Evening star., 1925-02-08
The Ark of the Covenant
Story of Mystery and Adventure
BY VICTOR MacCLURE
by Hspr 4 Brother
BY VICTOR Mace
Copyright. 1924, by Harper & Brothers.

ference, the claim to power by the
league.
If to the best of the understanding
| of the scientific members os the con-
ference the power of the league was
| proved, 1t would then be for the rep
| resentatives of the various nations to
| decide whether they could hold out
! against the demands of the league
| 1t might be wise, the earl added,
| If the members of the conference
guarded against losing real sense
| of proportion, otherwise they might
be led to allow Indignation over the
demands-he was using, and had
used. the word of the chief of the
| league-over the demands of the
league or over it's operations now
happily at an end. to blind them to
| the wonderful benefits the league of
| fered to mankind
| For himself, he would welcome any
| proof that the chief of the league
might be prepared to give for con-
vincing the conference that both de-
mands and offers had a real power
| behind them.
The chief was on his feet immedi-
| ately. and he thanked the Earl of
| Dunfour for a conciliatory attitude.
| 1t was the spirit in which he wished
| to be met. The question was, what
| proof would satisfy the lay members
of the conference? OF convincing the
| physicists among them he had no
fear, but that which would prove the
| power of the league to men trained
in science might not be sufficient for
| the other members of the confer
| ence.
! II am prepared to give proof that
will satisfy every single member of
| this conference said the chief, "but
you should be warned that there is
grave danger in pushing proof too
| far.
Three batteries of guns in this
| very city, IA days ago. We're destroy ed
| by an infinitely small demonstration
of the power held by the League of
the Covenant. sTo my sorrow. that
| demon nstration entailed the Staying of
! 80 brave men and the injury of over
| 80 more. Do not ask me to slay any
/ more men in demonstrating the truth
| of our power. 1t would have been
| the easiest thing. physically, for the
league completely to have wiped out
every weapon Of defense in Wash
| ington, every man in arms-the mere
| turning of a thumbscrew would have
done that.
What will you have? VIII you
| have us, in proof, wipe out forever
| one of the uncivilized peoples on
| this globe? We could do that
| "Will you have us destroy some un-
| fertile island-blot it forever from
your maps? You have but to come
| aboard che ships of the league and
cruise with us in search of such an
| island, and that proof will be given
you.
| VIII you have us disintegrate, for
| example, the earth's satellite, the
! moon? Let us then wait until night
| fall. and even that will be shown to
| you.
! Il ask you, however, to consider
| the consequences of pushing proof to
| such an extent. Let each of you turn
to the man trained in science who is
with you, and ask him what would
| energy as would be let loose in de-
| island. L warn you, gentlemen, that
the consequences might be far reach
ing. They might indeed mean the
| complete destruction of this earth as
we know it, the destruction of the
| universe itself,
| None the less, make no mistake.
| The League OF the Covenant will
shrink not even from destroying this
| globe, so that its purpose triHmphs
! 1t is for you say what will sktisfy
| you. l recommend you to accept the
proposal of the right honorable earl
| and let your men of science ac6Apt
! proof for you."
An hour or two later a group of
| grave-faced men stood in the grounds