The Argosy for May — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

FOE HIS ny’s road. At first the scientists were of the~opinion that the peculiar force was being exerted through this rail, but upon close examination they could find no indi- cations that such was a fact. They knew also, of course, that the traction company has not completed its work, and that while it has constructed its rough road- bed and laid its rails, there has been no electrical installation as yet—no trolley wire, or even poles to support one. ‘Tt is the opinion of the experts, there- fore, that the person or persons who are exerting this peculiar new and wonderful force are merely using the outside rail of the belt line as a boundary because it was easy to establish and follow and is just outside the city limits all the way around the town. . “They are of the opinion that this force, whatever it is, is being manufac- tured inside the city, and that therefore persons, or at least one person, with some ulterior motive against the city, is within its limits-doing his, or their, diabolical work. You are instructed to watch. Be careful, as everything depends upon you two men. “ Do not risk yourselves any more than is absolutely necessary. ‘Try to keep out of sight. The persons doing this work are perhaps hidden, but the scientists say such a great force cannot be exerted with- out considerable work, no matter what its nature, and they ask you to watch for smoke or any indication that power of any sort is being generated. “Your recent message concerning the telephone warning was shown them, and they are more than ever convinced that it is human beings we are fighting, and not some supernatural force. ‘They say again that everything depends upon you two men, and while you are not asked to risk your lives, you are asked to do everything possible before leaving the city to solve the mystery.” ‘“O. K.,” flashed Bob. ‘Will you stick?” the tower operator demanded. “We'll stick,” Bob wired. He closed the key, and whirled around to face Haverson. -“ Funny!” Fred commented. ‘“ Looks mighty plain to me,”’ said Bob. ‘‘Some scoundrel has discovered a great secret of physics, and is using his discov- - MERCY. 235 ery for ill instead of good—that’s all. What he intends to do with this city is more than we know. I don’t think he'll destroy it—I have an idea that he has frightened the people away, and is using his confounded invisible wall to keep them out, so that he and his confederates, if he has any, can loot and enrich them- selves. There are fortunes upon fortunes left in town, in spite of the looting that has occurred already.” “You forget one thing,’ Haverson re- plied. ‘‘ The city is surrounded by people, by troops and officers. How will this man —if it is a man—be able to take away his loot after he collects it?” Bob Calkins laughed. “IT have an idea,” he said, “ that if I was powerful enough to keep people and animals and even railroad trains from passing through a section of ordinary air, I’d be powerful enough to take away all the loot I could collect.” “ Well, I wish we’d never encountered this freak situation,’ Fred answered. ‘“ But, since we have, I suppose we can make the best of it. I hope those sci- entists have the correct idea, and that it is human beings we are pitted against. If that is true, it isn’t so bad. I can’t say I'll run away from ordinary human beings unless they get too strong for us. But the man that can make an invisible wall is perhaps also strong enough to destroy two men like ourselves.”’ “ We have until noon to-morrow, any- way,” said Bob. “ Until noon to-day, you mean. two o’clock in the morning now.” ‘Anyway, I think the fellow who talked over the telephone is working a big bluff,’ Calkins went on. ‘‘ He doesn’t know exactly where we are, and so we have the advantage of him.” “But we aren’t sure he doesn’t know where we are,” protested Haverson. ‘Well, let’s stop talking about it,, keep our eyes open, and take the chance,”’ Bob replied. ‘“I’d rather die trying to do something than face my old dad after deserting. I know what he’d tell me, and it wouldn’t be complimentary—you can bet on that.” The sounder began its ticking again, and Bob went to the key. “Tf you want to gather supplies,” the tower operator wired, “it is suggested It is CORMICLOO (C Sj (CO)