Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-23
CHAPTER XXI.

Monsieur X had at last struck, ana
both interest and belief urged the man.
aging editors at last to give publicity
to ell the theories, the facts. and tho
latest message from the fanatic I'm
known.
The latter came about three o'clock:
ITO tho People: You have deded mo.
and you have doubted my power. There
Is no good In you. i, who would have
saved you, now must bring about your
death as Q stubborn and stin-necked
generation. In humanity is no more
good, and Of this world desire nothing
more Prepare within the next three
hours to appear before Q mightier throne
than mine.''
Percy Darrow, reading this, said to
Jack Warford. 1T is time to act" and.
accompanied by the younger man. Qui-
city left the room.
The reader Of imagination-and no
other will read this tale-must figure
to himself the island OF Manhattan
during the next two hours. The entire
population. nearly. tried to leave 1t at
once. When only the suburban dwell.
ers, urged simply by the desire for
Q hot dinner, attempt to return home
between i've and six, the ways are con.
gested enough. Now. stricken with
the fear Of death. the human cattle
fought frantically to reach the made
auate exits of the great theater OF
tragedy.
There was fighting in the streets,
and panic, and stark rumor. Of course;
and there was heroism, and GOODNESS.
and the taking Of thought To the
little group Of men in the top floor OF
the Atlas Building the roar Of riot
came up like the thunder Of the or.
chestra before the rise of the curtain.
Most of the people in the streets fed
from . danger they did not understand.
This little group in the wireless ONCE
realized clearly what still and frozen
dissolution the rising of the curtain
would disclose They were not many;
and they did not know what they were
to do, II anything; but they had not
run away.
Eldridge was there, looking some
what Mustered for the first time in his
life, and four Of the large committee
that had employed him. Simmons sat
calmly at his post, and Of all the re-
porters Hallowell alone had stood by.
He had faith In barrow, and he knew
that in the Despatch office little
handful Of men stood In the shadow OF
death on the of chance Of the biggest
scoop since Noah's flood.
The four solid citizens looked at one
another. The Oldest turned TO FL
bridge.
"Then your opinion = that the city
is doomed?"
: II can offer no other solution. sir."
said the scientist 1T ie at last evil
dent that this mans power over ethe-
real vibrations extends to those form
ing heatrays. II this is 50. 1t follows
that he can cut OF all life BY stopping
all heat. II his threat 10 carried out,
We can but look forward to . repeti-
ton ON Q large scale Of the City Hall
affair.""
The aeed Anancier now spoke to
Simmons.
And the last report from he
searchers1" he asked formally.
1.-THE search II being pursued, sir. :"
replied tho operator. by twenty thou
sand mon. There remain some fifty
miles Of country 70 90 over. Mr.. L.
ons."
Lyons turned his shaggy head
toward q younger, slim, keen-eyed man
Of fifty.
"And the city will, in your judgment,
Mr.. Perkins. take how long to empty"
"Days-in the present confusion"
said Perkins shortly. I'VE can move
only limited percentage. Thank God,
most Of our men are standing by.
think all our rolling stock 10 moving. -
Lyons nodded twice.
and you?" he asked the third Of
the party, stout young man Of thirty
eight or so.
"How many stations are on the Job.
Simmons?" asked this man.
"All but two. SIR" replied the opera
tor. ID and p don't answer. I guess
they beat It."
"How do they report the bulletin
men?"
ION the Job" replied the wireless
man.
Tho stout young man turned 20
Lyons.
well, sir" said he. z don't know
whether we or the hand Of death will
b called ON to quiet them"-he paused
for an instant with uplifted hand; tho
roar and crash and wall Of the city
wide riot sursed into the gap Of his
silence-"but II It 10 we," he went on,
"our little arrangements are made. My
men know what to DO. and my men are
On the Job" he concluded proudly.
Lyons nodded aSss>.s ~
"We have all done our best" said
he. "Now. gentlemen, do not SEQ
how We can possibly accomplish any
thing more by remaining here. My au-
tomobile IL In concealment in the old
stable in the rear Of 127. Ny yacht
IL standing Of the Battery awaiting
signal to come In. We have" he
glanced ct his watch, "over IN hour
before the threatened catastrophe"
He looked up expectantly. The men
an glanced uneasily at one another.
except Simmons, who stared at his bat
tsries stolidly.
Come. gentlemen" urged Lyons.
sfter . moment There u really not
u 6.