming accustomed to revefsals OF
fortn In the affairs Of the physfca
world. The frivolous majority, having
discovered nothing to be apprehended
from the phenomena save few hours
:helplessness OF sort and much to be
gained through the SAVIOR Of novelty
were inclined to an amused or ifritateo
attitude, depending on the extent to
which It's occupations were interfered
with. The minority took to religious
meetings and interpretations.
Darrow's5 exit, and that Of his com.
panions, was greeted uproariously. :.
"'Please go way an let me sleep!i'
sang one. at the blinking men.
Here's another" shrilled a gamin
Get up! The porter wants to make up
your BERTH" Il ...,s
Several Of the crowd, pending the
usual arrival OF the police to clear the
corridor, had ventured through the
wide portals, and we're experimenting
with this strange palpabie quality OF
darkness. One or two popped inside
the curtain, but emerged quickly, look
ing "a little scared.
A bright youth made the discovery
that If one lighted match and
stepped within the blackness, the
match was Immediately, extinguished
but that upon emerging into daylight
the flame came up again. Some one
happened along with a plumbers
gasoline torch. Immediately this was
lighted and the experiment repeated
The bearer Of the torch, astonished al
the instant extinguishment Of the
flame. felt with his hand to see what
could be the matter. Instantly he ut
tered yelp OF pain, and leaped out
side. displaying badly burned palm
There wasn't no flame; I swear it,
he explained excitedly, but she
burned. just the same!" He rushed
about from one to another, displaying
his injured palm to whoever would
look. .s'
barrow paid little attention to this
gathering crowd. First Of all, ne
scanned paper he held in his hand
then plunged back again into the
blackness. f.. 81. ,,ss :
Jack Warford and Hallowell, left TO-
~ {oy1