San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-18


calibre from bag hanging in the
gondola and handing it to him.
said: "Try it." He took the
weapon awkardly, aimed it at one
of the yellow bags, and fired. We
saw the bullet bounce back from
the material which bent slightly at
the blow. A second shot had a
similar result, and so with all the
bullets in the pistol. Once more
the Congressman and the Secre-
tary looked at one another, with
out saying word; as they disem-
barked after Goldfeller on the lit
tie mound in the center of the bal
loon room. The crowd was already
pushing around US when Mr.. Eli
colt made a last effort, taking the
King of Gems aside.
"Sir," said he, at is not a mat
ter of threats" All that we have
to do just now is to make a good
report to the commission of in
quiry nominated yesterday by Con-
gress. "No Commission" inter
rupted Avery. ''My work Is fin
ished and I intend to enjoy it
freely. Tell those who sent you
what you have seen-and what
you will see." At one bound he
had jumped on the mound and
pulled the cord of little flag
floating in the air. An awful roar
answered this signal. Any one
would have sworn that twenty
monstrous mouths had opened be-
meath US in the depths of the tower
and poured forth the air of whirl-
winds. In few seconds the hori-
ION was darkened by heavy clouds;
below In the country the trees be-
gan to bend before the blast Of
the tempest. "This," said Avery,
"is an experiment and a warning"
"What was that?" murmured the
frightened Secretary.
"a cyclone" / hold at my dis
position certain elements, thanks
to the construction apparatus,
which is the secret of some skil,ful
men whose talents l knew how to
utilize. These men, your society
made unfortunate pariahs, as it
makes all who listen to US and
whom I am enterprising enough TO
make free and superior" He
pointed to the crowd and at his
dominant gesture cries and ac-
CARNATIONS arose, stronger than
before mixed with Kisses and cries
Of anger at the officials whom we
were escorting to the elevator by
a roundabout way. To this explo-
sion of shouts was added the noise
of the raging tempest in the midst
of which Avery, once more raising
his powerful voice, shouted In an
ironical tone, as he took leave Of
his visitors: "Adieu, Gentlemen
Turning to me he added: "You
may go along with them Bruce
and when you come back, join me
in my office in the government
building" I Joined in the eleva-
tor the Congressman, Secretary
and his Secretary, pale and silent,
apparently overcome with fear and
establishment as the elevator went
down. I was as surprised as they.
Had Avery granted me my lib
erty? Alone, without any guard,
he depended upon me to escort to
the ground these three frightened
men, who looking across the cage
seemed considering the fearful
spectacle of that typhoon, as we
went down quite slowly. We saw
the Tightening flash, heard the
crash of thunder, and the tearing
down of the trees, ripping of roofs
from the houses, blowing the peo-
pie about like flies, as they waited
at the base of the tower. We saw
a squadron of cuirassiers who had
been menouerving on the sward.
lifted bodily from the earth, the
horsemen bleeding and torn. They
seemed like bloody leaves torn
from the trees in autumn. When
the elevator landed we found the
ground covered with all kinds OF
human debris, turning and crying
out furiously! the cries of the VIC
tins of this awful tempest were
lost in the clamor of the storm ~
self, and its unclaimed elements
Divided between horror and as
tonishment at feeling myself free,
I did not know what to do or what
to say. Should / flee? Should l
return? All that | had seen dur
ing the last "a hours surpassed
in intensity what had seen dur
ing all of my enforced sojourn IN
the tower, and was surpassed by
what l suspected further. Cur