The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 86: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A MONTH IN THE MOON. The marvelous experiences that grew out of the Lunar Company, Limited—How the catch- penny scheme of three adventurers was transformed into an extraordinary contribution to the world of science—Scenes and incidents of a sojourn on the earth’s satellite, SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED. MESSRS. GRYPHINS, VOGEL AND WAGNER, three adventurers in Melbourne, Australia, start The Lunar Company, for the Conquest and Exploration of the Mineral Riches of the Moon. ‘But how are we to get to the moon ?”’ is the question asked by large numbers of stockholders, and at a public meeting Wagner talks learnedly of a tubular tunnel, but has his.theory utterly demolished by Norbert Mauny, a young Frenchman, who declares that in order to complete such | a piece of work within the stipulated time of five years, it must rise at the rate of 50,000 miles a year ! : The assemblage is panic stricken and the stockholders demand their money back, when Mauny calls for order and announces that he has a plan to propose—that of attracting the moon to the earth by erecting a series of powerful magnets. ‘The idea. is received with enthusiasm, and Mauny is voted manager of the company. ‘The Bayouda Desert in the Soudan is selected as the site for the erection of the magnets. The expedition sets out at Suakim. Mauny meets the French consul, M. Kersain, and his daughter Gertrude, who decide to ac- company him on a visit to the Mogaddem of Rhadameh, a local ruler whose favor must be obtained before the trahsportation of the material across the desert can be made. This Mogaddem is a weird sort of personage, and possesses a hideously ugly dwarf. After promising to pay certain large sums as tribute, Norbert secures the codperation he desires and soon after the return ‘to the seaport, the expedition sets out for the Bayouda Desert. Here the observatories, reflectors, etc., are erected on the Peak of Tehbali, and work proceeds with grati- fying success till Messrs. Gryphins, Vogel and Wagner are detected in a conspiracy to turn the workmen against Norbert. They are imprisoned and a guard placed over them, and then Norbert, hearing that trouble threatens Khartoum, where M. Kersain has been transferred, determines to go thither and see if he cannot induce him and his daughter to take refuge at the Peak. The consul refuses to leave his post, but it is finally arratiged that Gertrude, accompanied by Dr. Briet, her uncle, and Fatima, her maid, set out with Norbert for Tehbali. On the road they meet a woman fig seller, and shortly after eating some of her fruit a deep sleep falls on all members of the party. , On awaking Gertrude discovers that she is in a strange, but beautiful apartment, with only Fatima, who sleeps near her. But presently the hideous dwarf of the Mogaddem of the Rhadameh presents himself and offers his hand in marriage. CHAPTER XVII.—MvystreEerious MAGIC. N hearing the dwarf’s strange words, Gertrude Kersain was dumb with astonishment. As she made no answer the hideous creature continued with a sneer : “I, a slave! Is it possible that appearances have thus deceived thee ! Know that the universe is my domain, and that my power is boundless as it is mysterious! Thou didst mention my apparent and pretended servitude to the Mogaddem. The Mogaddein is but my instrument and my servant, like *7This story began in the February tissue of THE ARGOSY. The two back numbers will be matled to any address on recetpt of 20 cents. (E(0) Comicbooks