The Raymer enterprise., 1914-02-05
CHAPTER l.
The Prophecy.

rToIessor desmond, astronomer IN
charge OF the Peak Observatory.
glanced into the refiectoscope-that
wonderful new instrument for scan.
ming the heayens--then withdrew his
eye from II and stroked the polished
glass gently with a piece OF chamois
skin. Then he peered again. Just
above the eastern horizon he saw a
speck SO minute that layman would
MOI have noticed It at all. yet which
caused the scientist to blink and gri.
mace, for he knew that In all reason
the speck should not be there, and It's
presence on the glass irritated his
professional eye as though II had
been particle OF foreign matter on
his own iris instead For a moment
he watched IL with face that second
by second grew tenser and more
drawn. then springing to his feet he
swung the secondary telescope upon
IT, On either side OF him and rising
to within few hundred feet OF the
observatory were the crests OF other
peaks, towering. ragged, swimming In
the thin air more than a dozen thou
sand feet above the level of the sea,
while below was a dizzy sweep OF can.
yon and gorge that at last smoothed
themselves out TO the plain upon
which stood the city in the very
shadow OF the mountains. Tense as
man stretched upon rack he
peered through the telescope across
the million miles of space that inter.
vened between his eye and the speck.
and as he did 30 the sweat began to
burst from his temples In tiny beads.
For several minutes he looked, turned
from the glass TO the Kaleidoscope
again and then began series of rap
Id computations, finished them, swung
TO the long distance telephone and
1ammed his thumb upon the button
labeled Washington. A moment
later he was talking to the head de.
partment direct, his voice calm and
incisve.
Hello, Washington This you.
Headmann? This is Desmond of the
Peak. There Is something coming d.
reetly for us from due east and Just
above my mountain horizon. | have
been observing II for some moments
both in the Kaleidoscope and glass
and have made my computations. Its
speed IL tremendous, It's size small
would say perhaps quarter of the
moons. 1t is not a fragment, but
rather a complete body, and to all
appearances is small satellite with
a circumference of say a thousand
miles. How Is your eastern weather?
Thickt Then you probably will not be
able To get look at II. II Is about
million miles away al present and is
coming at the rate of perhaps two
hundred thousand miles an hour In.
less ! am greatly in error ii will
strike the earth somewhere In this
region In about five houfs-say about
nine o'clock tonight. or course you
understand what that may mean. |
have nothing more to say at present. q"
He hung up the receiver without
awaiting reply. sat thought en-
crossed for moment, then put his
finger upon another button.
Hello, Associated Press, This is
Desmond OF the Peak Observatory. A
short while ago happened To notice
foreign body In the Kaleidoscope
that seemed to be approaching us
from comparatively near distance
as space distances go | Immediately
put the telescope upon It. At that
time. which was but a few minutes
ago, II was perhaps a million miles
away and appeared to be a small sat.
elite, Its speed Is tremendous
comet-llke-its size perhaps three
hundred miles In diameter and thou.
sand miles around. am not prepared
at this moment to hazard an opinion
as to its density other than IL is un.
doubtedly solid Furthermore. in all
probability 1t Is going TO hit us some
where In this region within a few
hours. leave the information up to
you to use or not as you See fit" From
the other end OF the wire came the
incredulous voice OF Kelly. the man
OF the press.
Come now, Professor, that's good.
II would make fine scare head, but
you don't want US TO put you on rec.
ord as saying that. do you?" The
listeners brow corrugated.
Have | been in the habit OF send.
ing out false reports?" he demanded
sharply. and at the tone OF his voice
Kelly ceased his silent chuckle.
mo. you never gave us anything
before that was not-pardon me-en.
tirely plausible. And OF course we all
know and appreciate your high pro
fessional standing. But this thing is
really so remarkable. you know-so
very extraordinary! Is II not Just
possible that you are mistaken as 9th.
ers have been In this direction time
and again."
II have never prcphesied or believed
In the probability OF such thing
happening before. But my eyes are
good. my mind normal. my instru.
ments and mathematics accurate and
4 cannot doubt such evidence. |