Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

FIGHTING THE EGG KING. a movement toward the phone, but Karby stopped him. “The police are powerless, forty of them tried to quell the mob before my place and failed.” A torrent of angry voices now burst upon the air. The sound brought aetion. Truxton, pale and with set lips, gave orders to the butler. Then Karby led them from the house to his machine, and piloted the same to a side street, where he drew up and bade them wait while he went forward to see what he could do. Even as he started, the noisé increased to Bedlam and he saw the advance guard of the mob closing in on the Truxton place. They paused before it and waited until their number was sufficiently aug- mented to begin violence. Karby saw that he was cut off from his deputies. He stood there wondering what to do when a movement near him caused him to wheel about. Miss Truxton stood there beside him. ‘“‘I came after you—I made them let me. Mr. Karby, I want you to know that I think you are white, as the saying goes, one of the whitest men I have ever heard of. Father is impressed by your actions —by your coming to warn us.” She shuddered and drew nearer to him as a perfect howl and shriek of rage ascended from the mob. A patrol wagon clattered by and dumped a score or more of police who rushed at the mob, with a great flourish of clubs and pistols. But they were in- timidated almost immediately and hadn’t the courage to use firearms against this Bedlam of raving people. So they stood there, trying to awe the crowd by their uniforms, and shouting fcr them to disperse. The shout was answered by cries of derision and hoots of laughter, and some one hurled a missile which crashed through one of the Truxton windows. In a second the house was bombarded with bricks and stones and clubs. The glass showered down like rain. The girl clutched Karby’s hand and 509 hid her face in his shoulder. He threw his arm about her and tried to murmur words of comfort. At the same instant there came to him a great idea. He bade her follow him, rushed to a corner and turned in a fire alarm. In a second it seemed the firebells were _Tinging and the apparatus could be heard in the distance, the gongs clanging fero- ciously. Karby went into the crowds and spoke a word or two to the police, who caught the idea immediately, with- drew to the street intersections, and when the fire apparatus drew up, ordered the firemen to attach the hose to the water- plugs. This was done in a minute, the firemen realizing instantly that the power of dispersing the angry mob lay in their hands. The police gave the word and great streams of water came tearing from the nozzles with terrific force. These streams were turned directly on the mob. The throng was stunned. A cry of rage went up. Those in the front ranks made a rush at the firemen, but the nearer they came the greater was the force of the water. The leaders paused irresolute. At the Same time another stream and then an- other and another were turned upon them. They: were being soaked like drowning rats. _ Still they stood their ground, too stunned and bewildered apparently to re- treat. In another minute three more streams were deluging the crowd, and at a suggestion of Karby’s these latter streams were directed over the heads of the nearest in an effort to reach the out- skirts of the throngs. This did the work. As the water descended on the stragglers in the rear they gave way, thus making room for those in advance of them to re- treat. At the same time the firemen rushed forward, wielding their hose with deadly accuracy. Several men were knocked down by the force of the streams, and the women in the crowd broke and flew for shelter. comicloool C©