Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1921-09-30


Me for Hours.
read his every thought while he could
not fathom an iota from my mind unI
less / spoke.
The building in which found my
self contained the machinery which
produces that artificial atmosphere,
which sustains life on Mars. The Sc
cret Of the entire process hinges ON
the use Of the ninth ray, one Of the
beautiful scintillations which i had
noted emanating from the great stone
In my hosts dladem.
THIS ray is separated from the 9TH,
er rays of the sun by means of finely
adjusted instruments placed upon the
roof Of the huge building, thAe-q quar-
ters Of which Is used for reservoirs in
which the ninth ray Is stored. This
product Is then treated electrically,
or rather certain proportions OF re-
fined electric vibrations are incor-
porated with II, and the result is then
pumped to the five principal air CEN
tiers OF the planet where, as II is re-
leased, contact with the ether Of space
transforms II into atmosphere.
There is always sufficient reserve Of
The ninth ray stored in the great
building to maintain the present Mar
tian atmosphere for a thousand years,
AMI the only fear, as my new friend
told me, was that some accident might
befa'l the. pumping apparatus.
Before ! retired for the night he
promised To give me letter to a near
by agricultural officer who would help
me on my way to Zodanga. which he
said was the nearest Marian city.
"But be sure that you do. not let
them know you are bound for Helium,
as they are at war with that country
My assistant ana are of no country
we beloEG TO all EarsOom and this tai.
lsmnn which we wear projects us in
all lands even among the green men
though We do not truI. ourselves ~
their hands II we can avoid IT," he
added.
And so goodnight, my friend" he
continued, may you have a long and
restful sleep-yes, long Sleep"
And though he smiled pleasantly I
saw In his thoughts the wish that he
had never admitted me, and then a pic
ture Of him standing over me In the
night, and the swift thrust of long
dagger and the half-formed words, II
am cry, but It Is for the best good Of
BarSoom."
g. a.
cape through these mighty walls2
Easily could kill him now that / was
warned, but once he was dead I could
no more escape, and with the stop
ping of the machinery of the great
plant I should die with all the other
inhabitants OF the planet--all, even
Dejah Thoris were she not already
dead.
Cautiously opened the door Of my
apartment and, followed by Wo0la,
sought the inner Of the great doors
A wild scheme had come to me; I
would attempt to force the great locks
by the nine thought waves had read
in my hosts mind.
Creeping stealthily through corridor
after corridor and down winding run
ways which turned hither and thither
l finally reached the great hall in
which had broken my long fast that
morning.
was on the point OF stepping bold
ly out into the room when a slight |
noise behind me warned me back into
the shadows Of recess In the corri- |
dor. Dragging Woola after me I |
crouched low In the darkness.
Presently the old man passed close
by me, and as he entered the dimly
lighted chamber which had been
about TO pass through saw that he
held a long thin dagger In his hand
and that he was sharpening II upon
a stone. In his mind was the decision
to inspect the radium pumps. which
would take about thirty minutes, and
then return to my bedchamber and IN
ish me.
Az he passed through the great hall
and disappeared down the runway
which led to the pumproom, stole
from my hiding place and
crossed to the great door. the iansr
Of the three whieh ssssd between ms