Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-26

distance, and for examining the materials
through which we were to pass
re tested the steering device, and over
looked the mighty cogs which transmitted
lts marvellous velocity to the giant drill
at the nose of his strange craft
Our seats, Into which we strapped our
serves, were so arranged upon transverse
Dars that we would be upright whether
the craft were plowing her way down
ward into the bowels of the earth, or run
| ning horizontally along some great seam
Of coal, or rising vertically toward the
| surface again.
At length all was ready. Perry bowed
his head In prayer. For n moment we
were silent, and then the old mans hand
grasped the starting lever There was
frightful roaring beneath us-the giant
frame trembled and vlbrated-there was
| rush Of sound as the loose earth passed
up through the hollow space between the
inner and outer Jackets to be deposited
in our wake.
| We were Off
The noise was deafening. The sensation
was frightful. For n full minute neither
of us could do aught but cling with the
proverblal desperation of the drowning
man to the handrails of our swinging
seats. Then Perry glanced at the ther-
mometer.
Cad" he cried. ut cannot be possible
-quickl What does the distance meter
| read?"
That and the speedometer were both on
| my side of the cabin, and as 1 turned to
take reading from the former 1 could
hear Perry muttering.
Ten degrees rise. 1t cannot be pos
slble."
Then I saw him tug frantlcally upon
the steering wheel.
AS finally found the tiny needle In the
dim light translated Perry's evident ex-
element, and my heart sank within me.
But when 1 spoke 1 hid the fear which
haunted me.
ut will be 700 feet. Perry" said, "by
the time you can turn her into the horl-
zontal"
You'd better lend ME a hand then, my
boy" he replied, "for l cannot bulge her
out of the vertical alone. Heaven give
that our combined strength may be equal
to the task, for else we are lost
1 wormed my way to the old mans side
with never doubt but that the great
wheel would yield on the instant to the
power of my young and vigorous muscles
Nor was my belief mere vanity, for al
ways had my physique been the envy and
despair of my fellows.
And for that very reason 1t had waxed
even greater than nature had intended.
since my natural pride in my great
velop my body and my muscles by every
means within my power. What with box
ing, football and baseball l had been in
training since childhood.
And so It was with the utmost conf
dence that / laid hold OF the huge iron
RIM but though / threw every ounce Of
my strength into 1t my best effort was as
unavailing as Perry's had been-the thing
would not bulge. The grim, insensate.
horrible thing that was holding US upon
the straight road to death!
At length gave up the useless struggle,
and without n word returned to my seat.
There was no need for words-at least
none that could imagine, unless Perry
desired to pray, And l was quite sure
that he would, for he never left an oppor-
tunity neglected where he might sandwich
in a prayer.
He prayed when he rose in the morning.
he prayed before he ate, he prayed when
he had finished eating, and before he went
to bed at night he prayed again. In be-
tween he often found excuses to pray,
even when the provocation seemed rather
far-fetched to my worldly eyes-now that
he was about to die I felt positive that
should witness a perfect orgy of prayer
If one may allude with such a simile to
SO solemn an act.
But to my astonlshment I discovered
that with death staring him In the face
Abner Perry was transformed Into ne"
being. From his lips there fiowed-not
prayer-but a clear and limpld stream of
undlluted profanity, and 1t was all direct
ed at that quietly stubborn piece of un-
yielding mechanism.
~ should think, Perry" chlded. that
a man OF your professed righteousness
would rather be at his prayers than ours
ing in the presence of imminent death"
"Death" he cried death is 1t that
appals you? That is nothing by compari-
son with the loss the world must suHer' |
WHY. David, within this iron cylinder we
have demonstrated possibilities that SCI
ence has scarce dreamed. We nave hhr-
messed new principle and with IL am
mated a piece of steel with the power OF
10000 men.
"That two lives will be snuffed out is |
nothing TO the world calamity that en-
tombs In the bowels OF the earth the ais
coveries that have made and proved In |
the successful construction or the thins
that Is now carrying us further ana Iur-
ther toward the eternal central nres
/ am frank to admit that for myself
was much more concerned with our own
Immediate future than with any problem
atIcaI loss which the world might be
about to suffer. The world was at least
Ignorant OF it's bereavement, while 10 me
1t was real and terrible aetusiIy
"What can we do?' asked, hiding my
and level voice.
1--WE may stop here, and die OF asphyx-
iation when our atmosphere tanks are
empty." replied Perry. "or we may con-
tinue on with the slight hope that we
NAV later sufficiently defect the prospect
or from the vertical to carry us along the
arc OF a great circle when must event
ually return US TO the surface.
"If we succeed in so doing before we
reach the higher internal temperature we
NAV vet survive. There would seem 70
me 10 be about one chance In several mii-
lion that we shall suceeed-otherwise We
snail die more quickly, but no more sure
Iv Than as though we sat suprepely wait
ing for the torture OF slow and horrible
I glanced at the Thermometer, 1t reg
fstered 1lO degrees. While We were talk
ins the mighty iron mole had bored It's
Wav over a mile into the rock or the
~ 'st US continue on, then" I replied.
.It should soon be over at this rate. You
never fntimated that the speed OF this
thing would be so high. Perry. Didn't
mo. he answered. Il could not figure
the speed exactly, for 1 had no instTu-
ment for measuring the mighty power or
NV generator. reasoned. however, that
Ne should make about 500 yards an hour"
aAnd ne are malSillg seven miles an
botir. 1 concluded for him. as | sat with
nv eyes upon the distance meter. How
thick Is the eaFth's crust, Perryr
asked.
There are almost as many eonieetures