Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-15
By
Sax Rohmer

master covering. Timed tbs. Report
Report of chief chemist"
To hand. Operating in library. chief
chemist projected T. N; vapor prepared
for purpose. Subject became irnnedi-
ately unconscious Chief chemist EN-.
ployed restoratives and proceeded ac-
cording to plan. Prisoner, in passive
state, handed over to divisional chief
stand ng in entrance /. Timed 7:30.
Report ends"
Report" directed the womans cold
voice, "of divisional chief c."
TO hand. Prisoner taken over from
standing by. Driven to entrance 2. The
movement covered by police but not
followed up. Handed over to Zone ON
Ger &c Timed TAO. Report ends"
A blief interval, then:
Instruct guide to bring Comdr Drake
Roscoe to H. Q. Groupmaster A, Zone
x, viii assist. Move. Connect chief
The red light died, a blue one came
to life and:
Laboratory" voice announced.
Roscoe remembered the episodes lead
Ing up to this evil thing which he had
dreamed to be a dream. He recalled
how, unconscious of the rr1onstrous pur-
pose of the Zones, he had made sure
Of the safety of Wilberforce Wright,
potential governor and had hurried to
the home Of Lewis Bronson, Wrights
only rival.
He had been received in the gloomy,
old-style mansion where Bronson, last
of a once-famous family and promising
10 add hnal luSter to the name, lived
In mysterious seclusion.
Silver Tongue" his faction called
him. Red Lou was the sohriuuet
coined by his enemies. He had gone
Tar and millions looked to see him 90
farther. He had qualities which de-
lighted his supporters-and frightened
his opponents.
Roscoe was ushered into a vast book
lined library, Swallowed, and impressive
oy reason Of its family associations.
Lewis Bronson he had never met. He
only knew him by name and in appear.
ance through the medium of the Illus.
trated newspapers. The real man sur.
priSed him.
He was seated behind a big table,
Smalllsh figure, having scanty red hair,
pallld complexion and colorleSs eve
lashes. But his magnetic dark ewes
were the eyes of a conqueror. And
When ne rose to greet his visitor RIOS.
Goes heart seemed to miss a beat.
Given dark hair and different com.
plexion, Bronson would have been the
double OF Napoleon. So much granted.
Sronson. -. But at this point Ros-
Goes brain had reeled.
Perhaps he had BETRAYED himself He
would never know-now. Perhaps. in
their subsequent conversation, no word
OF which he could recall, he had spoken
unguardedly.
In either event, he had been right.
The incredible was truel But he would
never live to proclaim it!
Bronson was Head Centre!
How he had been put to sleep MEM
DRY refused to reveal. He could recall
no attack. He had taken no drink. He
was not smoking. He had Just been
sitting talking to Bronson and irving
TO behave naturally, AUTOMATICALLY. ia
the presence of this monster.
NOW. In a huge, primeval cavern, be-
meath the metropolis, 5, 10, Is minutes
passed. Only the deathless echo of
falling water carried on reIentlesslvN
ghAstly because of its monotony! be-
cause 1t seemed to have been repeating
itself not for hundreds. nor for thou.
sands, but for millions of years.
the man who had spoken on the
phone in the cabinet had returned,
ssstng himself 4, beside Roscoe He had
Negro sat on the ether side of the pfis-
oner; Both Of his guards held him
rrmly; His wrists were handcuffed be-
hind him. And the darkness was ike
that of the pit.
Then, tiny speck q vast way of. a
light appeared.
Almost imperceptibly 1t came nearer.
until it revealed granite walls, irregular.
monstrous, rearing up into great pools
OF snauoWs-Still, black water below.
Along narrow path a mere ledge
above this prehistoric lake, a man at3-
peAred carrying a torch.
His was wild, disheveled figure
his gray hair a name, his beard long
and matted. And he cried out as he
walked, seemingly addressing an un-
seen company.
The light of his torch, as he ap-
preached, shone upward and downward.
sometimes its ray was lost in unex-
plorable shadows above. Sometimes it
glittered on the tideleSs water beneath.
PerilouS though the path appeared to
be, this wild creature walked it conf
IDENTIFY, coming at last to the narrow
rock gallery with its protecting wooden
rail-
Greeting little lord" he cried.
The vagaries of the light as he had
approached were now explained when
the masked man shot a sudden ray into
the bearded face. The staring blue eyes
were sightless. The torch was evidently
intended to assist those whom he led.
For the guide was blind.
Zone &c" said the masked man
sternly. Take this prisoner to head
quarters. Group Master goes with
you Move"
He heAved Roscoe to his feet. and:
. Follow" he added grimly. because
II YOU get lost down here you'll never
be found"
He turned away Roscoe heard his
receding footsteps echoing along the
tunnel leading to the ladder, to the
world above. Then the sound was
swarnped bv the song of that distant
cataract
He was alone in the bowels of the
rock with blind mailman and a hide
Gus Negro whom he had recognized. in
the one glimpse obtained since sanity
had returned, to be deaf mute.