Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-29
CHATTER XVI

THE GATHERING OF THE hOhbh"
"ToM-ToMs? So they are savaEes?'' ex'
claimed the girl, taking a quick breath
7But-what them"
"Don't Just know, yet It's fact.
though; they're certainly savagcs. Two
tribes, one with torches, one with drums.
Two different kinds | guess And they're
coming in here to parley or fight or some
thing. Regular powwow on hand. Trouble
ahead. whichever side wins y
For us?"
"rhat depends Maybe we'll be able to
lie hidden here till this thing blows over
whatever II may he, II not. and II they
cut or our water supply, WE'LL
He ended with n kind % growl The
sound gave Beatrice strange sensation.
she kept a moments silence, then re-
marked: ,,-,. -.
the drums are. don't you think so? How
far do you make THAR
"Close on to two miles, Come, let's be
In silence they climbed the shaky ladder
reached the tower stairs and descended the
many stories to their dwelling.
Here the first thing Stern did was to
striI,e a light which he masked In cor
ner behind "A skin stretched like screen
from one wall to the other, BY this IL
Iumlnation, very dim yet adequate he
,nInutely examined all their firearms.
lie loaded every one TO capacity and
made sure all were in working order Then
he satisfied himself that the supply or car
tridges was ample. These he laid care
tulIy along by the windows overlooking
Madison Forest, by the door leading into the
suite of offices, and by the stair-head that
gave access to the fifth floor.
Then he blew out the light again.
'Two revolvers, one shotgun and one
riae all told" said he. "All magazine
arms. guess that'll hold them for
while II II comes down 10 hrnss tacks
How's your nerve, Beatrice?'
"Never better !" she whispered from the
dark. He saw the dim white blur that
indicated her face, and II was very dear
TO him. all Of sudden-dearer' tar' thhn
he had ever realized.
her the rife. A moment his hand pressed
hers Then with a quick intake or the
breath, he strobe over TO the window and
once more listened, She followed
Much nearer. now" judged he Hear
that, will your
Again they listened. ,,
Lauder now the drums sounded. dull.
omlnous, pulsating like the hammerlms Oh
a fever pulse inside a sick mans skull. a
dull confused hum, noise as OF a swarm
Inp mass of bees, drifted down-wlnd
Maybe they'll pass by?' whispered
Beatrice. -, -,
returned the engineer See there
He ponted to westward.
There far Off along the forest lane OF
Fourteenth street, sudden gleam OF lisht
flashed out among the trees, vanished, re-
appeared was joined by two, ten a mum
dTed others. Arid now the whole approach
tn Madison Forest by several streets be-
gan to sparkle with these feuS-follets,
weaving and flckering unsteadily toward
Here there, everywhere through the
dense masses Of foliage. the Watchers eosia
already see a dim and moving mass nj
fully Illuminated by torches thaI now
burned steady, now fared into red and
smoky tourbillons OF fame In the night
wind. .,,..
Like monster glow-worms, crawling
among the trees! :" the girl exclaimed We
could NOV them down from here aireAdy
God grant we sha'n't have TO night
"S-h-h-hi Wait and see what's up
Now from the other horde, coming from
the north, sounds Of waTlike preparation
were growing ever louder,
With quicker beats the inslsteht TOM
toms throbbed their Rhythmic melancholy
rune, hollow and dissonant. Then all at
once the drums ceased and through the
night air dTlfted a minor chant wall that
rose. fell died, and came again, tagging as
many strange voices Joined IL.
And from The square oelo" nonSas shLitI'
Creeping shudders chilled the flesh along
the engineers backbone.
what / need. now" thought he, rs
about a hundred pounds OF high-grade
dynamite. or a gallon Of nitrogycerin-
Better stiu a dozen capsules OF my own
invention, my 'Pulyerite
II guess that would settle things mighty
oulck, IL would be the Joker IN this game
aIl right! Well, why not make some2
with what chemicals I've got left. couldn't
[ work up a half-pint7 Bottled in glass
tasks. 1 guess Il would turn the trick on
EN- ="
r,,nied the glrl see there-and thsreT
Sc pointed toward The spring. Stern
sae saaelns shadows u the DARK Ihan.
through "a opening y eQk a 1iuirea iu.