The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 143: 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 Matuny 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 transportation 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 arranged 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 Rhadameh presents himself and offers his hand in matriage. Failing in this he resolves to march with the forces he possesses on the Peak, taking the prisoners with him, and there de- stroy before their very eyes the work on which Mauny has built such high hopes. But it turns out that the men employed by the young astronomer and those in the service of the dwarf come from the same country, and they refuse to fight against one another. Kaddour is taken captive and placed in charge of Virgil, Mauny’s right hand man. Discovered in an attempt to win away the allegiance of the Negro Guard, he is condemned to be shot, but swallows poison just before the execution is to take place. Soon afterward the Mahdi’s forces surround the Peak and call upon Mauny to surrender, which he stoutly refuses to do. Meantime the magnets are working splendidly, and at length Norbert sets in operation the forces that, in six days, are to bring the moon down to the earth. The satellite responds readily, and by the sixth day is so close and appears so immense that not only are the Mahdi’s forces utterly panic stricken, but Norbert’s party themselves are terrified. *This story began in the February tssue of THE ARGOSY. The Jour back numbers will be matted to any address on recetht of 4o cents. comiclsoolks