Adventure, June 1911 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

The Seeds of Destritction gray and menacing, something sailed rapidly through the clearing air! Algy leaned heavily against Schlesinger, ‘craning his neck round the dividing middle frame of the narrow window. He pointed to it, his breath catching as though sobs choked him, his eyes flecked © with the funny little streaks of red which had shot through them when he fled from the secretary’s broken body as it lay at his feet in the street. «Gray Ghost!”? he whispered pointing. “Gray Ghost!” “And the Ray!” assented Schlesinger. Yes, and the Ray! It was falling from the air-ship like a stream of molten lead—thin, purple in color, unwavering. At times it also reflected the radiant rose color of the coming dawn and became a flaming sword —the sword of battle and murder and death, tinged and streaked with crimson - blood! ~ And to meet it, as though welcoming its coming, the earth shot into red and yellow flames, licking the purple ray and staining the dawn with smoke-grimed fingers. “Woolwich Arsenal!”’ cried Schlesinger, a bitter chagrin eating into his voice, “ Wool- wich! Those fools!” Ostermann had drawn first blood. IV mee AN HOUR passed—an hour of agony (_F and anxiety. London had poured ~ Out into the streets —a -jostling, fighting swarm of terrified creatures who had taken the terrific explosion of Woolwich Arsenal to be the sign and signal that the end of the world was approaching. They marched down Whitehall, armies of them, ragged and rich, singing hymns and offering up delirious prayers to the heavens which were red and menacing with the glare of burning Woolwich. They massed together in side streets, afraid to go back to their homes, refusing to believe that all danger - was at an end. And as though to determine them in their obstinacy a second shock, though less vio- lent than the first, shattered the stillness and made the earth heave and rumble beneath their flying feet! Once more the Ray had done its work. This time it was farther away—somewhere toward the mouth of the river. And then, in quick succession, a third explosion followed hard on the heels 239 of the second, and again the lurid glow lighted"up the sky! Schlesinger turned to Brett. “Probably Gravesend—and Sheerness. The last one was a considerable distance off. Probably the unit system has failed to work! Though I am thankful to say I did not rely absolutely upon it, especially in places of naval or military importance! But all the same, even three is more than I hoped he would get!” Algy turned round from the window. In the last hour he had not moved an inch away fromit. But at the last explosion the mob had scurried away like frightened rabbits and the street was almost clear again. He pointed it out to the detective. - “It’s fairly clear now. Shall I run over and see Uncle Dean? He asked me to slip across as soon as I could with safety.” “Yes, do. Jl just get through to him again and tell him you’re going. I will fol- low you, perhaps, but at present I must stay here. and take the messages as they come in.’ OG THE look of age had deepened on Sir ON Dean’s face. It was the face of a ~ man who had lived a troubled cen- tury in the hours that had gone. He turned to his nephew with a flash of relief lighting up the gloom of his eyes. “Well, boy, any more news? I’m very glad to have you here. I’m very lonely.” “Has Miss Darien gone?”’ “Ves. Vales took her home. Tell me what Schlesinger thinks. Algy, it’s driving me mad to realize that I must sit here and wait, wait, while that fiend up there does his evil work at will! Three victories for him in London and four from the country! Thank God, our ships are safe and are searching the Channel—scouring the North _Sea for the enemy. Though I expect that, as things have not turned out quite as they planned, they have gone back to port to await further advice from Ostermann.” “Thanks to Schlesinger, this night’s work must be as gall and wormwood in Oster- mann’s mouth! And I'd give all I possess in this world if we could only see him tasting the bitterness of his failure!”’ 7 “T would give the rest of my life itself to be able to rid England of such an enemy! If I could only do something! It’s this awful state of helplessness that’s driving me mad! If we could do something!” COnmmiclbooks (C@