The citizen., 1913-12-12

ANY more messages from our mys.
terlous friend out in the ether to our
equally mysterious friend at the
desk?"
i don't l;now what yoL mean?"
Darrow surveyed him renectively.
This is pretty big story" he
said at last, "and affects lot of peo-
pie. If you really haven't leaked
well, he"-with jerk of his head to-
ward McCarthy-"must bribe high, or
have a strangle hold on you for fair"
He looked around to see the boss
eye fixed intently on him. smiled pleas
| antly, and moved to one side. Sim.
mons stepped forward. handed Nc
Carthy paper, and went cut. The
boss read the message slowly, and
turned little pale. After a moment
or so he surreptitiously drew out his
watch. Percy Darrow smiled. He,
too, held his watch in his hand
Thirty seconds more-about." he
remarked pleasantly. The boss looked
up startled. The last thing he saw
was the family smiling, triumphant
face of the young scientist Then alb
solute blackness fell on him.
For several seconds astonishment
held the inmates of the room chained
to their places; and for that space of
time no sound broke the deathly still
ness. Then Percy Darrow spoke. in
his natural voice.
We'll, Jack" he remarked, lit work
ed out. to second. almost. Now I'm
certain"
As though this breaking of the ST.
lence had released force hitherto
held in repression, the room filled with
tumuit and clamor, with crashing,
banging and scurrying OF heavy bodies
A final conclusion shook the air. and
then, again abruptly, silence fell.
Say" Hallowelfs voice spoke up
trifle uncertainty. I'll stand for most
any kind of dark seance. but this
particular spook business is getting on
my nerves Are ycd there. Darrow?"
Yes, I'm here answered the
scientist.
Well, can you explain that phe-
nomenon?
That" drawled Darrow, a slight
note of laughter in his voice, was
that extraordinary upheaval OF natur-
al forces known as Brother Mccarthy
going away from here-hastily.
Jack chuckled.
He hit me on the way out" re-
marked that young man. "Ill testify
he was a solid spook."
The reporter was methodically strik-
ing match after match, but without re-
suit. After a moment the acrid smell
of burning woolen rose in the air
Are you dropping those Matches
asked Darrow
Sure; they're no good"
Well, they're good enough to burn
holes in McCarthys rugs Stamp
around d little to put them out; and
quit it."
What next; and how long," asked
Jack. What is it? Have we gone
blind, or is it total eclipse. or WHAT"
Il 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; Well have TO grope our way
out"
IF we could only get light" NUT
tered Halloweli
You can't stated DarroW
They felt their way down the ten
flights of stairs like blind men. A few
inmates of the building they iostled.
or passed, or picked up on the way
In the lower corridors Darrow malt
ed them.
Here's another thing" said he: I'll
I'm right, we should run out of this
just eleven feet beyond the last ele-
vator cage"
He felt his way along the grill. made
four PAGES forward. and uttered a lit
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 curtain
Just inside the outer walls of the build
ing. Already a crowd had gathered to
observe this new and strange phe.
nomenon of the now celebrated Atlas
Building. 1t was a curious and ia
cetiCus crowd, but not awestricken, as
it had been at the first manifestations
OF this freakish upset of natural forces.
A man observing the flight of an
aeroplane for the first times loses his
sense of strangenesS inside of few
minutes and yet flying has been since
the days of Icarus considered one of
the impossible achievements. So the
general public of Manhattan were be-
coming accustomed to reyersals of
form in the affairs of the physical
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.
we're inclined to an amused or ir-
ritated attitude, depending on the ex-
tent to which it's occupations were in
terfered with. The minority took to
religious meetings and interpretations.
Darrow's exit, and that of his com
panions. were greeted uproariously.
please go way an let me sleep!'"
sang one, at the blinking men.
Here's another" shrilled a gamin.
Get up! The porter wants to make
up your BERTH"
Several of the crowd, pending the