The Argosy for May — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

AT His uables, and presented a weird appearance. Fred Haverson seated himself upon the counter, with a link of sausage in one hand and some crackers in the other. Bob opened two cans of pears and a tin of preserved meat. ‘“‘'There’s no limit to the bill of fare,” Bob remarked. “But this sort of thing is going to get monotonous,” Fred objected. “Well, we can change eating-houses as often as we like,” Bob replied. ‘ And we must select some place where we can do a little cooking. Can you make cof- fee?” Sure f” ‘Cook meat?” ‘Of course.” ‘Then we're all right. We'll be able to find fresh meat for quite a time in the refrigerators. ‘Then we’ll have to descend to bacon. Oh, we'll have plenty to eat as long as we remain in town.” . ‘How about something to drink?” Haverson asked. ‘“ The water-works are deserted, of course, and the water in the mains will be getting stale before many days. And neither of us is a boozer.” “We've got all kinds of time to find a well, and the right to look in any one’s yard for it,” Bob answered. “ Forget about those things—we’ll get along all right. What we want to think about is this confounded mystery. What on earth do you suppose it is?”’ “Tt’s my private opinion,” ea Haverson, “that the whole town has gone insane. Fancy not being able to walk through ordinary air! I’ve got a notion to go out‘and have a try myself!” Bob Calkins grasped him by the arm. “ That’s exactly what several thousand persons did, and found they were unable to get back,’ he said. “ Don’t get to thinking about that. Let’s get down to work ; maybe they've solved the mystery since morning.’ They went on ficoare the deserted city, seeing no one. Bob had been wise enough to “take several candles from the grocery. “We'll need them,” he explained to Haverson. ‘There'll be no_ electric ' lights to-night—no workmen at the plant. And we'll not be able to find any kero- sene - lamps in the Electrical: Building.” ‘““'To-morrow,” said Haverson, “ we'll MERCY, 229 go out in the suburbs, find some house where the people formerly burned kero- sene, and collect a few lamps.” A hey reached the great Electrical Building, in which the telegraph company had its headquarters. The operating- room was on the seventh floor, but on the ground floor were the general offices. ‘These were deserted. ‘Great Scott! We haven’t seen a person on our way down!” Haverson ex- claimed. ‘Well, we'll find several persons up on the seventh floor ready to eat us alive for being late,” Bob replied. ‘“‘ Don’t you suppose those day-operators want to get off and have their dinner? ”’ ‘““T never appreciated an elevator until now,’ said Haverson, as they began their climb:to the seventh floor. Elevator- “boys had deserted early in the game. They reached the seventh floor at last, and started down the long corridor. ‘To their ears came the noise of a sounder— some one seemed to be calling headquar- ters frantically. They entered the first room and hung up their hats and coats. No one was there. Then they threw open the door leading to the general operating-room. No burst of noise welcomed them— no frantic ticking of keys and relays and sounders. Headquarters was deserted. There was not a single man sitting before a key! ‘ What—” began Haverson. ‘"They’re gone!” Bob cried. ‘ But—what—” ‘“ Deserted like the others! Nice bunch of telegraphers!” Bob cried. “I don’t know as I blame them,” Haverson said, looking around the room. ‘This thing is getting on my nerves! ” Bob Calkins hurried over to him and grasped him roughly by the arm. ‘Buck up, Fred!” he said. ‘‘ You’ve been my particular friend for several years, and I want you to stick by me now.” \ “You're going to stay—when every one else is gone?’’ Haverson asked. “Were going to stay,” replied Bob. ce But” ‘Nonsense, man! Forget the infernal mystery, and play that you are a boy out for a lark. Who ever had such a chance before? Why, we’ve got the whole city MICLOOO© (C S (C@