Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-29

the keeper OF the atmosphere plant had
made no wireless report for two days,
nor had almost ceaseless calls upon him
from a score Of capitals ELECTED sign
Of response
The anba assadors Of the other nations
asked us to take the matter in hand and
hasten the assistant keeper to the plant.
All day a thousand cruisers have been
searching for him, until but Just now one
of them returns, bearing his dead body,
which was found in the pits beneath his
house horribly mutilated by some as
sassin.
II do not need TO tell you what this
means TO Barsoom II would take months
to penetrate those mighty walls; in fact,
the work has already commenced, and
there would be little to fear were the en-
gine Of the pumping plant to run as II
should and as they all have for hundreds
of years but the worst, we fear has hap
pened.
THE instruments show n rapidly de-
creasinK air pressure on all parts OF Bar
soom--the engine has stopped.
My gentlemen" he concluded, I'VE have
at best three days TO live"
There was absolute silence for several
minutes. and then young noble rose,
and, with his drawn sword held high
above his head. addressed Tardos Mors
"The men Of Helium have prided them
selves that they have ever shown Bar
SOON how nation of red men should
live now is our opportunity to show
them how they should die. Let us go
about our duties as though thousand
useful years still lay before us"
The chamber rang with applause. and.
as there was nothing better to do than
TO allay the fears of the people by our
example, we went our ways with smiles
upon our faces and sorrow gnawing at
our hearts.
When I returned TO my palace | found
that the rumor already had reached Dejah
Thoris, so | told her all that / had
heard.
I'VE have been very happy John Car
ter" she said. "and thank whatever fate
overtakes us that IL permits us to die
together"
The next two days brought no notice
able change in the supply of air, but on
the morning OF the third day breathing
became difficult at the higher attitudes Of
the rooftops The avenues and plazas Of
Helum were filled with people All busi-
ness had ceased For the most part the
people looked bravely into the face Of
their unalterable doom. Here and there
however, women wept quietly.
Toward the middle of the day many
of the weaker commenced to succurib,
SOON were sinking by thousands into the
unconsciousness which precedes death by
asphyxiation.
Dejah Thoris and |, with the other
members of the royal family. had col
lected in sHnkenS garden within an
inner courtyard of the palace. We con-
versed in low tones. when we conversed
at all. as the awe the grim shadow
of death crept over Us.
The little incubator had been brought
quest of Deiah Thoris. and she sat gaZ-
ing longingly upon the unknown little
life that now she would never know.
As it was becoming perceptibly diff
cult to breathe, Tardos Mors arose, say
ing:
Let us bid each other farewell. The
days of the greatness of BarsoorL are
over Tomorrows sun will look d-wn
upon a dead world, which through all
eternity must go swinging through the
heavens. peopled not even by memories,
1t is the end"
He stopped and kissed the women of
his family and laid hts strong hand upon
tho shoulders OF the men.
AS | turned sadly from him my eyes
fell upon Dejah Thoris. Her head was
dropping upon her breast: to all appear
ancc she was lifeess. With a cry I
sprang to her and raised her in my arms.
Her eyes opened and looked into mine.
"Kiss me. John Carter" she murmured.
"I love you l love you! II is cruel
that we must be torn apart who were
just starting upon life of love and hap
piness.'
CONCLUDED MONDAY