The Raymer enterprise., 1914-02-05
Copyrights. 1o1a. by Harry Irving Greene

at the beloved instruments SO inf
nitely more delicate than the human
senses locked the door and departed
taking his seat upon the little car
that ran down the steep cog road to
the city below.
He entered the bustling place Just
as the sun dropping behind the west
ern peaks left the first shadows OF
evening to steal swiftly across the
plain. Scarcely three-quarters Of an
hour had passed since Kelly OF the As
sociated Press had clashed the receiv
er into its hook and darted for the
telegraph key. but already the howl
ing newsboys were scampering about
with the agility OF young apes as they
gathered their horde of nickels from
the shrieked prophecy Of the dire
death that was hurtling down upon
them. fighting for dropped coins az
coyotes snap and wrangle over bones
as little mindful OF the promised clash
of celestial bodies as had two knights
OF the squared ring challenged each
other to pigmy mortal battle. Des
mond. watching them. doubted no,
that they would have stood daunt
lessly screeching their wares before
the onslaught OF a Jupiter. scrambling
for the coins In the very shadow OF
the approaching monster. With a
cynical curiosity new to him he
scanned the faces OF those who pur'
chased the news which he had sent
forth to the world. watching them as
they read the huge headlines bearing
his name. reading in their faces their
varied emotions-their open derision,
their incredullty. their doubt and in a
few cases their fear. On all sides he
heard the comments of those who had
purchased the scare head extras.
Another high brow says moon
or something is going to drop on US
this evening. Guess I'll have to put
up my umbrella"
Bet you twenty to one she misses
u.s."
Fine bet that. II won what good
would II do me-buried hundred
miles deep"
"You cant always tell Those wise
boys hit things right once In mil
lion times" o
And Just think. Julia. II 1t hits us
1t will break up the dance"
"A scheme to sell more yellow news.
papers"
Absurd. impossible. unsciantific-"
He says II is as big as this state. I"
Glad the state amt Texas, then"
From nearby corner band OF Ad-
ventists began to chant to the beat
Ing OF a drum, seeming to glory In the
direful prospect. He who repenteth
in the last hour may yet enter the
holy Kingdom. Come ye while yet ye
may and be saved. for the end OF all
earthly things is at hand, woe, woe"
Angry. disgusted. amused. Desmond
turned upon his heel, and started for
nearby hotel that he was accus-
toned to frequent, but had scarcely
taken half a dozen steps when a
hand fell upon his arm and he looked
up TO see the halfserious. half-smiling
face OF his friend Alan March before
him. He paused. saluting,
March slipped the professors arm
beneath his own. Come along, now,
and tell me all about It. Might as
we'll know the worst first as last" he
announced as he scanned his frlend's 8
face as closely as, physician might
scan the features Of patient OF
whose sanity he was slightly In doubt.
What was your idea in starting all
this excitement anyway-or is the re-
port a canard conjured up by some
enemy or practical joking alleged
friend OF yours?" Desmond shook his
head.
mo, II Is my own message, and as
you will readily appreciate. have
staked my reputation upon its accu.
racy. II / am wrong | will be the butt
OF the world, clown. buffoon, a
lunatic." Despite himself he drew a
sigh. 1t did not seem possible that
such a grotesque calamity as he had
prophesied could occur In q universe
OF such perfection. God-made. where
each stupendous body Of unthinkable
space lay balanced to hair against
It's countless neighbors OF hundreds oil
millions, yes. hundreds Of billions oil
miles away; where perfection incon
ceiyable to man seemed to rule
through both ininity OF time and
space. And now that he had had
time to ponder over 1t, 1t seemed ia
him that II must all have been q
dream, a dream SO vivid that he had
upon awakening mistaken 1t for real
ity. Yet II he had been asleep then
he was as apt to be asleep now, and
with his die cast he would stick to l,
to the last and either 90 down to dis
grace as false prophet. or In case
he survived the cataclysm stand erec,
and vindicated in the eyes OF all man
kind. Allan spoke again.
"In common with all who know you
I have a huge respect for your scien
tifc attainments. your level headed
ness and your thorough integrity
Therefore am convinced that yor
fully believe that this awful catastro
phe will occur to US as you have prog
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