The Argosy for May — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

240 seemed to fall to pieces, and then the destruction spread, and sections of the building were thrown outward with great force. Finally the upper.story was gone. There was no smoke, no flame, noth- ing to indicate the nature of the destruc- tive force. ‘The building simply stood, then fell. As they watched, the next story began to go. And then the third from the top disappeared, and then there arose from the ground great clouds of dust that obscured the view. But crashes and shocks told that the building was being demolished, story by story, floor by floor, as the unknown had threatened. Haverson’s quick sob of fear brought Bob back to the realization of things. ‘Well, he’s done it!’’ Bob exclaimed. ‘But how—with what?” ‘Don’t ask me; I’m not up to solv- ing this mystery. ing is gone, for I was proud of it—proud that I had a job in it. But it needn’t bother us any. I fixed the wire, of course. We can use it, even if the Elec- trical Building has been demolished.”’ He turned to the window again. The crashes had ceased. ‘The dust clouds still filled the air; but as they watched, these clouds gradually settled, and they saw that where the Electrical Building ° had stood there was now nothing but air. Bob leading the way, they ran to the roof of the building to which they had moved. From the roof they could look across the square. They saw a mass of ruins. Heaps of stone and mortar, and wood crushed to kindling. ‘The building had been torn to pieces. Great steel beams and girders were twisted and gnarled as though they had been grape-vines. Bob noticed one thing—the ruins showed that the power of destruction, whatever it was, had come from the north. ‘The demolished building had been scattered toward the south over the square. ‘““Tf we had been there—’’ Haverson: began. ‘But we were not,” laughed Bob. It wasn’t a natural laugh; there was nervousness and a little fear in it, but it had the effect of calming them. I’m sorry that build-_ THE ARGOSY. They rushed) back down the stairs and to their room. ‘The tower operator was calling them repeatedly. Bob answered. “What happened?” was asked. “Electrical Building mass of ruins,”’ Bob wired, and then he waited. He could picture the scene in the juncture tower —the white faces, the fear expressed in them, the bewilderment of the scientific experts. Presently the junction tower spoke again: “Kindly answer questions as nearly correct as possible. What seemed to be manner of destruction?” | ‘Could not tell,’’ Bob replied. ‘‘ We watched from window. Tower seemed to crumble and fall toward the south. After short interval upper story began to go, beginning at corner and spread- ing gradually. Building gradually torn to pieces.’ “ Any smoke or flame?” éé No. ? “Sound of explosion? ” ce No.” ‘Nothing at all to denote nature of destructive power?” “No,” Bob replied. ‘ Entire building destroyed, you say?” ‘Yes; nothing left but mass of ruins scattered over public square.” “Yet you are alive?” “Yes; Haverson and I are all right.” ‘How does that happen? How does it happen wires are in order?” Bob hesitated about replying, finally reached for the key. ‘We anticipated trouble and moved headquarters,” he said. ‘‘ That was what we were doing early this morning when we took that two hours off. Connected emergency wire and arranged things so that destruction of building did not cut us off.” There was a pause; then word from the superintendent, who, evidently, had been listening to the conversation. “ Good work, boys; the company will not forget this.” The Junction tower cut in again: ‘Are you in a safe place?” but “Don’t know whether any place in town is safe or not,” answered Bob, » “but I guess we’re = a place whee we'll not be found easily.” “Be careful,” came the warning from the superintendent. COMMICLOOlKS. EO