Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-06-11

member of the vibratory trinity. Sup
pose he should go one step farther;
and, even for the barest fraction of
time, should be able to stop the vibra-
lions of heath
The managing editor half rose. As
the idea in its full significance gained
hold on their imaglnations the three
men turned to stare blankly at one
another
"That is annihilation!" Curtis
whispered.
"On a wholesale SCALE agreed
Darrow calmly. 1T means the death
of every living thing from the small
est insect 10 the largest animal from
the microbe to the very lichens on
the stones of Trinity. I agree with
the way you look" He laughed
little. "But the case isn't so bad as
| it sounds he went on. "If the crust
of the earth were to collapse, that
would be humiliation, too. But it
| isn't likely to happen. There are
several things to think off,
What, for the love of Pete!'
gasped Curtis. ANY small efforts
at muck-racking this refrigerator
trust would be thankfully received"
I'm the first place, as you know"
explained barrow, his power seems
! to be limited in certain directions
| He apparently can stop vibrations
only of certain defined wave-lengths
at one time. 1t may be that he is
unable to stop heat vibrations at
ALL"
You'll have to do better than
that" growled Curtis
"The rest is faith-on your part"
replied barrow For I'll guarantee
| that even If Monsieur X has this
power, I'll stop him before he exer-
cises it,"
Guarantee" inquired Curtis.
There's nothing to prevent my
moving to California or Mombassa if
thought myself in any danger here"
barrow pointed out. "It would be
very easy for me quietly to warn my
friends and quietly do the grand
sneak"
True" muttered Curtis, rummag-
ing on his desk for a pipe.
1.-The danger isn't the point--it's the
fear of danger" said barrow.
Curtis looked up, arresting the
into the pipe bowl.
Suppose that throughout the
length and breadth of this city the
idea should be spread broadcast that
at any given moment it might be
destroyed. Can you imagine the eff
feet?
Immediate exodus grinned Cur
tbs. Immediate is a nice dignified
word" he added.
quite so, and then?'
"Eh?"
What in blazes would four million
city people without homes or occu-
pations do? Where would they go?
What would happen?"
You see what / mean" went on
Darrow, after the slight pause neces-
sary to let this sink in. THE fear
would bring about general catas-
trophe only less serious than the
fact itself It's up to you newspaper
men to see that they don't catch this
fear. There'H be a hundred letters
from foxy boys with just enough
logic or imagination to see the pos
sibility of cutting off the furnace;
but without imagination enough TO
get the final effect of telling people
about it. Suppress it. Unless I'm
mistaken, the affair will be over in
week."
Curtis drummed thoughtfully on
his desk.
ITS got to be done, and it will be
DONE" he said at last. "1'll get to
every paper in the city tonight-if
il costs MS our SCOOP"
but won't the people who write
the letters tell about it, anyway"
asked Jack land won't the outside
papers have the same stuff"
Sure" agreed Curtis promptly
but what isn't in the city press
doesn't get to the mass of the pub
| lie: that's a cinch There will be some
thousands or even tens of thousands
who will leave; there'll be rumors
a-plenty: therell be the damnedest
| row since the Crusades-but the peo-
pie will stick. I'm taking your word
for the danger"
"Well, I'm the hostage" barrow
reminded him.
Correct" said Curtis, reaching for
the desk telephone.
Hallowell followed the visitors to
the narrow hall.
"Now," said barrow in parting, ire
member what I have said. Don't
mention my name nor indicate that
there is anywhere an idea that the
identity or whereabouts of Monsieur
X is by anybody suspected"
|