The citizen., 1914-01-09

| 10 extremes yet. Inc CITY is vet sdl~.
"Why?" asked Hallowell.
Il know it. But he has the power.
If he gets dangerous we must stop
| him"
You are sure you can do it?"
Sure"
Then, for Gods sake, do it! Don't
you realize what win happen when
news of this gets out, and people I'M
| derstand what it means? Don't you
feel your guilt at those mems deaths?"
He struck his hand in the direction of
the City Hall.
"The people will buy lot of expe-
rience, at cost of little fright and
annoyance" replied Percy Darrow
carelessly. 'It1l do them good. When
it's over, they'll come back again and
be good. AS for that bunch in there
when you look over those papers
think you'll be inclined to agree with
what the religious fanatics will say
that it was a visitation of God"
But the old, the sick-theren be
deaths among them-the responsibility
is something fearful"
Never knew a battle fought yet
without some loss" observed Darrow
Hallowell was staring at him.
Il don't understand you," said the
reporter. You have no heart. You
are as bad as this Monsieur X, and
between you you hold city in your
power-one way or the otheri"
We'll. l rather like being a little
god," remarked Darrow.
Hallowell started once more to
plead, but Darrow cut him short.
you are thinking of the present" I"
he said. Il am thinking of the future
It's good thing for people to find
out that there's something bigger than
they are. or than anything they can
make. That fact is the basis of the
idea of God These are getting to be
a goddess people" He turned on Hal
lowell his sleepy eyes lighting up. 81
should be very sorry If 1 had not in
tellect enough and imagination enough
to see what this may mean to my fell
low people; and l should despise my
self if should let an unrestrained
compassion lose to four million people
the rare opportunity vouchsafed them"
He spoke very solemnly. Hallowell
looked at him puzzled
Besides" said Darrow whimsically,
81 like to devil Eldridge"
He dove into the subway. Hallowell
gazed after him.
There goes either great man or
a crazy fool" he remarked to an Eng
lish sparrow. He turned over rapidly
the papers Darrow had found on the
mayors desk, and smiled grimly. "Of
all the barefaced, bald-headed steals!"
he said.
Darrow soon mounted once more
the elevator of the Atlas Building. He
found Jack and Helen still waiting.
Before entering the wireless Office Dar-
row cast scrutinizing glance along
the empty hall.
IT'S all right" he said. I'm surer
than ever. Everything fits exactly
Now, Helen" he said, 'T want you to
go home, and l want you stay there
No matter what happens, do not move
from the house. This town is going
to have the biggest scare thrown into
1t that any town ever had since Sodom
and Gomorrah got their little jolt In
the language of the Western prophet.
He'll will soon be popping Let her
pop. Sit tight; tell your friends to
sit tight. If necessary, tell them Mon
sieur x is captured, and all his works.
Tell them l said So"
His air of languid indifference had
fallen from him. His eye was bright,
and he spoke with authority and vigor.
You take her home, Jack" he COM
manded, 'and return here at once.
Don't forget that nice new-blued pop
gun of yours; we're coming to the
time when we may need it,"
Jack rose instantly to his mood.
Correct. General" he saluted.
''Where'd you collect the plunder?" he
asked, pointing to a square black bag
of some size that Darrow had brought
back with him.
That" said Darrow, lis the first
| fruit of my larcenous tendencies. |
stole that from the mayors Office in
the City Hail."
What is it?"
That" said Darrow, 81 do not
know"
He deposited the bag carefully by
his chair, and turned. smiling, to
Helen.
"Goodby," said he. "Sleep tight"
They went out Darrow seated him.
self in his chair, drew his hat over his
eyes, and fell into a doze. In the
meantime, outside, all through the
city, hell was getting ready to pop.
CTO BE CoNTINUED.)