The Detroit times., 1913-04-19
HE BLAZED TRAIL, THE SILENT PLACE Ek
CopxriGht 1912. he Dohhs Merrill coupany

SHOULD Dc sought out anu utllNelcu
up TO rather vaguely described
vengeance; and threatened with dire
calamities all the inhabitants of Man
haitian II the UnknOwns desires were
not fulfilled These threats grew
more definite In charter as time went
on.
The effect of all this In the Ions
run was. OF course, confusion and In
stability People laughed or cursed !;
but they also listened and reasoned
Gradually throughout the city. dread
was extending the blackness of Its
terror. A knowledge that would
have caused a tremendous panic II II
had been divulged suddenly now gave
birth to a deep-seated uneasiness.
Where the panic would have torn
men up by the roots and flung them
In terrorized mobs through the con-
gested ways and out into the inhos-
pitable country, the uneasiness OF
dread held them covering at their &C.
customed tasks. They were afraid !:
but they had had time TO think, and
they realized what 1t would mean to
leave their beloved accustomed or
necessary city, as the case might be.
And il must be remembered that the
definite knowledge OF what might be
feared was not yet disseminated
among them.
But this attitude hurt business. and
business struck back. The subways
were practically deserted; the thea
tiers empty; the accustomed careless
life of the Great White Way thinned;
the streams Of life slackened. Further.
more, the intelligent criminal immedi.
ately discovered that ideal shields
were being provided him gratis be-
hind which to conduct his crimes. In
the silence man could blow out the
side OF bank building with impunity
provided only he kept out OF sight
In the darkness he could pilser at will.
with only the prOviso that he forget
OF night crime when electricity lacks
have already been touched upon
To meet unusual conditions the
people individually and collectively
rose to heights Of forgotten ingenuity
The physical life OF city is SO well
established that the average city
dweller grows out Of the pioneer vir.
tue OF adaptability. Now once more
these people were forced TO meet
new and untried conditions, TO guard
against new dangers, new opposing
forces. In an incredibly short space
OF time they grew out of aimless
panic. They learned to sit tight to
guard adequately their lives, their
treasure, and even TO a certain extent
their time againstsundue loss.
In the meantime the moneyed pow
ers had been prompt to act. They
did not intend TO stand idly while
their pockets were being picked by
untoward circumstances; nor did they
intend to continue indefinitely the
unusual expenditures necessary to
guard themselves against even a
greater loss. AS there seemed to be
two men to find they employed the
best of detectives TO search for Nc
earthly; and Professor Eldfidge, as
the greatest living expert. to hunt
down the Unknown. Thus unexpect-
eddy Eldridge found himself with
definite backing in his strange duel
with barrow
1t Is now desirable to place before
the reader samples OF the messages
sent by Monsieur X and received in
the wireless office of the Atlas build
ing, after which we can proceed once
more to follow out the sequence OF
events.
ITO the People; The sign has been
sent you. You must how believe. The
traitor Is among you. and you must
hunt him down. This is your sacred
duty, for !, your master, have laid it
upon you"
That was one Of the first. After a
round dozen Of similar import, there
came this:
ITO the People; I. your master, am
displeased with you. The visitations
Of darkness and OF silence have been
sent, but you have needed little.
doubt not that we search. as have
commanded, but you do not realize TO
the full your sacred obligation. You
90 about your business and you carry
on your affairs lour business and
your affairs are not so important as
these, my commands. Beware lest
you draw down the wrath of the
Lords Amounted | am patient with
your ignorance; but give heed"
The last at present to which your
attention Is called came just before
the events to be de.cred:
ITO the People: Your time is draw
ing short. You are stubborn and a
stiff-necked generation. My patience
Is ebbing away. You have been shown
the power Of my right hand, and you
have gone your accustomed ways.
You have defied the might OF the
Right Hand of God. Now | will lay
IN Won nv commands You must
seek out Appollyon and deliver him
even into my hands, sid that shortly
I shall be patient yet little while
longer, for I know that you grOpe In
darkness and have not the light that
shines upon me. But soon ] shall
strike
CHAPTER XVI