The Argosy for May — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

rhe. flashed. “ We've been getting the news.” ““T heard you,’ came the answer. ‘You'd better move now.” ‘We're very comfortable, thanks!” ‘“T have warned you to leave by noon.” ‘But we prefer to remain,’ said Bob. The answer rather startled them: ‘‘ At one minute after the hour of noon I will destroy the high tower on the Electrical Building. After that, I shall exert forces over which I have control, and gradually demolish the building, floor by floor.” AT HIS ‘Pardon me, old man, but that reads like a lie,” wired Bob. “You are brainless to .doubt my power. Have I not already demon- strated it?” ‘“Just the same, we aren't going to run away from town,’ answered Bob. “Then the city will be your tomb,” said the unknown. last warning!”’ Bob whirled around and faced Haver- son. “What do you think of that?” he asked. “Well, he’ll not injure us particular- ly by destroying the Electrical Build- ing,’ Fred answered. “ Personally, I am glad we moved. I don’t believe he can do it, of course, but I don’t want to be in that building and run the risk “T have given my while he conducts any experiments. We're ten blocks away, thank good- ness !”’ ‘“ And, from this rear window,” said Bob, “we can see the tower and the upper three stories of the Electrical Building. If there is any destruction, we can see it from here. I don’t care for a ringside seat at any exhibition like our friend promises.” ‘‘ Neither do I,” added Fred. The tower operator called them again, and Fred, who was nearest the key, an- swered him. : ‘We have overheard peculiar mes- sage you just received,’ the tower oper- ator said. ‘‘ Scientists ask you to watch closely and report any unusual occur- rences, if there are any. They want it understood, however, that this service is optional on your part. think there is danger, they want you to feel at liberty to leave.” If you really MERCY. 239 Bob pushed Fred to one side and took charge of the key. “This is Calkins talking,’ he wired. ‘““Is my father in the tower?” ce Yes,”’ “Ask him whether [I shall remain or come out.” : There was silence for a moment, then the answer came: “ Your father says for you riot to be a coward!” “Tell him [I'll not,” Bob replied, and closed the key. He faced Haverson again. “You heard that?” he asked. ‘ My dad will have to leave the road soon, because he’s getting old. Of course, he owns his little place here in town, but that’s about all, and he looks to me to support him in his old age. He tells me to stick!” “We'll stick!” Fred said. At five minutes before noon the un- known operator called them, and Bob - answered. “You are going to remain?” the un- known asked. ‘We are.” “Very well! You'll soon know better than to doubt.” Bob did not answer that; it seemed that no answer was necessary. With Haverson, he walked to the window, where, by looking over the tops of the small buildings across a near-by square, they could see the lofty tower of the Electrical Building, and two or three stories below it. ‘Tt is noon,” Bob said. They turned their eyes to the tower. Suddenly it crumbled into fragments and fell! They could hear the great crash, as stone was hurled downward hundreds of feet to the roofs of other buildings, and to the streets !. CHAPTER VI. E THE CITY’S DEATH-WARRANT. TueEirR faces blanched, their hearts beating like trip-hammers, their eyes bulging—they watched the destruction. Another minute, and then the top story of the great structure began to crumble away. First a corner of it OO mn S (©)