Astounding v02n01 (1930 04) (cape1736 edit)

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Once a week do this Invigorates scalp . . . CHECKS DANDRUFF WHENEVER you wash yoxir haif'^and wee]dy shampoo^ their scalp feds better, tfadr inost people do it once a week^douse hair looks more attractive, and is entirely fne full strength Listerine on the scalp eithtf before from loose dandruff. or after the rinse. Then massage the scalp and ^ ...ai ^ ^ Of course, if dandruff does get a start, it vm h^ vigorously for several minutA. / . r • ^ . If * ^ be necessary to repeat the Listenne treatment You will be mniply delighted by thq wonderful systematically f<|ir several days,' using a little s feeling .of cleanness and scalp exhilaration that olive oU in conjuiction with it if the Kal^ orlutr foHows this treatment. , is excessively dry Moreover, it is unquestionably one of the ,dananiff because it sttais. best treatments for dandruff— to prevent it. infection that caus« it, removes and dissoha and to overcome it once it has surfed. the particles of loose dandruff and heals sMI Many hundreds ~of people soothes the scalp. Lambcft^ have told ua that since mak- I I ^ T F j? j Q Pharmacal Company, St. ing Listerine a part of the Louis, Mo., U. S. A. kills 300,000,000 germs in i5 seconds

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U6ETI1B I succeed (n Ihclr flel«L Coupon. I MOM A miVISlON mtlllUll 0«»I.144 4fMStMhdoCt Ofem I RADIO ft TELEVISION INSTITUTE lDept.)44, 4806 St. An tbooy Court, C »iie»p) I ^od me Pm and prepaid your BIO BO<nC l*Tuoe Id Od Big P^’andfull details of your I threO'io^we Homolraioiag (without obllgat* 1 me In any way). L AOVIMRY toe rsdjo industry — mamifacttirn •U.. They wipeniM R. T. 1. are eseciUiTcs with important , aalca. serru'^. broadcasting, 'ork Hbeeis. Job Tickets, aud Please mention Newsstand Group— Men's List, when answering advertist^ments

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\ / (MP ewjpiEs.°s@a}iss@!E le the First Thursday of Each Month W. M. OaTTON. BAHBT BATD, tMtmw OOUGLAB IL DOU». Ack-mCH MAGAZINE, EANCH ROMANCES, COVBOY STORIES, OUES. nVE-NOVELS m j MONTHLY, WIDE WORLD ADVENTURES, ALL STAR DETECnVE STOREBS. n vrmm V ! RANGELAND LOVE STORY MAGAZINE. SEY-HIGR UBRARY MACAZiraL I WESTERN ADTENn/RES, HISS 1990. «W FOR^T AND STREAM ^or# TJkm Tw9 M^liomC»pi9S Rtq^rtdfSmp^y tk9 Menthty Demm^iorClaytomMmtaMimn, Th^ Clayton Standard on a Magazine Guarantees: K M«riM th«r«la am vivid | hf wvlian »f ^ dag aad lad BBdar voadlUgAa appravad Lg iLa AoiLan* iMgaa a' * ‘ Tl^ — i — * u« ai—Qf—WKd !■ Ualoa ahapa hf Aaa ■a«rada^*r aad agaai U l■■nra^ a fair pnSit as l■talll^■l aMaanUp gaa^a lhair advanUag pagaa^ TAa alAar Ctmrt^m wagailaai ■ jF V OU II. No. 1 CONTENTS A'RIL. 1930 COVER DESIGN j H. W. WBSSOLOWSKl PtdmitJ im Wat€f~eQlort from a Sctm0 im "Momstwrs of Moytm." THE MAN WHO wis DEAD j THOMAS H. KNTCHT As Jtrry's Eyss [peU on tko Creat^e^s Hoad, Ho Skudderod — for tho Fact VPas Notkimf bat Boifd, Dmli^browm Skim StraUkad Tamt over it. A SbHetom Tkat fPas AHvtt MONSTERS MOY^ ^ ARTHUR J. BURKS *’Tkt Western fnorld Skaii bt Ntmtt** Was ft# Dread Ultimatum of the Haif-momsttr, HaIf‘god ^w*: itorg. Appllratlon for entry m ■arand-elsra saall peadlnt M tke nM OK ■ 9. 1ST9. Title rcslMoed oa a Tr^ Mark In the U. & For advertialar ratra addiK B. L Orpwa 4 On., laa* M VanderhUt Ava.. Nee Ara.. (aUmgo,

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Mpof #A« Coapim ToS^f litfte Coupon boforp It'll too UtaU> pratMtyounoirpcBliut the cheocm of tete ptcklnr 70U out u it« next victim* hrvMfePdOUool Esdoaiva Hoalthand AccidoDl Ineuraaco COBPUF IB AmoitcB. Vkdn Siitl SmprrwiAm nf 48 StutM hamrama DfpuilMolL » ESTABU3HEP OVER 43 YEARS. nn AKRICAN ACCIDENT WSURANa CO. ( cx^trol 408 WbIUcIi Bldf., Nawark. New Jeney. AGENTS wBBtod for New TorritooT* (iRNTLrMRN : At no nwt to me seed Ctipj Of iroor iMwXlet "Coxh or t^ymtixlhy.’* jVa»>ur_. Address - I City.. Please mention Newsstand Group — Men's List, when answering advcriiscmcnis

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rlUof-n. bifh*ip*cfr. ribbon rv !»■ I( anil uan; oihrr fealurci. Kirr7 maehlnr hciuliruUr rrfln* librd anil renawM. Oxriiea tod louki like brand new. Hend fpecUl offer coupon t>«> low for 10 day*' fra* Trial — If you derlile la ki^p ih* machine a*, my rock-l>n;iDm prlr*. pay only in. a month' unlit the bar- ton price o( only 111.90 (term COYNC ELCCTinCAL SCHOOi, ■. C. Umk,fm son S. PawHao Wrw^ 0*»t. 40-M> CWcace. Mai Dear Ur. Lawia: Withoot obUontJon Mod m* yoor bit, aUlog nod all dataBa of Krea KoptaymaDt Sarata. atadl Airpiane, and Aatem^ao EUetncof Coonaa, aoo bo* Addreu- List, wbea answering advertisements pay S3 a a aooUi BaUl I bare paid S44.M (term prlca) la foU. | | (taow ...• 1 1 Please mention Newsstand Gaoup— Men’s

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Name This House WeWill Pay $500.00 Cash For the Most Suitable Name For This Beantiful C«Y |r Rif Six'Room House ANY NAME MAY WIN! Offer open to everybody. NotUag tO'buy or soli. No Obligation.. WHOEVER SENDS THE MOST SUITABLE NAME WILL WIN SSOO.OO— NOTHING ELSE TO DOi This is a new Colonial Bungalow^cozy, eootenient — yet a roomy house. It is meet- ing with such popularity that we are desir- OQS of obtaining a suitable name for it for use in connection with our building pro- gram, and will pay fl^OO.OO cash for the Dost suitable, name suggested. There arc DO strings tied to this offer. Sending us a name for this house does not obligate you in any way. Nothing to buy or sell. We merely want a suitable name and are willing to pay fSOO in cash for the best one sent in. ANY NAME MAY WIN Surely you can think of an appropriate name for such a beautiful home. Do not me more than two words. Any word, or words may be used or any combination of wda. such u RidEclown, Shndynook, llcarthome, or Uke Sunthin«« Inn. Journey’s End, etc. No ■attcr bow simple your suEvToslion ts, you cannot kConl to nvicci sending It tn at once. Any name ■U win. Possibly you may have the mewt aulUble lasM ripht on the end of your lonnuc thn minute. If yoQ have, send It In at once, and S500 In cash la yaao. aiao.OO Extra for Promptness w» want the name for this liouse quickly, and are going to pay the winner an extra 1100.00 cash just for promptness— or a total of $600.00 in all. See coupon below. Send your suggestion today! FOLLOW RULES Tbla offer la open to evcr^nc. excepting member* of tbla firm, its employees and relatives. Each partici- pant may send only one name. Sending two or more name will cause all names submitted by that person to be thrown oat. Contest closes June 28, 1930. Should two or more persons submit equally suitable name for this house, the full amount qf the prise offered will be paid to each one so t>’ing. To win the $100.00 CASH PROMPTNESS PRIZE, the winning name must be mailed within three (3) days after this an- nouncement b read. This $100.00 CASH PROMI^- NEiSS PRIZE P'ili be added to the $r>00.00 prize ami paid to each one submitting the winning name, pro- vided suggestion b malM within three (3) 'days after this announcement b read. Sec coupon — set quick! VBVVlIn appnslation of. your suggesting a vH%&Kssd^qj0 for this house teni quickly, we will send you FREE and rO.STPAID, (the floor plans and blue print of this iMrouiiful housC. Understand, thb doe^nol obligate you in any way. Fill out and mall J the*mupon TODAY— <3U1CK 1 ANY NAME MAYiJ . BOMB BOILDnH* SOdBTT ■ StM UmoIm Way, Batavia, miaati _ Enclosed with this coupon on fepante^ sheet b my * suggestion for a name. I Date this offer was read.... I . Date my suggestion is maili Please mention Newssta.nd Group — Men's List, when answering advertisements

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Have ^ou got your wirigs? Every ^rson who'' is interested in flying should wear a pair .. of silver wmgs on his coat lapel. THEY ARE FREE to mem- hers of thej •Flying Corps Cadets of America -Every person who is interested in aviation should enroll immediately in this nation-wide organization. THERE IS NO MEMBERSHIP FEE! IT IS ABSO- LUTELY FREE to aviation fans I Report^ of tlie activities of the FLYING CORPS CADETS OF AMERICA will be published in every issue of ^ Sky-High Library Magazine Is your name in this month’s list of new members which is pMblished in Sky-High Library Magazine? If not, 'just clip the couponland mail it with ten cents cash or stamps to cover the cost of I mailing and packing the silver wings and you will be enrolled immediately in this world-wide club. Remember, everything |is FREE! ING CORPS CADETS MEMBERSHIP COUPON I Post Number One, | arps Cadets of Aiperiea, \ :ue Street, New York City.' FLYI Lindber^ Flying Co SO Lafayel Gentlemer I am int erested in becoming a regular reader of Sky-High Library Magazine. 1 want tb I eneloso which are enroll in the Flying Corps Cadets of Americ\. ten cents tox»)ver the cost of mailing me the silver wings the insignia of the Flying Corps Cadets. Please mcijtion Newsstand Group— Men's List, when answering advertisemcnis

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flM«, Ind.. m*kM • VMT ^2,000 a V««r . ^keti^eiil Bspnts ia» in Big DcmaM I win 'Tr^Vba at Bumfl To'TlU^ng Vay ^oV TfeMHUidsof Men iaIIG PAY JOBS tkrongh this training Cooke Training u not an experiment. It is a tried and tested method for help' ing men earn more. Thou' suds of successful graduates prove k. It’a 'ft tharac for ptra to cam $15 to $20 or $80 ft week when in the ume tix days aa an EicOtrical Elxpert so many other men are nakinft $60 to 1100 and. do It easier and not work half to hard. Why then should you rernain In a inia)l pay g*fnt, Jiv a line of work that offera no chance, no bis', promotion, no big income?) Fit yonradf for real job in the big electrical industry* ' Be an Electrical Expert Get Into this Rne Paying Work Now Today even the ordinary elcctrle!an-~the ’'serew driver” kind — ia making money — big money. But it's the trained man — the “EleetrieU Expert”— who is picked out to "boss” the ordinary Electricians — to boss the Big Jobs — the jobs that pay $60 to $100- aCWeek. Work up to ono of these ”Big Jobs.” Start enrolling now lor my easily learned, quioklg grasped, right up>to>the>minute, SparoTiaie Home Study Cours<y— now. km m laik el XxpgrteaM Ne Drewteel^ T« daa't have to be a College Man: yoo don't have to bs a High School Graduate. I know exactly the Usd training you need, and I will give you that traiidBt. My Course in Electricity is alihpic. thorough lad complete, and offera every man regardless, of age, Cwstion. or brevious experience the chance ti^becomc ** Export.” at a good salary and go to the top tarougb quick promotion. Mi Wggfcleg Ovtfita— Ng Extra Charge ■*» too do practical work — at home. ^Tou start la after your "first few lessons to worfe at your Xwmloo In the regular way and make extra money tojTO spare .time. For<thls you need tools, and I Cw to ypQ tU complete outfits. ^tlttactlaa or Teer MeiiaF Baah ^ **** learn Electricity— so sure • * o^tcr studying with m«-, you. too. can g. t 5? ^ "hig moniy” class in ck-clrical work. lh(it I •if** In writing to return every slaele p« nny J*® ^ tuition. If when you have finisbcel my you arc not satisfied it was Ihc beat Invest* ^ made, and back of this agreement stands - . ™“Ion dollar Institution, thus assuring to every ■■tow enrolled, not only a wonderful training In EI«x» ■wy. hit an unsurpassed Student Service fts well. Q4t Etartge Ngw— Mall €eae«a I want to send you my Electrical Book and other valoahla matcriaf on electricity. These cost you nothing and you'll enjoy thi-m. Make the start today for a bright future In electricity. Send in Coupon — How. L. L. Cwtokfti Cklof Imstraetlaa EaglaMg 1. Lf COOKE SCHOOL OE ELECTKICITT Blfg LawfWMft Awaawa D«gt. 144 Ckloagai nL FRfcC Lesson^iffBook Coupon L. L. COOKE, D«pt. 144 O aifo Lawraaea Awa., Chleaga, 111. Send me at once your big free book and particu- lars of your home*study course in Electricity. Bi- eluding your outfit, employment service and other fiaturtr. Kame Addi' ^ City State Tfie Cooke Trained Man is the ‘'BigPay'Man Please mention Newsstand Group — Men's List, when answering-advertisements

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Perhaps VOU think that taking nmtenns a stifrinc march. As mtid> Uc^nne ie ^^lf^ncT •» Icswns continue they prove music lessons is |HKC taking a easier. For instead dose of medicine. I It isn t any of >uil scales you arc atv-ays learning iongerf ■ actual notes the classic fa- T i • j ..r vontes and the latest syncopation that As far as you re concerned, the (omcrly you only luuntd to. old days of* long practice hours And you're never in hot water. First, with their horrid scaucs, hard-work ■». picture ihoU'S thm Hr. .r :ver in hot water. First. V a thing is done. Then you bow. then you do it I . I a picture shous you bow. tben you do ic exercises, and expensive persona! yoursejf and hear it. No private teacher teachers fees arc CA’Cr and done could cuke it dearer or caaicr. V,’ith. ^ Soon when your friends sa> “please w* I ‘ .... .play something," you can surprise and •You have no cxcyscs-— no alibis entertain them with pleasing melodies on whatsoever for not! making your your favorite initnimcnt. You'll find start towards musical good tiroes 'H, spotlight— popular every f ■ I ® where. Life at last will have Us silver • lining and lonely hours will vanish as For. through a methhJ that removes you play the "blues" away. New Friendia — Better Time* -^If you’re tired of doing the heavy Irok- For. through a methbJ that removes the liorcdom and catrava(;ancc from musi* csl les'ons. you can D>rA- learn to play your f.ivoritc instrument i entirely at home —without a private uaxiu — if you’ve been envious bcc.iU‘c they could entertain their friends made the reading and ^1. tying of music and family — if learning music has always so downright simple tbft been one of those never' don't have to k.nvL'. one note from another bedn. ■%, Do you —wonder th|t tills rcma'rltlblc way of learning music has alrcai.p' been vouched for by o\tir a balf*miIIion people in all paru of the world? Easy As Can Be TTie Ic.i'ons come to yc>U hr mail from the famous LV S- School of Mini.;. Thry convisi of complcoe rr»;iteJ iniinictions. grams, and ail the cvJ. You d smile. One week you are H-ammg a dreaniT Pick Yoni losIrDoeoi Hswalisn Steel Guitar Sight Singing Plang AceerSign Italian and German Aecnrdlen* Vtlet and SiMch Cuttura Harmony and Corngetition- Drumt and Tragg Autematle Finger Control been one of those never' to'come'truc dreams, let the time-proven and tested homc'luJy method- of the' U. S. &hool of Music come to your rescue. Don't be afraid to be- gin your lessons at once- Over half a milliotvpcople learned to play this mod- ern way — and found if easy as A-B-C. Forget that old'fasbiooed idea that you need special "talent. ' Just' read the list of instruments in the panel, decide which one you want to play, and the U. S. School of Music will do the rest. And bear in mind no matter which instrument >-ou choose, the cost in each case will tnzm the same — just a few cents a day. No matter whether you are a mere h*|i— or already a good performer, you snO be interested in Teaming about this new wonderful method. Send for Our Free Book uJ Demonitretion Leggoa Our wonderful illustrated Free Bool sod our Free Demonstration Lesion cmtstB all about this remarkable method. They Crove just how anyone can Icaro to pby is favorite instrument by ncte in almoM :no time and for just a fraction of «he old slow methods cost. The booklet wfl also tell you all about the smaiing new Automatic Finger Control. Read the list of instruments to the Idt, 'decide which you want to play, sitd tbs U. S. School of Music will do the re*. Act NOW. Clip and msil this coupas today, and the fascinating Free Book ad Free Demonstration Lesson will be sot (o you at once. No obligation. lailio' ments supplied when mceded, oib er credit. u. S. ScLxiI of Music, J6W Bruruwiek Bldg., New York City. u: 8. SCHOOL OF MUSIC 3694 Brunswick Bldg., New York CHy Please senil me ymir free l»ok. ’IftBje Les»r. FYank Crsne. Vim Tfm- ooitratlai and psrtlnilsn of ■easy {lAjTneot plan. 1 sa latereeteo a * fullowlng cour>«:

.alu— the nen you ate I I which instrument >-ou cUy.... ^ Please mention Newsstand Group — Men’s List, when answering advertisements

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IT was a wicked night, the night I met the man who had died. A bitter, heart-numbing night of weird, shrieking wind and flying snow. A few black hours I will never forget. "Well, Jerry, lad I" my mother said to me as I pushed back from the table and •farted for my sheepskin coat and the lantern in the corner of the room. “Surely you’re not going out a night like this? Goodness gracious, Jerry, it’s not fit I” ’’Can’t help it. Mother," I replied. “Got to go. You’ve never seen me miss a Saturday night yet, have you now?” ’’No. But then I’ve never seen ^ night like this for years either. Jerrv, I’m really afraid. You may freeze pefore y6u even get as far as — ’’ "Ah, cotjie noW;< MotherjV' I ,ar- guedjnhey’d guy me^o death if I dfm’t sit in wifh the gang to-night. They’d chaff me because it was too cold for me to get out. But I’m -no pampered sissy, y^u know, and I want to see — "Yes,” she retorted bitingly,”! know. You want to go atad bask in that ele- gant company. Our stove’s just as good At Jerry’* eyet fell on the creeture'i heeil, he shuddered — for tho face wns nothing hot hono, with dull-hrown skin stretched tout ovs it. A skeleton that was alieol I

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10 "ASTOUNDING STORIES aa the one luwn at that dirty old store,’’ continued my persistent and amCiouB parenti “and it’s certainly not very flattering fto think th^t you leave us a' night li^je' this to— Who’ll be there, anyway?” “Oh, the usual five or six I suppose,” I answered as! I adjusted the wick of my lantern, he;iring as I did the snarl and cut o^ the wind through the ever- grteSa yt the yard. “That black-whiskered sphinx, Ham- mersly, will he be there?” “Yes, he’ll b^ there, I’m preffy sure.” “Hm-mt” she exclaimed, her expres- sion now carry! all the contempt for my judgment and taste she intenfled it should. “Button your coat ud good around your neck, then, if you lin^st go to see your precious Hammersly and the rest of them. Have you ever heard that man say wything yet? Does he speak at all, Jerry?" Then her gentle mind, not at all accustomed to hard thoughts or Contemptuous remarks, quickly changed. “Funny thing about that fellow,” ^e mused. “He’s got something on his mind. Don’t you think so, Jeffjr?” “Y-es, yes ][ do. And I’ve ■often won- dered what it could be. He certainly’s a qjieer stick. . Cot to admit that. Al- ways brooding^ Good felldw ail right, and, for a ’sph|nx’ as you call him, lik- able. But I Wonder what is eating him?” “What do you suppose if could be, Jerry boy?” questioned mother follow- ing me to the door, the woman of her now completeljy forgetting her recent criticisms and, perhaps, the rough night l^r son ;was about to step into. “Do you suppose the poor chap has a — a — broken heart, or something like that? A girl! somewhere who jilted him?. Or maype he loves someone he |bas no right she finished excit- edly, the plates in her hand rattling. “Maybe it’s Worse than that,” I ven- tured. “P’r’apa — I’ve no right to say it •—but p’r’aps, apd I’ve often thought it, there’s a killing he wants to forget, Spd can’t I” I HEARD my mother’s sharp little “Oh I” as I shut the door behind me and the warmtii and comfort of the room away. Outside it was worse than the whistle of the wind through the trees had led me to expect. Bla^k aa pitch it was, and as cold as blazes. For the first moment! or two, though, I liked the feel of the ichallenge of the night and the racing elements, was even a little glad I had added to the dmp of the blackness the thought of Hammer- sly and his “killing.”' But I had not gone far before I was wishing I did not have to saye my face by putting in an appearance nt the store that night. Every Saturday night, with the cows comfortable in : their warm bam, and my own supper over, I was in the habit of taking my place on the keg or ^x behind the red-hot stove in Pruett’s store. To-night all the snow was be- ing hurled clear of the fields to block the roads full between the old, zigzag fences. Tpe vrind met me in great pushing gusts, and .while it flung itself at me I would pang against it, snow to my kness, until the blow had gone along, when I could plunge foiilard again. I was glad when I saw the lights of the store, glad when I was inside. They met me jwith mock applause for my pluck in facing the night, but for all their sham flattery I was pleased I had come, proud, ^ must admit, that I had been able to plough my heavy way through the drifts to reach them. I saw at a glance that my friends were all there, and I saw too that th^re was a strange man present. Avery tali man he was, gaunt and awkward aa He leaned into the angle of the. two counters, his back to a dusty show-case. He attracted my attention at once. Not merely because he appeared so long and pointed and skinny, but because, of all ridiculous things in that frozen country, he wore a hard derby had I If he had not been such a queer cltaracter it would have

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11 THE MAN WHO WA^ DEAD teen laughable, but as it was It waa — oeepy. For the man beneath that hard bat was about aa queer a looking char- acter as I have ever seen. I supposed he was a visitor at the store, or a friend of one of niy friends, and thaf in a lit- tle while I would be introduced. But I was not. I took my place in behind the stove, feeling at once, though I am far from being unsociable usually, that the man was an intruder and would spoil the evening. But 4^spite his cold, dam- pening presence we were soon at it, tiammer and tongs, discussing the things that are discussed behind hos- pitable stoves in country stores on bad nights. But I could never lose sight of the fact that the stranger standing there, silent as the grave, was,, to say the least, a queer one. Before long I was sure he was no friend or guest of anyone there, and that he not only cast a pall over me but over all of us. I did not like it, nor did I like him. Per- haps it would have been just as well after all, I thought, bad I heeded my mother and stayed home. Jed Counsell was the one who, inno- cently enough, started the thing that changed the evening, that had begun so badly, into a nightmare. ■ “Jerry," he said, leaning across to me, "thinkin’ of ybu s'afternoon. Headin' an article about reincarnation. Remember we were ^guin’ it last week? Well, this guy, whoever be was I've forgot, believes in it. Say it's so. That people do come back.” With this opening shot Jed sat back to await my answer. I liked these arguments and I liked to bear my share in them, but iu>w, instead of immediately answer- ing the challenge, I looked around to see if any other of our circle were go- ing to answer Jed. Then, deciding it waa up to me, I shrugged off the strange feeling the man in the corner bad cast over me, and prepared to view my opinions. “That's just that fellow’s belief, Jed," I said. "And just as he's got his to have I mine. And on this subject at least I claim my opinion is as good as anybo^’s.” I was just getting nicely stdmd, and a little forgetting my distsmte for the man in the comer, when the fellow himself interrupted. He lef^ bis leaning place and came crealdng across the floor to our circle around.' the stove. I say he came “creaking" for as he came he did creak. "Shoes,” I naturally; almost uncon- scioiihly decided, though the crazy no- tion Was in my mind that the cracking I heard did sound like bones and joints and sinews badly in need of oil. The stranger sat his groaning self down among us, on a board lying across a nail keg and an'old chair. Only from the corner of my eye did I see his movament, being friendly enough, de- spitq my dislike, not to allow too marked notice ^of his attempt to be sociablb seein inhospitable on my part. I was about to start again witfi my argiument when Seth Spears, sitting closest to the newcomer, deliberately got up from the bench and went to the counter, telling Praett as he went that he had to have some sugar. It was all a farc% a pretext^ knew. I've known Seth for years and had never known him before to take upon himself the buying for his wife's kitchen. Seth simply would not sit be- side the man. At that I could keep my eyes from the stranger no longer,' and the next moment I felt my heart turn over within me, then lie still. I have seen “walking skeletons” in circuses, but neves such a man as the one who was then sitting at my right hand. Those side-show men were just lean in com- parison to the fellow who had invaded our Saturday night club. His thighs and his legs and his knees, sticking sharply into his trousers, looked like pieces of inch board. His shoulders and his chest seemed as flat ai\d us sharp as his legs- The sight of the man shocked me. I sprang to my feet thoroughly frightened. I could not see much of bis fice, sitting there in

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12 astounding stories the dark aa;he was with hia back to the yellow light, but I could make out enough of to know that it waa in keeping witt the rest of him. In a moment or two, realizing m^ childishness, I had fonght .down my fear and, pretending that a scorching of my leg had caused my hurried move- ment, I sat mwn again. None of the others said a word, each waiting for me to continue and to break the em- barrassing silence. Hamme^y, black- whiskered, the “spbina" as my mother had called him, watched me closely. Hating myself not a little bit for actu- als being the sissy I had boasted I was not, I spoke hurriedly, loudly, to cover my confilsion. "No sir, Jed I” I said, taking up my argument. 'jWhen a man’s dead, he's dead I There’s no bringing him back like that higmbrow claimed. The old heart may be only hitting about once in every hundred times, and if they catch it riglit at the last stroke they may^bring it back then, but once she’s stopped, Jedt she’s stopped for good. Once the pulse has gone, and life has flickered outi it’s out. And it doesn’t come back in any form at all, not in this world r 1 was glad when I had said it, there- by asserting myself and downing my foolish fear of the man whose eyes I felt burning into me. I did not turn to look at him but all the While I felt his gimlety eyes digging into my brain. Theii' he spoke. And though be sat right neat to me his voice sounded like a moan from afar off. It waa the first time we had heard this thing that once may have been a voice and that now sounded like a groan from a closely nailed coffin. He reached a hand to- word my knee to enforce his words, but !l jerked away. “So you don’t believe a man can come back from the grave, eh?" he grated. "Believe that once a man’s heart is stilled it’s stopped for good, eh? Well, you’re all wrong, sonny. All wrong 1 You believe these things. I know them!” HIS interference, hia condescen- sion, his whole hatefnlness an- gered me. I could now no idhger con- trol my feelings. "Oh I You Itoow, do you?” I sneered. "On snch a sub- ject as this you’re entitled to know, are you? Don't make me laug^t” I fin- ished insultingly. I waa aroused. And I’m a big fellow, with no reason to fear ordinary :men. "Yes, I know I” came back his echo- ing, scratching voice. "How do you know? Maybe you’ve betn — ?*’ ‘‘Tes, I havel” he answered, hia voice* breaking to a| squeak. ‘"Take a good look at me, gcmtlemen. A good look.” He knew now! that he held the center of the stage, that the moment was his. Slowly he raised an atm to remove that ridiculous hat. Again I jumped to my feet. For as | his coat sleeve slipped down bis forearm I saw nothing but bone supportikig his hand. And the hand that the^ bared his head was a skeleton band I Slowly the hat was lifted, but as quickly as light six able- bodied men were on' their feet and half way to the door before we real- ized the cowardliness of it. We forced ourselves back inside the store very slowly, all of us rather ashamed of our ridicul<^ and childlike fear. But was all enough to make the blood/curdle, with that live, deadthing sitting there Iw our fire. His face and skull were nothing but bone, the eyea deeply sunk into theirsockets, the dull- brown "skin like parchment in iti tautness, drawn and shriveled down onto the nose and jaw. There were no cheeks. Just hollows. The mouth was a dharp slit beneath the flat noae. He was hideous. \ "Come back and I’ll tell you my yam," he mocked, the slit that was hia mouth opening a little to show us die empty, blackened gums. "I’ve been dead once,” he went on, getting a lot of satisfaction from the weirdness of the lie and froan our fear, “and I came back. Come and sit down and I’ll ex- plain why I’m this living skeleton."

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THE MAN WHO WAS DEAD 13 WE came back slowly, and as I did I slipped my hand into my outside pocket where I had a revolver. I put my Sngervin on AC'trigger and got ready to use tn^ ^cious little thing. I was on edge and torn to pieces completely by the sight of the man, and I doubt not that had he made I move towards me my frayed nerves would have plugged him full of lead. I eyed my friends. They were in no better way than was I. Fright and hor- ror stood on each face. Hammersly was w^rst. hands were twitching, his eyes were like bright glass, his face bleared and drawn. “I’ve quite a yarn to tell,” went on the skeleton in bis awful voice. ‘Tve had quite a life. A full life. I’ve taken my fun and my pleasure wherever I could. Maybe you’ll - call- me selfish and greedy, but I always used to be- lieve that a man only passed this way once. Just like you believe,” he nod- ded to me, his neck muscles and jaWs creaking. “Six years ago I came up into this country and got a job on a fann,” he went on, settling into his story. ’’Just an ordinary job. But I liked it because the farmer had a pretty little daughter of about sixteen or sev-'; enteen and as easy as could be. You ■hay not believe it, but you can still End dames green enough to fall for the right story. ‘This one did. I tola her I was only out there for a time for my health. That 1 was rich back in the city, with a fine hq^e and everything. She be- lieved me. Little^fool I” He chuckled as he said |t, and my anger, mounting with bis evhry devilish word, made the finger on the trigger in my pocket take a tighter crook to itself. “I asked her to skip with me,” the droning went on, “made her a lot of great promises, and she fell for it.” His dry jaw bones clanked and chattered as if he enjoyed the beastly recital yf bis achievement, while we sat> gaping at him, believing either that tne mati must be mad, or that we were the mad ones, or dream- ltt£, "*We slipped away one night," con- tinued the beast. “Went to the city. To a punk hotel. For three weeks we stayed there. Then one morning I -told her I was going out for a shave. I was. I got the shave. But I hadn’t thought it worth while to tell her I wouldn’t be bpch. Well, she got back to the farm soide way, though I don’t know — ” “T THATI” I shouted, springing W before him. “Whatj You mean you left her there I Aftet you’d taken her, you left her I And heec^^u sit crowing over it I Gloating I Boast- ing I Why, you — I” I lived in a rough country. Associated with rough ipen, heard their vicious language, but sel- dom' used a strong word myself. But as I stood ^qver that monster, utterly bating the beastly thing, all the vile oaths and prickly language of the coun- tryside, no doubt buried in some un- used cell in my brain, spilled from my tongue upon him. When I had lashed 1 hw as fiercely as I was able I cried : “Why don’t you come at me? Didn’t you hear what I cAled you? You beast I , I’d like to riddle you t” I shouted, draw- r'ing my gun. "Aw, sit down I” he jeered, waving his rattling hand at me. “You ain’t heard a thing yet. Let me finish. Well, she got back to the farm some way or another, and something over a year later I' wandered into this coun- try again too. I never could explain just why I came back. It was not alto- gether to see the girl. Her father was a little bit of a man and I began to remember wbat a meek and weak sheep he was. I got it into my head tliat it’d be fun to go back to his farm and rub it in. So I came. “Her father was trying out a new corn planter right at the back, door when I rounded the bouse and walked towards him. Then I saw, at bnce* that I had made aYnistake. When he put his eyes on me his face went white and hard. He camp down from the seat of that machine like a flash, and took

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14 ASTOXJNDING S'^ORIES A { . hurried ateps in the direction of a doublebarreUed gun leaning againat the woodshed. They always were troubled wiu hawks ;^d kept a gun handy. But there was an ax nearer toe^t. If lit I’ll be much obliged. Then 1 can Igo back on that farm and do a little more ax swinging I’ ’’ Again came hjs horrible chuckle, again I mopped my brow. “So we ma|de our plans," he went on, pleased with! our discomfiture and our despising of him. "Next day some ' chap came to see me, pretending he was my brother. And I carried out my part of it by cursing him at first and then begging him to give me de- cent burial. So he went away, and, I suppose, received permission to get me right after I was cut down. “There was a fence built ardimd tiK scaffold they had ready for me and the party I was about to fling, and they had some militia there, too. The crowd seemed quiet' enough till they led me out. Then their buzzing sounded like a hive of bees getting all stirred up. Then a few loud voices, then shouts. Some rocks came flying at me after that, land it Icmked to me as though the hanging would not be so gentle a party after all. I iell you I was afraid I wished it was over. HE mob pushed against the X fence and flattened it out, coo- ing over it like waves over a beach. The soldiers j^ed into the air, but still they came, and I, I ran — up onto the scaffold. It '‘Was safer I” As he said this he chuckled loudly. "I’ll bet,” he laughed, "that’s the first time a guy ever ran into the noose for the safety of it I The mob came only to the foot of the scaffold though, from where they seemed satisfied to see the law take its course. The sheriff was nervous. S9 cut up that be only made a fling at tying my ankles, just dropped a rope around my wrists. He was like me', he wanted to get it over, and the crowd on its way. Then be put the rope around my neck, stepped back and shot the trap. Zamm I No time for a pray- er— or for me to laugh at the offer I— or a last word or anything. "I felt the floor give, (elt myself shoot through. Smack I My weight on the end of the rope bit me behind the ears like a mallet. Everything went black. Of course it would have been just my luck to get q broken neck out of it and give the .scientist no ch^ce to revive me. But after a sec- ond or two, or a minute, or it could have been an hour, the blackness went away enqugh to allow me to know I was hanging ion the end of the rop«i

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THE MAN WHO WAS DEAD IS kicking, fighting, choking to death. My tongue swelled, my face and head ud heart afid body seemed ready to burst. Slowly I went into a deep Biist that I knew then was the mist, tkeo — then — I tras off floating in the ■ir oyer the beads of the crowd, watch- ing my own hanging t “I saw them give that slowly swing- ing carcass on the end of its rope time enough to thoroughly die, then, from my aerial, unseen watching place, I ew them edt it — me— down. They tned the pulse of the body that had been inine, they examined my staring ^es. Then I heard them pronounce me dead. The fools I I had known I wu dead for a minute or two by thaf time, else how could my spirit have been gone from the shell and be out floating around over their heads?” He paused here as hthe man I could clearly see-through the glass of the bell. “^T'‘HEV turned on a huge battery X. of ultra-violet rays then,” con- tinued the hollow droning of the man who had been banged, "which, as the scientist had explained to me while in prison, acting upon the contents of the syringes, by that time spattered through my who^ body, was to renew the spark of life within the dead thing hanging there. Through a tube, and by means of a valve entering the glass vase in the top, the scientist then ad- mitted a dense white gas. So thick was it that in a moment, or two my body's transparent coffin appeared to be full of a liquid as white as' milk. Electricity then revolved my cage around so that my body was insured a complete and even exposure to the i^ys of the green and violet lamps. And while all this silly stuff was going on, around and around the laboratpry I floated, confident of the complete failure of the whole thing, yet de- termined to see it through if for no other reason than to see the discom- fiture and disappointment that this mere man was'bound to experience. You see, I was already looking back upon earthly mortals as being inferior, and now as I waited for this proof I was

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16 ASTOUNDING STORIES ■II the while fighting oS a new urge to be going eleewhere. Something was calling me^ ^koning me to be coming into the full Bpirit world. But I wanted to lee this I wise earth guy fail.” “For a little while conditions stayed the same within th^ glass. So thick ^aa the, liquid gas in there at first that ■1 could see nothing. Thm it Wegan Ao clear, ai^^ I saw to my surprise that tb^-milky I gas was disappearing be- cause it was being forced in by the rays from the lights in through the pores in- to the body itself. As though my form was sucking it in like a sponge'. The scientist aqd his helper were tense and taut with fxcitement. ^nd suddenly my comfortable feeling left me. Until then it had seemed so smooth and velvety and peaceful drifting around over their beads, as though' lying on a soft, fleecy cloud. But now I felt a sudden sqqeezing of my spirit body. Then I was in an agony. Before I' knew what I was doing my spirit was clinging to the outside of that twisting glass bell, clawing to get into the body that was coming back to life I The glass now was perfectly clear of the gas, though as yet there was no sigh of life in the body inside to bint to the scientist that he was to be successful. But I knew it. For I fought des- perately to break in through the glass to get back into my discarded shell of a l^y again, knowing I must get in ^ die a worse death than I had before. “Then ihy sharper eyes noted a slight shiver passing over the white thing befori me, and the scientist must have seen itj in the next second, for he sprang forward with a choking cry of delight. Then the lolling head inside lifted a bit. I — still desperately cling- ing with wff spirit hands to the out^ side, and all the time growing weaker and weaker— I saw the breast of my body rise and fall. The assistant picked up a heavy steel hammer and stood ready! to crash open the glass at the right moment. Then my once dead :«l8{iened in there to look around, iiik cliiij eyei whil dunging and gasping outside. just as I iiad! on the scaSold, went int« a deeper, darker blackness than ever. Just before my spirit life died utterly I saw the eyM of my body realize com- pletely what was going on, then — from the inside now — I saw the scientist give the signal that caused the as- sistant to crash away the glass shell with one blow of his hammer. “They reached in for me then, aad I fainted. When I came back to coo-, sciousness I was being carefully, slowly revived, and nursed back to lift by oxygen and a pulmotor.” The terrible creature telling as this mle paused again to look around. My knees were weak, my clothes wet with sweat. "Is that all?" I asked in a piping- strange voice, ball sarcastic, half ns- believing, and wholly spellbound. “Just about,” he answered. “Bat what do you expect? I left my frieid the scientist at once, even though be did bate to see me go. It had been all right while he was so keen on the experiment himself and while he only half believed his ability to bring me back. But now that he'd done it, it kinda worried him to think what tort of a man he was turning loose of the world again. I could see how he tnt figuring, and .because I had no idea of letting him try another experiment on me, p’r’aps o( putting me away agaiq, I beat it in a hurry. “That was ^ve years ago. For fivt years I've lived with only just part of me here. Whatever it was trying to get back into that glass just before my body came to life — my spirit. I've bees calling it — I've been without. It never did get back. You See, the scientist brought me back inside a shell that kept my spirit out. That's why I’m the skeleton you see I am. Something- vital is missiog.” He stood up cracking and creaking before us, buttoning his loose coal .about his angular body. “Well, boys,” he asked lightly, “what do you think of that?”

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THE MAN WHO WAS DEAD n •I think you’re a liar I A damn Uirl" Icned. "And now, if you don’t mat me to fill you full of lead, get out of here and get out now I If I have to do it to you, there’s no scien^st this time to bring you back. When you go oat you’ll stay out I” "Don’t worry,” be. grimaced back to me, waving a mass of bones that should hive been a band contemptuously at me, “I’m going. I’m headed for Shelton.” He stalked the length of the Soor and shut the door behind him. Tbe'beast bad gone. “The dirty liar I” I cried. “I wish — yes-I wish I lihd an eacuse to kill him. Just think of that being loose, will you? A brute who would think up inch a yam I Of course it’s all ihsnrd. All crazy. All a lie.” "No. It’s not a lie.” I TURNED to see who had spoken.' Hammeraly’s voide was so>.^, unp tmilier and now so. tom in addition that I could not h^ve thought he had spoken, bad he not been looking right at me, his glittering eyes challenging mj assertion. Wonld wonders never cease? I asked myself. First this out- rageous yam, now Hammersly, the ^fhinz,” ezprepsing an opinion, look- ing for an argument I Of course it mast be that his susceptible and brood- ing brain had been tuned a bit by the aecning we had just eaperieneed. "Why Hammersly I You don’t be- Um it?” I asked. ’ “I not only believe it, Jerry, but now it’s my turn to say, as he did,- 1 know hi Jerry, old friend,” he went on, “that devil told the troth. He was hanged. He was brought back to life ; md Jerry — ^I was that scientist I” Whewl I fell back to a again. My knees seemed to forsake me. ' Then I heard Hammersly talking to himself. ‘Five years it’s been,” he muttered. "Five years djiee^I turned him loose •tain. FivS'^years of agony for. me, ■endeting w^t new d^liah crimes he was perpetrating, wondering when he wonld retum to that little farm to swing his ax again. Five years — five years.” He came over to me, and without a (Word of explanation or to ask my per* mission he reached his hand into my pocket and drew Out my revolver,^ and I did not protest. "He said he was headed for Shelton,” went on Hammeraly’s spoken thoughts. "If I slip across the ice I can intercept him at Black’s woods.” Buttoning his coat closely, he followed the stranger out into the night. I WAS glad the moon had come up for iny walk home, glad too when I had the door locked and propped with a chair behind me. I undressed in the dark, not wanting ahy grisly, sunken-eyed monster to be looking in through the window at me. For maybe, so T thMght, maybe he was after all not head.pd for Shelton, but perhppa planning on another of his ghastly tricks. But in the morning we knew he had . beei^.going toward Shelton. Scientists, doctors, and learned men of all de- scripdons came out to ouT village to see the thing the papers said Si Wa- ters had stumbled upon when on his way to the creanftry that next morning. It was a skeleton, they said, only that it bad a' dry skin alL over it. A mummy. Could not have ieen con- sidered capable of containing life only that the snow around it was lightly, blotched with a pale smear that proved ^o be blood, that had ooze(^ out from the six bullet holes in the horrid’chest. 'J’hey never did solve it. There were five of us in the store that night. Five of us who know. . Hanmersly did what we all wanted to do. Of course his name is not really Hammersly, but it has done here as well as another. He is black-whiskered though, and he is still very much of a sphinx, but he’ll never have to an- swer for basing killed the man he once brought back to liff. Hommersjy’s s^et will go into five other graves'be- oldea his own.

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Monsters of Moyen By Arthur J. Burks Foreword quest of the earth, and men followed him with blind faith as men in the IN 1985 the mighty genius of Moyen gripped the Eastern world like a hand of steel. In a' matter of months he had welded the Orient into an unbeatable war-machine. He' had, through the sheer magnetism of a past have followed the banners of the Tbaumaturgists. A strange name, . to the sound of which none could assign nationslity. Some said his father was a Russian refugee, his mother a Mongol woman. strange personal- ity, carried the Eastern world with him on his march to con- Waalflvn WcrU tbaO b« aeitr was ^ssd oltiBataB of tko koif^BowMsVf kaif-cod M 07 on I IS Some said he was the son of a Cau- caaian womao lost in the Gobi aad rescued by a mad

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lana of Tibet, who became father of his confederacy. The Orient was a lioyen. Some aald that bis mother was dependency, even to that forbidden I g^deia, his father a fiend out of hell, land of the Goloka, where ontlanders Bot this all men knew about him; sometimes went, but whence they never that be combined within himself the returned — and to the wild Goloks ,he courage of a Hannibal, the military was a god whose will was absolute, to (enius of a Napoleon, the ideals of a render obedience to whom waa a privl- Sm Yat Sen; and that be had sworn lege occorded only to the Chosen, to himself he would never rest until the earth was peopled by a single TN a short year his confederacy had aadon, with Moyen himself in the seat X brought under his might the mil- of the mighty ruler. lions of Asia, wUcb he had welded Madagascar was the seat of bis gov- into a mighty machine for further con- omnent, from which he looked across quest. '' lahr United Africa, the first to join And'hecause the Americas saw the It

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20 ASTOUNDING STORIES handwritiiig on the wall, they sent out to see the man Moyen, with orders to penetrate to his very side, as a spy, their most trusted Secret Agent — Prester Kleig. Only the ignorant believed tlmt Moyen was mad. The military and dipldmatic geniuses of the world recog- nized his genius, and resented it. But Prester Kleig, of the Secret Ser- viceiof the Americas, one of the few men whose headquarters were in the Secret Room in Washington, had reached Hoyen. ^ Now he was coming home. He came home to tell his people what Moyen was planning, and to admit that his investigations had been hampered at every turn by the uncanny ‘ genius of Moyen. Military plans had been guarded with unbelievable secrecy. War machines he knew to ezist, yet had seen only those common to all the armies of the world. ' And now, twenty-four hours out of New York City, aboard the 5. 5. Stellar. Prester Kleig was literally willing the steamer to greater speed — and in far Madagascar the strange mdn called Moyen had given the ultimatum: “The Western World shall be next I” chapter .1 The Hand of Moyen “TT^HO is that man?” asked a W young lady passenger of the steward, with the imperious inflection which tells of riches able tO' force obedience from menials who labor for hire. She pointed a .bejeweled finger at the slender, soldierly figure which stood in the prow of the liner, like a figurehead, peering into the storm unddr the ves- sel's forefoot. "That gentleman, milady?” repeated the steward obsequiously. “That is Prester Kleig, head of the Secret Agents, Master of the Secret Room, just "now returning Trom Madagascar, via Europe, after a visit to the realm of Moyen.” A gasp of terror burst froin the lips of the woman. Her cheeks blanch^ “Moyen I” She almost whispered h. "Hoyen I The half-good of Asia, whoa men call mad I” “Not mad, milady. No, Moyen is not mad, save with a lust for power. He is the conqueror of the ages, already ruling more of the earth’s pojpulation than any man has ever done before him —even Alexander I” But the young lady was not listening to stewards. Wealthy young ladies did not, save when asked questions dealing with personal service to themselves. Her eyes devoured the slender man who stood in the prow of the Stellar, while her lips shaped, over and over agaim the dread name which was on the ups of ahe people of the world; “Moyen I Moyen I” UP in the prow,- if Prester Kleig, who carried a dread secret in Us breast, knew of the young lady’s re- gard, he gave no sign. -There were touches of gray at his temples, though he was still under forty. He bad secs more, of life, knew more of its tetrors, than most men twice his age — because he had lived harshly in service to hit country. He was thipking of Moyen, the genius of the misshapen body, the pale eyes' which reflected the fireq of a Satanic soql, set deeply in the midst ^ of the face of an angel ; and wondering if he would be able to arrive in time, sorry that he had not returned home 'by airplane. He had taken the Stellar only because the peacefulness of ocean liner travel would aid his thoughts, and he re- quirdd time to marshal them. Liner travel wu now a luxury, as all save the immensely wealthy traveled by plane across tho oceans. Now Prester Kletg was sorry, for any moment, he felt, Moyen might strike. He turned an4 looked back along the deck of the Stellar. His eyes play^ over the trimly' gowned figure of the woman who qqestioned the steward.

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MONSTERS OF MOTBN 21 tut did not really see her. And then. , . . “Great God I" The worda were a pnyer, and they burst from the ' lips of Prester Kleig like an explosion. PsHcngers appeared from the lee of lifeboats. Officers on the bridge whirled to look at the man who ibouted. Seamen paused ip their labors to stare. Aloft in the cfow’s-nest the lookout lowered his eyes from scouring the horizon to stare at Prester Kleig —who was pointing. ' All eyes turned in the direction in- dicated. CLIMBING into the sky, a mile off the starboard beam, was an air- plane with a bulbous body and queerly slanted wings. It had neither wheels nor pontoons, and it traveled with un- believable speed. It came on bullet- fast, headed directly for the side of the Stellar. “Lower the boats!" yelled Kleig. “Lower the boats I For G<^’s sake lower the boats r For Prester Kleig, in that casual faming, had seen what none aboard tike Stellar, even the lookout above, had seen. The airplane, which bad neither wheels nor pontoons, had risen, as Aphrodite is said to have risen, but of die wavesi He,/nad seen the wings come out of the bulbous body, anap'^ backward into place, and the plane was in full ffight the instant it appeared! Prester Kleig had no hope that his warning would be in time, but he would always feel better for having given it. As the captain debated with hhnself as to whether this lunatic •honld be confined as dangerous, the strange airplane, nosed over and dived down to the sea, a hundred yards from tbe side of the Stellar. Just before it tttnck the water, its wings . snapped iorward and became part of ffie bulbous body of the thing, tbe Whole of which ihbt like a bullet into the sea. PRESTER KLEIG stood at the rail, peering out at the spot where tbs plane bad plunged in with scarcely a splash, and his right hand was raised as though be gave a final, despairing signql. Of all aboard the Stellar, he only saw that black streak which, ten. feat under water, raced like a bolt of light- ning from tbe nose of the subfaierged but visible plane, straight as a die for the aide </t the Stellar. Just a black streak, \no bigger than a small man’s aim, from the nose of the plane to the side of the Stellar. Frdm the crow’s-nest came the startled, terrific voice of the lookout, in the beginning of a cry that must remain forever inarticulate. The world, in that blinding moment, seemed to rock on its foundations; to shatter itself to bits in a chaotic jumble of sodnd and of movement, shot through and through with lurid flames. Kleig felt himself hurled upward and out- ward, turned over and over endlessly. . . . He felt the storm-tossed waters close over him, and knew he had struck. In the moment he knew— oblivion, deep, ebon and impenetrable, 'blotted out knowledge. charter II Tbe Waif-Dream A ROARING, rushing river of cha- otic sound, first. Jumbled sound to which Prester Kleig could give no adequate name. But as he tried to aiudyze Its meanings, be wa^ able to differentiate between sounds, and to discover the identity of some. The river of sound he decided to be the' sound of a vibrational explosion ofJgome sort — vibrational because it hao that quivery quality which causes a feeliiig of uneasiness and fret, that feeling which makes one turn and look * around to find the eyes boring into one’s back — yet multiplied in Its inten- sity an uncounted nuinber of times. Other sounds which came through the chaotic river of sound were w terrified screamingi of the men and women who were doomed. Ufeboats were neder lowereo, for the reason that

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22 ASTOUNDING STORIES with the disintegration of the Stellar, everything inanimate aboard her like> wise disintegrated, dropping men and women, crew and passengers, into the freezing waters of the Atlantic, i Pr^ster Kleig dropped with them, only partially unconscious after the first icy plunge. He knew when he floated on the surface, for he felt him- self lifted and hurled by the waves. In his half-dream he saw men and women being carried away into wave- shrouded darkness, clawid^ wildly at Aothingness for support, clawing at one another, locking arms, and going down together. The Stellar, in the merest matter of seconds, had become spoil of the sea, and her crew and passengers had vanisheir forever from the sight of men. Yet Prester Kleig lived on, knew that' he lived on, and that there was an element, too strong to be dis- believed, of reality in his dream. There was a vibratory sense, too, as of the near activity of a noiseless motor. Noiseless motor I Where had he last thought of those two words? With what recent catastrophe were they associated?! No, he coiild not re- call, though he knew he should.be able to do so. Then the sense of motion to 'the front was apparent — an unnumbered sense, rather than concrete feeling. Motion to front, influenced by the ris- ing and falling motion of mountainous waves. So suddenly as to be a distinct shock, the wave motion ceased, though the forward motion — and upward! — not only continued but increased. ‘ That airplane of the bulbous body, the queerly slanted wings. . . . But the glimpiering of realization vanished as a sickishly sweet odor as- sailed his nostrils and sent its swift- moving tentacles upward to wrap them- self sootllingly about his brain. But the sense of flight, unbelievably swift, was present aqd recognizable, though all else eluded him. He had the impres- sion, however, that it was intended thi all save the most vagrant, most widelj difierenitated impressions elude him— that he should acquire only half pis. tures, which would therefore be all tht more terrible in retrospect. The only , impressions which were real were those of motion to the front, and upward, and the sense of noisclen machinery, vibrating the whole, nearby, Then a distinct realization of thu cessation of the sense of flying, and a return, though in lesser degree, of the rising arid falling of waves. This latter sensation became less and lea, though the fueling of traveling down- ward continued. Prester Kleig knew that he was going down into the la again, down into it deeply. . . . Then that odor once more, and the elusive n»mory. Forward motion at last, in the depths, swift, forward motion, though Pr|iter Kleig could , not even guess at the direction. Jt^t swift i^otioiv and the mutter of voices, the giving of ordfis.... PRESTER KLEIG regained coo- Bciousness fully on the sands of the shore. He sat up stiffly, staring out to sea. A jptorm was raging, and the sea was an angry waste. No ship showed on the waters; the mad, tumbled sky above it was either empty of planes or they had climbed to invisibility above the clouds that raced and churned with the storm. ' Out of the storm, almost at Prester Kleig's feet, dropped a small airplane. Through the window a familiar face peered at Kleig. A belmeted, begog- gled figure opiened the door and stepped out. "Kleig; old man," said the flyer, "yoa gave me the right dope all right, hot I’ll swear there isn't a wireless towel within a hundred miles of this placet How did you manage it?” "Kane, you’re crazy, or I am, or. . . . But Prester ^eig could not go on with the thought which had rushed throo^ his brain with the numbing impact <d a blow. He grasped the hand of Carka

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MONSTERS OF MOYEN 23 gme, of the Domestic Service, and die yellow flimsy Kane held out to him. It ^d simply : "Shipwrecked. ' Am ashore at — " There followed grid coordinatetmap readings. "Come at once, prepared to By me to Washington." It was signed "Kleig." "Kane," said Kleig, "I did not send this message!” What more was there to be said? Horror looked out of the e^^ of Pres- ttr Kleig, and was reflected in those of Culos Kane. Bot^ men turned, peering out across the tumbled welter of mters. Somewhere out there, tight-locked in the gloomy archivea of the Atlantic, was the secret of the message which had brought Carlos Kaiie to'Prester Kleig — and the agency which bad lent it CHAPTER III Wings of To-morrow AS Prester Kleig climbed into the enclosed passenger pit of the monoplane — a Mayther — hia ears teemed literally to be ringing with the drumming, mighty voice of Moyen. |lat now that voice, instead of merely apesHng, rang with sardonic laughter. He bad never heard the laughter of Moyen, -but be could guess how it would sound. That airplane of the slanted wings, the bulbous, almost bulletlike fuselage, what of it? It was simple, aa Kleig looke^^ck at his memoried glimpse , of itVhe submarine was a metal fish made with human hands; the airplane aped the birds. The strapge ship which hM caused the deitruction of the Staffar, was a combination fish and were pome of these to the United States? The ^e eyes of Moyen, he was sure, were already turned toward the What., PRESTER KLEIG sighed as be seated himself beside Carlos Kane. Then K^e pressed one of the myriad of buttons on the dash, and Kleig lifted his eyes to peer through the skylight, to whore that single press of a button had set in motion the intricate, machinery of the helicopter. A four-bladed fan lifted on a slender pedestal, sufficiently high above the surface of the wing foV the vanes to be free of the cental propeller. Then, automatically, the vanes became in- visible, and\thie Mayther lifted from the sandy beach as lightly, and f>r more straightly,'than any bird. As the ship climbed away for the skies, and through the transparent floor the beach and the Atlantic fell away below the ship, a sigh of relief escaped Kleig. This was living I Up here one was free, if only for a moment, and the swift wind o^ flight brushed all ^cobwebs from the tir^ human brain. He watched the slender ftfeedle of the altimeter, as it moved around the face of the dial as steadily as the hands of a elock, around to thirty thousand, thirty-five, forty. Then Carlos Kane, every movement as effortless as the flight of the silvery winged Mayther, thrust forth his hand to the dash agaip, pressed another but- tonl Instantly the propallers vanished into a blur as the vanes of the heli- eopter dropped down the slender staff and the vanes themselves fitted snug^ into their appointed notches atop the wing. Hid— which merely aped nature a bit hiffief, aa anyone who had ever hetersed tropical waters would have instantly recognized. But what did it portend? What lastly terrors of Moyen roamed the •aeps of the Atlantic, of the Pacific, the Oceana of the world? How close For a second Carlos Kane glanced at tlye tiny ma^ to the right of the dash, knd set his course. It was;a matter of momenta only, but while Kane worked, Prsstir Kleig studied die Instruments on the Hash, for it had been months since he bad flown, save for his recent half-dreamlike experience. There

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24 ASTOUNDING STORIES was a button which released the mechanism of the deadly guns, fired hy compressed air, all operated from the noiseless itaotor, whose muzzles exaolly Cleared the tips of Mayther’s wings, two guru to each wing, one on the en- tering edge, one on the tracing edge,' fitted snugly into the adamant rigging. Four guru .which could fife to right or left, twin streams of lead, the num- hcr of rounds governed only by the carrying power of the MayCher. Prester Kleig knew them all: the guns in the wings, th^ guns which fired through the three propellers, and the guns set two and two in the fuselage, to right and left of the pits, which could be fired either up or down — all by the mere pressing of buttons. It was marvelous, miraculous, yet even as Kleig told himself that this was so, he felt, deep in the heart of him, that Moyen knew all about ships like these, and regarded them as the toys of children. Kane touched Kleig on the shoulder, signaling, indicating that the atmos- phere in the pits had been regulated to their new height, and that they could remove thear helmets and oxygen tanks without danger. WITH a sigh Prester Kleig sat back, and the two friends turned to face ekeh other. “You certainly look done in, Kleig," said Kane sympathetically. "You most have been through hell, and then some. Tell me ateut this Moyen; that is, if you think you care to talk about him.” "Talk about him I" repeated Kleig. "Talk abont him ? It will by a relief 1 There has been nothing, and nobody, on my mifid save Moyen for weary months oh uid. If I don’t talk.to some- one about him, I’ll go mad, if I’m riot mad already.^ Moyen? ^monster with the face of an angell Twhat else can one say a^ut him? A devil and a saint, a brute whose followers would go with him ipto beU’s fire, and sing him hosannas as they were consumed in agony I The greatest mob psychologist the world has ever seen. He’s a genim^ Kane, and unless something is done, the Western world, all the world, is doomed to ait at the feet, listen to the commands, of Moyen I "He isn’t! an Oriental; he isn’t t European; he isn’t negroid or Indian; but there is something about him that makes one thing of all of these, singly and collectively. 'His body is twisted and grotesque, and when one looks at his face, one feels a desire to touch him, to swear eternal fealty to him — Until one looks into his pale eyes, eyes al- most milky in their paleness — and g^ the merest hint of the thoughts which actuate him. If he has a failing I did not find it. He does not drink, gamble. . . .” “And women?" queried Kane, softly. Kleig was madly in love with the sister of Kane^ Charmion, and this thing touched him nearest heart, becau^ Charmion was one of her country’s mest famous beauties, about whom Moyen must already hart heard. "Women?" repeated Kleig musingly, his black eyys troubled, haunted. ^ scarcely know. He has no love for women, only because he has no capacity for any love wve self-love. But when I think of hin^in this connection I seem, to see Moyeq, grown to monster pro- portions, sitting on a mighty throne, with nude wmnen groveling at hit feet, bathed in tears, their long hair in man- les of sorrow, hiding their shamed faces I That sounds wild, doesn’t it? But it’s the picture I get of Moyen when I think of Moyen and of women. Many women|Will love him, and have, perhaps. Bur while he has taken ipany, though I am only guessing here, he has given himself to none. Another thing: His followers: — well, he sets no limits to the lukts of his^men, requiring only that every soldier be fit for duty, with a body strong for hardship. You un- derstand ?" Kane understood, and his face was very pale.

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MONSTERS OF MOYEN 25 “Yes,” he said, his voice almost a ' whisper, 'I understand, and ai you ■peak of diis man I seem to see a city in ruins, and hordes of 'men making, bhiodstained men entering hoiisn . . from which, immediately afteryrard, come the srrramB of women . . . terror- itrickeh women. . . He shuddered and could not go on for the very horror of the vision that had come to him. But Kleig stared at him as though he taw a ghost. “Great God, Carl I” he gasped. “The ■ame identical picture has been in my mind, not once but a thousand times I I wonder. . , \ Was it an omen of the future for the West? Deep in his soul Prester Kleig ' fancied he could hear the sardonic laughter of the half-god, Muycn. A ’^NY bell rang inside the dash, bAind the instruments. Kane had set dmction finders, had pressed the hutton which signaled the Wash- ington-control Station of the National Radio, thus automatically indicating the exact spot above landi, by grid-co- ordinates, where the Mayther should start down for the landing. An hour later they landed on the flat roof of the new Capitol Building, sinking lightly to rest as a feather, nursed to a gentle landing by the whirring vanes of the helicopter. Prester Kleig, surrounded by uni- formed guards who tried to shield him fran the ga^e of news-gatherers crowded there on the roof-top, hurried him to the stairway leading into the executive chambers, and through these to the Secret Chmber which.. OQly a few men knew, ancTintO which not even Carlos Kane could \ follow Prester Deig— yet. ( But one man, one ndwa-gatherer, had canght a glimpse of the face of Kleig, sod already he raced for the radio tower of his organiution, to blazon to the Western world the fact that Kleig had come back. CHAPTER IV A Nation Waits in Dread^ AS Prester Kleig, looking twice bis forty years because of fatigue, and almost nameless tenors through which he bad passed, went to his ren- dezvous, the news-gatherer, who shall here remain nameless, raced for the Br(^dcasting Tower. As Prester Kleig entered the Secret Room and at a signal all the many doors behind him, along that intermin- able stairway, swung shut and were tightly locked, the news-gatherer raced for the microphone and gave the “pri- ority" signal to the operator. Millions of people would not only hear the words of the nev^gatherer, but would see him, ^note the expressions which chased one another across his face. For television was long since an ac- complished, everyday fact. “Prester Kleig, of thU government’s Secret Service, has just returned to the United Americas I Your informer has just seen him step from the monoplane of Carlos Kane, atop the Capitol Build- ing, and rdpair at once to the Secret Room, closely guarded. But I siw his face, and though he is under forty, he seems twice that. And you know now what this country has only guessed at- before — that he has seen Moyen. Moyen the half-man, half-god, the enigma of the ages. What does Prester Kleig think of this man? He doesn’t say, for he dares not speak, yet. But your informer saw his face, and it is old and twisted with terror I And — ’’ • That ended the discourse of* the news-gatherer, and it was many hours before the public really under- stood. For, with a new -sentence but half completed, the picture of the newa- gatherer faded blackly off the serpens in a million homes, and bis voice was blotted out by a lihmming that mounted to a terrific, appalling shriek I ' Some terrible agency, about which people who knew their radio could only guess, had drowned out the wbrds of the

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26 ASTOUNDING STORIES newa-gatherer, leaving 'N the public stunned and bewildered, almost grop- ing before a feeling of terror which wai all the^more unbearable because none could give it a name. And the public had heard but a frac- tion of the truth — merely that Kleig had come back. It bad been the in- tention of the government to deny the public even this knowledge, and it had t but knowleidge of the denial'ltaelf was public property, which filled the hearts of men and women all through the Western Hemisphere with nameless dread. And over all this abode of countless millions hovered the shadow -of Moyen. The government tried to correct the impression which the newa-gatherer had given out. “Prester Kleig is back,” said the radio, while the government speaker tried, for the benefit of those who could BM him, tO' Smile reassuringly. “But there is nothing to cause anyone the slightest concem. He has seen Moyen, yes, and has heard him speak, but still there is nothing to distress anyone, an<| the whole 'Story will be given to you as soon as possible. Kleig has gone into the Secret Room, yes, but every operative of the government, when dis- cussing business connected with diplo- matic relations with foreign powers, is received in the Secret Room. No cause for worry I** IT was SO: easy to say that, and the speaker realized it, which was why he could but with difficulty make his smile seem reassuring. ,, “Tell usflhe truth, and tell us quick- ly;” might have been the voiceless cries of those who listened and saw the face and fidgettlng form of the speaker. But the words were not spoken, because the people Sensed a hovering horror, a drotd catastrophe beyond the power of wi^da to express — snd so looked at one another in ailenee, their eyes wide with dread, their hearts throbbing to suffo- cation with nameless foreboding. So eyes were horror-haunted, and men walked, fl^, and rode in fear and trembling — ^while, down in the Secret Room, Prester Kleig and a dozen bid men, men wise in the ways of science and invention, wise in the ways of men and of beasts, , of Nature and the In- finite Outside, decided the fate of the Nation. That Secret Room was closed to every one. Nor even the news-gath- erers could reach it; not even the all- seeing eye of the telephotograph em- blazoned to the world its seerets. But was it secret? Perhaps Moyen, the master mobster, smiled when he heard men say so, men who knew in their hearts that Moyen regarded other earthlings as earthlings regard children and their toys. Did the eyes of Moyen gaze even into the depths of the $ecret Room, hundreds of feet below even the documentary- treasure vaults of the Capitol ? NO one knew the answer to the question, but the radio, reporting the return of Kleig, had given the pub- lic a distorted vision of an embodied fear, and in its heart the public an- swered “Yes I” And what had drowned but the voice of the radm-reporter ? No wonder . tbat,^or many hours, s natipn waited |n ^sr and trembling, eybs filled with dread that was name- less and absolute, for word from tbs Secret Room. Fear mounted and mounted as the hours passed and no word came. ^ In that room Prester Kleig and the twelve old men; one of whom was the country’s President, held counsel with the man sHio had come'back. But be- for the spoken jcf^sel had been held, awesome and awe-inspiring pictures had flashed aerbss the' screen, invented by a third of the old men, from which the world held: no secrets, even the secrets of ^oyeh. With this ntechanlsm, guarded at forfeit of the lives of a score of men, the men of the Secret Room could peer into even the most secret places of flie world. -The old men had peered, and

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MONSTERS OF ^OYEN 27 liad seen things which had blanched their pale cheeks anew. And when they had finished, and the terrible pic- tures had faded out, a voice had spoken nddenly, like an eaplosion, in the Secret Room. "Well, gentlemen, are you satisfied dut resistance is futile?” Just the voice ; but to one man in the Secret Rpom, and to the others when his num^g lips spoke the name, it was far more than enough. For not even the wisest of the great men could ex- plain how, as they knew, having just seen him there, a n^ could be in Mada- gascar while his voice spoke aloud in the Secret Room, where even radio was barred I The name on the lips of Prester KleigI “Moyen I Moyen I" CHAPTER V Monsters of the Deep ENTLEMEN,* said Prester Vjr I^leig as he entered the Secret Room, where sat the scientists and in- ventive geniuses of the Americas, ”we haven’t much time, and I shall waste but little of it. Moyen ip ready to strike, if he hasn’t already done soras I believe. We will see in a matter of seconds. Professor Maniel, we shall need, first of all, your apparatus for re- turning the vibratory images of events which have transpired within the last thirty-six hours. “I wish to show those of you who fsiled to see it the sinking of the Stel- isr, on wUcb I was a passenger and, I believe, tu only survivor.” Profesar Maniel, strangely mouse- like save ^r the ponderous dome of hU forehead, stepped away from the circu- lar table t^thout a word. He had in- vented the machine in question, and he was inordiiutely proud of it. Through its use he could pick up the sounds, snd the pictures, of events which had transpired down the past centuries, from the tinkling of ibe cymbals of Miriam to all the horror of the conflict men had called the Great War, sinqily by drawing back from the ether, as the sounds fled outward through space, those sounds and vibrations which he needed. Hi^ science was an exact one, more carefully exact even than the measure- ment of the speed of light, taking^ into consideration the dispersion of sound and movement, and the element of dme. The interior of the Secret Room be- came dark as Maniel labored with his minute machinery. Only behind the screen on the wall in rear of the table was there light. The voice of Maniel began to drone as he thought aloud. "There je a'matter of but a few min- utes difference in time between Wash- ington and the last recorded location of the Stellar. The sinking occurred at ten-thirty last evening you say, Kleig? Ah, yes, I have it I Watch carefully, gentlemen I” So silent wer& the Secret Agents one could not even have heard the breath- ing of one of them, for on the screen, misty at first, but becoming momat by moment bolder of outline, was the face of a storm-tossed sea. The liner was slower in forming, and was slightly out of focus for a second or two. “Ah,” said Professor Maniel,- "there it is I” ' f Through the sound apparatus came ^e roaring and moaning of a storm at sea. On the screen the Stellar rose high on the waves, dropped into the trough, while spumes of black smoke spread rearward on the waters from her spouting funnels. Figures were visible on her decks, figures which seemed carved in bronze. In the prow, every expression on his face plainly visible, stood Prester Kleig himself, and as his picture ap- peared he was iii^ the act of turning. ^Now,” said Kleig himself, there in the Secret Room, “look off to the left, gentlemen, a mile from the Stellarl” A rustling sound as the scientlats shifted in their places.

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28 1 ASTOUNDING STORIES They all aaw it, and a gasp burst from their lips as though at a sig- nal. For, as the Stellar seemed about to plunge off ^e shadowed screen into the Secret Room, a flying thing had risen out of the sea — an airplane with a bulbous body and quSerly slanting At the same time, out of the mouth of the pictured figure of Prester Kleig, clear and agonized as the tones of a bell struck in frenzy, the words: "Great God I Lower the boats Lower the boats I For God’s sake lower the boats I" In the..Secret Room the real Prester Kleig spoke again. ^ ‘When the black streak leaves the nose of tlw plane, after it has sub- merged, Professor Maniel," said Kleig softly, "slow your mechanism so that we can see the whole thing in detail." There came a, grunted affirmative from Professor Maniel. The nose .of the pictured plane tilted over, diving down for the surface of the sea. "Now r snapped Kleig, "don’t wait I" Instantly the moving pictures on the screen reduced their speed, and the plane appeared to stop its sudden sea- wsid plunge and to drop down as light- ly as a feather. ’The wings of the thing moved forward slowly, folding into the body of th^ dropping plane. "They fold forward," wd Kleig quietly, "so that the speed of the plane in the take-off will siup them back- ward into pqsition for flying I” NO one spoke, because the explana- tion was so obvious. Slowly the airplane went down to the surface of the sea, with scarcely a plume of spindrift leaping back after she had struck. She dropped to ten feet below the surface of the water, a hundred yards off the starboard beam of the Stellar, her blunt nose point- ing squarely at the side of the doomed liner. "Now," said Kleig hoarsely, "watch closely, for God’s sake I" The liner rqse and fell slowly. Out of the nose of the plane, which had now become a tiiyy submarine, started, a narrow tube: of black, oddly like the sepia of a giant squid. Straight toward the side of the liner it went. Above the rail the Secret Agents could see the pictured form: of Prester Kleig, hand upraised. The black streak reached the side of\the Steflar. It touched the metal plates, spread- ing upon impact, growing, enlarging, to right and left,’ upward and downward, and where it touched the Stellar the black ol it ‘seemed to erase that portion of the ship. In the slow motion every detail Was apparent. At regular speed tl^e blotting out of the Stellar would have been instantaneous. Kleig saw bimself rise slowly from the vanished rail, turning over and over, going down to the sea. He almost closed his eyes; bit Mis lips to keep back the cries of terror when he saw the others aboard ^he liner rise, turn over and over, and ^y in all directions like' jackstraws in a high wind. The ship was erased from beneath passengers! and crew, and passen- gers and crew into the sea. Out of ' the depths, from all directions, came the starving denizens of the sea — starv- ing because liners now were so few. "That’s enough of that. Professor,” snapped Kleig. : “Now jump ahead ap- proximately eigjht hours, and see if you can pfdk up - that aero-sub after it dropped me on Ae Jersey Coast." ’The picture jfaded out quickly, the screaming of demmed human beings, al- ready hours desjd; called back to appat^' ent living by the genius of Maniel ffied away, and for a space the scraen was blank. ’Then, the sea again, storm-tossed ss before, shifting here .and there as Maniel sought iia the immensity of sea and sky for the jthing he desired “Two hundre4 miles south by east of New York City," he droned. "There it is, gentlemen!" They all saw^it then, in full flight

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MONSTERS OF MOYBN 29 »i^ht thousand feet above the efface of the Atlantic, traveling aouth by east It a dizzy rate of speed. ^ “Note," said Kleig, “that it keeps ofely to the low altitudes, in order to cacape the notice of regular air traffic." No one answered. Thf eyes of the Secret Agents were on that flashing, bulbous.bodied plane of the strange wings. It appeared to be beading directly for some objective vhich must be reached at top speed. For fifteen minutes the flight con- tinued. Then th^ plane tilted over and dived, and at an altitude still of three thousand feet, the wings slash- ed forward, clicking into their notches in the sides of the bulbous body, with a ■ound like the ratchets on subway turn- idlca, and, holding their breath, the Secret Agents watched it ' plummet down to the sea. It was traveling with terrific speed when it struck, yet it en- tered the water with scarcely a splash. Then, for the first, time, an audible gasp, as that of one person, came from the lips of the Secret Agents. For now could see the objective of the aero- nb. A monster shadow in the water, at a depth of five hundred feet. A ihadow which, as Maniel manipulated his instruments, became a floating un- derwater fortress, ten times the size of my submarine known to the Americas. Sporting like porpoises about this held-in-suspension fortress were myri- ads of other aero-suba, maneuvering by squadrons and flights, weaving in and out like schools of fish. The plane which had bourne Preater Kleig churned in between two of the forma- tions, and vanished into the side of the BMionless monster of the deep. \ The striking of a deep sea bell, i^ted by tons and tons of water, sounded in Secret Room. “Don’t turn it off, Maniel," said Kleig. “There’s more yet I” And there was, for. the sound of the kell was a signal. The aero-subs, dart- kig outward from the side of the float- tag fortress like fish darting out of sea- weed, were plunging up toward the sur- face of the Atlantic. Breathlessly the Secret Agents watched them. They broke water like flying fish, and their wings shot backward from their notches in the myriad bulbous bodies to click into place in flying position as the qcores of aero-su^ took the air above the invisible hiding places of th9 mother submarine, At \ight thousand feet| the aero- suba swung into battle formation and, as though controlled by word of comnland, they maneuvered there like one vast machine of a central control — beautiful as the flight of swallows, deadly as an3rthing that flew. The Secret Agents swept the cold sweat from their brows, and sighs of terror esuped them all. Aflthat moment came the voice, loud in the Secret Room, which Kleig at least immediately recognized; "Well, gdntlemen, are you satisfied that resistance is futile?”. And Kleig whispered the name, over and over again. “Moyen I Moyen I” It was Prester Kleig, Master of the Secret Room, who was the first to re- gain control aftc9 the nervet'numbing question which, asked in far Madagas- car, was heard by the Agents in the Secret Room. "No r he shouted. “Not No I Moyen, in the- end we will beat you I" Only silence answered, but de» in the heart of Prester Kleig sounde^r burst of sardonic laughter — tie laugh- ter of Moyen, half-god of Asia. Then the voice again; , '’The attack is beginning, gentlemen I Within an hour you will have further evidence of the might of Moyen I” CHAPTER VI Vanishing Ships PRESTER KLEIG, ordered to Madagascar from the Secret Room, had been merely an operative, honored above others in that he had

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30 ASTOUNDING STORIES been one of the few, at that time, ever to viait the Secret Room. Now, how- ever, because he had walked closer to Moyen'than anyone else, he assumed leadership almost by natural right, and the men who had once deferred to him took orders from him. -v, “Gentlemen," he snapped, while the last words ‘of Moyen still hung in t)fe air of the Secret Room, " we must fight Moyeh from .here. The best brains in the United Americas are gathered here, and if Moyen can be beaten — ii he can be beaten — he will be beaten from the Secret Room I" A sigh from the lips of Professor Maniel. The President of ,tbe United Americas nodded his head, as though he too mutely gave authority into the hands of Prester Kleig. The other Secret Agents shifted slightly, but said nothing. 'T have been away a year,” said Kleig, ;"as you know, and many things have come into re^lar use since I left. Professor Haniel's machine for ex- ample, upon which he was working when I departed under orders. There will be further use for it in our strug- gle with Moyen. Professor, will you kindly range the ocean, beginning at once, and see bow many of these monsters of Moyen we have to contend With?” PROFESSOft MANIEL turned back to his instruments, wbiclt he fondled with gentle, loving bands, ; "We have nothing with which tci combat the attacking forcef^f Moyen,” Went on Kleig, "save antiigiated air- planes, and such obsolete waiships- as are available. These will be mere fod- der for the guns, or rays, or whatever tt is that Moyen uses in his aero-subs. Thou^ds, perhaps millions, of human lives will be lost; but better this than that Moyen rule, the West I B^er this than that our women be given into the hands of this mob as spoils of wart” Prom the Secret Agents a murmur of assent. And then, that voice again, startling. clear, with tlK slightest suggestion of some Oriental accent, in the Secret lioom. "Do not dipend too much, gentle- men,” it saidp “upon your antiquated warships I Sep, I am mercifnl, in that I do not allow' you to send them agairat me loaded with men to be slaughtered or dfdwned I ^ofessor Maniel, I would ask you to turn that plaything of youti and gaze upon the fleet of. obsolete ships anchored in Hampton Roads I In passing. Professor, I venture, to gueii that the secret of how I am able to talk with youi gentlemen, h^e in your Secret Room, is no secret at all to you. Now lookl” The Secret Agents gasped again, in , consternation. From the white lips of mouselike Maniel came mumbled words, even it Us bands worked with lightning speed. ' "His machine is simply a variation of my own. And,; gentlemen, campatriots, with it he cou)d as easily project bini- self,. bodily, htere into the room with usl” ^ \ SOMETHING like a suppremed scream from one of the men present. A cold hand of ice about die heart of Prestpr Kleig. But the words of Professor Maniel were limned on the retina of his brain in letters of fire. Suppose Moy^ were to project him- self into the ^cret Room. . . . But he would not. He wan no fool, and even these Secret Agents, most, of whom were qld and no longer strong, would have tom him Ihnb from Ifanb.. But those words of Maniel set whirl- ing once more,, and in a new direction, the thoughts of Prester Kleig. “Mr. President, gentlemen. ..." It was the voice pf Professor MdnieL All eyes turned again to the screen upon which the professor worked his miracles, which today were cormnon- places, which yesterday had been un- dreamed of. Every Secret Agent recog- nized the outlines of Hampton Roadn with Norfolk and its towering buildings in the badkground, and the obsolete

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MONSTERS OP. MOYEN 31 •arahips riding ailedtly at anchor in the roadstead. ' For three years they had been there, while a procrastinating Cabinet, Con- gitts and Senate had debated their permanent disposal. They represented millions of dollars in mon^, and were utterly worthless. Prester Kleig, look- ing at them now, could see them put- ting out to . sea, loaded with brave- sissged men, volunteering to go to sure destruction to feed the rapacity of Boyen's hordes. Men going out to sea in tubs, singing. . . . But these ships were silent. No plumes of smoke from their funnels. Like floating mausoleums, fllled with dead hopes, shells of past and departed glories. The beating of waves against their sides could plainly be heard. The anchor chains sque^ed rustily in the hawse-holes. Wind sighed through regal, towering superstructures, and no imn walked the decks of any one of them. WITH bated breath the Secret Agents watched. Why had Moyen bidden them turn their attention to these shells of erst- lAile naval grandeur? This time no gasps broke from the Ups of the Secret Agents. Not even the sound of breathing could be heard. Just the sighing of wind through the superstructures of a hundred ships, the whispering of waves against rusted bulkheads. Almost imperceptibly at first the hmtring dreadnought in the fore- ground began to movel Slowly, the ) water swirling about her, she hacked away from her anchor, tightening the curve of the anchor chain 1 Water quivered about the point of the chain’s contact with the waves 1 Quickly the eyes of the Secret Agents swept along the street of ships. The tame backward motion, of drag- ging against their anchor chains, was risible at the bow of each warship I With not a soul aboard them, the ships were waking into strange and awesome life, dragging at their anchors, like hounds pulling at leashes to be free and away I “How are they doing it?" It was olmqst a whisper from the President. "Some electro-magnet^' force, sir 1" stalled Prester Kleig. "Professor Blaine, ; that is your province I Please note what is happening, and advise us at once if you see how they are ddfng it I" A grunt of affirmation from surly, obese Professor Blaine. S’ All eyes ‘turned back again to the *' miracle of the moving ships. One by one, w^th crashes which echoed and re-echoed through -the Secret Room, the anchor chains of the dreadnoughts parted. The ends of them swung from the prows of the warships, while the severed portions splashed into the .Roads, and the waters hid them from view. The, great dreadnought in the fore- ground swung slowly about until her prow was pointed in the direction of the open sea, and though no sea was running, no smoke rose from her fun- nels, she got slowly, ponderously under way, and started out the Roads. Behind her, in formation, the other ships swung into line. # In a matter of seconds, faster than any of these vessels had ever traveled before, they were racing in column for the open Atlantic. And from the sound apparatus came wails and shrieks of terror, the lamentations of men and women frightened as they ^d never been frightened before. The shores behind the moving column of ships was moment by moment grow- ing blacker with people — a black sea of people, whose faces were white as chalk with terror. But on, out to sea, moved the cplumn of brave ships. A new note entered into the pidture, as from all sides airplanes of many makes swooped in, and swept back and forth over the moving ships, w^le hooded heads looked out of pits, hnd

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32 ASTOUNDINGrSTORIES faces of pilots were aghast at what they saw. A GHOST columh of ships, moving out to sea, spehd increuing mo- ment moment unbelievably. Even now, five minutes after the first (nead- no|ight had started seaward, the wake of' each ship spread away on either hand in the two sides of a watery tri- angle whose walls were a dozen feet high — racing for the shores with all the sullen majesty of tidal waves. The crowds gave back, and their screams rose into the afr in a fright- ened roar of appalling Mund. Even now, so rapidly did the war- ships travel, niany of the planes could throttle down, so that they flew di- rectly above the heaving decks pf the runaway warships. “Get word to them I” cried Prester Kleig suddenly. “Get word to them that if they follow the ships out to aea not a pilot will escape alive I" One of the Secret Agents rose and l^urried from the Secret Room, travel- ing at top speed for the first of 'the many doors enroute to the ^roadcasting tower from which all the planes could ' be reached at once. Prester Kleig turned back to the magic screen,: of ManieL The warships, water thrown aside by the lifting thrust of their forefeet in mountains that rac^ landward with ever-increasing ftiry, were clearing the Roads and swinging south by east, heading into the wastes of the Atlantic. As they cleared the land, and open wafer for unnumbered miles lay ahpad, the speed of the mighty ships increased to a point where they rode as high on the water as racing launches, and the creaking and groaning of 'their rusty bolts and spars were a continual paean of protest in the ‘sound apparatus ac- companying the showing of the miracle on the screen. “They're heading straight for the spot where that super-submarine lies I" said the President, and ho one an- swered him. PRESTER KLEIG, watching, wm racing over in his mind what he could recall of his country’s armament Warships were useless, as was being proved here before bis eyes. . But there still remained airplane^ in countleu numbers, which could be diverted from ocean travel and from routine busi- ness, to battle this menace of Moyea But .... He shuddered ^s he| pictured in bis mind’s eye the meeting of his country’s flower of flying manhood with the mon- sters of Moyen. His eyes, as be thought, were watch- ing the racitrg of those ocean grey- hounds, out to sea. They were now out of sight .of land, and still some of the planes followed them. A half hour passed, and then .... The American pilots, in obedience to the radio signals, turning back from this strange phenomenon of the ghost colutrm of capital shipa Simultaneously, out of the sky dead ahead, dropped the first fli^t of Moyens’ aero-suba At the same moment the mysterions power which bad dragged the ships to sea was withdrawn, and the .war^ps, with no hands to guide them, swung whither they willed, and floated in.ss many directioru as there were ships, u n d er their forward momentin There were a score of collisiona and some of the ships were in sinking con- dition even before the aero-subs began their labora The remaining ships floated high out of the water, because they carried no ballast, and from all aidni the aero-subs of Moyen settled to the task of destruction— destruction which was simply a wamipg of what was to come: Moyen’a manner of proving to the Americas the fact that he whs all- powerful. “God, what fools I” cried Prester Kleig. The rearmost of the American aviators bad looked bach, had seen the firat of the aero-subs drop down smosiy

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MONSTERS OF MOYEN S3 the doomed ships. Instantly he turn- ed out to sea again, signalling as he did so to the nearest other planes. And in spite of the radio warning a hundred planes answered that signal and swept, back to investigate this new mystery. "they’rt going to death I" . groaned the Prudent “Yes,” said Kleig, softly, “but it saves us ordering others to death. Perhaps we may learn something of value as we wat(^ them die I’ CHAPTER VII Golden Oblivion This," said Preater Kleig, as coldly precise as a judge pro- nouncing sentence of death, “will pre- cipitate the major engagement with Hoyen’s forces. The fools, to rush in like this, when they have been warned I But even so, they are magnificent I” The pilots of the aero-subs must in- stantly have noticed the return of the American pilots, for some of the aero- subs which had dropped to the ocean’s surface rose again almost instantly, and swept into battle formation above the drifting hulks of the warships. The Americana were wary. They drew together like frightened chickens when a hawk hovers above them, and watched the activities of the aero-subs, every move of each one being at the same time visible and audible to the Secret Agents in the Capitol’s Secret Room. The aero-subs which had submerged singled out their particular prey among the floating ships, and the Secret Agents, trying to see how each sepa- rate act of destruction was accom- plished, watched the aero-sub in the foreground, which happened to be con- centrating on the dreadnought which had led the ghost-march of the war- ships out to sea. The aero-sub circled the swaying dreadnought as a shark circles a wreck, and through the walls of the dero-Bub the watchers in the Secret Room could see the four-man crew of the thing. Grim faced men, men of ' the Ofient they plainly were, coldly concentrating on the work in hand. Their faces were those of men who are merciless, even brutal, with neither heart nor compassion of any kind for weaker ones. One man maneuvered Ae aero-aub, while the other three con- centrated on the apparatus in the nose of Ae hybrid vesael. ^ “See,” spoke Preater Kleig again, “if you can telj what manner of ray Aey use, and how it is projected. That’s your province. General Munson I” From the particular Secret Agent named, who was eapert for war- in Ae membership of Ae Secret Room, came a fhort grunt of affirmation. A few murmured words. “I’ll be able to tell more about it when, I see how Aey operate when Aey are flying. That black streak under water . . . ^ must see it out of Ae water, and then . . . . ” But here General Munson ended, for the aero-sub which Aey were especial- ly watching bad got into action against the dreadn<mght. The aerMub was motionless and- Bubmerged just off Ae port bow of Ae dreadnought. The three men inside ''Ae aero-sub were working swiftly and efficiently with Ae complicated but minute maAinery in the of Aeir trwsport. \ “It can be controlled, ,Aeq, Ais ray,” said Munson, interrupting himself. “Watch I” From Ae nose of Ae aero-sub leaped, like a streak of black lighAing, that ebon agency of death. It struck the prow of thi battleship— and Ae prow, as far aft as Ae well- deck, simply vaniAed from sight, dis- integrated! It was as though it had never been, and for a second, so swiftly bad it happened, Ae water of t|ie ocean held the impression that portion of Ae watahip bafl made — as an explosive I leaves a crater in the soil of ea^l

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34 ASTOUNDING STORIES Then a drumming roar aa the sea m^ed in to claim its own. The roar- ing, as of a Niagala, as the waters claimed the shipi rushing down pas- sageways into the holi!^ possessing the warship with all the invipcible, speedy might of the sea. ' Mipgled with this roaring was the s)iiTering> vibratory sound which Pres- ter Kleig had experienced in his half- dream. The sound was so intense that it fairly rocked the Secret Room to its furthermost cranny. For a second the dreadnought, wounded td death, seemed^to shudder, to hesitate, then to prove backvrard as though wincing from her death blow. It wa( the pound of the inrushing waters which did it. Then up canfe the stem of the mighty ship, as she starti^ her last long plunge into the depths. But attention had swung to another warship, an the starboard beam of which another aero-sub had taken up position'. Again the ebon streak of ^eath from her blunt, nose, smashing in aind through the warship,, directly amidships, cutting her in twain as though the black streak had been a pair of shears, the warship a strip of tissue paper. Up went the prow and the stem of this one, and together, the water sepa- rating the two parts as it rushed into the gap, the broken warship went down to its final resting place. Abruptly Professor Maniel swung back to the American planes whi^ch had tome back to investi- gate the activities of the aero-subs, and on the screen, in the midst of the battle formation into which the pilots had swept so hurriedly, the Secret. Agents could see the faces of those pilots .... , White as chalk with fear, mouths open in gasping Unbelief. One man, a pale-faced youtb, was the first to re- cover. He stared aropnd at his com- patriots, and plainljrthrough the sound apparatus in the Secret Room came his swift radio signals. "Attack I Who will follow me against these people?" His signals were very plain. So, too, were the answers of the other pilots, and the heart of Prester Kleig swelled with pride as he listen^ to the answering signals — and counted them, discovered that every last pilot there present elected to stay with this young- ster, to avenge their country for this contemptuous insult which had been put upon byr by the rape of Hampton Roads. Into swift formation they swept, and .with these planes — all planes in use were required by franchise of operat- ing companies to be equipped for the emergenciep^^f . war — swung into an echelon formation, the youthful pilot leading by mutual consent. They swept pt full speed toward the warships, four ,of which bad by_thii time been sent to destructiofi— one of which bad appeared to vanish utterly in the space of a dngle heartbeat, so quicl^ly that foir a second or two the shape of its bil||e, the bulge of its keel, was visible in the face of the deep — and openly challenged the aero-subs. Muzzles of compressed air guns projected from the wing-tips o( the planes. Buttons were pressed which elevated the muzzles of nns ar- . ranged to fire upward from ei&er side the fighting pits, twin guns that were fired downward from the same central magazine — the ifnly guhs in use in the Americas which fired in opposite direc- tions alt the same time. But for a few. moments the aero-subs refused combat. Their speed was ter- rific, dazzling; They eluded the thrusts, the divep and plunges of the American ships as easily as a swallow eludes the dive of a buzza^. It came to Prester Kleig, however, that the aero-subs were merely playing with the Americans; that v^en they elected to move, the planes would be blasted from the sky as easily as the warships were being erased fram die surface of the Atlantic.

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MONSTERS OP MOYEN 35 One by one, as methodically as ma- Bullets smashed into dun leading chines, ^e aero-sub pilots blasted the aero-subs, with no apparent effect, warships into nothingness, ^hey had . though for a second it seemed that the their orders, and they went about dieir' central aero-sub of the leading forma- performance with a ^gidity of dis- ^on hesitated for a moment in flight, cipllne vthich astounded the Secret i Then, swift as had that black streak Agents. They had been ordered to flashed from the nose of aero-subs sub- destroy the warships, and they were merged, a streak darted from the Hose doing that first — would go on to com- pf the central aero-sub, and glistened pletion of this task, no matter , how many American planes buzzed about their ears. But one by one as the warships sank,V the aero-subs which had either sunk or. erased them made the surface and leap^ ’ ed into space with a snapping back of wings that was horribly businesslike as to sound, and climbed up to take part in the fight against the American planes, which mint inevitably come. The last warship, cut squarely in two from stem to stem along her center, as though split thus by a bolt of lightning, tell apart like pieces of cake, and splashed down, sinking away while the spume of her disintegration rolled back from her fallen sides in white-crested waves. "It exemplifies the policies of Moyen," said Prester Kleig, “for his conquest of the world is a conquest, of destruction." The la^t aero-sub took to the sky, snd the Americans rushed into battle fn the sun like molten gold I IT touched the youngster who had called for volunteers for his at- tack against this strange enemy, ^ ’touched his plahe — and the plane vanished instantly, while for a frac- tion of a second the pilot was visible in his place, in the posture of sitting, hand on a row of buttons which did not exikt, head forward slightly as he aimed guns that had vanished. Then the pilot, still living, apparent- ly upbiiH, plunged down eight thou- sand feet to the sea. The water gey- sered up as he struck, then closed over the spot, and the gallant American youngster had become the first victim in battle of the monsters of Moyen. Victim of a slender lancet of what seemed to be golden lightning. "He could have killed the pilot aloft, there,” came quietly from Munson, "but be chose to pull his plane away from around him I Their control of the ray is miraculous)" with fine disregatd for what they knew must be certain death. They were not fools, exactly, and they had seen, but not understood, the manner in which those gallant old hounds of the sea had been erased, from existence. But in they went, plunging squarely into the heart of the aero-subs’ leading formation, which formation consisted of three aero-suba, flying a wing and wing formation. The young American signaled vrith upraised hand, and the American pilots made their first move. Evety plane started rolling, at dazzling speed, on the axis of its fuselage, while bullets spewed from the guns that fired though the propellers. As though to confirm the statement of Munson, the leading aero-sub struck again, a second plane. 'The plane vanished, but from the spot where it had flown, not even a bit of metal or of man sufficiently large to be seen by the delicate recording instruments of Maniel dropped out of the sky, the ray of gold was f ray pf oblivion if the minions of Moyen willed. CHAPTER VIII CbarmioD x-nRBSTER ELEIC,” came sud- Jr denly into the Secret Room the ^ voice of faf ^stant Moyen, "you will at

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36 ASTOUNDING STORIES eoee make a change in your rules re- garding the admission of other than Secret Agents to the.^ Secret Room. -You wUl at once see that Charmion Kane, sister of your friend, is allowed to enter 1” ''Gdd Almighty r’ A cry of agony from the lips of Prester Kleig. He had not forgotten Charmion, but simply had had to move to swiftly that he had put her out of his mind. For a year he had not seen her, and an hour or two more could not matter greatly. ^ “And her brother Carlos,” went on the voice, "see that he, too, is admitted. I wish, for certain reasons, that Cbar- mion come un^iarmed through .the direct attack I am about to make against your country. I confess that, . save for this ability to speak to you, I am unable to work any damage to the Peoet Room, which is therefore the safest place for Charmion Kane I Culos Kane is being spared because he is her brother!” There was no mistaking the import of this sinister command from Moyen. He bad singled ou^ Charmion, the best beloved of Prester Kleig, for his atten- tions, and th|t he was sure of the suc- cess of bis attac^ agamst the United Americas was proved by .the calm as- surance of his voice, and .the fact that, concentrating on the attack as be must be, he still found time for a thought of Charmion Kane. The hand of ice which had sSldom been absent from the heart of Kleig since he bad first seen and beard Uie voice of Moyen gripped him anew. Blood popnded maddeningly in his temples. Cold sweat bathed his body. But the rest of the Secret Agents, save to freeze ^to Immobility when the hated voice spoke,, gave no sign. They bad worries of their own, for no in- structions had been given that they iiring their own loved ones into the sanctuary of the Secret Room. As though answering the thoughts of the others, the hated voice spoke again. “I regret that I cannot arrange for sanctuary for the loved ones of all of you, for you are gallant antagonists; why save the few, when the many must perish 7 For I know you will not sur- render, however much I have proved to you that I am invincible. But Char- mion Kane must be saved." “God!” whispered Kleig. “God!” Then spoke General Munson. “I think this ray which the Moye- nites use is a variation of the princijile used in the intricate machinery of Pro- fessor Maniel, though how they render it visible I do not know. But it doesn’t matter, and may be only a blind! You’ll note that when the black streak, or the golden ray, strikes anything that thing instantly disintegrates. A cer- tain pitch of resonance will break a pane of glass. It’s a matter of vibra- tion, solely, wherein the molecules composing any object animate or inani- mate, are hurled in all directions .in- Btanteously. ^ "Professor Maniel’s apparatus, the Vibration-Retarder, is able to recapture the vibrations, speeding outward end- lessly through space, and to recon- struct, and draw back to viaibility the objects dSstroyed by this visible vibra- tory rayl whatever it is. This problem, then, falls into the province of Profes- sor Maniel!” Through the heart and sou! of Prester Kleig there suddenly flowed a great surge of hope. "General Munson, if you will operate the machinery of the Vibration-Re- tarder, I wish to talk with Professor Maniel !” Instantly, efficiently, without a word in reply to the eager command of Pres- ter Kleig, General Munson relieved Professor Maniel at the apparatus which Maniel called the Vibration- Retarder, his invention which he bad combined with audible teleview to com- plete this visual mitacle of the Secret Room. Professor Maniel stepped to where Prester Kleig was sitting. Prester Kleig put fingers to his lips

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MONSTERS OF HOYBN 37 for silence, an expression of sur- prise crossed the wrinkled, dead-whi|le face of the Professor. Before Eleig could speak, however," there came a signal from somewhere outside the Secret Room, a signal which said that the doors were being opened apd that a personage was com-.- ing. Thfc Secret Agents looked at bnel another in surprise, for every man who bad a right to be inside the Secret Room was already present. “I know,’’ said Ueig; his face a mask of terror. "It is Charmion and Carlos Kane I Moyen, the devil, has managed to make sure of obedience to bis orders I” The Secret Agents turned hack to the screen, upon which the view of the first aerial brush, of the American flyers with the minions of Moyen, in their aero-subs, was drawing to a terrible' close. For, as the aero-sub commanders bad played with the warships, which had no human beings aboard them, so now did they play with the planes of the Americas. ONE American flyer, startled into a frenzy by the fate of his lel-^ lows, put his helicopter into action, and leaped madly out of the midst of the battle. 'Instantly an aero-sub zoomed skyward after him. Again that golden streak of light from the nose of an aero-sub, and the helicopter vanes and the slender staff upon whose tip they whirled vanished, shorn short off above the vane-grooves in the top of the wing I The plane dropped away, fluttering like a falling leaf for a moment, be- fore the aviator started his three pro- pellers again. A cheer broke from the lips of Pres- ter Kleig as he watched. The com- mander of that particular aero-sub, ap- parently contemptuous of this flyer who had tried to cut out of the fight, allowed him to fall away unmolested — and the American, driven berserk by the casual, contemptuous treatment ac- corded him by this strange enemy, zoomed the second his propellers whir-, red into top-speed action, ^nd raced up the sky toward the belly of the aero- Biib. , “If only the aero-sub has a blind spot I’’ cried Prester Kleig. IN that instant a roaring crash \ sounded in the Secret Room as the American plaine, go^ig full speed, crashed, propellers foremost, fnto the belly of the aero-sub. And the aero-sub, whose brothers had seemed until this moment invin- cible, did not escape the wrath of the American — though the American went into oblivion with it I For, welded together, American plane and aero-sub Started the eight thousand feet,plunge downward to the seal "W atchl" shrieked Munson. "Watch I’’ As the aero-sub and the plane plunged down through the formation of fighters, the aero-sub pilots saw It, and they fled in wild dismay and at top speed frsm their falling compatriot. Why? For a moment it'waa not ap- parent. And then it was. For out of the body of the doomed aero-subs came sheets of golden flame I Not the flames of fire, but the golden sheen of thaO streak which the aero- subs had used against the American planes already out of the fight 1 The American flyer had crashed into the container, whatever it was, that har- nessed the agency through which the minions of Moyen had destroyed th^^ Stellar, and the battleships raped from Hampton Roads I • “It isN liquid, then I’’ shrieked Mun- son.’ / And it seemed to be. For a second the golden mantle, strange, awe-in- spiring, bathed and rendered invisible the aero-sub and the plane \vhieh had slain her,. Then the golden flame vanished ^tterly, instantly — and in the air where it had been there was notih- ing I The aero-sub was gone, and the

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38 ASTOUNDING STORIES plane whose mid charge had erased her. "Her own death dealing agency destroyed her I'* shrieked Munson. “And the other aero-subs cut away ikom the fight to save themselves, be- cause they too carry death and destruc- tion within theml" 'v Then the inner door of the Secref Room opened and two people entered. One of them, a^ daszling beauty with glorious black hair and the tread of a princess, a picture of per- fection from jeweled sandals to coif- fured hair, was Chaimion Kane. Be- hind her came her brother, whose face was chalky white. But Charmion, as she cros|ed to Kleig and kissed him, while her eyes were luminous with love, held her head proudly high, im-, perious. *T know,” she said softly to Kleig, “and I am ,not afraid I I know y^ou will prevent it I” Deig waved the two to chairs and turned again to Professor Maniel. On a piece of paper he wrote soft- ly, tiding a mode of shorthand known only to the Secret Agents. “Professor,” he wrote feverishly, “can you reverse the process used in yonr Vibration- Retarder 7 Tell., me with your eyes, for Moyen may even know this writing, and I am sure he hears what we say here, may even be able to see us?’* Professor Maniel started and stared deeply into- the eyes of Prester Kleig. His face grew thoughtful. He brushed his slender hand over the massive dome of his brow. Hope burned high in the heart of Prester Kleig. Then, despite Kleig’s instructions to answer merely by the expres- sion in-his eyes. Professor Maniel lean- ed forward and wrote quickjy on the piece of paper Kleig had usei "Two hours I* Nothing else, no explanations; but Prester Kleig knew. Madlel believed he could do it; but he needed two hours in which to perfect >his theory and make it workable. Kleig knew that had he been able to do it in two years, or two decades, it still would have been in the nature of a miracle. But two hours .... And Moyen bad said that he was pre- paring to attack at once. In two hours Moyen, unless the Americas fought against him with every resource at their command, could depopulate half the Western World. Kleig looked back to the screen. There' w^s not a single American plane in the sky above the graveyard ot those vanished warships. And the aero-subs, swift flying as the wind, were racing back to the mother fhip, scores of miles away. Munson worked with the Vibratiob- Retarder, the Sound-and-Viaion de- vices, ranging the sea off the coast to either side of that huge,' suspended fortress which was the mother sub- marine of the aero-si/bs. Gasps of terror, though the sight was not unexpected, broke from the lips of every person in the Secret Room. Per super-monsters of Moyen were moving to the attack. CHAPTER IX ^ Flowers of Martyrdom For a minute the Secret Agents were' appalled by the air of might of the deep-sea monsters of Moyen, brought bodily, almost into the Secret Room by the activities of General Mun- son at the Sound-and- Vision apparatus. Off the coast, miles away, yet loom- ing moment by moment larger, indicat- ing the deceptively sarift speed of the monsters, were scores of the great un- der-water fortresses, traveling toward the coast of the United Americas in a far-flung formation, each snlnnarine separated from its neighbor to right and left by something like a hundred miles, easy cruising radius for the little aero-subs carried inside the monsters. That each submarine did carry such spawn of Satan w^ plainly seen, for

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MONSTERS OP MOYEN 39 M the great fubmarines moved land- ward, scores of aero-subs sported glee- fully about the mother ships. There was no counting the number of them. Two hours Maniel needed for bis l^rs, which meant that for two hours the flower of the country’s maphood must try to hold in check the mighty hordes of Moyen. “Somewhere there,” stated Pffcster Kleig, “in one or the other of those monsters, is Moyen himself. I know that sinc^ he wished Chaimion saved for his attentions I Do your work with your apparatus, Munson, while I go out to the radio tower to broadcast an ap- them. Fear held them most because they could not give the cause of their fear a name — save one .... Moyen .... And the name was on the lips of everyone, and frcniied women stilled their squalling babes with its mention. No word yet from the Seeret Room, but Prester Kleig had scarcely ap- peared from it than someone started the radio signal which informed the frenzied, waiting world of the west that information; ezact if startling, would new be forthcoming. In millions of homes, in thousands of high-flying pl^es, listeners tuned in at peal for volunteers, Charmion — the clear-all hum. los ” ' But Prester Kleig found that he^ could not continue. Not that it was necessary, for Charmion and Carlos knew what was in his mind. Charmion was a lady of vast intelligence, from whom life’s little ironies had not been hidden — and Kane and Kleig had al- ready discussed the activities of Moyen where women were concerned. PRESTER KLEIG wasted no time in preliminaries . "Prester Kleig speaking. We are threatened by Moyen, with scores of monster submarines, each a mother ship for scores of aero-subs, combina- tions of airplane's and miniature sul^ marines. They are moving up on. our eastern coast, from some secret base PRESTER KLEIG hurried to the Central Radio Tower, and as he passed through eaeh of the many doors leading out to the roof of the new Capitol Building the guards at the doors left to form a guard for him, at this moment the most precious man in the country, because he knew best tbe terrible trials which faced her. ' The country was in turmoil. It seemed almost impossible that a whole day had passed since Prester Kleig had returned and entered the Seeret Eoot»- In the meantime a fleet of battleships had been drawn by some mysterious agency out to sea from Hampton Roads, and a fleet of fighting p^es which had followed the ghosts column outward had not returned. News-gatherers had spread the stories, distorted and garbled, across the western continents, and throughout the western eonfederacy men, women <kand ehildren lived In the throes of the greatest fear that had ever. -gripped which we have not yet located.- They are equipped with, death dealing in- struments of wl^ch we have but the moat fragmentary knowledge, and for two hours I must call upon all flyers to combat the menace until the Secret Agents, especially Professor Maniel, have had opportunity to counteract the minions of Moyen. “Flyers of the United Americas I In the name of out country I ask that volunteers gather on tbe eastern coast, each flyer proceeding at once to the nearest coast-landing, after dropping all passengers. Your ' commanders have already been named by your var- ious organizations, as required by fran- chise, and orders for the movement of the entire winged armada will c«e from this station. However, tbe orders will simply be this: Hold Moyen’s forces at toy for a 'period 'of two hours I And know that many of you go'to certain death, and make your own decisions as to whether you shall volunteer I"

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40 ASTOUNDING STORIES Thi< ended, Prester Kleig, excite- ment mounting high, hurried back to the Secret Room. 'v, / Now the public knew, and as t^ American public is given to doingot steadied down when it knew the worst. Fear of the unknown had changed the public into a myriad-souled beast gone berserk. Now that knowledge teas ex- act men grew calm of face, detei^ned, and women assumed the supporting role which down the ages has been that of brave women, mothers of men. APE^OD bf silence fot a time after Prester Kleig’s pronounce- ment. As he entered the first door leading into the Secret Room, Carlos Kane met and passed him with a smile. • *^ou called for vringed volunteers, did you not, Kleig?” h|^ked quietly. Kleig nodded. “You are going?" he said. “Yea. It is my duty.” No other words were necessary, as the :men shook hands, Prester going on to the Secret Room, Carlos Kane .going out to join the mighty armada which must fight against the minions of Moyen. The words of Prester Kleig were heard by the pilots of the sky-lanes. The passenger pits, equipped with self- opening parachutes which dropp^ jumpers in series of long falls in order to acquire swift but accurate and safe landing — they opened at intervals in long falls of two thousand feet. Stayed the fall, then closed ' again, so that drops were ajmost^continuous until the last four htmdrc4 feet — and pilots, swiftly making up their inind^ drop- ped their passengers, banked their planes, and raced into the east. A LX, over the Americas pilots drop- ped their passengers and their l^ds if their franchises called for the carrying of freight, and banked about to take part in tf|e first skirmish with the Moyenites. Dropping figurM almost darkened the sky as passengers plunged down- ward after the startling signal from Washington. Flowers, which were the umbrellas of chutes, opened and closed like breathing winged orchids, letting their burdens safely to earth. And clouds and fleets of pirplanes came in from all directions to land, in rows and rows which were endless, wing and wing, along the eastern ebast. Prester Kleig bad scarcely entered the Secret Room than the hated voice of Hoyen again' broke upon the ears of the machinelike Secret Agents. “This is madness, gentlemen I Hy people will aimihilate yours I" put, since time for speech had passed, not one of the Secret Agents inade answer or paid the slightest heed tO| the warning, though deep in the heart of each and every one was the be- lief that Molen spoke no more than the truth. Too, there was a growing respect for the half-god of Asia, in that he was good enough to warn them of the hol^ caust whith faced their country. By hundreds and thousands, wing and wing, airplanes dropped to the At- lantic coast at the closest point of con- tact, when the signal reached them. At high altitudes, planes crossing the Atlantic turned back aud returned at top speed, dropping their passengers as soon as over |and. That Moyen made no move to prevent the return of flyers out over the ocean, and now com- ing back, was an ominous circumstance. It seemed to show that he held the American flyers, all of them, in utter contempt, r-, ' PRESTER KLEIG regarded tbr time. ,It had been half an hour since Moyen had spoken of attack, half an hour since the monsters of the deep had started the inexorable move toward land. On the screen the submarines ^ere bulking larger and larger aa the moments fled, until it seemed to the Secret Agents that the great composite shadow of them already was sweeping inland from the coast.

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MONSTERS OF MOYSN 41 Af the cout came close ahead of the daited eastward to meet the winged ^nMer subs the little aero-suba, to death-bubingers of Moyep. tarprise of the Secret Agents, all i^iibed into their respective mother CHAPTER X *Bnt they have to use them,” groan- ed Hanson^ “For their submarines are Mcless in frontal attack against qur Aatsr ‘I sffl not so sure of that,” said Fieiter Kleig. "For I have a suspicion Ibit those, submarines have factors puW their keels, and that they can tone out on land I If this i^ so the MiMters can, guarded by armoi^-plate, penetrate to the very heart of o|ir most populated areas before their aelo-subs se released.” None of the Secret Agents as yet had nO|q)ed to ponder how the monsters hid reached their positions, and why Noycn was attacking from the east, shea the Pacific aide of the continents sooU have appeared to be the obvious point of attack, and would have obviat- ed the necessity of long, secret under- ta jo^eys wherein discovery pre- auturely must have been one of the ■any worries of the submarine com- maukra. "They Shall Not Passl" PRESTER KLEIC’S heartfelt de- sirh, as the American flyers clos- ed with the first of the aero-subs, was' to go out with them and aid them in the attack gainst the Moyenites. But he knew, and it was a tacit thing, that he best served his country from the safe haven of the Secret Room. As he watched the scenes unfold on the screen of Maniel’s genius, with oc- casional glances at the somewhat mys- terious but profound and concentrated labors of Maniel, Cbaimion Kane rose from her place and came to his side. Wide-eyed as she watched the join- ing of battle, she stood there, her tiny hand encased in the tense one of Prestef Kleig. ' "You would like to be out there,” she ' murmured. : "I know it I But your country needs you here — and I have I already given Carloal” Prester Kleig tightened his grip on her hand. The mere fact of the presMce of the ■ousters was enough. ^|iat had pre- ceded their presence was unimportaint, ■re that their presence, and their near epptoach to the shore undetected, farther proved the eaecutive and plan- sing genius of Moyen. Two miles, on an average, off the catem coast the submarines laid their cggi. the aero-subs, which darted from Ike ndes of the mother ^ships in flights aid squadrons, made the surface, and k^ed into the sky. . Fivt minutes later and the aignal wm forth to the phalanx of the volun- iNn. *Tike off I Fly east and engage the . tacay, and hold him in check, and the IGeddfour fathers go with you I” Oae honr had passed since Moyen's ikltmatnm when the first vanguard of Ike American flyers, obeying the |!Mcmptory signal, took tbe/hir and There was deep, silent under- standing between these two, and Prester Kleig, in fighting against the Moyenites,. realized, even above his realizatiem that his 1 a b o r w were primarily for the benefit of his country, that he' r^lly matched wits with Moy^n for fhe sake of Charmion. Had anyone asked him whether he wonld have sacrificed her for the benefit of bis country^ it would have been a dif- ficult question to answer. He was glad that the question was never asked. 1 “Yes, beloved," he whispered. "I would like to be out therCr but the greatest need for me is here,” But even ko he felt as though he was betraying those intr^id flyers he was sending to sure deAh. Yet they had volunteered^ and It was, the only way. Maniel, ajgnomelike little man with

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42 ABOUNDING STORIES a Titan’s brain, labored with hU cal* culationa, made swiftly concute his theories, while . at the Sound-and- Vision apparatus\ excitable General Munson ranged the aerial battlefield to see how the tide of battle eb^d^d flowed. \ ! That neither '^ide would eithei; ask or give quarter was instantly apparent, for they rushed head-on to meet each other, those vast opposing winged armadas, at. top speed, and not a single individual «werr^ from his course, though at least thfe Americans knew that death rode the skyways ahedd. Then .... The battle was joined. M the front. In this mad, seemingly meaningka formation, they closed on the aoa subs. Without having seen the the Amhricana were aping the acllad that one nameless flyer who W charged the aero-sub that had bad destroyed. Kleig remembered. A score rl ships had been destroyed uttady above the graveyard of dreadnon|hA yeKonly one aero-sub, and that qnUa; by chance, had been marked off in tie casualty column. Death rode the heavens as the Aaita lean flyers went into action. For hesA on fights, flyers went in at top apaat their' planes w^rling on the aias al f j^lages, all guns going. Planes span armored against their own. bullelay aai they were not under the necessity of watching to see that they did not.dff their own friends. Even so, bullets were rather ineica tive against the aero-subs, whose. % parently flimsy, almost tranqnaft outer covering diverted the boBdr with amazing ease. ' A whirling maelstrom of ships. Ill monsters of Moyden had drawn Aff blood, if the expression may be us^ll an action where no blood at sll^lg drawn; but machines and m^n erased from existence. Hundreds of planes already when the second flight of ships dlOT with the aero-subs. Yellow strtalij| death flashed from aero-sob nosffw but even as acro-sub operators fct ibiil

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MONSTERS OF MOYEN 43 ^ into motion the American flyers charge rolled, dived or and kept their guns going, gigh above the flrst flight of aero- lyhind #hich another flight waa swiftly into 'action, American tfOi tilted the noses of their planes gwr and dived under full power — ^to me death by suicide, though none gim it there at the moment. These aero-subs could not be driven from the sky by usual mms, and could destroy ’ American dHpi even before those planes could to handgrips ; but they, the flyers pUaly believed, could be eraahed out rftheaky and so, never guessing dvhat death in resulting crashes' they {peed, the flyers above the aeroVuba, (Rn as aero-subs in rear flashed in to. pMrmt, dived down straight at the teaks of the aero-subs. hi a hundred places the, dives of the Anaricaaa worked successfully, daerican planes crashed full and trj {aO power on, into the backs of the *|]rhig flah.”. In some aero-subs the emtainer of the Moyen-dealing agency ippaintly remained untouched, and tkplanes and aero-subs, welded to- ledier, plunged down the invisible ilylanet into the sea. nsder wa^er, some of the aero-subs Boe seen to keep in motite, limping Ivstul the nearest mother Submarines. T hope," said Prester Kleig, "the Aamican flyers in such cases are al- nady dead, for Moyen will be a maniac iKUa tortures. Munson, do you hur- caamine the mother-subs and see ii joo can locate Moyen.” However, only a scattered aero- aab here and there went down ■•bout the strange substance of the ItBna ray being released. In most on, upon, the contact of plane with ••soh, the aero-subs and planes were lanitly blotted from view by the yel- golden flames from the heart of Ihi sringed harbingers of Moyen. Golden flames, blinding in their brightness, dropping down, mere shape- less blotches^ then fading out to noth- ingness in a matter of seconds — ^with aero-sub and airplane totally erased from action'' ^d from eaistence. The American flyers saw and knew now the manner of death they faced. Yet all along the battle front not an American tribd to evade the issue and draw out on the fight. A subliifie, in- spiring exhibition of mass ^^hurage which had not been witnessed down the years sini^ that igeneral engagement which men of the time had called the Great War. Prester Kleig turned to look at Maniel. Drops of perspiration bathed the cheeks of the ihaster scientist, but his eyes were glowing like coals of fire. His face was act in a white mask of concentration, and Prester Kleig kne^ thn Maniel would find the an- ti. to the thing he sought if such rer could.be found. Would the American flyers be able to hold off the minions of Moyen until Maniel was ready ? The fight out there above the waters was a terrible thing, and the Americans fought and died like men inspired, yet* inexorably the winged armada of Moyen, precede^ by those licking-golden tongues, was mov- ing landward, “Great God I” cried Munson. "Look I” Tt HERE was really no need for the / order, for evefy Secret Agent saw as soon as did Munson. Under the sea, just off the coast, the mother-subs had touched their blunt nose against the upward shelving of the sea bottom — had touched bottom, and were slowly but surely following the underwater curve of the land, up' toward the sur- face, like unbelievable antedeluvian monsters ont of some nightmare "Yes,” said Kleig quietly, “those monsters of Moyen can move on land, and the aero-subs can operate from them as easily on land as under water.” Kleig regarded the tipae, whirled to look, at Professor Maqiel. One hour and forty minutes had

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44 ASrpUNDING STORIES passed since Maniel had begged for ’ Prester Kleig gave the signal | two bourn in which to prepare some terand monster armada which Is mode of effectively combattmg the mained in reserve, might of Moyen. Twenty minutes to "Do everything in your pon go ; yet the mothef-subs would be halt the march of Moyen's amphU ashore, dragging their sweating, mon- Ten minutes to go, and Pnl strouB' sides out of the deep, within Maniel still labored like a Titan, ten minutes I ^ Ten minutes ashore and there was CHAPTER XI ’ Prester Kleig gave the signal nerand monster armada which mained in reserve. "Do everything in your ponw g halt the march of Moyen's amphlM^ Ten minutes to go, and PioIm no guessing the havoc they could cause to the United Americas I "Hurry, Maniel I Hurry I Hurry I" said Prester Kleig. But be spoke the words to himself, though even had he spoken them aloud rManiel would not have heard. For Maniel, for two^ hours, had closed his mind to everyuing that traiispired outside his oWn thoughts, devoted to foiling the power of Moyen^ "I've found him I" snapped Munson. ^jS^l^inted with a shaking fore- X X finger to one of the mother-subs Cra^vling up the slant of the ocean bed, twisted one of the little nubs of the Sound-and- Vision apparatus, and the angelic face and Satanic eyes, the twisted body, of Moyen came into view. '• The face was calm with dreadful pur- pose, and Moyen stood in the heart of one of his rponsters, bis eyes i^umed toward the land. With.^ gasp of terror, dreadfully afraid for the first time, Prester Ueig' turned and looked into the eyes of Charmion. . . . "No," she said. "It will never happen. I have faith in you I" There wpre still ten minutes of the two hours left when the mother^ubs broke water and started crawling in- land, swiftly, surely, without faltering in the sllghtett as they changed their element from 'water to Ifnd. As though their appearance had been the signal, the aero-subs in action against the first line of American planes broke out of the one-sided fight snd dived for their mother ships, wUle a mere handful of the American planes started back for home to pret>aTe anew to continue the struggle. ■'tCaucasia Fa)^ SUtn AS the scores of amphibian momtai camt lumbering forth upoa iff land it became instantly appareu the i|Rro-Bubs had returned ts h mother ships. For a few momcaii, la of the water, the amphibians wen ik most helpless, with practically m ly of attack or defense — as helplosa huge turtles turned legs up. But A each aero-sub entered it proper slot in the side of the asltt amp^bian, it was turned about sod lb nose thrust back into the openly which closed down to fit tightly ihst the nose of the aero-sub, so that that flame - breathing monsters >protndel from the sides of the amphltdon t many places — transforming the pbibians into monsters with of golden, licking tongues I As, with each and every in place, th^ amphibians started i■i^ id^ inland. Professor Maniel oadetb fint move. With the tii^ sppai^ upon which he had been worhhii, b stepped to tbe table before the Sssid and-Vision apparatus and spoke eoUf to his compatriots. "Gentlemen,'' he said, "1 hate b^ ished, and it will work effectivelyP. Though Maniel spoke softly, it mi plain to be seen that he 'was proodd Ms accomplishment, which rnnsined#' ly to be attached to start perfonaml A nutter of seconds. ... Yet during those seconds wmA real might, the real power lor devastation, of Moyen fully eapiSdl The amphibians got under the airplanes of the AmMlb swept into the fight

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HONS,TERS OF MOYEN 45 the Bides of the monsters out those golden tongues of ^0— snd from the front; jfmU ■ dozen amphibians slipped in- York from the harbor side and ^ted into the hes^ of the city. And ^fmten the time when Maniel had ^ he was ready' and the moment oben he made his nrst active move ipinit Moyeii, a half-dozen skyscrap- •svaiished into nothingness, the spots •here they bad stood swept as clear of lihris as though the land had never bM reclaimed from Nature 1 Hone was ever destined to know how Miy lives were lost in that first attack of the monsters of the golden, myriad tea|nea; but the monsters struck in the fU* of a working day when the sky- loapcii were filled with office workers. And resolve struck deep into the tarts of the Secret Agents: if Moyen VOS tamed back, he must-be made to for the slaughter. ' A matter of seconds. . ■. . — — Then a moment of deathly silMce asNunson gave way at the screen lot the gnomelike little Professor *Now, gentlemen r snapped Maniel. *lf my ffieory is correct,” manipulating hMmmcnta with lightning speed as he talked, "the revemion of the principal sf my Vibration-Retarder — which cap- ksti vibrations speeding outward from lbs earth and transforms them once taV into sound and pictures audible %^sible to the human eazT-this apr 'jUIUnB will disintegrate the monsters m snr boats and planes were disinte- pitedl "In thlk I have -tmen even been com- ydled to manipulMe in the matter of tael I must not only defeat and an- tailate the minions of Moyen, but Htt work from a mathematical ab- Mdity, so that at the moment of im- fMt that moment itself must become pit of the past, sufficiently remote to Move the monsten at such distance ham the earth that not even the mighty paias of Moyen can return them I” The whirring, gentle as the whirring of doves’ wings. In t^ center of the picture on die screen were those half- dozen amphibians laying waste Man- hattan. Manjel set his intrieate, delicate madiineiy into motion. Inatantly the amphibians there seemed to become misty, shadowy, and to lift out of Manhattan up above the roof-tops of skyscrapers still remain- ing, nebulous and witttblike as ghost- shrouds — yet swinging outward from the earth with speed almost too swift for the e^ to detect. But where the amphibians had rested there stood, reclined — in all sorts of postures, surprising and even a bit ridiculous — the men of Moyen who had operated the mondtera of Moyen I From the central Radio tower went forth a mighty voice of com- mand to tl)e planes, which had been engaging the aero-subs off the coast. "Slay I Slay!" Down flashed the planes of the Americas, apd their guns were blazing, inaudibly, but none the leM deadly of aim and of purpose, straight into the midst of the men of Moyen who had thus been left maroiAed and almost helpless with the vanishing of tjieir amphibians. And, noting how they fell in stran- gled, huddled heaps before the vengeful fire of the American planes, the Secret Agents sighed, and Maniel, his face alight with the pride of accomplish; ment, switched to another point along the- coast. And j as a new group of the monsters of Moyen came into view, and Maniel bent to his labors afresh, the bated voice of the master mobster broke once more in the Secret Room. "Enough, Kleig I Enough I We will surrender to save lives I I stipulate only that my own life be spared I” To which Prester Kleig made instant reply. "Did you offer us choice of surrender? Did you spore the lives of our people which, with your control of your

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46 ASTOUNDING STORIES golden ^ya, you could easily have done? Not Nor will we spue lives, least of all the life of MoyenI” The whining again, as of the whir- ring of doves' wings. More metal monsters^ even as golden t<)^gues spewed forth from.^eir many sides, vanished from view, leaping Skyward, while the operators of them were left to the merries ^of the remaining air- mSn of the Americans. \ VOICELESSLY the word went forth: “SUyt SUyl” It was ChSrmion who begged for mercy for the vanquished as, one by one. as surely as fate, the monsters with their contained aero-subs were blotted out, leaving pilots and operators behind them. Down upon these dropped the airmen of the West, sla3ring , with- out mercy. . . . Tlease, lover I" Chatmion whispered. “Spare them I” “Even. . . ?“ he began, thinking of Moyen, who would have taken Char- mion. He felt her shudder as she read his mind, understood what he would have asked. “There he is 1“ came softly from Munson. 1 An amphibian had just been disinte- grated, had just climbed mistily, swift- ly, into invisibility in the skies. And there in the ihidst' of . the conquerors left behind, his angel’s face set in a moody mask, his pale eyes awful with fear, his misshapen body sagging, ter- rible in its realization of failura^^ Moyen I ' Even as Eleig propped to give ih mercy signal; a plan;, dived down ■ the group about Moyen, and the Agents could see the band of tlw p|li^ .,iUted high, as though he signslsd! ' ^ The plane was a Maytherl Ths-||||| was Carlos Kane I JUST as Kane went into actio^ajl the noiseless bullets. from hls;iS crashed into that twisted body, esa^ It to jump ands twitch with the niyh of them, Prester Eleig gave the dgS Even as the figure of Moyen cndpl to the soil and the man’s soul qmp Its mortal casement, Eleig commasdlt “Sjiare all who surrender! Make^^ prisonersT to be used to repair l|i damage they have done to our eonalqil Guards vrill be instantly placed saw the amphibians and the aero-suhs-riw the .day may come when we iM to know their secrets 1“ j And, as men, hands lifted hlgh|k token of surrender, quitted the ass motionless- amphibians, and fi|an dropped down to make them prissMia Maniel sighed, pressed various bottsw on his apparatus, and the mad acme of carnage they had witnessed tit hours faded slowly out, and darkiwi and silence filled the Secret Roem. But darkness is the joy of lovws an(|h in the midst of silence that ms .;-'alnios.t appalling by contrasty Delgad Charmion were received inm ewk other’s arms. Everyone Is Invited To **Come Over in ‘THE READERS’ CORNER’”!

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Vampires of Venus By Anthony Pelcher

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ASTOUNDING STORIES hoping that fate would "give him a break." It did. He was in charge of a Government dei^dr|m^t having to do with Oriental beetles, Hessian flie4 boll, weevils and such, and it seemed his life had been just one bug after another.* He took creeping, crawling things seriously and believed that, unless curbed, insects would tome day crowd man off the earth. He sounded an alarm, but hu- manity was not dUturbed. So Leslie Lamer fell back on hia microscope and concerned himself with saving cotton, wheat and other crops. His only dlveriion was fishing for the elusive rainbow trout. , He managed to spend a month each year in the Colorado Rockies angling for speckled beauties. ^mer was anything but a clock- wafcher, but on a certain bright day in June he wa^ seated in his laboratory doing just thaf: “Just five minutes to go," he mused. . It was just 4 :25 P. M. He had finished his work, put his affairs in order, and in five minutes would be free to leave on a much needed and well earned vacation. His bags were packed and at the station. His fishing tackle, the pride of his young life, was neatly rolled ,in oiled silk and stood near at hand. "I’ll just fill( my calabash, take one more quiet smoke, and then for the moontains and freedom,” he told him- self. He settled back with his feet on Us desk. He half closed his eyes in solid comfort. Then tbe^bomb fell and exploded. -R-R-R-RI The buzzer on his desk buzzed and his feet came off the desk and hit the floor with a thud. His' eyes popped open and the calabash was immediately laid aside. That buzzer usually meant business, and it would be his usual luck to have trouble c^hsh in on him just as he was on the edge of g'ralnbow trout paradise. A messenger was ushered into" the room by an assistant. The boy lia^ef him an envelope, said, "No ansew,* and departed. Lamer torf open the envelope ladly He read and then re-read its contour while a look of puzzled surprise die turbed his usually iplacid countenaaR. tie spread the sheet of paper out on Ui desk, and for the tenth time he real; Confidential. Memorize this address and destroy this paper: Tula Bela, 1726 88th Street, West, City of Hesper, Repub- lic of Pans, Planet Venus. Will meet you in the Fry- ing ^an. t ♦ That was alL It was enon|k Lamer lost his temper. He crumpled the paper and toss^ it in the was basket. He was not given to profani^, but he could say "Judas Priest” is a way that sizzleA “Judas Priest I” he spluttered. "Asp- one who would send a mm a ctaap bunch of nonsense like that, at a tiaa like this, ought to be snuffed ouglik a beetle I ^ " ‘Meet you in the Frying Pan,’ " ka quoted. Then be happened to rtcal something. "By golly, there is a fab ing district in Colorado known u Ik Frying Pan. That’s not so crazy, tat the planet Venus part surely h cuckoo." He fished the paper out of Ik waste basket, found the envelope placed the strange message within U put it in his ituide eoat pocket That he seized his suitcase snd tackle, and, rushing out, hailed a tmi Not long after he was on hia way sag by plane. AS the country unmlled under Up he retriev^ the strange nota from fala pocket. He read it again aad agahn. Then he examined the envelops It was an ordinary one of good qnali^, designed for bnslnras ra^er thm a» dal usage. The note paper appeanf

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VAMPIRES OF VENUS' 49 quite different. It was unruled, pure white, and of a texture which might be described as pebbly. It was strongly made, and of a nature unlike any paper. Lamer had ever seen before. It ap- peared to have been made from a fiber rather than a'pulp. “Wonder who wrote it?" Lamer asked himself. “It is beautiful hand- writing, masculine yet artistic. Won- der where he got the Frying Pan idea? At any rate, I'm not going to the Fry- ing Pan this year — I'm camping on Tennessee Creek, in Lake County, Colorado. The country there is more beautiful and restful. “But this street address on the planet Venus. Seems to me I read somewhere that Marconi had received mysterious signals that he believed came from the planet Venus. Hesper, Hesper ... it sounds familiar, some- how. Wopder if there could be any- thing to if 7” Something impelled him to follow out the instructions in the note. He spent the next few hours repeating the address over and over again. When he was satisfied that he had memorized it thoroughly, he tore^e strange, paper Into bits and sent it fiuttering earth- ward like a tiny snowstorm. Lamer was not a gullible individual, but neither was he unimaginative. He was scientist enough to know that “the impossibilities of to-day are the accomplishments of to-morrow." So , while not convinced that the note was a serious communication, still his mind was open. The weird address insisted on creep- ing into his mind and driving out other thoughts, even those of his speckled playfellows, the rainbow trout. “I've a notion to change my plan's and go from Denver to the Frying Pan,” he cogitated. Then he thought, .J|No, I won't take it that seriously.” Anyone who knows the Colorado Rockies knows paradise. There is no more beautiful country on the globe. Lake County, where Lamer had chosen bis fishing grotmds, has as , its seat the old mining camp of Lead- vi^le. It has been visited and settled more for its gold mines than the golden glow of its sunsets above the clouds, but the gold of the sunsets is etemaL while the gold of the mines ia fading quickly away. Leadville, with its 5;000 inhabitants, nestles above the clouds, at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet. Mount Mas- sive with its three peaks lies back of tl^ town in panorama and rises to a height of some 14,400 feet. In the rugged mountains thereabouts are hundreds of lakes fed by wild streams and bubbling crystal springs. All these lakes are above the clouds. Winter sees the whole picture dec- orated with bizarre snowdrifts from twqpty to forty feet deep, but spring comes early. .The beautiful columbines and ' crocuses bloom before the snow ris all Off the grotmd in {he valleys. The lands up to 12,000 feet altitude are carpeted with, a light green grass and moss. Giant pines and dainty aspens, with their silvery bark and pinkish, leaves blossom forth and whisper, whiledthe eternal snows still linger in the higher rocky cliffs and. peaks above. ^ Indian-paint blooms its blood red ‘in contrast 'to the milder colorings. Blackbirds and bluebirds chatter*\pd chipmunks chirp. The gold so hard to find in the mines glares from the skies. The hills cuddle in bimks of snowy clouds, and above all a~pure , clear blue sky sweeps. The lakes and ' Streams abound with rainbow trout, the gamest of any fresh water fish. It ia indeed a paradise for either poet or sportsman/' In any direction near to Leadville a man can find Heaven and recreation and rest. Finding himself on Harrison Ave- nue, the ' main street of the county seat. Lamer, after renewing some old acquaintanceships, started west in a flivver for l^ennesaee Creek. The

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50 ASTOUNBING STORIES flrryer is a modern adjustment. Un- til a few yea^ ago the only means lOf tiaveiaing these same hills was by patient, snre-footed donkeys, which carried the pack while the wayfarei^ walked along beside. ^ The first day’s fishipg was good. Trout seemed to greet him cheerily and sprang eagerly to the fray, “ney bit at any sort of silken fly he cast. The site chosen by lamer for his camp was in a mossy clearing separated from the stnam by a fringe of willows along the creek. T'hen came a border of aspens backed by a forest df silver- tipped firs. It was ideal and his eyes swept the scene with satisfaction. Then he be- gan whittling bacon to pease his pan for frying trout over the open fire. Suddenly he heard a rustle in the aspens, and, looking up, beheld a pic- ture which made his eyes bulge. A man and a woman, garbed seemingly in the costumes of another world, walked toward him. Neither were more than five feet tall but were physi- cally perfect, and marvelously pleasing to the eye. There was little difference in their dress. Both wore helmets studjded with what Lamer believed to. be sapphires. He learned later tbey were diamonds. Their clothing consisted " of tight tronserlike garments surmounted by tunics of some white pelt resembling chamois, save for color. A belt studded with precious stones encircled their waistv Artistic laced sand^s paced their firm feet. Their skin was a pinki^ white. Their every feature was ]oerfection plus, and their bodies curved just enough wherever a curve ^ould be. The woman was daintier and more fully developed, and her features were even more finely chiseled than the man. Otherwise it would have been difficult to distinguish their sex. Lamer took in these details sub- consciously, for he ^>aas awed beyond expression. All he could do was to stand seemingly froaen, half bent over the campfire with his frying pan in his hand! HE man spoke. "1 hope we did not startle you,” he said. *T thought my - note would, partly prepare you for this meeting. We expected to find you in the Frying Pan district. When you did not appear there we tuned out radio locator to your heart beats and in that way located you here. It was hardly a second’s space-flying time from where we were." Lamer said nothing. He could only stand and gape. "I do not wonder that you are sur- prised,” said the strange little man. “I will explain that I am Nern Bela, of the .City of Hesper, on the planet Venus. This is my sister Tula. We greet you in the interest of the Repub- lic of Pana, which embraces all of the planet you know as Venus.” When Lamer recovered his breath, be lost his temper. _ "I don’t know what circus you es- caped from, but I crave solitude and I have no time to be bothered With fairy tales,” he said with brutal bruski^ ness. Elxpressiqns of hurt surprise swept the countenances of his visitors. The man spoke again: "We are just what we assert we art, and our finding you was made neces- sary by a condition which grieves the souls of all the 900,000,000 inhabitants of Venus. We have come to plead with you to come with us and use your scientific knowledge to . thwart a scourge which threatens the Ijves of millions of people.” / There was a quiet dignity about the man and an air of f^ide about the w^otnan which made Laimer stop and think, or try to. He mbbed his band over his brow and looked qoestion- ingly at the pair. “If you are what you say you are, how did you get here?" he asked. |

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VAMPIRES OF VENUS 51 *>We came in a'targo, a apace-flying ■hip, capable ot doing 425,000 miles an hour. This is just 1200 times as fast as 355 miles an hour, the highest- qieed known on earth. Come with us and we will show you our ship." They looked at him appealingly, and both smiled a antile of wistful friendliness. Lamer, t^thout a word, threw down hia frying pan and followed them through the aspens. The brother and sister walking ahead of him gave his eyes a treat. He surveyed the perfect form of the girl. Her perfection was beyond his ken. “They certainly are not of this world," he mused. A FEW hundred yards farther on there was a beach of pebbles, where the stream had changed its course. On this plot sat a gigantic spherical machine of a glasslike ma- terial. It was about 300 feet in diameter and it was tapered on two ■ides into tees ^ich Lamer rightly took to be lights. “This is a targo, our type of space- flyer," said Nem Bela. “It is capable of making two trips a year between Venus and the earth. We have visited this planet often, always landing in some mountain or jungle fastness as heretofore we did not desire earth- dwellers to know of our presence." “Why not?" asked Lamer, his mouth agape and his eyes protmding. His mind was so full of questions that he fairly blurted his first one. "Because," said Bela, slowly and frankly, "because our race knows no sickness and we feared contagion, as your racmhas not yet learned to con,^ trol its ^ing." “Oh," said Lamer thoughtfully. He realized that humans of the earth, whom he had always regarded as Cod’s most perfect beings, were not so per- fect after alL “How do yrou people control your being, as you eapress it?" he ssked. “It is simple," was the reply. “For ninety centuries we have ceased to breed imperfection, crime and disease. We deprived no one of the pleasures of life, but only the most perfect men- tal and physical specimens of our peo- ple cared to have children. In other yrof ds, while we make no c^aim to con- trolling our sex habits, we do control results.” "Oh,” said Lamer again, Nem Bela led the way to a door which opened into the side of the space-flyer near its base. “We have a mew of four men and four women," he said. “They handle the entire ship, with my sister and I in command, mak- &g six souls aboard in all.” “Why men and women?” thought Lamer. As if in answer to his thought Bela said; s “On the earth the two sexes have stmggled for sex supremacy. This has thrown your civilization out of balance. On Venus we have stmggled for sex equality and have accomplished it. This is a perfect balance. Han and women engage in all endeavor and share all favors and rewards alike. “In war, too?” asked Lamer. “There has not been war on Venus for 600,000 yeara," said Bela. “There is only the one nation, and the people all live in perfect accord. Our only trouble in centuries is ^a dire peril ^which now threatens our people, and it is of this that I wish to talk to you more at length.” They were standing close to the targo. Lamer was stmck by the peculiar material of whi^ if was con- stmcted. There was fl question in his eyes, and Nem Bela answered it: "The metal is duranium; it is metalized quartz. It is frictionless, conducts no current or ray except re- pulsion and attraction ray NTR69X6 by which it is propelled. It is prac- tically transparent, lighter tb»" air and harder than a diamond. It is cast in moulds after being melted or, mther, fused. “We use cold light which we pro-

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52 ASTOUNDING STORIES dnce by forcing oxygen through air tubes into a vat filled with ^e fat of a deep tea fish resembling your wha^e. Ton are aware, bf course, tliat that is exactly how cold light is pioduced by the firefly, except for the fact that the . firefly uses his own fat.” ' * Lamer was positively fa^inated. He smoothed the metal of the ti)rgo in ap- preciation of 'its marvelous construc- tion, but he longed most toffee the curious light giving mechanism, for this was closer to his own line of entomology. He had always believed that the light giving organs: of fireflys and deep-se^ fishes could be reproduced mechanically. The interior of the ship 'resembled in a vague way that of an ojcean liner. It was controlled by an instrument board at which a man and a girl sat. They did not raise their heads as the three peopl9 entered. When called by Bela and. his sister, who seemed to give commands in unison, the crew assembled and were presented to the visitor. “Earth-dwellers are not the curi- osity to us that we seem to be to you," said Tula Bela, speaking for the first time and smiling sweetly. Lamer was too. engrossed to note the remark furtlwr than to nod his head. He was lost ^'contanplatibn of these strange people, all garbed exactly alike and all surpassingly lovely to look upon. An odor of food wafted from the galley, and Lamer remembered he was hungry, with, the . hunger of health. He had swung his basket of fish over his shoulder when he left his campfire, and Tula todk it from him. “Would you like to havje our chef prepare them for you?" she said, as she caught his hungry glance at his day’s catch. This time Lamer an- swered her. “If you will pardon me," he said awkwardly. “Really I am famished.” “You will not miss your fish dinner," said the girL “I believe there is enough for all of us," said Lamer. “I caught twenty beauties. I never knew fish to bite like that. Why, they — ” and be was off on a voluminous discourse on a favorite subject. Those ^assembled listened sym- pathetically. Then Tula took the fish, and 9oon the aroma of broiling trout mingled with the other entrancing galley odors. After a dinner at which some weird yet satisfying viands were served and much unusual conversation indulged in, Nern Bela led the way to what ap- pear^U to be the captain’s quarters. The crew and their visitor sat down to discuys a subject which proved to be of such a terrifying nature as to sear human souls. "People on Venus,” said Nem, as his eyes took on a worried expression, “are unable . to leave their- homes after nightfall due to some strange nocturnal beast which attacks them and vampir- ishly drains all blood from their veins, leaving- the dead bodies limp and empty.” "What? How?” questioned Lamer leaning far forward over the jcqnfer- ence table. The others nodded their head9, and in the eyes of the women there was terror. Lamer could not but believe this. “The beasts, or should I say insects, are as large as your horses and they fly, actually fly, by night, striking down humans, domestic animals and all creatures of warm blood. How many there are we have no ipeans of knowing, and we cannot find their bid- ing and breeding places. They are not native to our planet, and where they come -from we cannot imagine. 'They are, actually monstrous flys, of bugs, or some form of insects.” LARNER was overcome in- credulity and showed it. "In- sects as big as horses?” he questioned and he could hardly suppreu a smile. “Believe us, in the name of the God

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VAMPIRES OP VENUS S3 / , of us aU,” inaistsd Nem. "The^ have a mouth which Sonalsta of a large auc- tion disk, in the center of which is a lancelike tongue. The lance is forced into the body at any convenient point, and the suction disk drains out the blood. If we only knew their source! They attack young children and the aged, up t9 five hundred years, alike.” “What! Five hundred years?” ex- ploded l,amer again. "I should have explained,” said Nern, simply, "that Venus dwellers, due to our advanced knowledge of sanitation and health conversation, live about 800 years, and then die in- variably of old age. The only un- natural cause of death encountered is this giant insect. Accidents do occur, but they are rare. There are no deliber- ate filings on Venus.” iSner did not answer. He only pondered. The more he ran over the strange happenings of the last week in his mind the more he believed he was dreaming. His thoughts took a strange turn: “Why do these vain people go around dressed in jeweled ornaments?” Nem again anticipated a question. ■Diamonds, gold and many of what you call precious stones are common on Venus,” be volunteered. ' "Talc and many other things are more valuable.” “Talc?” "Yes, we use an immense quantity of it. We have a wood that is harder than your steel. We build machinery with it. We cannot use oil to lubricate these wooden shafts and bearings as it softens the wood, so all parts exposed to friction are speayed constantly by a gust of talc from a blowe^. “You use talc mostly for toilet pur- poses. We use it for various purposes^ There is little left on Venus, and it is more valuable to us than either gold or diamonds. ' We draw on your planet now for talc. You dump immense quantities. We just dipped one hundred 1,000-ton globes of it from the Cripple Creek district, and the district never missed it. We drew Most of it from your min> dumps.” Nern tried not to look bored as he explained more in detail : “We brought 100. hollow spheres con- structed of duranium. We suspended these over the Cripple Creek district at an altitude of 10,000 feet above the , 'earth’s surface. Because of the crystal ^lint of duranium they were invisible to earth dwellers at that height. Then we used a suction draft at night, draw- ing the talc from the iarth, filling one drum after another. This is done by tuning in a certain selective attraction that attracts only talc. It draws it right out of your ground in tiny par- ticles and assembles it in the trans- ypor^tion drums as pure talc. On the earth, if nottfed at all, it would have been called a dust storm. “The drums, when loaded vrith talc, are set to attract the proper planetary force and they go speeding toward Venus at the rate of 426,000 miles an hour. They are prevented’’ from collid- ing with meteors by an automatic nugnetic device. This is controlled by magnetic force alone, and when the targo gets too close to a meteor it changes its course instantly. The passenger tqrgo we ride in acts similarly. And now may I return to the .-subject of the vampires of Venus?” "Pardon ignorance,” said Lamer, and for, the first time in his life, he feh very ignorant indeed. “I know little more than I have told you,” said Nem, rather hopelessly. "Our knowledge of your world, your people and your language comes from our' listening in on you ^nd .observing you without being observed or heard. ' This might seem like taking an ad- vantage of you, were it not for the fact that we respect confidences, and sub- jugate all else to science. We have helped you at times, by telepathically suggesting ideas to your thinkers. “We would have given you all our inventions in this way, gladly, but in many instances we were unable to find minds attuned to accept such advanced ideas. We have Ud the advantage of

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54 ASTOUNDING STORIES you becauae our planet is so many mil- lions of yean older than your own.** There was a plaintiye note in Nem’s'* voice aa he talked. **'T^UT now we are on our knees to you, BO to speak. We do not know everything and, deepwately, we need, the aid of a man of yrar c^iber. In behalf of the distraught people of Venus, I am asking you bhintly to make a gdeat sacrifice. Will you face the dangen of a trip to Venus and use your knowledge to aid us in ea- terminatinf these creatures of helU" There waS positive pleading in his voice, and in the eyes of his beautiful sister there were team. “But what would my superiors in the Government Bureau think?" feebly protested Lamer, “I could not ex- ’platfi. , , “You have no superiors in your line. Our Government needs you at this time more than any ear^ly govern- ment. Your place here is a fixture. You* can always return to it, should you live. We are asking you face a hor- rible death rlHth ua. You can name your own compensation, but I know you are not interested so much in re- ward. “Now, honestly, my good professor, there is no advantage to be gained by cxplanati9n. Just disappear. In the name of God and in the interests of science and the s^vation of a people vriid are at your mercy, just drop out of aight. Drop out of life on this planet. Come with us. The cause is worthy of the man I believe you to be.” ”1 will go,” said Lamer, and his hosts waited for no more. An instant later the targo shot out into interstellar apace. “How do you know wh^t course to follow?” asked Lamer after a reason- able time, when he had recovered from his surprise at the sudden take-off. “We do not need to know- Our ma- chine is tuned to be attrarted by the planetary force of Venus ^one. We could not go elsewhere. A repulsion ray finds uk aa we near Venus and pro- tects us against too violent a lani^g. We will land on Venus like a feather abdut three months from to-night.” The time of the journey though ^pute^ space was of little moment save f^ one incident. Lamer and the other travelers were suddenly and rather radely jostled about the rapidly flying craft. Lamer lost his breath but not his speech. “What happened?”' he in- quired. “We just automatically dodged a meteor,” explained Nem. Most of the time of the trip was spent by Lamer in listening to explanations of customs and traditions of the people of the brightest planet in the universe. There was a question Lamer had de- sired to ask Nem Bela, yet he hesi- tated to do so. Finally one evening during the journey to Venus, when the travelers had been occupying them- selves in a scientific discussion of'com- parative .evolution on the two planets. Lamer saw his opportunity. “Why,r he asked rather hesitatingly, “did the people of Venus always re- main so sm^l? Wljy did. you ,not strive more for height? The Japanese, who are the shortest in stature of earth people, always wanted to be talL' "Without meaning any offense,” re- plied Nem, “I must say^that it is char- acteristic of earth dwellers to want something without knotving any good reason why they want it. It is per- fectly all right for you people to be tall, but for ns it is nt^ so fittiiig. Yon. see, Venus is smaller than the earth. Size is comparative. You think we are not tall because yon are used to^ taller people. Comparatively we are tall enough. In proportion to the siaie of our planet we are exactly the right size. We keep our population at 900,- 000,000, and that is the perfectly exact number of people who can live con^ fortably on our planefc"

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VAMPIRES OF VENUS 55 Arriving op Venus, Lamer •Mm assigned laboratory and o£Bce in one of the Government buildings. It was a world seemingly made of glass. Quarfz, of rose, white - and crystal coloring. Lamer found, was the com- monest country rock of the planet. In many cases it was shot full of splinters of gold which the natives had not taken the 'trouble to recover. This quartz was of a terrific hardness and was used in building, paving, and pub- lic works generally. The effect was bewildering. It was a world of shim- mering crystal. The atmosphere of Venus had long puzzled Lamer. While not an as- tronomer in the largest sense of the word, yet he had a keen interest in the hbavens as a giant puzzle picture, and he bad given some spare time to the study. He knew that from all indications Venus had a most unusual atmosphere, He had read that the atmosphere was coiuiderably denser than that of the earth, and that its presence made ob- servation diffici^t. The actual surface of the planet he knew could hardly be seen due, either to this atmosphere, gr seemingly perpetual cloud banks. He had read that the presence of aitmosphere surrounding Venus is in- dicated to earthly astronomers, during the planet’s transit, by rings of light due to the reflection .and scattering of collected sunlight by its atmos- phere. Astronomers on earth, he knew, had long been satisfied of the presence of great cloud banks, as rocks and soils could not. have such high reflecting power. He knew that like the moon, Venus, when viewed from the earthy presents different phases froia the crescent to the full or total stage. Looking up at the sky from the quartz streets of Venus, Lamer beheld. In sweeping grandeur, massed cloud- banks, ihany of them apparently rain clouds. Nem noted his skyward gaze, and said: l "We have accomplished meteorologi- cal control. Those douds were brought under control when* we conquered in- terplanetary force, and what you call gravity. We form them and move them at will. They axe our rain fac- tory. We make rain when and where we will. This insures our crops and makes for health and contentment. "The air,_you will note, is about the same or a little more moist than the earth air at sea level. This is due to tbe planet’s position nearer the sim. Y’We have been striving for centuries to make the air a little drier and more rare, but we have not succeeded yet, ^Jhe heavy content of disintegrated ‘quartz in our soil makes moisture very necessary for our crops, so our moist atmosphere is evidently a provision of providence. We are used to breathing ’ this moist air, and when I first visited the earth I was made uncomfortable by your rarified atmosphere. Now I can adjust myself to: breathing the air of either planet. However, I find myself drinking a great deal more water on earth than on Venus." IN this fairyland which had enjoyed centuries of peace, health and ac- '’bord, stark terror now reigned. Ih some instances the finely-bred, marvel- lously intelligent people were in a mental condition bordering on mad- ness. This was especially true in the fann- ing districts, whernJ|hole herds of lats had been wiped %ut. Lats, Larner gleaned, were a common farm animal similar to the bovine species op earth, only more wooly. On these creatures tbe Venus dwellers depended for their milk and dairy supplies,' and for their warmer clothing, which was made from the skin. The hairVwas used for brushes, in the/building trades, and a thousand ways in manufacturlitg. BAides the domestic animals hun.< dreds of people continued to meet death, and only a few of the flying vampires had been hunted down. ’The giant insects were, believed to breed

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56 iVSTOUNDING STORIES tlowly as compared to ea^ insecta, their femalea producing not more than ten egga, by eatimate, after which death overtook the adult. apite of *lii« they were reported to )>e incrcaa- W ^ i In the Government building Lamer waa placed in touch with aU the Gov- ernment acientists of Vmua. Hia neareat coU^l^rator was one Zom Zada, most profound scientist of the planet. The two men, with, a score of assistants, worked elbow to! elbow on the most gigantic scientific ghystery in the history of two planets. A specimen of the dread iiivadevwas mounted and studied by the scientists, who were so engrosse|l^n their work that they hardly took time to eat. As for sleep, there was little of it. Days were spent in^ research and; nights in hunting the monsters. This hunting was done by newly recruited soldiers and scientists. The weapons: used were a abort ray-gun of high destructive power which disintegrated the bodies of the enemies by atomic energy blasts. The quarry was wary, however, and struck at isolated individuals rather' «-h»n massed fighting lines. SEATED at his work-bei^ Lamer asked Zom Zada what h^d become of Nem Bela. In his heart; he had a horrible lurking fear that th«| beautiful Tula Bela might fall heforci a swarm of the strange vampires, but |ie did not voice this anaiety. ^ “Nem and hia sister are eaploren vnd navigators,” was the repty. “^hey have been assigned to carry you any- where on this or aqy otbjer planet where your work may engage you. They await your orders. They are too valuable as space-navigato:rs to be placed in harm’s way.” Breathing a sigh' of relief, Larner bent to hia labors. “What other Wild animals qr harmful insects have you on this planet?" he asked Zom. *T get your thought,” replied the first scientist of Venus. "You aie seeking a natural enemy to this deadly flying menace, are you not?” "Yes,” admitted Lamer. “All insects left, on Venue with this oiie eaception are beneficial,” said Zom. “There are no wild animals, and no harmful insects. All animals, in,) sects and birds have been domc^cated and are fed by their keepers. We gtt^ fabrics from forms of| what you call' spiders and other web-builders and co- coon spinners. All forms of birds, beasts and crawling and flying things have been brought under the dominion of man. We will have to seek another way out than by finding an enemy para- site.” "Where do you think these insect in- vaders came from?” asked Lamer. "You have noticed they are unlike anything you have on earth in anatomi- cal construction.”' said the savant. "They partake of the general features of , Coleoptera (beetles), in that they wear a &eath of armor, yet their mouth parts are more on the order of the Dip- tera (Ays). I regard them more as a fly than a beetle, because most Colcpptera are helpful to humanity while practi- cally all, if not all, Diptera are malig- nant. "As to their original habitat, I believe they migrated here from tome other planet.” "They could not fly through space," said Lamu. "No, that is the mystery of it,” agreed Zom. “How they got here and where they breed are the questions that we have to answer. ' %. Long day* passed on Venus. Long days and sleepless nights. Tbe^ big insects were hunted nightly by nien armed with ray-guns, and nightly the blood-sucldng monsters took their toll of humanity and animals. Finally Lamer and Zom determined to capture one of the insects alive, muxzle its lance and suction pad, and give it sutecient freedom to find its way the shackled monster the scientists back to its hiding place. By following

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VAMPIRES OF VENUS S7 to &nd the breeding grounds. ' jm the provinces of the planet joined h the drive. Hen turned out in auto- vehicles, propelled Vjr energy |igiered from the atmosphere. They . CD foot and in aircraft. Mobiliza- tlco was at given points and, leading Iks van, were Zom and Lamer and Ikdf confreres in the targo of Nem mi Tola Bern. The great army of Ve- na carried giant searchlights and was mad with deadly ray-guns. EADQUARTERS of the vast Army of Offense was in the targo at the Belas. Lamer was in supreme camsnd. Just before the big army set cot. to scour the planet to seek the Isttding place of the moneters Lamer ianed a bulletin that set all Venus, by the ears. Addressed to President Vole Vesta of the Republic of Pana and the good people of Venus, it read : At is generally known, it has been the habit of the. nation’s ■ptce-Sying merchantmen to visit Ik sunlit tide of the planet Mer- cniy to obtain certain rare woods and other materials not found on this planet One tide of Mercury, as is known, it always turned from the Bm snd is in a condition of per- petnal night. In this perpetual difkness and dampness, where snny rivers flow into warm black iwampa, the vampires have bred for centoriet. Conditions were ideal for their growth, and so through the ages they evolved into the asntters we have encountered htely on VcbuA Dnring acnne comparatively re- cent visit to Mercury the grubs of these insects have found their way Atoad a vegetation-laden targo left handing near the edge of the black - I tamps of Mercury. These gmbs were thus transported to Venus and underwent their natural meta- mphoais here. Reaching adult V hage, they have found some place to hide and breed, and thus is ex- plained the origin of the vampires of Venus. This was widely read and discussed and was finally accepted as the means of the invasion of peaceful, beautiful Venus by a horror that might well have originated in hell. However, this did not reubal the breeding grounds, or remove the na- tion-wide scourge of the horrible winged vampiVea, so the mobilization of all the forces of the planet continued. AS day^llowed day the hordes of fighting Venus dwellers grew in the concentration camps. In the targo of the Belas, Lamer, brain-weary and body-racked as be was with overwork, found a grain of happiness in being in the presence of Nem and his beautiful, petite sister. With Zorn, Lamer was supervising the construction of a big net of strongly woven wire 'mesh, in which it was hoped to catch one of the vampires. It was decided to bait the trap with a fat female lat. Zom, Lamer and the Belas fared forth from the concentration camp fol- lowed by a company of soldiers carry- ing the big net. Tula dvitb her own hand led the fat lat heifer. His eyes were filled with commiseration for the poor animal. Thousands of soldiers and citizenry, in fighting array, watched the depar- ture of the little group. In a glade the trap was set and tha net arranged to fall over the monster once it attacked the calf. From a thicket, m utter darkness, Zom and Lamer ^d the two Belaa waited for the possible catch. The whole nation Stood awaiting the order to advance. On the fourth night the vigil was re- warded in a manner fri^tful to relate. A clumsy flutter of giant wings broke the stillness. The four waiting forms in the thicket rejoiced, believing theTaS lat was about to be attacked. ' Onward came the appi^chlng bor-

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S8 ASTOUNDING STORIES ror. The measuTC|d flap, flap of its aimored wings diiawing nearer ' and nearer. Then, horror— horrors I , A feminine screaip rent the air. Cries loud and Airill arose above a hysterical feminine'cry for help. , The monster had chosen Tula Bela for ita prey I i ZORN eaploded an alafm bomb. A compressed ai^ siren brought the arm^ forward on the run. Giant flood- lights began to light up the scene. The blood o'f Lamer and Nern froze. The monster had borne the girl to the ground. Its frightful Iwce and cupper was upraised to stril|ce. Lamer was the nearest and the quickest to act. He grabbed for his ray-rgun, swung at hia belt. It was gone! In horror he re- membered he had left it at the base. He seized a short knife and threw him- self forward, rolling his body^ between that of the girl arid the descending lance and cupper. As the lance pierced his shoulder Lamer, in one wild gesture of frenzy, drove his knife through th? soft, yield- ing flesh of the vampire's organ of suc- tion. Protected by no bony structure the snout of the monster was amputated. The terrible creature had bben dis- armed of his most formidable weapon, but be continued to fight. Lamer felt the spikes on the monster’s legs tear at his flesh. “Don’t kill the thing,” he shouted. "Bring on the net. For the love of God bring on the net I” Then he lost con- sciousness. It was daylight when Lamer, some- what weakened from loss of blood, re- gained consciousnesa. The beautiful Tula Bela was leaning over him. She whispered comforting words to him in a language tie did not fully underftand.' She whispered' happy ex- clamations in words he did not know the meaning of, but the tone was un- mistakably those of a sweetheart towards- her lover. Finally, in answer to a tme sdii, tist’s question in his eyes, Ae ■E h Engli^ : / "They caught the thing alive. await your order to advance.” "Let us' be on our way,” said and he started to arise. “You are hardly strong enpugh,”^ Tula. ' , “Believe me, I am all right,” L^er, and after aeveral trials hegti to his feet. His constitution' was oats rally strong and his will waa| strooio; so he fought back all is clings of weak- ness and soon announced himself rody to go ahead with the project at l~~i For speed was all important, and Ike young professor found himself maU. to remain inactive. He rejoiced when Zom told hia that the big insect that had t^ tacked Tula Bela had been captmed alive and bad been kept well noutiahad fay lat’s blood injected into its ateoadl With Zom Lamer went to inapad the hideous monstrosity and found g in leash and straining. It waa ithdl to be used to lead tl^e way back to hi breeding place. Its wings shackled, the lumberiai .insect floundered on its way atral|ht north. Ponderously a^ half bllnd^ it crawled as the searchlights' gh^ was kept far enough in advance to ksif from blinding the monster. Tme' to instinct it finally brought ig at early drawn under a high cliff d smoky quartz. Here, in the gied crevices, the drove of diabolical vsd- pires were hiding. • As the light stmek their dena, tfa^ attempted clumsily to take wing, bats interlacing network of devastating <ht- integrating rays from the lay-gsaa shattered their bodies to diist, wfakh waa borne away by the wrind. ' The next few months was spent if combing the quartz crags of Venos te similar infested areas, l^t only die am breeding nest was found. The scoatg) had been conquered in its first and o^ stronghold.

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VAMPIRES OF VENUS 59 SOatM the greiteet reign of terror ■ is the history of Venus. ^ I — i;. Lamer was given a vote of ■» illflB'a greatest bugbears, had been solved at lat There has been "blind flying" done in the pad hot never before in the history of cvi« adoB haia any pilot taken off, circled, crossed, ic^maed the field, then landed only a ihoit Artnce away from his starting point while 9)ib| mder condidona resembling the denaest as Lient. "Jimmy* Doolittle has done, in ha Wright-motored "Husky" training-plue. ft Mi something nncanny to contemplate. lbs “dense fog'’ was produced artmdaJly W the simple device of making the cabin of m (fane entirely light-proof. Once seated the flyer, with his co-pOot, Lieut. Bmiaiulii Kelsey, also of Mitchei Field, were ^iwyletely shot off from any view of the MM oartade. AD they had to depend on an three new flying iDstnimenta, developed Mof die past year in eaperimenta conducted war the raU-flight laboratory established by fta PkDd at Mitchei Field. The chief fectors contributing to the solu- tM of the problem of blind flj^g consist of ippUration of the visnal radio beacon, M dfw, lily incut of an improved instrument* M Indicating the longitndinal and lateral p for stability, Lieut. Doolittle nset an “artificial horizon* on the smaD Instrument which indicates longitudinal and lateral po- aition in relation to the ground at all time. He was able to locate the landing field by means of the directidn-finding long-distanr : radio beacon. In addition, another, smaller radio beacon had been installed, casting *a beam fifteen to twenty miles in either direc- tion, which governs the hnmediate approach to the field. To locate the landing field the pilot watches , two vibrating reeds, toned to the radio bea- con, on a vi«ial radio receiver on his instru- ment board. If he turns to the right or left of his. course ^the right or the left reed, r< spectively, be^ns doing .a sftrt of St. Vftns dance. If the reeds are in equilibrium the pilot knows it is, clear sailing straight to his field. ^ ^ The sensitive altimeter showed Lient Doo- little hia altitude and made it possible for him to calculate his landing to a distance of within a few feet from the grbund. Probably the strAgest device of all that Lieut. Doolittle baa been called upon to test in Mr. Guggenheim's war against fog s • sort of heat cannon that goes forth to combat Dke a fire-breathing dragon of old. Like the enemies of the dragon, the fog is sipiposed t<v curl up and die before the scorching breath of the “hot air artiUery" althougfa the funda- mental principle^chind the device is a great deal more sdentific than such an ezplanatioa sounds. It 4s, in brief, based on the known fact that fog forms only in a very narrow temperature zone which lies between the saturation and precipitation points of the at- mosphere. If the air grows a Uttle colder ttie fog turns into rain and falls: if it is wanned very slightly the mist disappears and tfie:a'r la once more nonnaUy^^Mr, although Its humidity is very close to tl^ manmum. )

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I i^k U lc»k at tka PUnctan. Brigands of the Moon (The Book of Gregg Haljan) PART TWO OF A* FOUR-PART NOVTL By Ray Cununingn My name, Gregg Haijan. My age, twenty-five yectrs. My occupa- tion, at the time my narrative begins, in 2075, was third officer of the Inter- planetary Space-ship Planetars. Thus I intro- ' .duce myself to you. For this is Ont of awful spac* t the book of Gregg coom>b ot Haljan, and of ne- cesaity I am the chief actor therein. 1! ahall recapitu- late very briefly what has happened so far: Unaciupuloua Martian brigands were scheming for Johnny Crantline’s secret radium-ore treasure, dug out of tki Moon aind waiting there to be picM up by the Plaaetan on her return trif from Mara. The Planetara left, bound for Uta, aome ten away. SuipiciM imblW tlia Spu«-.lup inter planetul t ( oitiwl aboard! Mikomi Moa, a brothel and a sister 4 Mars; Sir Arthur Coniston, a aftf terioua Englishman; Ob Hahn, a Veaai mystic. And amall,|^eminate Geoqi Prince and his aiater, Anita. Love, I think, was bom instantly between Aaita 60 Out of awful apaco tumblod tike Spaco^Up Pianmtara toward* tbe Moon, bar officar* daad, witb bandits at bar'^belm — and tbo contrcds out of ordar!

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■dne. I found all too soon that Miko, George Prince leaped in upon me-^and tke dnister giant from Mars, also de- put hia arma around me. I looked at dK^.ber. him closer— only to discover it was ' As we neared the Moon we received Anita, disguised as her brother I It OoBtUne's secret message : . “Stop for was her brother, George, who had been CR on your return voyage. Success killed I George had been in the brig- hjwd wildest hopes I" But I soon' ands’ confidence — thus Anita was able dkcovered that an eavesdropper in an to spy for us. v ' MdUe cloak had overheard it! Quickly we plotted. I would sur- tooD afterwards Miko accidentally render to her, Anita Prince, whom the ■ardered a person identified as Anita brigands' thought waa George Prince. Mace. Together we might pdsaibly be able. Then, in the confusion that resulted, with Snap’s help, to turn, the tide, and liifa) struck his great blow. The crew reclaim the Planetaia. • •f the Planetara, secretly in his pay, I was taken to my fmteroom and Nse ap and killed the captain and all locked there until Miko the brigand tht officers but Snap Dean, the radio- leader, should come to dispose of me. bdie operator, and nqnelf. But I cared not what bad happened — I waa beseiged in the chart-room. Anita waa alive! • ' 61

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62 ASTOUNDING STORIES CHAPTER XIV The Btigaoi Veader The giant Mileo atood confront- ing me. He slid my cubby^oor closed behind binL He stood with his hea^ towering close ■gainst, my ceiling. His bloak was dis- carded. -In his leatjieT clothes, and with hla clanking sword-omament, his aspect carried the s>^agger of a brig- and of old. He wa4 bareheaded; the' light from one of my tvbes fell upon his grinning, leering gray face. “So, Gregg Haljanf You have come to your senses at last.. You do not wi^ me to write my name upcp your chest ? I would not have done that to Dean; he forced me. Sit batik." I had been on my bunk. I sank back at the gesture of his: huge hairy arm. His forearm was bare now; the se^ of a bum on it was plain to be seen. He remarked my gaze. "Tme. You did that, Haljan, in Great-New York. But I bear you no malice. I want to talk to you now." He cast about for a seat, and took the little stool which stdod by my desk. i-Hls hand held a sn^l cylinder of the : Haitian paralyzing r'py; he rested it ibeaide him on the desk. "Now we can taHL" I remained silent. Alert. Yet my ithoughta were whirlijnE- Anita was alive. Masquerading now as her brother. .And, with the joy of :it, came a shud- der. Above everything, Miko must not know. "A great adventure we are upon, Haljan.” My thoughts came back. Miko was -talking with an assumption of friendly comradshlp. i “All is well — and we need you, as I have said before. I am no fool. I have been aware of everythin that went: on aboard this ship. Yit lu, of all the officers, are most clever at the routine ipathematlca. Is ^t so?” \ “Perhaps," I said. ' l^ou are modest.” H,e fumbled at a pocket of bis jacket, prodjiced a sod- sheaf. I recognized it: BlackstaaA figures; tke calculation BlackOga roughly made of the elements of asteroid we had passed. ‘ “I am interested in these,” RM went on. “I want you to verify tfc-g And this.” He held up another sod “This is the calculation of our pre^ position. And our course. Hahn i-lrif he is a navigator. We have set IR ship’s gravity plates — see, like this-* He handed me the scrolls ; be watckei me keenly as I glanced over them. "Well?” I said. ’ “You are sparing of words, Hiljd By the devils of the airways, I cow make you talk I But I want to bi friendly.” I HANDED him back the scrolls. I stood up; I was almost witUi reach of his weapon, but with a sweep of his great arm be abruptly knocked me back to my bunk. “You dare?” Then he smiled. “Let ns not come to blows I” “No,” I said. I returned his smile. In truth, physical violence could get sa nothing in dealing with this fellow. I would have to try guile. And I aaw now that his face was flushed and his eyes unaturally Ifright. He had been dii^ ing alcolite; not enough to befoddb him — but enough to in^e him tiinm phantly talkative. “Hahn may not be much of a mathe- matician," I suggested. “But then h your Sir Arthur Coniston.” I tnanigld a sarcastic grin. “Ik that his namer “Almost. Haljan, will you verify these figures?” “Yes. But why? Where are we go- ing?” ' / He laughed. “Yani are afraid J wlO not tell you I Why should I not? TUl great adventure of mine is progitirisg perfectly. A tremendous st^e, HstjiA A hundred millions of dollars In gw leaf : there will be fabulous riches tf us all, when that radium ore is soil for a hundred million in gold leaf.” “But where are we going?”

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BRIGANDS OP THE MOON 63 *To that aateroid," he uid abniptlj. 1 matt get rid of theM passengeiBi J M BO mmderer." WITH half a dozen killinga in the recent fight this waa hardly. cgovinciDg. But he was obviously. iMIy lerious. He seemed to read my thNghts. *I kill only when necessary. We will had upon the asteroid. A perfect place - ts maroon the passengers. Is it not m? I will give them the necessities of life. They will be able to signal. And ia a month or so, when we are safely iaiihcd ivith our adventure, a police ■hip no doubt will rescue them." “And then, f^om the asteroid,” I aug- psted, "we^are^going— ” To die Hoon,'ffaljan. What a clever picntT you are I Cooiaton and Hahn ■re our course. But I have '■f great confidence in them.- And so I limit you.” Too have me." Tea I have yon, I would have killed you long ago — I am.an impulsive fellow— but my sister restrained me.” He gBMd at me slyly. “Moa secinq mrasgcly to like you, Haljan.” Thanks,’* I said. “I’m flattered.” “She stiU hopes I may really win you to join na,” he went on. ‘dGold-leaf ia a wonderful thing ; there would be plenty for you in this affair. And to be rich, nd have the love of a woman like Has.., .” ' Be paused. I was trying cautiously to gsugc him, to get from hm all the iafoaination' I could. I aaid,t^with an- other amilc, “That is premature, to talk of Moa. I will help you chart your Ctosac. But this venture, as you call h, is dangeroia. A police-ahip — " Then arc not many,” he declared. *nc ohancea of us encountering one it very alim.” He grinned at me. “You haw that as well as I do. And we now hate those jbde pass-words I forced . to tell me where be had hidden llitak If we should be challenged, our PMword answer wiU relicw .sun-. picUm.” "The Pianetara,” I objected, “being overdue at Ferrok-Shal^ will cause alarm. You’ll have a covey of patrol- ships after you.” “That will be,two weeka f^om now,” he snuled.; “I have a ship of my own in Ferrok-Shahn. It lies there waiting now, manned and armed. I am hoping that, with Deaii's help, we may be able to flash it a signal. It will join us on the Moon. Fear not for the danger, Haljan. I have great interests allied with me in t^s thing. Plenty of money. We have planned carefully.” He was idly fingering his cylinder ; his gaze roved me as I sat docile on my bunk. “Did you think George Prince was a leader of this? A mere- boy. I en^ged him a year ag^^his knowledge of ores is valuable.” My heart vras pounding, bat I strove not to show it. He went on calmly. “I told ytai I am impulsive, Half a dozen times I have nmly killed George Prince, and he knows it.” He frowned. “I wish I had billed him, i/wtead of'his ’sister. That Was an error.” There was a note of real concern in his voice. Did he love Anita Prince? It seemed so. He added, “That is done — nothing can change it. GeorgwPrince is help- ful to me. Your friend Dean is another. I had trouble' with him, but he is docile now.” I said abrupt^, “I don’t know whether your promise i^eana anything or not, Miko. But George Prince said you would use no more torture.” v “I won’t. Not if you and Dean Obey me.” “You tell Dean I have agreed to that. You aay he gave you the code-words we took from Johnsoq?” “Yes. There was a fool I That John- son I You blame me, Haljan, for the killing of Captain Carter? You need not. Johnson offered to try and cap- ture you. Take you alive. He kilM Carfer because he waa angry at him- A stupid, vengeful fOoll He is dead, and I am glad of it.”

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64 ASTOUNDING STORIES My mind was on;Miko’s plans. I ventured, treasure on the Moon — did you say 1 it was on the Moon?” ^Don’t be an idiot, ’*i he retorted. “I know as much about Grantline as you do.” i "That’s very little.”i^ “Perhaps.” ? "Perhaps you know knore, Miko. The Moon is a big place, i Where, for in- state, is Grantline located?” I held my br$ath. Would he tell me :that? A score of ijuestions — vague plans — were in my mind. How skilled ;at mathematics were i these brigands? IMikp, Hahn, Conistofi— could I fool ithem? If I could learn (^aniline’s lo- .cation on the Moon, and keep the Plane- \tara away from it. A; pretended error I of charting. Time lost — and perhaps RnSp could £nd an opportunity to sig- :nal Earth, get help. Miko anawerOd myrpiestion as bluntly ss I asked it. "I don't know where Grantline it located. But we will find out. He will not suspect the Planetara. 'When, we get close tp the Moon, we will signal and ask him. We can trick him into telling us. You think I do not know what is On your mind, Hal- jen ? There is. a secret code of signals arranged between Dean and Grantline. I have forced Dean to confess it. With- out torture I Prince helped me in that. He persuaded Dean not to defy ipe. A very persuasive fellow^ George Prince. More diplomatic than I am, I give him credit.” ! I strove to hold my voice calm. "If should join you, Miko — my word, if T ever gave it, you would find depend- .able — I would say George Prince is very valuable to us. You should rein your temper. He is half your size — you might some ^ time, without inten- tion, do him injury.’ ’ He laughed. "Moa says to. But have no fear — " "I was thinking,” I| persisted, "I’d like to have a talk with George Prlnee.” Ah, my pounding, tumultous heart I But I was smiling calmly. And I iiitj to put into my voice a shrewd note 4 cupidity. "I really know very Uttk about this treasure, Miko. If were a million or two of gold-leaf Is it for me — ” "Perhaps there would be.” "I wv thinking. Suppose you letjm have a 'talk with Prince? I have sssu knowledge Pf radium ores. Hit lUU and mine — a calculation of whu Grantline’s treasure may really be. Tw don’t know ; you are only ^ assuiniii|.* I paused. Whatever may have bees in Miko’s mind I cannot! say. But abruptly he stood up. I had left mf bunk, but he waved me ba^k. "Sit down. I am not like Hot. I would not trust you just because jss protested you wotild be loyal" He picked up hit cylinder. “We will talk again.” He gestured to the scrolls k had left upon my desk. “Work ga those. I will judge you by the retnha* He was no fool, this brigand leader. "Yea,” I agreed. "You want a tise. course now to the asteroid?” "Yes. I will get rid of these paates- gers. Then we VylU further. Do your b^t, Haljanr-j I said meekly, "Very well. But yes ask Prince if be wants my calculatuw of Grantline’s ore-body.” I shot Miko a foxy look as he atood by my door. I added, "You think yea are clever. There is plenty you dast know. Our first night out from tk Elarth — Grantline’s signals— didn’t it ever occur to yon that I might ban some figures on his treasure?” It startled him. "Were are theyr I tapped my forehead. "You daaft suppose I was foolish enough to reeori them. You. ask Prince if he wants Is talk to me. A high thorium content k ore — you ask Prinee. A hundred mU- Hons, or two hundfed. It would nnk a big difference, Miko.” "I wiU think about it.” He badked out and sealed the door upon jae laict again.

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BRIGANDS OF THE MOON 65 But Anita did not come. I veil- 6ed Hahn’s figures, which were eery nearly cbrrect. I charted a course for the asteroid ; it was almost the one which had been set. Coniston came for my results. “I ■ay, we are not so bad as navigators, are we? I think we’re jolly good, con- sidering our inexperience. Not bad at all, eh?” “No.” I did not think it wise to ask him ■bout Prince. “Are you hungry, Haljan?” he de- manded. “Yea.” A steward came with a meal. The saturnine Hahn stood at my door with a weapon upon me while I ate. They were mUng no chances — and they were wise not ta The day passed. Day and liight, all the same ^f aspect here in the starry vault of Space. But with the ship’s routine it was day. , And then another time of sleep. I slept, fitfully, worrying, trying to plan. Within a few hours we would be near- ing the asteroid. The time of sleep was nearly passed. My chronometer marked five A. M. of our original Elarth starting time. The seal of my cubby door hissed. The door slowly (^icned. Anita I She stood there with her cloak ■round her. A distance away on the shadowed deck-space .Coniston vras loitering. “Aiiital” I whispered it. "Gregg, dear I” She turned and gestured to the watching brigand. “I will not be long, Coniston.” ^ She came in and half cloaed^ the door npon us, leaving it open enoum so that we could make sure that Comston did not advance. I stepped back where he could not see us. “Anita I” She flung herself Into my opened anna. CHAPTER XV The Masquerader A MOMENT when beyond all thought of the nearby brigand — or the possibility of an eavesdropping ray trained now upon my little cubby — a mdment while Anita and I held each other ; and whispered those things 'which could mean nothing to the world, but which were all the world to us. Then it was she whose wits brought us back i^rom the shining fai^land of our love, into the sinister reality of the Planetara. “Gregg, if they are listening — ’’ I puAed her away. This brave little masquerader I Not for my life, or for all the lives on the ship, would I con- sciously have endangered her. “But the/ ore I” I said aloud. “There was, in Gi'antline’s message — See here. Prince.” Coniston was too far away on the deck to hear us. Anita went to my door again and waveiT at him reassuringly. I put my ear to the door openiAg, and listened at the space across the grid of the ventilator over my bunk. The hum of a vibration would ba^ been audible at those two points. But there was nothing. “It's all right,” I^hispered. “Anita — not you who was killed I I can hard- ' ly realize, it npw. Not you whom ^hey buried yesterday morning.” We stood and whispered, and she clung to me — so small beside me. With the black robe thrown aside, it seemed that I Could not miss the curves of her woman’s figure. A d^gerods game ahe was playing. Her hair had been cut short to the base of her neck, fn the fashion of her dead brother. Her eye- lashes had been clipped; the line of her brows altered. And now, in the light of my tube as it shone“upon. her earneat face, I could remark other changes. Glutz, the little beauty specialist, was in this secret. With plastic skill he had altered the set of her jaw with hit) wax — put masculinity there.

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66 ASTOUNDING STORIES She was whispering: :“It was — was poor George whom Mikoishot.” I HAD now the true version of what had occurred. Miko ^d been fenc- ing his wooing upon Atiita. George Prince was a weakling whose only good quality was a love for his! sister. Some years ago he had fallen ipto evil ways. Been^ arrested, and then discharged frod his position with the Federated Radium Corporation. He bad taken up with evil companions iii Great-New- Yorki Mostly Martians^ And Miko had met him. His technicM knowledge, his training with the Fedesated Corpo- ration, made him valuable to Miko’s enterprise. And so PrinSe had joined the brigands. 9. Of all this, Anita had faldbn unaware. She had never liked Miko; Feared him. And it seemed that the (Martian hail some hold upon her brother, which puz- zled and frightened Anita. Then Miko had fallen in love with her. George had not liked it. And that night on the Planetars, Miko had come and knocked upon j^nita’s door. Incautiously she opened it; he forced himself in. And when ^e repulsed him, struggled with him,; George had been awakened. She was whispering to 0e now. "My room was dark. We were all three struggling. George was bolding me — the shot came — and I screamed.” And Mika had Bed, riot knowing whom his shot bad hit in the darkness. "And when George died, Captain Carter wanted me to impersonate him. We planned it with D^. Frank, to try and learn what Miko an<|^ the others were doing. Because I never knew that poor George^ bad fallen into such evil things.” I COULD only hold her thankfully in my anna. The lost jwhat-migbt- bave-been seemed coming back to us. "And they cut my hair j Gregg, and Glutz altered my face a litfle, and I did my best. But there was | no time — it came upon us so quickly.’" And she whispered, “But I love yos, Gregg. I want to be the first to say it: I love you — I love you.” But we had the sanity to try and plan. "Anita, when you go back, tell Miks we discussed radium ores. You'll ban to be careful, clever. Don’t say too much. Tell him we estimate the treas- ure at -a hundred and thirty milliona.* I told her what Miko bad vouchsafed me of h(s.plans. She knew all Hi** And Snaplmew it. She had had a few moments alone with Snap. Gave me now a message from him : ^ “We’ll pull out of this; Gfegg.” With Snap she had worked ouf a plan. There were Snap and I; and Shac and Dud Ardley, upon whom ws could doubtless 4cpend. And Dr, Frank. Against us were Miko and his sister; and Coniston and Hahn. Of course there were the members of the crew. But we were numerically the stronger when it came 'to true leader- ship. Unarmed and guarded now. But if we could break loose — recapture the ship. . . . I sat listening to Anita’s eager whis- pers. It seemed i feasible. Miko did not altogether trust George Prince; Anita was now unarmed. “But I can make opportunity! I; can get one of their ray cylinders, and an invisible cloak equipment.” That cloak — it had been hidden in Miko’s room when Carter searched for it in A20 — was n6w in the chart-room by Johnson’s body. It had been re- paired now; Anita thought she could get possession of it. WE worked out the details of the plan. Anita would 'arm her- self, and come and release me. To- gether, with a paralyzing ray, we could creep aboard the ship, overcome these brigands one by one. There were so few of the leaders. With them felled, and with us in control of the turret and the helio-room, we coaid force the crew to stay at their posts. There were, Anita said, no navigators among Miko's

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Brigands of the moon d7 crew. They would not dare oppose us. “But it should be done at once, Anita In a few hours we will be at the asteroid.*' “Yes. I will go now — try and get the weapons.” > "Where is SnapF” "Still in the helio-room. One of the Qtw guards ' him.** Coniston was roaming the ship;. he was still loitering on the deck, watch- ing our door. Hahn was in the turret. The morning watch cf the crew were at their posts in the hull-corridors ; the itewards were preparing a morning meal. There were nine members of lubordinates altogether, Anita had cal- culated. Six of them were in Miko'a pay: the other three— our own men who had not been killed in the fighting —had joined the brigands. "And Dr. Frank, Anita?" He was in the lounge. All the paa- •engers were herded there, with Miko nd Moa alternating on guard. "I will arrange it witii Venza,” Anita whispered swiftly. "She will tell the others. Dr. Frank knows about it now. He thinks it can be done." . The possibility of it swept me anew. The brigands were of necessity scattered singly about the hhip. Onemy one, creeping under cover of an invinble cloak, I could fell them, and replace them without alarming the others. My thoughts leaped to it. We would strike down the guard in the helio-room. Release Snap. At the tur- ret we could assail Hahn, and replace him with Snap. Coniston's voice outside broke in qron us. “Prince.” He was comipg forward. Anita stood In the doorway. "I have the figures, Coniston. By God, this Haljan is with sal And clever I We think it will total a hundred and thirty millions. What a stake I" She whispered, "Gregg, dear — I’ll be hack ■oon. We can do it — be ready." "Anita — be careful of yourself I. If they should suspect you. . . "1*11 be careful. In an hour, Gregg, or less, 1*11 come back. All right, Con- iston. Where is Miko? .1 want to see him. Stay where you are, Haljan I All in good time Miko will trust you with your liberty. You'll be rich like us all, never fear.” “ She swaggered out upon the deck, waved at the brigand, and banged my cubby door in my face. I sat <{upon my bunk. Waiting. Would she come back? Would ^e be successful? CHAPTER XVI In the Blue-lit Corridor ^ SHE came. I suppose it was no more than an hour: it seemed an eter- nity of apprehension: There was the slight hissing of the seal of my door. The panel slid. I had leaped from my bunk where in the darkness I was lying tense. "Prince?” I did not dare say, "Anita.” "Gregg.” Her voice. My gaze swept the deck as the panel opened. Neither Coniston nor anyone else was in sight, save Anita's dark-robed ^gure which came into my room. "You got it?**_I asked her in a low whisper. I held her for an instant, kissed her. But she pushed, me away with quick hands. "Gregg, dear — ** She was breathless. My kissbs, and the tenseness of what lay before us were to blame. "Gregg, see, I have it. Give us a lit- tle light— we must jiurryl” In the blue dimness I saw that she was holding one of the Martian cylin; ders. The smaller size : it would para- lyze, but not kill. "Only one, Anita?” "Yes. I had it before, but Miko took It from me. It was in bis room. And this—” The invisible cloak.. We laid it on my grid, and I adjusted its mechanism.

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68 ASTOUIjrDINC STORIES A (loak of the reflecttn^-absorbing variety.* ' I DONNED it, and drew its hood, and threw on its curreitt. ^ "All right, Anita?” "Yes.” "Can you see me?” | "No.” She stepped back a foot or two further. "Not from here. But you must let no one approach too close.” Then she came forward, .put out her hand, fumbled until she ^und me. It was our plan to have |me follow her out. Anyone observing us would see only the robed figure df the- sup- posed George Prince, and 1] would es- cape notice. \ \ The situation, about the s^ip was al- most unchanged. Anita hfd secured the weapon and the cloak ^d. slipped away to my cubby wiUioutj b^ing ob- , served. ' "You’re sure of that I” i "I think so, Gregg.. I was eareful.” Moa was now in the loung^, guarding the passengers. Hahn was asleep in the chart-room; Coniston Was in the turret. Coniston would b4 off duty presently, Anita said, with jHahn tak- ing his place. There were Idok-outs in the forward and stem wafch-towers, and a gu^d upon Snap in ! the helio- room. ! "Is he inside' the room, Ajnita ?” “Snap? Yes.” i "No— the guard.” i "No. He was sitting uponithe spider bridge at the door.” * The principle of ttali , invisible cloak in- volves the use of an eleotronized fabric. All color is absorbed. The light rays- reflected to the eye of the observer thns showj an image of empty blaclotess. There is also crated about the doak a magnetic field which by natural laws bends' the rays of light from objects behind ft. This principle of the natural, diending of light when passing mrough a mimetic field was first! recogniara by Albert : Einstein, a adentist . of the Twentieth century. In the case of tUs invisible cloak, the trading Ught rays, by making visible wbat wag behind the do^s blackness, thus destroyed its solid blsck oatline and gave a pscudb-inviailiility which was fairly effective under favorable conditions. This wasi unfortunate. That guard could see all the deck clearly. He might be suspicious of George Prince wandering around; it would be difficult to get near enough to assail h|m. This cylinder, I knew, had an effective range of only some twenty feet. Anita and I were swiftly whispering. It was necessary now to decide exactly what we were to do ; once under obser- vation outside, there must be no hesi- tation, no fumbling. \ "Coniston is sharpest, Gregg. He will be the hardest to get near.” The languid-spoken Englishman was the one Anita most feared. His alert eyes seemed to miss nothing. Perhaps he was suspicious of this Qeorge Prince — Anita thought, so. "But where is Mibo?” I whispered. The brigand leader had gone below a few moments ggo, down into the hull- corridor. Anita had seized the oppor- tunity to come to me. "We can attack Hahn in the chart- room first," I suggested. "And get the other weapons. Are they still there?" "Yes. But Gregg, the forward deck is very bright.” We were approaching the asteroid. Already its light like a brilliant moon was brightening the forward deck- space.- It made me realize how muc^ haste was necessary. We decided to go down into the hull- corridors. Locate Miko. Fell him, and hide him. His non-appearance back on deck would very soon throw the others into confusion, especially now with our impending landing upon the asteroid. And under cover of this confusion we would try and release Snap. We had been arguing no more than a minute or two. We were ready. Anita slid my door wide. She stepped through, with me soundlessly scurrying after her. The empty, silent deck was alternately dark with shadow-patches and bright with blobs of starlight. A sheen of the Sun’s corona was mingled with it; and from forward came the . radiance of the asteroid’s mellow silver ! glow.

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BRIGANDS OF THE MOON 69 A^ITA turned to seal toy door; within my faintly humming cloak I stood beside her. Was I invisible in this light? Almost directly 'over us, close under the dome, the look-out sat in his little tower. He gazed down at Anita. Amidships, high over the cabin superstr^ture, the helio-room hung dark ai^ silent. The guard on its bridge was visible. He, too, looked down. A tense instant. Then I breathed again. There was no alarm. The two guards answered Aqjta’s gesture. Anita said aloud into my empty cub- by: “Miko will come for you presently, Haljan. He told me to tell you that he wants you at the turret controls to land us on the asteroid.” She 6nished sealing my door and turned away ; btarted forward along the deck. I followed. My steps were. soundless in my elastic-bottomed shoes. Anita swaggered with a noisy tread. Near the door of the smoking room a small incline passa^ led downward. We went into it. The passage was dimly blue-lit. We descended its length, came to the main corridor, which ran the length of the hull. A vaulted metal passage, with doors to the control rooms opening from it. Dim lights showed at inter- vals. The humming of the ship was more apparent here. It drowned the slight humming of my cloak. I crept after Anita ; my hand under (the cloak clutched the ray weapon. 1 A steward passed us. I shrank aside to avoid him. Anita spoke to him. "Where is Miko, Ellis?” / "In the ventilator-room, Mr. Prince. There was difficulty with the air re- newal.” Anita nodded, and moved on. I could have felled that steward as he passed me. Oh, if I only had, how different things might have been I But it seemed needless. I let him go. and be turned into a nearby door which led to the galley. Anita moved forward. If we could come upon Miko alone. Abruptly she turned, and whispered, “Gregg, if other men are with^him. I’ll draw him away. You watch your chance.” What little things may overthrow one's careful plans! Anita had not realized how close to her I was follow- ing. Ai^ her turning so unexpectedly caused 'me to collide with her sharply. "Oh!” She exclaimed it involuntari- ly. Her outflung hand had unwi^ngly grippjed my wrist, caught the el^trode therr. The touch burned her, and close-circuited my robe. There was a hiss. My current burned out the tiny fuses. I^y invisibility was gone! I stood, a talPblack-hooded figure, revealed to the gaze of anyone who might be near! The futile plans of humans! We had plaiuied so carefully! Our calcula- tions, our hopek of jphat we could do, came clattering now in a sudden wl^ck- age around us. "Anita, run!” If I were seen with her, then her own disguise would probably be discovered. That abovb everything would be dis- aster. * "Anita, get aw^ from me! I must try it alone!” I COULD hide somewhere, repair the cloak perhaps. Or, since now I was armed, why could I not boldly start an assault? “Gregg, we must get you/ back to your cubby!” She was clinging to me in a panic. ’’No ! You run ! Get away from me I Don’t you understand? George Prince has no business h^re with me ! They’d kill you!” Or worse — Miko would discover 'it was A^ita, not George Prince. "Gr^g, let’s get back to the deck.” I pushed at her. Both of us in sud- den confusion. From behind me there came a shopt. That accursed steward! He had re-<.

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70 'ASTOUNDING STORIES turned, to . investigate pei^ps what Ceprge Prince was doing in this cor- ridor. He heard our voicesj; his shout in the silence of the ship scjunded hor- ribly loud. The white-clothfed shape of him was in the nearby doorway., He stood stricken in surprise at seeing me. And, then turned to run. I fired my paralyzing cylinder through my cloak. Got him I He fell. I shoved Anita violentl;pv “Run I Tell Miko to come — tell him you heard b shout I He w^n't suspect you I” “Bd^t Gregg—" “You mustn’t be found out I You’re our only hope, Anita I , I’ll-hide, fix the cloak, or get back to my ^^by. Wc 11 try it again.” * It decided her. She scurried down the corridor. I whirled th^ other way. The steward’s shout migSt not have been heard. Then realization flashed to me. That steward would be revived. !He was one of Miko’s men : for two voyages he had been a spy upon the Planetars. He would be revived and tell what he had seen and heard. Anita’s disguise would be revealed. A cold-blooded killing f do protest went against me. But it was necessary. I flung myself upon him.’ I beat his skull with the metal of my cylinder. I stood up. My ho^ had fallen back from my head. I wiped my bloody hands on my useless cloak. I had smashed the cylinder. “HalJanI” ^ ■> ANITA’S voice I A sharp note of horror and warning. I became aware that in the corridcff, forty feet down its dim length, Miko . had ap- peared, with Anita behind him. His rifle-bullet-projector was leveled. It spat at me. But Anita had pulled at hU arm. ^ The explosive report was sharply deafening in th confined space of the corridor, yfith a spurt of, flame the leaden pellet struck over my head against the vaulted ceiling Miko was struggling with Anita. “Prince, you idiot I” “Miko, don’t I It’s HaljanI Don’t kill him—’’ The turmoil brought members of the crew. From the shadowed oval near me they came running j Qung the use- less cylinder at them. But I was trapped in the narrow passage. I might have fought my way out. Or Miko might have shot me. But there was the danger that, in her horror, Anita would b^ay herself. I 'backed against the wall. “Don’t kill me I See, I will not fight T I flung up my atms. And the crew, emboldened, and courageous under Miko’s gaze, leaped on me and bore me down. The futile plans of bnmansl Anita and I had plaimed so carefully, and in a few brief minutes of action it had come only to this! CHAPTER XVII A Woman of Mars “OO, Gregg Haljan, y^ are not as loyal as you pretend I” Miko was livid with suppressed an- ger. They had stripped the cloak from me. and flung me t»ck in my cubby. Miko was now confronting me; at the door Moa stood watching. And Anita was behind her. I sat outwardly de- fiant and sullen on my btmk. But I was alert and tense, fearful still of what Anita’s emotion might betray her into doing. “Not so loyal," Miko repeated. “And a fool 1 Do you think I am such a child you can escape me I’ fie swung around. “How did he get out of here? Prince, you came in here 1” My heart was wildly thumping. But Anita retorted with a touch of spiiitt “I came to tell him what you c<nw manded. To check Hahn’s' latest fig- ures— and to be ready to take the con- trols when wc go into the^teroid’i atmosphere." "Well, how did he get out?"

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BRIGANDS OF THE MOON 71 'How should I know?” she parried. Little actress I Her spirit helped to allay my fear. She held her cloak close around her in the fashion they had come to expect from the George Prince who had just buried liis sister. "How should I know, Miko^P I sealed his door." "But did you?” “Of course he did,” Moa put in. "Ask your look-outs,” said Anita. "They saw me — 1 waved to them just as I sealed the door.” I ventured, "I have been taught to open doors.” I managed a sly, lugubri- ous smile. "I shall not try it again, Hiko.” Nothing had been said about my kill- ing of the steward. I thanked my con- stellations now that he was dead. "I shall not try it again,” I repeated. A glance passed between Miko and his sister. Miko said abruptly, "You seem to reali^ that it is not my pur- pose to kill you. And you presqme npon it.” “I shall not again.” I eyed Moa. She was gazing at me steadily. She said, "Leave me with him', Miko. . .” Shrsmiled. "Gregg Hsljan, we are no ihore than twenty thousand miles fron} die asteroid now. The calculations ^or retarding are now in operation.” IT w^ what had taken Miko below, that and trouble with the ventilat- ing system, which was soon rectified. But the retarding of the ship’s velocity when nearing a destination required accurate manipulation. These brigands Were fearful of their own skill. That was obvious. It gave me cogfidence. I was really needed. They would not harm me. Except for Miko’s impulsive temper, I was in no danger from them —not now, certainly. Moa was saying, 'I think I may make you understand, Gregg. We have Iremendons riches within our grasp." "I know it." I added with sudden thought, "But there are many with whom to divide this treasure. . . .” Miko caught my intended implica- tion. "By ^e infhmal, this fellow may have felt.l^ could seize the treasure for himself I Because he is a navi- gator I” Moa said vehemently, t*Do not be an idiot, Gregg I You could not do it I There will he fighting with Grantline.” My purpose was accompished. They seemed to see me a willing outlaw like themselves. As though it were a bond between us. And they could win me. "Leave me with him,” said Moa. Miko acquiesced. "For a few minntes only.” He proffered a heat-ray cylinder, but she refused it. "I amppot afraid of him.” Miko 'swung on me. “Within an hour we will be nearing the atmosphf^re. Will you take the controls?” "Yeg." He set his heavy jaw. His e^ea bored into me. "You’re a strange fellow, Haljan. I can’t make you out. I am not angry now. Do you think, when I am deadly serious, that I mean what I say?” . His calm words set a sudden shiver over me. I checked my smile. "Yes,’,’ I s^id.' “Well then, I will tell you this: not for all of Prince’s well-meaning inter- ference, or Moa’s liking for you, or my own need of your skill, will I tolerate more trouble from you. The next time — I will kill you. Do you believe me ?” "Yes.' • ‘That is all I want to say. You kill my men, and niy sister says I must not hurt you. I am not a child to be ruled by a woman!” He held his'huge fist before my face. “With these fingers I will twist your neck I / Do you believe it?” ‘*Yes.” I did indeed. f He swung on bis heel. “If Moa wants to try and put sense into your head — I hope she does. ^ Bring him to the loung^when you are Wished, Moa. Com?T Wince — Hahn will need us.” He chuckled grimly. “Hahn seems to fear we will plunge into this asteroid like<

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72 y^STOUNDING STORIES a wild comet gone suddenly tangent I" Anita moved aside to let him through the door. I caught a glimpse of her set white face as she followed him down the deck. Then Moa’s bulk' blocked the door- way. < She faced me. "Sit where you are, jCregg." She , turned and close<] the door upon us. "I am not afraid of you. Should I be2” "No," I said. She came and sat doVn beside me. "If you should attempt to leave this room, the stem took-out ;has orders to bore' yjovi .through.” "I have no intention <^f leaving the room." I retorted. "I i do not want to commit suicide.” “I thought you did.l You seem minded in such a fashioni Gregg, \vhy are you so foolishyw ; f I REMAINED silent, i “Why?” she demanded. I said carefully, "This itreasure — you tze many who will divide it. You have all these men' on the PJknetara. And in Ferrok-Shahn, others, po doubt.” I paused. Would she tell me? Could I make her talk of that jother brigand ship which Miko had said was wait- ing on Mars? I wondered if he had been able to signal it. [The distance from here to Mars was yet upon other voyages Snap’s signals bad got- ten through. My hear^ sank' at the thought. Our situation here was des- perate enough. The p^sengers soon would be cast upon the dsteroid ; there would be left only Snap, Anita and my- . self. We might recapfure the ship, but I doubted it now. ! My thoughts were turning to our artval upon the Moon. We three might, perhaps, be able to thwart the attack upon Grant- line, bold the brigands loff until help from the Earth might cbme. But with another brigand ship, fully manned and armed, coming from Mara, the condition would bej immeasurably worse. Grantline had ! some twenty men, and his camp, I Idiew., wduld be reasonably fortified. I ^ew, too, that Johimy Grantline would fight to hit last man. Moa was saying, "I would like to tell you 'our plans, Gregg.” ' Her gaze was on my face. Keen eyea but they were luminous now — an emo- tion in them sweeping her. But out- wardly she was calm, stern-lipped. "_Well, why don’t you tell me?” I said. “If I am to help you. . . .” “Gregg, I want you with us. Don’t you understand? We are, not many. My brother and I are guiding this affair. With your help, I would feel differently.” "The ship at Ferrok-Shahn — ” My fears were re)^lized. She said, “I think bifr signals reached it Dean tried, and Coniston was checking him.” "You think the ship is coming?” "Yes.” "Where will it join us?" "At the Moon. We will be there is thirty hours. You figures gave that did they not, Gregg?” "Yes. And the other ship— how fast is it?” "Quite fast. In eight days— or nine, perhaps — it will reach the Moon.” She seemed willjng enough to talk There was indeed, no particular reason for reticence ; I could not, she naturally felt, turn the knowledge to account “Manned — ” I prompted. "About forty men.” "And armed? Long range projectorsr "You ask very avid questions, Gregg T "Why should I not? Don’t you sup- pose I’m interested?” I' touched her. "Moa, did it ever occur to you, if once you and Miko trusted me — which yon don’t — I might show more interest in joining you?” The look on her face emboldened me. "Did you ever think of that, Moa? And some arrangement for my sfa^e of this treasure? I am not like Johnaos, to be hired for a hundred 'pounds of gold-leaf.” “Gregg. I will see that you get your share. Riches, for you — and me.”

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BRIGANDS OF THE MOON 73 "I was thinking, Moa, when we land at the Moon to-morrow — where is our equipment?” The Moon, with its lack of atmqs- p&ere, needed special equipment. I had never heard Carter mention what ap? paratus the Planetara was carrying. Moa laughed. “We have located air-suits and helmets — a variety of suitable apparatus, Gregg. But we were not foolish enough to leave Great- ' New York on this voyage without our own arrangements. My brother, and Coniston and Prince — all of us shipped crates of freight consigned to Ferrok- Shahn — and ^nkin had special bag- gage marked ‘theatrical apparatus.’ " I understood it now. These brigands had boarded the Planetaia with their own Moon equipment, disguised as freight and personal baggage. Shipped in bond, to be inspected by the tax offi- cials of Mars. “It is on board now. We ,will open ft when we leave the asteroid, Gregg. We are well equipped." She bent toward me. And suddenly her long lean fingers were gripping my shoulders. “Gregg, look at me I" I gazed into her eyes. There was passion there; and* her voice was sud- denly intense. “Gregg, I told you once a Martia^, girl goes after what she wants. It i^ you I want — “ Not for me to play like a cad upon a woman’s emotional "Moa, you flatter me*. “I love you." She held me off, gazing at me. “Gregg — “ I must have smiled. And abruptly she released mq. “So you think it amusing?" “No. But on Earth—" “We are not on the Earth. Nor am I of .the Elarthl" She was gauging me keenly. .No note of pleading was in her voiM;. a stem authority; and the passion was swinging to anger, “I am like my brother : I do not un- derstand you, Gregg Haljan. Perhaps you think you are clever? It seems Stupidity, the fatuousness of man I" “Perhaps," I said. There was a moment of silence. “Gregg, I said I loved you. Have- you no answer?” "No.” In truth, I did not know what sort of answer it would be best to make. Whatever; she inust have read in my eyes, it stirred her to fury. Her fingers with the strength of a man in them, flug into my shoulders. Her gaze searched me. “You think you love someone else? Is that it?” Th^ was horribly startling; but she did not mean it just that way. She amended, with caustic venom: “That little Anita Prince I You thought you loved her I Was that it?" {Not” But I hardly deceived her. “Sacred to her memory I Her ratlike little face — soft voice like a purring, sniveling cat I Is that what you’re remembering, Gregg Haljan?” she sneered. I tried to laugh. “What nonsense I” “Is it? Then why are you cold imder my touch? Am I — a girl descended from, the Martian flame-workers — im- potent now to awaken a man?” A woman scorned I In all the Uni- verse there could be no more dangerous an enemy. An incredible venom shot fum her eyes. ^That miserable mouselike creature! Well for her t^t my brother killed her.” * It struck me cold. If Anita was un- masked, beyond all the menace of Miko’s wooing, I knew that the venom of Moa’s jealousy was a greater danger. I said sharply, "Don’t be simple, Moa I” I shook off her grip. "You imagine too much. You fqrget that I am a Ofan of the Earth and you a girl of Mars.” "Is that reason why we should not love?” 'i ’No. But ouf instincts are different. Men of the Earth are bom to the chase.”

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ASTOUNDING STORIES I WAS smiling. With tl^ught,of Anita’s danger I could Endjit readily in my heart to dupe this Amazon. “Give me time, Moa. You attract me.” “You lie!” j “Do you think so?” I gripped her arm with all the power of m|y Engera. It must have hurt her, hut she gave no sign; her gaze clung to me sjreadily. “I don’t know, what to thiiik, Gregg Haljan.'. .” ! I held grip. “Think What you like. Men of Earth have heen known to kill the thing they love.” ' “You want me to fear you?-’ “Perhaps.” ^he smiled scornfully. ?‘That is absurd.” i I released her. I said earniestly. “I want you to realize that if jyou treat me fairly, I can be of great fd^antage to this, venture. There will be Eghting — I am fearless.” j Her venomous expression wias soften- ing. “I think that is true, Gtegg.” “And you need my navigafing skill. Even now I should be in the iturret.” I stood up. I half expected fhe would stop me, but she did not. 1 1 added, “Shall we go?” i She stood beside me. Her height brought her face level with mine. “I think you will cause ino more trouble, Gregg?” ! “Of course not. I am not wholly wit- less.” I “You have been.” i ^Yes.” I picked the sheet up from my /desk. “Hahn is fairly accurate, Mok.” “A fool nevertheless. An apprehen- sive fool.” A comradeship seemed coming be- ^een us. It was my purpose to es- tablish it. \ . “Are we going to'maro^ Dr. Frank with the passengers?” I asked. “Yes.” - “But he may be of use to us.” I wanted Dr. Frank kept aboard. I still felt that there yras a chance for us to recapture the ship. But Moa shook her head decisively. “My brother has decided not. We will be well rid of Dr. Frank. ‘Are you ready, Gregg?” “Yea.” She opened the door. Her gesture reassured the look-out, who was alertly watching the stem watch-tower. “Come, Gregg.” I stepped out, and followed her for- ward along the deck, which now was bright with the radiance of the nearby asteroid. CHAPTER XVIII Marooned on an Asteroid A FAIR little world, f had thought so before; and I thought so now as I gazed at the asteroid banging so close before pur bow. A huge, thin crescent, with the Sun off to one side “Well, that is over.” I hesitated. Then I added, “A man of E^rth does not yield to love when there ip work to do. This treasure — ” I think that of everything ' I said, this last most convinced her.- She interrupted, “That I un< ierstand.” Her eyes were smoldering. ‘When it is over — when we are rich — then I will claim you, Gregg.” SHE turned from me. **Are ' you ready?” “Yes. Not I must get that sheet of Hahn’s last Egures.” “Are they checked?” behind it. A silver crescent, tinged with red. From this near viewpoint, all of the little globe’s disc was visible. The shadowed portion lay dimly red, mysteriously; the sifolit crescent — widening visibly as we approached — was gleaming silver. Inky moonlike shadows in the hollows, brilliant light upon the mountain heights. The^seas lay in gray patches. The convexity of the disc was sharply defined. So small a world I Fair and beautiful, shrouded with clouded areas. * “Where is Miko?” “In the lounge, Gregg.” “Can we stop there?”

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BRIGANDS OF THE MOON 75 Moa turned into the lounge archway. Strange, tense scene. I saw Anita at once. I&r robed figure lurked in an inconspicuous comer; her eyes were upon me as Moa and I entered, but she did not move. The thirty-odd passen- gers were huddled in a group. Solemn, white-facpd men, frightened women. Some of them were sobbing. One Earth- woman — a youijg widow — sat holding her little girl, and wailing with uncon- trolled-hysteria. The child knew me. As r ap^ared now, with my gold-laced white coat over my shoulders, the little child Beeped to see in my uniform a mark of^thority. She left her mother and ran to me. "You, please — ^you will help us? My moms is crying." I sei^ her gently back. Hht there came upon me then a compassion for these innocent passengers, fated to have embarked upon this ill-starred voyage. Herded here in this. cab(n, with brigands like pirates of old guard- ing themi Waiting now to be marooned on an uninhabited asteroid roaming in space. A sense of responsibility swept me. I swung upon* Miko. He stood with a nonchalant grace, lounging against the wall with a iyl^der dang- ling in his hand. He anticipated me. “So, Haljan — she put some sensie into your head? No more trouble? Then get into the turret. Moa, stay there with him. Send Hahn. here. Wheit is that ass Coniston? We will be in the atmosphere shortly.” I. said, “No more trouble from me, Miko. But these passengers — what preparation are you making lor them on the asteroid ?“ t He stared in surprise. Then he laughed. “I am no murderer. The crew is preparing food, all we can spare. And tools. They can build themselves shelter — ^they will be picked up in a few weeks." Dr. Prank was here. I caught his gaze, but he did not speak. On the lounge couches there still lay the quarter-score bodies. Rankin, who had been killed by Blacksmne in the fight ; a man passenger killed ; a woman and a man wounded. Miko added, “Dr. Frank will take his medical supplies — he will care for the wounded. There are other bodies among [the crew." His gesture was deprecat- |ing. ,-"I have not buried them. ,We will put them ashore; easier that.wBy*” The passengers were all eyeing me. I said: “You have nothing to fear. I will guarantee you the best equipment we can sp^e. You will give them ap- paratus with which to signal?" I de- . manded of Miko. “Yes. Get to the turret.” I ^med away, with Moa after me. Again the little girl ran forward. “Come — speak to my moms I She is crying.” It was across the cabin from Miko. Coniston had appeared from the deck; it created a slight diversion. He joined Miko. "Wait,” I said to Moa. "She is afraid of you. This is humanity.” I pushed Moa back. I followed the child. I had seen that Venza was. sit- ting with the child’s weeping mother. This was a ruse to get word with me. I stood before the terrified woman while the little girl clung to my leg& I said gently, "Don’t be so frightened. Dr. Frank will taie care of you. There is no danger — you will be safer on the asteroid than here on the ship.” I leaned down and touched her shoul- der. “There' is no danger.” I WAS between 'Venza and the open cabiii. Venza whispere<^ swiMy, “When we are landing, Gregg, I want you to make a commotion — anything —just as the women passengers go ashore.” ^ “Why? No, of course you will have food, ''Mrs. Francis.” “Never mind I An instant. Jiist confusion. Go, Gregg — don’t speak now 1” • I raised the child. “You take care of mother.” I kissed her.

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76 ASTj'OUNDINd STORIES From across the cabin Miko’s sar- donic voice made me turn. “Torching sentimentality, HaljanI Get; to your post in the turret I" His rasping note of annoyance brooked no delay. I set the child ^wn. I said, "I will land us in an h^ur. De- pend on it.” i Hahn was^at the controls vfhen Moa and I reached the turret. J “You wilt land us safely, Haljan? he demanded anxiously. I pushed him away. “Miko tvants you in the lounge.” "You take command heref; “Of course, Hahn. I am no' mofe an- xious for a crash than you." He sighed with relief. “That is true. I am no expert at atmospheric entry, Haljan — nor , Coniston, nor Ifiko.” “Have no fear. Sit down, Moa.” I waved to the look-out id the for- ward watch-tower, and got his routine gesture. I rang the corridor bells, and the normal signals came pronjptly back. "It’s correct, Hahn. ' jGet away with you.” I called after him. "^ell Miko that things are all right herk." Hahri’s small dark £gure, jlithe as a leopard in his tight fitting trous^ and japket with his robe now idiscar^d, went kwiftly down the spicier incline and a^oss Uie deck. ^ j "Melow. The brigand crew did its part efficiently. At a hundred and fifty thousand feet I shifted the gravity plates to the land- ding combinations, and started the electronic engines. ‘‘All safe, Gregg?” Moa sat at my elbow; her eyes, with what, seemed a glow of admiration in them, followed my busy routine activities. "Yes, 'I'he crew works welL" Tbe electronic streams flowed out like a rocket tail behind us. The Plane- tara caught their impetus. In the raxi- fied air, our bow lifted slightly, like a ship tiding a gentle ground swell. At a hundred thousand feet we sailed gently forward, hull down to the aster- oid’s surface, cruising to seek a land- ing apace. A little sea was now beneath us. A shadowed sea, deep purple in tbe night dotm there. Occasional green-verdured islands showed, with the lines Of white surf iparking them. Beyond the sea, a curving coastline was visible. Rocky headlines, behind which mountain foot- hills cose in serrated, verdured ranks. The sunlight edged the distant moun- tains; and presently this rapidly turn- ing little world brought the .sunlight forward. ■ / IT was day beneath us. We slid gCntly downward. Thirty thou- sand feet now, above ^ sparkling blue ocean. The coastline'' was just ahead; green with a lush, tropical vegetation. Giant trees, huge-leaved. Long dang- ling yines; air plants, with giant pods and vivid orchid)ike blossoms. I tat at the turret window, staring through my glasses. A fair little world, yet obviously unhabited. I could fancy that all this was newly-sprung vege- tation. This asteroid had whirled in from the cold of the interplanetary ppacc far outside our Solar System. A few 'years ago — as time might be mea- sured astronomically, it was no more than yesterday — this fair landscape was; congealed white and bleak with a sweep of glacial ice. ^t the seeds of life I miraculously w^ here. The mixMle of life I Under the warming.

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BRIGANDS OF THE MOON 77 germinating sunligfat, the verdure sprung. "Can you find landing apace, Gregg?” Moa’s question brought back my wan- dering fancies. I saw an upland glade, a level spread of ferns with the forest banked around it. A cliff-height near- by, frowning down at the sea. "Yes. I can land us there.” I shoved her through the glasses. I rang the sirens, and we spiraled, descending further. The mountain tops were now close beneath us. Clouds were over- head, white masses with blue sky be- hind them. A day of briliant sunlight. But soon, with our forward cruising, it was night. The Sunlight dropped beneath the sharply convex horizon; the sea and the land went purple. A night of brilliant stars; the Earth was a blazing blue-red point of light. The heavens visibly were revolving ; in an hour or so it would be ^aylight again. On the forward deck now Coniston had appeared, commanding half a dozen of the crew. They were carrying up caskets of ^od and the equipment which was to be given the morooned passengers. And making ready^ the disembarking incline, loosening' the seals of the side-dome windows. Sternward on the deck, by the lounge oval,' I could see jdiko standing. And occasionally the roar of his voice at the passengers sounded. vagrant thought flung back in- to Elarth’s history. Like, this, ancient travelers of the surface of the sea were bearded by pirates to Walk the plank, or put ashore, marooned upon some fair desert island of the tropic Spanish main. Hahn came mounting our turret in- cline. "All is well, Gregg Haljan?” "Get to your work,” Moa told him sharply. “We land in an hour-quadrant." He retreated, joining the bustle and confusion w^ich now was beginning on the deck. It struck me— could I turn that confusion to account? Would it be possible, now at the last moment. to attack these brigands? Snap still sat oumide the helio-room doorway. But his guard was alert with upraised projector. And that guard, I saw, in his position high amidships, conunanded ^1 the deck. And 1 sa\^ to, as the passengers now were herdea in a line from the lounge oval, that Miko had roped and bound all of the men. And a clanking chain connected them. They came like a line of convicts, .marching forward, and stopped on the open deck-space near the base of the turret. Dr. Frank’s grimTace gazed up at me. Miko ordered the women and chil- dren in a group beside the chained men. His words to them reached me: "You are in no danger. When we land, be careful. You will find gravity very different — this is a very small world.” I flung on the landing lights; the deck glowed with the blue radiance; the search-beams shot down beside our hull. We hung now a. thousand feet above the . forest glade. I cut off tht electronic streams. We poised, with the gravity-plates set at normal, and only a gentle night-breeze to give us a slight side drift. This I could con- trol with the lateral propeller rudders. For all my busy^landing rputine, my mind was on other things. Venza’s swift words back there in the lounge. I was to create a commotion while the passengers were landing. Why? Had she and Dr. Frank, perhaps, some last minute desperate purposes? I DETERMINED I would ^do what she said. Shout, or mis-order the lights. That would be easy. But to ^bat advantage ? I was glad it lyas night — I had, in- deed,^lculated our descent so that the landing would be in darkness. But what purpose? These brigands Were very alert. There was nothing I could think of to do which would avail us anything more than a possible swift death under. Miko’s anger. “Well done, Gregg t” said Moq. I cut off the last of the propellers.

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78 ASjTOUNDING SI^ORIES With iscarcely a perceptible jar, the Planeifia grounded, rose like a feather and s^tled to rest in the gliade. The deep ijurple night with stars overhead ' was dround us. 1 hissed oijt our in- terior air through the dome I and hull- ports, and admitted the night-air of the astroid. My calculations — of ne- cessity mere mathematical a^roxima- - tioDS — proved fairly accuratt In tem- perature dnd pressure there was no ''radical chinge asi the dom.C-windows slid back. | We had landed. Whrte* Venza’s purpose, her moment a^ hand. I was tense. But I was awarej also, 'that beside; me Moa was very aldrt. I bad thought her unarmed. She ws|s n^. She sat back from me; in her hand was a small thin knife-blade. She- murmured tensely, “You have done your part, Gregg. Well and skill- fully jdone. Now we will sit here quietl/ and watch them landl” Sni^s guard was standing, keenly watching. The Iqok-outs in the forward and stem ^wers were also; armed; I could see them both gazing keenly down at the confusion of t^e blue-lit deck. I The incline went over th^ hull-side and touched the ground. “Enough I" Miko roared. jVThe men first. Hahn, move the wopien back I Conision, pile those caskets |o the side. Get out of the way, Prince.’f Anita was down there. | I saw her Bt the edge of the group of wo- men. Venza was near her. I ^ Miko shoved her. “Get but of the way. Prince. You can helpj Goniston. Have the things ready to thriow oS.” Five of the steward-erew lir^re at the bead of the incline. Mik(^ shouted up at me : i “Haljan, hold our shipboaird gravity normal.” "Yds,” I responded. \ I had done so. Our magnitizers had been adjusted to the shifting calcula- tions of our Umding. They were hold- ing now at intensities, so ' that upon the pianetara no change from fairly nom|al Earth-gravity was apparent. I 'rang a tentative inquiry signal; the operator in the hull-magnetizer control ansvrered that he was at his post. The line of men were first to descend, Pr. prank led them. He flashed a look of farewell up at me and Snap as he wen| down the incline with the chained men; passengers after him. Mjotley' procession! Twenty odd, dishevelled, half-clothed men of three worlds. The changing, lightening gravity on the incline caught them. Dr. Frank bounded up to the rail under the I impetus of his step; caught and helq himself, drew himself back. The line; swayed. In the dim, blue-lit glare it sfemed unreal, crahy. A grotesque dream of men descending a p^nk. They reached the forest glade. Stood swaging, afraid at first to move. The purple night crowded them ; they stood gazjng at this strange world, their new prison. “Now the women." Miko was shoving the women to the head of the incline. I could feel Moa’s steady gaze upon me. Her knife-blade gleamed in the turret light. She murmured again, "In a few minutes'you can ring away, Gregg." I FELT like an actor awaiting his 'cue in the wings of some turgid drama the plot of which he did not know. Afenza was near the head of the inc|ine. Some of the women and chil- drep were on it. A woman screamed. Her child had slipped from her hand, bounded up over the rail, and faBpn. Hardly fallen — floated down to the grcund, with flailing arms and legs; landing in the dark ferns, unharmed. Its terrified wail came up. There was a confusion on the iqcline. 'Venza, still On the deck, seemed to send a look of appeal to the turret. My cue? I slid my band to the light switch- board. It was near my knees. I pulled a switch. The blue-lit deck beneath the turret went dark. f

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BRIGANDS OF THE MOON 79 I recall an inatant of horrible, tense silence, and in the gloom beside me I was aware of Moa mcjving. I felt a thrill of instinctive fear — ^would she plunge that knife into me? The silence of the darkened deck was broken with a confusion of sounds. A babble of voices; a woman passen- ger’s scream; shuffling of feet; and above it all, Miko’a roar : "Stand qui^t I Everyone I No move- ment 1" On the descending incline there watf chaos. The disembarking women were clinging to the gang-rail ; some of them had evidently surged over it and fallen. Down on the ground in the purple- shadowed starlight I could vaguely see the chained line of men. They too were in confusion, trying to ^ove them- selves toward the fallen women. Miko roared: "Light those tubes I Gregg HaljanI By the Almighty, Moa, are you up. there? What is wrong? The light- tubes — " Dark drama of unknown plot I I won- der if I should try and leave the turret. Where was Anita? She had been down there on the deck when I flung out the lights. I think twenty seconds would have covered it all. I had not moved- I thought, “Is Snap concerned with this?” Moa’s knife could have stabbed me. I felt her lunge against me; and sud- denly I was gripping her, twisting her wrist. But she flung the knife away. Her strength was almost the equal of my own. Her hand went for my throat, and with the other hand she was fumbling. The deck abruptly sprang into light sgain. Moa had fotmd the switch and threw it back. “Greggl" She fought me as I tried to reach the switch. I saw down on the deck Miko gazing up at us. Moa panted, "Gregg — stopl If her-seea you doing this, he’ll kill you — ” The scene down there was almost unchanged. I had answered ray cue. To what purpose? I saw Anita near Miko. The last of the women were on the plank. I had stopped struggling with Moa. She sat back, panting; and then she called: "Sorry, Miko. It will not hap- pen again." ^ 'Miko was in a towering rage. But he was too busy to bother with me ; his anger swung on those nearest him. He shoved the last of the jwomen violently at the incline. She bounded over. Her body, with the gravity-pull of only a few Earth-pounds, sailed in an arc and dropped to the ^ward near the swaying line of men. Mil» swung back. “Get out of my way l’’A sweep of his huge arm knocked Anita sidewise. "Prince, damn you, help me with those boxes I" The frightened stewards were lift- ing the boats, square metal storage- chests each as long as~a man, packed with food, tools, and equipment. "Here, get out of my way, all of you I” My breath came again ; Anita nimbly retreated before Miko’s angry rush. He dashed at the stewards. Three of thym held a box. He took it from them; raised it at the top of the incline. Poised it over his head an instant, with his massive arms like gray pillars beneath it. And flung it. The box catapaulted, dropped; and then- passing the Plane- tara’s gravity area; it sailed in a long flat arc over the forest glade and crashed into the purple underbrush. f "Give me another I” The stewards pushed another at him. Like an angry Titan, he flung it. And another. One/ by -one the chests sailed out and crashed. "There is your food — go pick it up I Haljan, make ready to ring us away I” On the deck la^ the deqd body of Rancc^lankin, which the stewards had parried out. Miko seized it, flung it, “There 1 Go to resting place I” And the other bodies. Balch Black- stone, Captain Carter, Johnson — Miko

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80 ASTOUNDING STORIES flung them. And the cour^ masteis and those of our crew who had been killed; the stewards app^ed with them ; Miko unceremoniously cast them off. H The passengers were ml on the’ ground now. It was dim (^wn there. I tried to distinguish Venza(, but could not. T could see Dr. Fiankfs figure at the ei^d of the chained line of men. The passengers were gazing in hprror at the bodies hurtling over them. ; "Ready, Haljan?” j Mda prompted me. "Tell'him yes I" I called, “Yesl” Had 'Vjenz^ failed in her unknown purpose? | It seemed so. On the helio-room bridge Snap and his guard stood like silent statues in the blue-Ut gloom. The disembarkation was ^ver. "Close the ports,” Miko commanded. The incline came folding up with a clatter. The ports and dome-windows slid closed. Moa hissed egainst my ear : "If you want life, Gregg Haljan, you will start your duties I" 'Venza had failed. Whatever it was, it had come to nothing. liown in the purple forest, disconiMcte<i now from the ship, the last of fi|iends stood marooned. I could distin^ish them through the blur of the closed dome^ only a swaying, huddled grouji was visible. But my fancy pictured this last sight of them — Dr. Fmnk, Venza, Shac and Dud Ardley. They were gone. There .were left only Snap, Anita, and mys^f. I WAS mechanically ringing us away. I heard my sirens sounding down below, with the answjEring clangs here in the turret. The; PJanetara’s res[»ratory controls started; the pres- sure equalizers began operating, and the gravity plates shifted' into lifting combinations. T|ie ship was hissing and quivering witlj it, combined with tlm grating of the fast of the dome ports. And.Miko’s '^"i'ift) Haljan.” Hahn had been mingled with the confusion of the deck, though 1. had -hardly noticed him; Coniston had re- gained below, with the crew answer- ing my signals. Hahn stood ndw with Miko. gazing down through a deck window, Anita was alone at another. “Lift, Haljan." I lifted us gently, bow first, with a repulsion of the bow plates. And started the central electronic engine. Its thrust from our stem move<L us diagonally over the purple forest tnes. The glade slid downward and away. I caught a last vague glimpse of the huddled group of marooned passen- gei's, staring up at us. Left to their fate, alone on this deserted little world. With the three engines going we slid smoothly upward. The forest dropped, a purple spread of tree-tops, edged with stvli^t and Earth-light. The sharply curving horizon seemed following us up. I swung on all the power. We mounted at a forty degree angle, slowly circling, with a bank of clouds over us to the side wnd the shining little sea beneath. "Very good, Gregg.” In the turret light I^a’s eyes blazed at me. "I do not know what you meant by darken- ing the deck-lights." Her fingers dug at my shoulders. "I will tell my brother it was an error.” I said, "An error — yes.” "An error 7 I don’t know what it was. But you have me to deal with now. ITou understand?. I will tell my brother so, 'You said, ‘On Earth a man may kill the thing he loves.’ A woman of Mars may do that I Beware of me, Gregg Haljan." Her passion-filled eyes bored into me. Love? Hate? The venom of a woman scorned — a mingling of turgid emotions. . . . I TWISTED away from her grip and ignored her; she sat back, silently watching my busy activities; the cal- culations of the shifting conditions of gravity, pressures, taupostures ; a checking of the acorn or more of in- struments on the board before me.

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BRIGANDS OF THE MOON 81 Mechanicalioutine. My mind went to Venza, bacV there on the asteroid. The wandering little world was already shrinking to a convex surface beneath us. Venza, with ber last unknown play, gone to failure. Had I failed my cue? Whatever my part, it seemed now that I must have horribly mis-acted it. The ^crescent Earth was presently swinging over our bow. We rocketed out of the asteroid’s shadow. The glow- ing, flaming Sun appeared, making a crescent of the Earth. With the glass I could see our tiny Moon, visually seeming tp hug the limb of its parent Earth. We were away upon our course for the Moon. My mind flung ahead. Grantline with his treasure, unsuspect- ing this brigand ship. And suddenly, beyond .'■11 thought of Grantline and his treasure, there came to me a fear for Anita.' In God’s truth I had been, so fax, a very stumbling inept champion —doomed to failure with everything I tried. It swept me, so that I cursed my own Incapacity. Why had I not contrived to have Anita desert at the asteroid? Would it not have been far better for her there? Taking her chance for rescue with Dr. Frank, Venza and the others? But not I had, like an inept fool, never thought of that I Had left her here on board at the mercy of these outlaws. And I swore now that, beyond every- thing, I would protect her. Futile path I If I could have seen ahead a few hours I But I sensed the catastrophe. There was a shudder with- in me as I sat in that turret, docilely guiding us out through the asteroid’s atmsphere, heading us upon our course for the Moon. CHAPTER XIX In the Zed-light Glow RY again. By the infernal. Snap X Dean, if you do anything to balk us I" Miko scanned the- apparatus with keen eyes. How much technical knowl- edge of signaling instruments did this brigand leader have? I was tense and cold vHth apprehension as I sat in a comer jof the helio-room, watching Snap. Could Miko be fooled? Snap, I knew, was trying to fool him. The Moon spread close beneath us. My log-phart, computed up to thirty minutes ' past, showed us barely some thirty thousand miles over the Moon’s surface. The globe lay in quadrature beneat]h our bow quarter — a huge quad- rant ^reading across the black starry vault of the 4ower heavens. A silver quadrant. The sunset caught the Lunar mountains, flung slanting shadows over the empty Lunar plains. All. the disc was plainly visible. The mellow Earth- light glowed serene and pale to illumine the Lunar night.' The Planetara was bathed in silver. A brilliant silvel^ glare swept the for- ward dech, clean white and splashed with black shadows. We had partly circled the Moon, so as now to approach it fpom the Earthward side. I had worked with extreme concentration through the last few hours, plotting the trajectory of our curving sweep, set- ting the gravity pines with constantly shifting combinations. And with it a necessity for the steady retarding of our velocity. ^ IKO for a time was at my ‘elbpiv in the turret. I had not seen Coniston and Hahn of recent hnuiw I had slept, awakened refreshed, and had a meal. Coniston and Hahn remained below, one or the other of them always with the crew to execute my sirened orders^ Then Coiliston came to take my place in the turret, and I went with Miko to the helio-room. “You are skilful, Haljan.’’ A mea- sure of -grim approval was in Miko’s voice. "You evidently have no wish to try and fool me in this navigation.’’ I had not, indeed. It is delicate worit at best, coping with the intricacies of celestial mechanics upon a semi- circular trajectory with retarding ve-

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82 ASTOUNDING STORIES |locity, and with a make-ahi^ft crew we could easily have come up^n real dif- ficulty. ^ We hung at last, hull-dc^wn, facing the earthward hemisphere qf the Lunar disc.! The giant ball of thf Earth lay' behiiid and above us — the Sim over our stem' quarter. With forward velocity almost checked, we poised^ and Snap began hia signals to ^e unsuspecting Crantline. My work momentarily was over. I sat watchieg the helio-rooni. Moa was here, clos^ beside me ; I felt always her watchful gaze, so that e\|en the play of my expression needed reining. Miko worked with Snap.; Anita too was iiere. To Miko and M°a it was the taciturn George Prince, shrouded always in his black mo,prning cloak, disinclined to. talk; siting alone, brooding and cowardly sqllen. Miko repeated, “By the infernal, if you try to fool me. Snap Dean I” The small metal room, with its grid floor and lotv-arched ceil|ng, glared with moonlight through iljs windows. The m^ing figures of Snap and Miko were aped by the grotesque misshapen shadows of them on the ^lls. Miko gigantic^-a great, menacing! ogre. Snap . small and alert — a trim, pale figure in his tight-fitting white trou^rs, broad- flowing belt, and white shirt open at the throat. His face wa^ pale and drawn from lack of sleep ^nd the tor- ture to which Miko bad sulfjected him. But he grinned at the brig^d’s words, and pushed his straggling | hair closer under the red eyeshade. “I’m doing my best, Milfo — you dan "believe it." I The room over long periods was deadly silent, with Mi^o and ^nap bending watchfully at the crowded banks of instruments. A; silence in which my own pounding h^art seemed to echo. I did not dare lot^k at Anita, nor she at me. Snap was trying to sig- nal Earth, not the Moon I : His'main helios were set in . the reverse. The infra-red waves, Qung frotn the bow window, were of a frequency which Snap and I believed that Grantline could not pick up. And over against the wall, close beside me and seemingly ignored by Snap, there was a tiny .ultra- violet sender. Its faint hum and the quivering of its mirrora had so far assed unnoticed. Would some Earth-station pick it up? I' prayed so. There was a thumb nail mirror here which could bring an answer. I prayed that it might swing. Would' some Earth telescope be able to see us? I doubted it. The pin- point of the PJanetara’s infinitesimal bulk would be beyond them. Long silences, broken only by the faint hiss and murmur of Snap's in- struments. “Shall I try the 'graphs, Miko?" “Yes.” I helped him with the spectrohelio- graph. At every level the plates showed us nothing save the scarred and pitted Moon-surface. We worked for an hour. There was nothing. Bleak cold night on the Moon here beneath us. A touch of fading sunlight upon the Apennines. Up near the South Pole, Tycho with its radiating open rills stood like s grim dark maw. Miko bent oyer plate. “Something here? Is there?” An abnormality upon the frowning ragged cliffs of Tycho? We thought so. But then it seemed not. Another hour. No signal came from Earth. If Snap's calls were getting through we had no evidence of it. Abruptly Miko strode at me from across the room. I went cold and tense; Moa shifted, alert to my every movement. But Miko was not inter- ested in me. A sweep of his clenched fist knocked the ultra-violet sender and its coils and mirrors in a tinkling crash to the grid at my feet. v “Wy don’t need that, whatever it is I" He rubbed bis knuckles where the violet waves had tinged them, and turned grimly back to Snap. “Where are your Gamma ray mir-

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BRIGANDS OF THE MOON 83 tors? If the treasure is exposed — " This Martian’s knowledge was far greater than we believed. He grinned sardonically at Anita. '“If our treasure is on this hemisphere. Prince, we should pick up Gamma rays? Don’t you think so? Or is Grantline so cau- tious it will all be protected ?’’ Anita spoke in a careful, throaty dikwl. "The Gamma rays came plain enough when we. passed here on the way out.” "You should know,’’ grinned Miko. "An expert eavesdropper, Princd— I will say that for you.^ Come Dean, try sometldng else. B^God, if Grantline does not signal ufiT I will be likely to blame you — my patience is shortening. Shall we go closer, Haljan?” "I don't think it would,help,’’ I said. He nodded. "Perhaps not. Are we checked ?” "Yes." We were poised, very nearly motionless. "If you wish an advance, I can ring it. But we need a surface destination now.” "True, Haljan.” He stood thinking. "Would a zed-ray penetrate those crater-cliffs? Tycho, for instance, at this angle?”* I "It might,” SjMp agreed. "You think he may be on Wc Northern inner side of Tycho?” “He may be anywhere,” said fffiko shortly. "If you think that,” Snap persisted, "suppose we swing the Planetars over the South Pole. Tycho, viewed from there — ” “And take another quarter-day of time?” Miko sneered. ^ "Flash on your led-ray; help him hook it up, Haljan." I MOVED to the lens-box of- the spectroheliograph. It seemed that Snap was very strangely reluctant. Was it because he knew that the Grant- line camp lay concealed >on the north * An slhisloa to the use of the zed-iay light for making spectro-photographe of what might lie behind obacuring rock masses, sim- Od to the oId-it]de X-ray. inner wall of Tycho’s giant ring? I thought so. But Snap flashed a queer look at Anita. She did not see it, but I did. And I could not understand it. My accursed, witless incapacity! If only I bad taken warning I “Here,” commanded Miko. “A score of ’graphs with the zed-ray. I tell you I-wilircomb this surface if we have to stay heje until our ship comes from Ferrok-Shahn to join us!” The Martian brigands ^were coming. Miko’a signals bad been answered. In ten days the other brigand ship, ade- quately manned and armed, would be here. Snap helped me connect the zed-rajf. He did not dare even to whisper to, me, with ^oa hovering always so close.' And for all Miko’s sardonic smiling, we knew that be would tolerate noth- ing from us now. . He was fplly armed, and so was Moa. I recall that Snap several timea tried to touch me significantly. Ob, if only I had taken warning! ^ We finished our connecting. The dull gipy point of zed-ray gleamed through the prisms, to mingle with the moonlight entering the main lens. I stood with the shutter trip. . "The same interval. Snap?” "Yea.” Beside m^, I was aware of a faint reflection of the zed-light — a gray Cathedral shaft crAsihg the helio-room and falling upon the opposite wall. An unreality there, as the zed-light faintly strove to penetrate the metal room-side. I said, "Shall I make the exposure?” SNAP nodded. But that 'graph was never made. An exclamatjon from Moa made us all turn. The Gamma mirrors were quivering I Grantline had picked our signals! With what un- doubtedly was an intensified receiving equipment which Snap had not thought Grantline able to use, he had caught our faint zed-rays, which Snap . whs sending onl^ to deceive Miko. And Grantline had recognized the Iflane- tpSa, and bad released his occulting

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84 ASTOUNDING STORIES screens surrounding the radium ore. human form toying with a fascinated, The Gaimna rays were here^ unmistak; able I And upon their heels c4me Grant- line’s message. Not in the | secret sys- tem he had arranged with! Snap, but unsuspectingly in open co<^. I could read the swinging mirror, apd so could Miko. < And Miko decodefd it triumphantly aloud ; ! "Surprised bat pleased jjour return. Approach Mid-Northern hemisphere, region of Archimedes^ for^y thousand toises* off nearest Apennide range." , The message broke off. .But evep its importance was overshadowed^ Miko stood in the center of the j helio-room, triumphantly reading the lijght-indicat- or. Its bearn swung on the pcale, which chanced to be almost directly over Anita's hea'd.f I saw Miko'4 expression change. A look of surprise, amaae- ment, came to binL "Why—” He gasped. He stood stering. Al- most stupidly staring fori an instant. And as I regarded him with fascinated horror, there came upon hiq heavy gray face a look of dawning coinprehension. And I heard Snap's startled intake of breath. He moved to the ^ectrohelio- graph, where the zed-ray jconnectioru were s^ill humming. j But with a leap Miko flung him away. "Off with you I ^oa, jwatch him I Haljan, don’t movel[’ Again Miko stood s^ing. Oh dear God, I saw now! that he was staring at Anita I i "Why, George Prince I ^ow strange you look I” ■ Anita did not move. She jwas stricken with horror; she shrank back against the wall, huddUd in her clbak. Miko's sardonic voice came again j “How strange you look, prince I” He took a step forward. He ^as grim and calm. Hotribly calm. I Deliberate. Gloating — like a great grajr monster in / * About fifty miles. I imprisoned bird. "Move just a little Prince. Let the zed-ray light fall more fully." r Anita's head was bare. That pale, 'Hamletlike face\ Dear God, the zed- light reflection lay gray^^d penetrat- ing upon it I Miko took another step. Peering. Grinning. "How amazing, ^ George Prince I Why, I can hardly believe it I” Moa was armed with an electronic cylinder. , For all her amazement — what turgid emotions sweeping her I can only guess — she never took per eyes from Snap and me. i ; “Back I Don’t move, either of you!" She hissed it at us. Then Miko leaped at Anita like giant gray leopard pouncing. "Away with that cloak. Prince!” I STOOD cold and numbed. And realization came at last. The faint zed-light glow had fallen by chance upon Anita’s face. Penetrated fhe flesh; expose^, faintly glowing, the bone-line of Iter jaw. Unmasked the waxen art of Glutz. And Miko had seen it. "Why George, how surprising! Away with that cloak!” He seized her wrist, drew her for- ward, bejrond the shaft of zed-light, into the brilliant light of the Moon. And ripped her cloak from her. The gentle curves of her woman’s figure were so unmistakable I And as Miko gazed at them, all hit calm triumph swept away. "Why, Anita!” I heard Moa mutter: "So that Is it?" A venomous flashing look — a shaft from me to Anita and back again. "So that is it?” ' “Why, Anita!" Miko’s great arms gathered her up as though she were a child. "So I have you back ; from the dead delivered back to me !” "Gregg!” Snap’s warning, and his grip over my shoulders brought me a measure of sanity. I had tensed to

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BRIGANDS OF THE MOON 85 spring. I stood quiveriiig, and Moa thrust her weapoi^ against my face. The hello mirrors were swaying again with another message from Grantline. But it came ignored by us all. In the glare of moonlight by the for- ward window, Miko held Anita, his great hands pawing her with trium- phant possessive "caresses. "So, little Anita, you are given back to me.” Against her futile struggles he held her. Dead God, if only I had had tifes.wit to have prevented this I A CHAPTER XX The Giantline Camp IN the mid-northern hemisphere upon the Earthward aide of the Moon, the giant; crater of Archimedes stood' brooding in silent majesty. Grim, lofty walls, broken, pitted and scarred, rising precipitous to the upper circular rim. Night had just fallen.', The sunlight clung to the crater-heights; i( tinged with flame the jagged peaks of the Apennine Mountains which rose in tiers at the horizon; and it flung great inky shadows over the intervening low- lands. Northward, the Mare Imbrium stretched mysterious and purple, its million rills and ridges and crater holes flattened by distance and the gathering darkness into a seeming level surface. The night slowly deepened. The dead-black vault of the sky blazed with its brilliant starry gems. The gibbous Earth hung high above the horizon, motionless, save for Stie iiivis- ible pendulum sway over the tiny arc of its libration; widening to quad- rature, casting upon the bleak naked Lunar landscape its mellow Earth-glow. Slow, measured process, this coming of the Lum^ night 1 For an Earth-day the sunset Slowly faded on the Apen- nines; the poised Earth widened a lit- tle further — an Earth-day of time, with the Earth-disc" visibly rotating, ^the faint tracery of its oceans and conti- nents passing in slow, majestic review. Another Earth-day interval. Then another. And another. Full night now qpveloped Archimedes. Splotches of Earth-light and starlight sheen slowly shifted as the night advanced. Between the great crater and the nearby fountains, tbe broken, pseudo- level lowlands lay wan in tbe Elarth- light. A few hundred miles, as dis- tance would be measured uponzEarth. A million million rills were here. Val-. leys and ridges, ravines, sharp-walled canyons, cliffs and crags — tiny craters like pock-marks. Nalfed, gray porous rock everywhere. This denuded landscape 1 Cracked and scarred and tumbled, as though some inexorable Titan torch had seared and crumbled and broken it, left it now con- gealed like a wind-lashtd sea abruptly frozen into immobility. Moonlight upon Earth so gently shjnes to make romantic a lover’f smile I But the reality of the Lunar night Is cold beyond human rationality. Cold and darkly silent. Grim desolation. Awesome. Majestic. A frowning majesty that even to the most intrepid human beholder is incon- ceivably forbidding. And there were# humans here now. On this tumbled plain, between Archi- qpedes and the mountain^ one small crater amid the million of its fellows was distinguished this nighty by the presence of humans. The Grantline camp I It huddled in the deepest pur- ple shadows on tbe side of a bowl-like pit, a crudely circular ofifice' with a scant two miles across its rippling rim. There was faint light here to mark the presence of the living intruders. Tbe blue-glow radiance of Morrell tube- lights/under a Spread of glassite. The Grantline camp stood mid-way up one of the inner cliff-walls of the little crater. The broken, roek-strewn floor, two miles wide, lay 6ve hundred feet below the camp. Behind it, the jagged precipitous cliff ro.,e anotht^r five hundred to the heights of th'e

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S6 ASTOUNDING STORIES upper rim. A broad level' shelf hung midway up the cliff, and u^on it Grant* line had built hia little grorp of glas- site dome shelters. Viewei^ from above there was the darkly puipl^ crater floor, the upflung circular rim; where the Earth-light tinged the spiijes and crags with yellow sheen; and qn the shflf, like a huddled group of birds’ nests, Grantlihe’s domes clung; and gazed down upon the inne^ valley. ; j Intricate task, the building of these glassite shelters! There\were three. The main one stood close iat the blink of the ledge. * A quadrangfe of glassite walls, a hundred feet^n length by half as widc,'^and a scant ten feet high to its flat-arched dome roof. Bjiilt for this* purpose in Great-New Yoilk, Grantline' had brdught his aluminitej girders and braces and the glassite p^els in sec- tion#. I ' The air here on the A^oon surface was negligible — a scant one five- thousandth of the atmospheric pressure at the sea-level on E^arth. j But within the glassite shelter, a normal Earth- pressure must be maintained. Rigidly braced double walls to withstand the explosive tendency, with :no external pressure to counteract it. i A tremen- *An intricate lystem of inaction against extremes of temMratnre, developed by the Erenta Kinetic finery Corpdration in the twenty-first century. Within tile hollow dou- ble shell of a ahdter.wall, or an explorer's helmet-suit, or a space-flyer's hull, an osdl- Uting semi-vaconm current waf maintained*- an extremely rarified air, ' ipagnetically charged, and maintained in rajpid oscillating motion. Across this field the [outer cold or heat, as the case mipht be, co^ p^etrate only with slow radiation. This )Erenti system nve the most peifect temperajtore insulation nown in its day. Without it,; interplanetary flight would have been impos^le. And it served a double ^rp^se. Developed at first for temperature msuJ^tion only, the E^entz system surprisingly brought jto light one of the most important discoveries made in the realm of physics of the century.* It was found that any flashing, oscillating current, whether electronic, or the ssizm-vacuuin of rariJfied air— or even a thin shqet of whirling fluid— gave also a pressure-inlulation. The kinetic energy of the rapid ifiovement was found to absorb within itself the latent en- ergy of the unequal pressure. | , dou8 necessity for mechanical ctmip- ment had burdened Grantline's mail ship to its capacity. The chemistry of manufactured air, the pressure equal- izers, renewers, respirators, the light- ing and temperature-maintenance sys- tems—all the mechanics of a space- flyer were here. And within the glassite double walls, there was necessity, for a constant cir- culation of the Erentz temperature in- sulating system.* i There was this main Grantline build- ing, stretching .low and rectangular along the fropt edge of the ledge. Within it were living rooms, mess- room and kitchen. Fifty feet behind it, connected by a narrow passage of glassite, was a similar, though smaller structure. The mechankal control rooms, with their hummii^ vibrating mechanisms were here. And an instru- ment room with signaling apparatus, senders, receivers, mirror-grids and andiphones of several varieties ; and an electro-telescope, small but modem, with dome overhead like a little Earth observatory. From this instrument building, be- side the connecting pedestrian passage, wire cables for light, and air-tubes and strings and bundles of instrument wires (Tbs intricate postulates and mathematical ^formulae oecessa^ to demoostrste the opera- *tion of the pbyai^ laws involved wonul be out of place here.) Die Plan^Un was eo equipped, against the explosive tendency of its Inner sir-pressnies when flying in the near-vacuum of space. In the case of Grantlme's glasohe shelters, the latent ener^ of hia room interior air pressure went largely .into a kinetic ener^ which In practical effect resulted only in the slight sc- celeratidn of the vacuum current, and thus never reached the outer wait The Erents engineers claimed for their system s pressure sbsorption of 97.4%, leaving, in Qrantline's case, only 2.6% of room pressure to be held by the building's ahiminite bracers. It may be interesting to note in this con- nection that without the Erents system as t basis, the great sub.sea- developments on Earth and Mara of the twenty-first century would also have been impossible. Emupped with a fluid circulation device of the erents principle within its double huH, the first sub- marine was able to penetrate the great ocean deeps, withstanding the tremendous ocean preasuret at depths of four thousand fathoma

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BRIGANDS OF THE MOON 87 ran to the main structure — gray snakes upon the porous, gray Lunar rock. I'he third building- seemed a lean-to banked against the cliS-wall, a slanting shed-wall of glassite fifty fee: high ahd two hundred in length. Under it, for months Crantline’s borers had dug into the cliEFi Braced timnels were here, penetrating back and downward into this vein of radio-active rock. THE'work was over now. The bor- ers had been dismantled and packed away. At one end of the cliff the mining equipment lay piled in a lit- ter. There was a heap of discarded ore where Grantline had carted and dumped it after his first crude refining process had yielded dt as waste. The ore-slag lay like gray powder-flakes strewn down the cliff. Tracks and ore- tcarts along the ledge stood discarded, mute evidence of the weeks and months of work these helmeted miners had undergone, struggling upon this airless, frowning world. But now all that was finished. The radio-active ore was sufficiently con- ientrated. It lay — this treasure — in a seventy-foot pile behind the glassite lean-to, with a cage o^ wires over it and an insulation barrage guarding its Gamma rays from escaping to mark its presence. The ore-shelter was dark; the other two buildings were lighted. And there were small lights mounted at intervals about the camp and along the edge or the ledge. A spider ladder, with tiny platforms some twenty feet one above the other, hung precariously to the cjiff-face. It descended the five hun- dred feet to the crater floor; and, be- hind the camp, it mounted the jagged cliff-face to the upper rim-height, where a small observatory platform was placed. SUCH was the outer aspect of the Grantline Treasure Camp near the beginning of this Lunar night, when, unbeknown to Grantline and bis score of meii, the Planetara with its brigands was approaching. The night was per- haps a sixth advanced. Full night. No. breath of cloud to mar the brilliant starry heavens. The quadrant Earth hung poised like a giant mellow moon over Grahtline’s crater. A bright Earth, yet no air was here on this Lunar sur- face to spread its light. Only a glow, mingling with the spots of blue tube- light on the poles 'along the cliff, and the radiance from the lighted buildings. The crater floor was dimly purple. Beyond the opposite upper rim, from the cdmp-height, the towering top of distant Archimedes was visible. No evidence of movement showed about the silent camp. Then a pres- sure door in an end of the main build- ing opened its tiny series of locks. A bent figure cdme out. The lock closed. The figure straightened and gazed about the camp. Grotesque, bloated semfilance of a man I Helmeted, with rounded dome-hood suggestion of an ancient sea diver, yet goggled and trunked like a gas-masked fighter of the twentieth century war. He stooped presently and disconnect- ed metal weights which were upon his shoes.* Then he stopd erect again, and with giant 'strides bounded along the cliff. Fantastic figure in the blue-lit gloom I A child’s dream of crags and rocks and strange lights with a single monstrous figure in seven-league boots. He went the length of the ledge with his twenty-foot strides, inspected the lights, and madf adjustments. Came back, and climbed with agile, bounding leaps up the spider ladder ttf^^e dome on the crater top. / A light flashed on up there. Then it was extinguished. The goggled, bloated figure came leaping down after a moment. Grant- lin^^ exterior watchman making his roMds. He came back to' the', main * Within the Grantline buildings it was found more convenient to use a gravity normal to .Earth. This was maintained by the wearing of ipetai-weighted shoes and metauloaded belt. The Moon-gravity la nonhUly approximately one-sixth the gravity of Eartn. •

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88 ;astounding stories building. Fastened the weights on his shoM. Signaled within. \ The lock opened. The| figure went inside. It was early evening, a(ter the din- ner hour and before the time of sleep, according to the camp routine Grant- line was maintaining. Nine P. M. of Earth Eastem-American t^e, recordra now upon his Earth chronometer. In the living room of the n^n building Johnny Grantline sat with a dozen of his men dispersed about the room, whiling away as best they could the lonesome hours. ** A LL as usual. This rarsed Moon I When I get home-rif ever I do get home — ” “Say your Say, Wilks.; ^ut you'll spend your share of the gold-leaf and thank your constellations that you had your chancel" “Let him alone I Corny on, Wilks, take a hand here. This gaihe is no good with three.” j The man who had been outside flung his hissing helmet recklessly to the floor and unsealed his suit| “Here, get me out of this. No, I wpn’t play. I can't play your cursed game with noth- ing at stake I” 1 "Commissioner's orders.” A laugh went up at th|e sharp lodk Johnny Grantline flung frlom where he sat reading in a comer of the room. “Commander’s orders. Ko gambling gold-leafers tolerated here.” “Play the game, Wilk^” Grantliqe said quietly. “>jFe all know it's infer- nal doing nothing.” VHe’s beyn struck by ^larth-light," another man laughed. “Commander, I told you not to let that gqy Wilks out at night." A ROUGH but good-nptured lot of men. Jolly and raucous by nature in their leisure hours. Bpt there was too much leisure here how. Their mirth had a hollow sound. In older times, eaplorers of the ^ozen polar zones had to cope with inactivity, lone- liness and despair. But at least they were on their native world. The grim> ness of the Moon was eating into the courage of Grantline's men.i An un- reality here. A weirdness. These fan- tastic crags. The^eadly silence. The nights, almost two weeks of Earth-time in length, congealed by the deadly frigidity of Space. The days of black sky, blazing stars and flaming Sun, with no atmosphere to diffuse the daylight. Days of weird hlending sheen of dl- lumihation with most of the Sun's heat radiating so swiftly from the naked Lunar surface that the outer tempera- ture still was cold. And day and night, always the familiar beloved Earth-disc hanging poised up near the zenith. From thinnest crescent to full Earth, and then steadily back again to Srescent. All so abnormal, irrational, disturb- ing to human senses. With the mining work over, an irritability grew upon Grantline’s men. And perhaps since the human mind is so wonderful, elu- sive a thing, there lay upon these men an indefinable sense of impending dis- aster. Johnny Grantline felt it. He thought about it now as he sat in the room comer watching Wilks being forced into the pl^et-game, and he found it strong within him. Uiueason- able, ominous depression! Barring the accident which had disabled bis little space-ship when they reached this small crater hole, his -ezpedition bad gone well. His’ instruments, Ad the infor- mation he had from the former explor- ers, had picked up the ore-vein with a scant moifth of search. The vein had now been exhausted ; but the treasure was here. Woth- ing was left but to wait for the Plane- tara. The men were talking of that now. “She ought to be well mid-\^ay from here to Ferrok-Shahn by now. ' When do you figure she’ll be back here and signal us?" , “Twenty days. Give her another five mow to Mars, and five in’ port. That’s

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BRIGANDS OF THE MOON 89 ten. We’ll pick Jier signals in three weeks, mark me.” “Three weeks! Just give me three weeks of reasonable sunrise and sun- set! This cursed Moon! You mean, Williams, next daylight.” “Hah! He’s inventing a Lunar lan- guage. You’ll be a Moon-man yet, if you live here long enough.” Olaf Swenson, the big blond fellow from the Scandia fiords, came and flung himself down hy Grantline. “Ay tank they bane without not enough to do. Commander. If the ore yust would not give cut — ” “Three weeks — it isn’t very long, Ollie." “No. Maybe not.” From across the room somebody was laying, “If the Comet hadn’t smashed on us, damn me but I’d ask the 'Com- mander to let some of us take her back. The discarded equipment could go.” “Shut up, Billy. She is smashed.” The little Comet, cruising in search of the ore, had come to grief just as the ore was found. It lay now on the crater floor with its nose bashed into an up- flung spire of rock. 'Wrecked beyond repair. Save for the pre-arrangement with the Planetars, the Grantline party would have been helpless here on the Moon. Knowledge of that— althoagh no one ever suspected but that the Planetars would come safely — served to add to the men’s depression. They were cut off, virtually helpless on a strange world. Their signalling de- vices were inadequate even to reach Earth. Crantline’s power batteries were running low.* He could not attempt wide-flung signals without jeopardiz- ing the power necessary for the routine of his camp in the event of the Plane- tara being delayed. Nor was hie elec- tro-telescope adequate to pick small objects at, any great distance.** *The Gravely storage tanks — the power used by the GrantUne expedition — were heavy and bulky affairs. Economy of space on the Comor allowed but few of them. ** Electro-telescopes of most modem sUe and power were too large and used too much power to be available to GrantUne. All .If Grantline’s effort, in truth, bad gone into equipment for the find- ing and gathering of the treasure. The safety of the expedition bad to that ex- tent been neglected. Swenson was mentioning that now. “You* all agreed to it,” Johnny said shoitly. “Every man here voted that, above everything, what we wanted was 'to get the radium.” Adynamic uttie feiiow, this Johnny Grantline. Short of tem- per sometimes, but always just, and a perfect leader of men. In stature he was almost as small as Snap./ But he was thick-set, with a smooth shaven, keen-eyed, square-jawed face, and a shock of brown tousled hair. A man of thirty-five, though the decision of his manlier, the quiet dominance of his voice, made him seem older. He stood up now, surveying the blue-lit glassite room with its low ceiling close over- head. He was bowlegged ; in movement he seemed to foil with a stiS-legged gaU like some sea captain of former da^ on the deck of his swaying ship. Queer-looking' figure ! Heavy flannel shirt and trousers, boots heavily weighted, and bulky metal-loaded belt strapped about his waist. He grinned at Swenson. "When we divide this treasure, everyone will be happy, Ollie.” The treasure vm estimated by Gfant- line to be the ^divalent of ninety mil- lions in gold-leaf. A hundred and ten millions in the gross as it now stood, with twenty millions ^ be deducted by the Federated Refiners for reducing it tip the standard purity of commercial radium.. Ninety millions, with only a million and a half to come off fof ex- pedition expenses, and the Planetars Company’s share another million. A nice little stake. Grantline stride across the room with his rolling gait. “Cheer up, boys. Who’s wini\ing there? I say, you fellows — ” An audiphone buzzer interrupted him, i call from the duty man in the

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90 {ASTOUNDING STORIES i instnunent room of the liearby build- ing. Grantline clicked the receiver. The room f^ll into silence. Any call was unusual — nothing ever happened here in the camp. i The duty man's voice founded over the room. I V “Signals coming! Not {clear. Will you come over, CommandVr ?" Signals I I IT pever Grantlihe’s way to enforce needless discipline. He offered no objection when every man in the camp rushed through the con- necting passages. They {crowded the instrument room where th|e tense duty man sat bending over his Ihelio receiv- ers. The mirrors were sWafing. The duty man looked |up and met Grantline’s gaze. “I ran it up to the highest intensity, Commander. We ought t^ get it — not let it pass." “Low scale, Peter?” ■ “Yes. Weakest infra-red. I’ni bring- ing it up, even though it uses too much of our power.” The duh' ™3n was apologetic. “Get it,” said Crantline portly. “I had a swjng a minute pgo. I think it's the Planetaia." j "Ptanetara!" The crowing group of men chorused it. How coiild it be the Planetaia? I But it ;vas.^ The call presently came in clear. Unmistakably tne Planetaia, turned back now from h^f course to Ferrok-Shahn. 1 “How far away, Peter?”! The duty man consulted! the needles of his dial scale. “Close I ; 'Very weak infra-red. ' But close. Around thirty thousand miles, maybe. It'p Snap Dean calling." The Planetaia here withiij thirty thou- sand miles! Excitement ^nd pleasure swept the room. The Plai^taia’s com- ing had for so long beeni awaited so eagerlyl i The excitement commjinicated to Crantline. It was unlikd him to be incautious; yet now with no thought save that some unforeseen and pleasing circumstance had brought the Planetaia ahead of time ; incautious Grantline certainly was. “9aise the ore-barrage.” “I’ll go! My suit is here." A WILLING volunteer rushed out to the ore-shed. The Gamma rays, which in the helio-room of the Plaae- taia came so unwelcome tp Snap and me, were loosed. \ “Can you send, Peter?” Grantline de- manded. “Yes, with more power.” “Use it.” Johnny dictated the message of his location which we received. In his ihcautious excitement he ignored the secret code. An interval passed. The ore was oc- culted again. No message had come from us — just Snap’s routine signal in the weak infra-red, which we hoped Crantline would not get. The men crowding Grantline’s instru- ment room waited in tense silence. Then Grantline tried the telescope. Its* current weakened the lights with the drain upon the distributors, and cooled the r^m with a sudden deadly chill as the* Erentz insulating system slowed ddwn. The duty man looked suddenly fright- ened. “YouMl bulge out our walls. Commander. The internal pressure — ” “We’ll chance it.” They picked up the image of the Planetaia! It came frotn the telescope and shone> clear on the grid — the seg- ment of star-field ..with a tiny cigar- shaped blob. Clear^enough to be un- mistakable. The Plapetaia ! Here now over the Moon, almost directly over- head, .poised at what the altimeter scale showed to be a fraction under thirty thousand miles. The men gazed in awed silence. The Planetaia coming. .... But the altimeter needle was motion- less. The Planetaia was hanging poised. A sudden gasp went about the room.

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BRIGANDS OF THE MOON 91 The men stood with whitening faces, gazing at the Planetara's image. And at the altimeter needle. It was moving. The Planetaia iwas 'descending But not with an orderly swoop. ,The image showed the ship clearly. The bow tilted up, then dipped down. But then in a moment it swung up again. The ship turned partly over. Righted itself. Then swayed again, drunkenly. The watching men were stricken in- to horrified silence. The Planetara’s image momentarily, horribly, grew larger. Swaying. Then turning com- pletely over, rotating slowly end over end. The Planetaia, out of control, was falling I CHAPTER XXI The Wreck of the Planetaia ON the Platiiiaia, in the helio-room. Snap and I stood with Moa’s weapon upon us. Miko held Anita. Triumphant. Possessive. Then as she struggled, a gentleness came to this strange Martian giant. Perhaps he really loved her. Looung back on it, I sometimes think so. “Anita, do not fear me.” He held her away from him. “1 would not harm you. I want your love.” Irony came to him. “And I thought I had killed you I But it was only your brother.” He partly turned. I was aware of bow alert was his attention. He grinned. “Hold them, Mqa — don't let them do anything foolish. So, Anita, you were masquerading to spy upon me? That was wrong of you.” He was again Ironic. Anita had not spoken. She held her- self tensely away from Miko; she had flashed me a look — just one. What hor- rible mischance to have brought this catastrophe I The completion of Grantline’s mes- sage had come unnoticed by us all. "Look I Grantline again I” Snap said abruptly. But the mirrors were steadying. We had no recording-tape apparatus; the rest of the message was lost. The mir- rors pulsed and then steadied. ^ No further message came. There was an interval while Miko waited. Hehfld Anita in the hollow of his great arm. "Quiet, little bird. Do not fear me. I have work to do, Anita — this is our g(eat adventure. We will be rich, you and I., All the luxuries three worlds can offer, all for us when this is over. Careful, Moal This Haljan has no wit." Well could he say it! I, who had been so witless to let this come upon us I Moa’s weapon prodded me. Her voice hissed at me with all the venom of a reptile enraged. ”So that was your game, Gregg Haljan I J^nd I was so graceless to admit love for you!” SNAP murmured in my ear, ’’Don’t move, Gregg! She’s reckless.” She heard it. She whirled on him. ”We have lost George Prince, it seems. Well, we will survive without his ore knowledge. And you. Dean — and this Haljan — mark me, I will kill y6u both if you, cause trouble!” Miko as gloating. “Don’t kill them yet, Moa. What was it Grantline said? Near the crater of Archimedes? Ring us down, Haljan! We’ll .Uttd-” He signaled the turret. Gave Conis- ton the Grantline message, and audi- phoned it below to Hahn. The news spread about th^ ship. The bandits were jubilant. ’’We’ll land now, Haljan. Ring us down. Come, Anita and I will go with you to the turret.” I found my voice. ”To what destina- tion?” “Near Archimedes. The Apepnine side. Keep well away from the Grant- line camp. We will probably sight it as we descend.” There was no trajectory needed. We were almost over* Archimedes now. I could drop us with a visible, instru- mental course. My mind was whirlihg with a confusion of thoughts. What could we do? What could we dare attempt to do? I met Snap’s gaze.

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92 ASTOUNDING STORIES "Ring US down, Grdgg.” he said quietly. I nodded. I pushed ^oa’s weapon away. “You don’t need ' that. I obey orders.” WE went to the . turret. Mda watched me and i^nap, a grim, cold Amazon. She avoided looking at Anita, whom Miko helped down the ladders with a strange miJrture of cour- tierlikd grace and amused irony. Con- iston: gazed at Anita with falling jaw. “I say I Not George IPrince? The girl—’’ “No time for argument now”’. Miko commanded. “It’s the girl, masquerad- ing as her brother. Get 'below, Conis- top. Haljap takes us dqwn. ’ The astounded Englishpian continued gdzing at Anita. “I meap to say, where to| on the Moon? Notl to encounter Gfantline at once, Miko? Our equip- ment is not ready.’’ "Of course not. We will land well aspay. He won’t be suspicious — we can signal him again after We land. We wfll have time to plan, to assemble the e il rang my signals for the shifting of th|e gravity plates. The 'answer should hqve come from below within a second oii two. But it did not. Miko regarded mr with his great bushy eyebrows up- raised. ' '^‘Ring again, Haljan.” j 1 duplicated. No answer. ’The silence wgs frightening. Ominojus. Miko muttered, “That pccursed Hahn.^ Ring again I” I sent the imperative emergency demand. NO answer. A second or two. Then all of us in the turret were startled. TransExed. Frpm below came a Sudden hiss. It sounded in. the turret ; it came from shifting-room call-grid. The hissing of the pneumatic valves of the plate-shifters in the lower con- trol room . The valves were opening ; the plates automatically shifting into neutral, and disconnecting I An instant of startled silence. Miko may have realized the significance of what had happened. Certainly Snap and I did. The hissing ceased. I gripped the- emergency plate-shifter switch which hung over my head. Its disc was dead I The plates were dead in neutral In the positions they were only placed while in port I And their shifting mechanisms were imperative! I was on my feet. "Snap! Good God, we’re in neutral I” Miko, if he had not realized it before, was aware if it now. The Moon-disc moved visibly as the Planetara lurched. The vault of the heavens was slowly swinging. Miko ripped out a heavy oath. "Hal- jan! What is this?” He stood up, still holding Anita. But there was nothing that he could do in this emergency. “Haljan — ^what — ” The heavens turned with a giant swoop. The Moon was over us. It swung in dizzying arc. Overhead, then back past our stem; under us, then appearing over our bow. The Planetara had turned over. Up- ending. Rotating, end over end. For a moment or two I think all of us in that turret stood and clung. The Moon-disc, the Earth, Sun and all the stars were swinging past our windows. So horribly dizzying. The Planetan seemed lurching and tumbling. But it was an* optical effect ohly. T stared with grim determination at my feet The turret seemed to steady. Then I looked again. That borflble swoop of all the heavens! vAnd the Moon, as it went past, seemed expanded. We were falling! Out of control, with the Moon-gravity pulling us inexorably down! “That accursed Hahn — ” Miko, stricken with his lack of knowledge of these controls, was wholly confused.

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BRIGANDS OP THE MOON 93 A MOMENT only had passed.' My fancy that the Moon-disc was enlarged was merely the horrc^ of my iinagination. We had not fallen far enough yet for that. But we were falling. Unless I could do something, we would crash upon the Lunar surface. ^ Anita, killed in this Plaomra tur- ret. The end of everything for us. Action came to me. I gasped, "Miko, you stay here I The controls are dead I You stay here — hold Anita.” I ignored Moa's weapon which she was still clutching mechanically. Snap thrust her away. "Sit back! Let us alone I We’re fall- ing! Don't you understand?" This deadly danger, to level , us all I No longer were we captors and cap- tured. Not ^gands for this moment. No thought of Grantline’s treasure I Trapped humans only 1 Leveled by the common instinct of self-preservation. Trapped here together, fighting for our lives. Hiko gasped, “Can you — check us? What happened?” "I don’t know. I’ll try.” I stood clinging. This dizzying whirl 1 From the audiphone grid Con- iston’s voice sounded, "I say, Haljan, something’s wrong 1 Hahn doesn’t signal.” The look-out in the forward tower was clinging to his widow. On the deck , below our turret a member of the crew appeared, stood lurching for a moment, Ito shouted, and turned and ran, sway- ing, aimless. From the lower hull- corridors our grids sounded with the tramping of sunning steps. Panic aoong the crew was spreading over the ship. A chaos below decks. I PULLED at the emergency switch again. Dead But down below there was the manual controls. “Snap, we must get down. The sig- nals.” "Yes.” Coniston’s voice came like a scream from the grid. “Hahn is dead — the con- trols are broken 1 Hahn is dead It We barely heard him. I shouted, “Miko— hold Anita I Come on. Snap I” We clung to the ladders. Snap was behind me. “Careful, Gregg! Good God I” This dizzying whirl. I tried not to Iqok. The deck under me was now a blurred kaleidoscope of swinging patches of moonlight and shadow. We reached the deck. Ran, sway- ing, lurching. It seemed that from the turret Anita’s voice followed us. “Be carefull” Within the ship our senses steadied. With the rotating, reeling heavens shut out, there were only the shouts and tramping steps of the panic-stricken crew to mark that anything was amiss. That, and a pseudo-sensation of lurch- ing caused by the pulsing of gravity — a pull when the Moon was beneath our hull to combine its force with our mag- netizers; a lightening when it was over- head. A throbbing, pendulum lurch — that was all. We ran down to the corridor in- cline. A white-faced member of the crew came running up. "What’s happened? Haljan, what’s happened?” “We’re falling I” I gripped him. “Get below. Come nn with us I” But he jerked aw^ from me. “Fall- ing?” A steward came running. “Falling?' My God I” Snap swung at them. “Get ahead of us I The manual controls — our only chance — ^we need all you men at the compressor pumps I” But it was an instinct to try and get on deck, as though here below we were rats -caught it) a trap. The men tore away from me and r^. Their shouts of panic resounded through the dim, blue- lit corridors. CONISTON came lurching from the control room. “I say — falling I Haljan, my God, look at himl” Hahn was sprawled qt the gravity-

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94 ASTOUNDING STORIES '■J /, plate ^itchboard. Sbrawlkd, head- down. Dead. Killed by pomething ? Or a suicide? i I bent over him. Hiaj hands gripped the maik switch. He jhad ripped it loose. And his left band had reached and broken the fragile! line of tubes that intensihed the current of the pneu- matic plate-shifters. A suicide? With his last frenzy determined to kill nis a|l? ' y I Then I saw that H^n had been killed I Ndt a suicide I |In his hand he gripped a small segmenlt of black fab- ric, a piece tom from an Invisible cloak ? Was it? The questions were Swept away by the necessity for action.! Snap was rig- ging the hand-cqmpressdrs. If he could get the pressure back inithe tanks. . . . I swung on Coniston. i “\!nu armed?" “Yes.” He was white-ifaced and con- ^ fused, but not in a panijc. He showed me his heat-ray cylinder. “What do ydu want me tp do?" "Round up the crew, Get all you can. Bring them herej to man these p^ps.” He dashed away. Snap shouted after him, “Kill them down i^ they argue I” Miko’s voice sounded from the turret call-grid: “Falling! Ibljan, can see it nowl Check usI’T I did not answer that. % pumped with Snap. I Desperate moments. :Or was it an hour? Coniston brought the men. He stood over them with menacing weapon. We had all the pumps going. The pressure rose a little Jin the tanks. Enough to shift a bow-pjate. I tried it. The plate slowly clicked into a new combination. A gravity! repulsion just in the bow-tip. 1 SIGNALED MikoJ “Have we stopped swinging?”; “No. But slower." I ^ 1 could feel it, thatj lurph of the gravity. But not steady] now. A limp. The tendency of our bpw r^as to stay up. . ; “More pressure, Snapi.” “Yes.” One of tbe crew rebelled, tried to bolt from fhe room.' “God, we'll crash, caught in 'here I” Coniston shot him down. I shifted another bqw-plate. Then two in the stern. The stern-pfates seemed to move more readily than the othws. "Rjin all the stem-plates,” Snap ad- vised. I tried it. The lurching stopped. Miko called. “We’re bow down. Fall- ing i” But not falling free. The Moon- gravity pull upon us was more than half neutralized. ‘T'll go up. Snap, and try the en- gines. You don't mind staying down? Executing my signals?" “You idiot!” He gripped my shoul- ders. His eyes were gleaming, his face haggard, but his pale lips twitched with a smile. “Maybe it’s good-by, Gregg. Wei! fall — fighting.” “Yes. Fighting. Coniston, you ket|i the pressure up.” With the broken set-tubes it took nearly all the pressure to maintain the few plates I had shifted. One slipped back to neutral. Then the pumpi gained on it, and^t shifted again. I dashed up to the deck. Ah, the Moon was so close now! So horribly close! The deck shadows were still Through the forward bow windows the Moon surface glared up at lis. I REACHED the turret. The Plaoe- tara was steady. Pitched bow-down, half falling, half sliding like a rocket downward. The scarred surface of the Moon spread wide under us. Those last horrible minutes were a blur. And there was always Anita’s face. She left Miko. Faced with death, he sat clinging. Ignoring her, Moa, too, sat apart. Staring — ' And Anita crept to me. “Gregg, dear one. The end. ...” I tried the electronic engines froo the stem, setting them in the reverse,

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95 BRIGANDS OF TI^E MOON The streams of their light glowed from the stem, forward along our hull, and flared down from our bow toward the Lunar surface. But no atmosphere was here to give resistance: Perhaps the electronic streams, checked our fall a little. The pumps gave us pressure, just In the last minutes, to slide a few of the hull-plates. But our bow stayed down. We slid, like a spent rocket falling. I recall^ the horror of that expanding Lunar surface. Tlfe maw of Archimedes yawning. A blob. Widening to a great pit. Then I saw it was to one side. Rushing upward. A phantasmagoria of uprushing crags. Black and gray. Spires tinged with Earthlight. "Gregg, dear one — good-by.” Her gentle arms around me. The end of everything for us. I recall mur- muring, “Not falling free, Anita. Some hull-plates are set.” My dials showed another plate shift- ing, checking us a little further. Good old Snap. I calculated the next best plate to shift. I tried it. Slid it over. Good old Snap. . . Then everything fa4ad but the feel- ing of Anita's arms around me. “Gregg, dear one — ” The end of everything for us. . . . There was an up-rush of gray-black rock. •' An impact. * CHAPTER XXII The Hiss of Death I OPENED my eyes to a dark blur of confusion. My shoulder hurt — t pain shooting through it. Something lay like a weight on me. I could not seem to move my left arm. Very queer I Then I moved it, and it hurt. I was lying twisted; I sat up. And with- a rush, memory came. The crash was over. I am not dead. Anita — She was lying beside me. There was a little light here in this silent blur — a soft, mellow Earth-light Eltering in the ^window. The weight on me waa Anita. She lay sprawled, her head and shoulders half way across my lap. Not dead I Thank God, not dead! She moved. Her arms went arounb me, and I lifted her. The Earth-light glowed on her pale face; but her eyes opened and she faintly smiled. “It’s past, Anita! We’ve struck, and we’re still alive.” , T held her as though all life’s turgid danger were powerless to touch uso But in the silence my floating seilhes were brought back to raplity by a faint sound forcing itself upon me. A little hiss. The faintest murmuring breath like a hiss. Escaping air! I cast off her clinging arms. "Anha, this is madness!” For minutes we must have been lying there in the heaven of our embrace. But' air was escaping! The Plz’.ntera’s dome was broken — or cracked — and our precious air was hissing out. Full reality came to me at last. I was not seriously injured. I found that I could move freely. I could stand. A twisted shoulder, a limp left arm, but they wefe better in a moment. And Anita did not seem to be hurt. Blood was upon her. But not her blood. Beside Anita, stretched face down on the turret grid, was the giant figure of Miko. The blood lay in a small pool against his face. A widening pool. ^oa was here. ) thought her body twitched ; then was still. This soundr less wreckage! In the dim glow of the wrecked turret with its two motion- less, broken human figures, it seemed as though Anita and I were ghouls prowling. I saw that the turret had fallen over to the Planetara’s deck. Jt lay dashed against the dome-side'. The deck was aslant. A litter of wreckage. A broken human figure showed— one of the crew, who at the last must have come running up. The forward observation ‘ tower was down oh the chart-room roof; in its metal tangle I thought I could see the legs of the tower look-out.

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9e .ASTOUNDING STORIES So thiq was the end of the brigands' We leaped along the deck. The hia .adventure I The Planeiara's last voy- of the escaping pressure was like a age I How small and fuHle are human clanging gong of warning to tell us to smuggles I Miko’s daring enterprise — hurry. The hiss of death so closet sq villainous, inhuman— jbrought all in "Snap — ” I murmured, a few moments to this silent tragedy. "Oh, Gregg, I pray we may find hia The Planetara had falle|n thirty thou- alive — I” sand miles. But why? 'jiVhat had hap- "And get out. We've got to rush it pened to Hahn? And wl^re was Conis- Get out and 6nd the Grantline camp." ton, down in this broken hull? \ And Snap. I though suddenly of UT how .far? Which way? I Snap. ] must remember to take food and j water. If the helmets were equipped I CLUTCHED at my tyandering wits, wjth admission ports. If we could find This inactivity wa^ death. The Snap. If the exit locks would work escaping air hissed in fny ears. Our to let us out. precious air, escaping ^way into the With a fifteen foot leap we cleared vacant desolation of thd Lunar empti- a pile of broken deck chairs. A nwi ness. Through one of the twisted, lay groaning near them. I went back slpnting dome-windows |a rocky spire with a rush. Not ^nap I A steward, was visible. The Planeta^ lay bow- He had been a brigand, but he was a down, wedged in a jagged cradle of steward to me now. Lpnar rock. A miraclcj that the hull “Get up I This is Haljan. Hurry, wt add dome had held together. must get out of here. The air is es- l“Anita, we must get dut of here!” capingl” I thought I was fully alert now. I But he sank back and lay still. No recalled that the hriganjds had spoken tune to fin'd if I could help him: there of having partly assembled their Moon /Were Anita and Snap to save. Shipment. If only we douldfind sui^s^ We found a broken entrance to oM and helmets I j of the descending passages. I flung “We must get out,” I ijepeated. "Get the debris aside and cleared it. Like to Grantline's camp.” a giant of strength with only tUi '“Their helmets are in the forward Moon-gravity holding me, L raised s Borage room, Gregg. | I saw them broken segment of the superstructure there.” | and heaved it back. She was staring at tde fallen Miko Anita find I dropped ourselves down and Moa. She shudder^ and turned the sloping pasrage. The interior of away and gripped me. “In the forward the wrecked ship was silent and dim. storage room, by the po|t of the emer- An occasional passage light wasjtill' gdney lock-exit.” j burning. The passage and-valT^e If only the exit lockiB would oper- rooms lay askew. Wreckage every- ate I We must get out of here, but find where ; but the double-dome and huU- Snap first. Good old Snap I Would shell had withstood the shock. Then I we find him lying dead?! realized that the Erentz system wai We climbed from the fl'anting, fallen slowing down. Our heat, like our air, turret, over the wreckage of the lit- was escaping, radiating away, a deadly tered deck. It was not difiicult, a light- chill settling upon everything. And ness was upon us. Tire Planetara’s our walls were bulging. 'The silence gravity-magnetizers were dead; this and the deadly chill of death would was only the light Moop-gravity pull- aoqn be here in these wrecked corri- ing us. i dors. The end of the Planetara. 1 “Careful, Anita. Don't 'jump toq wondered vaguely if the walls would freely.” ; explode.

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BRIGANDS OF THE MOON 97 We prowled Uke ghouls. We .did not see Coniston. Snap had been by the ■hifter-pumps. We found him in the oval doorway. He lay sprawled. Dead? No, he mov^. He sat' up before we could get to him. He seemed con- fused, but his senses clarified with the movement of our figures over him. "Gregg I Why,) Anita I” “Snap I You’re all right ? We.struck —the air is escaping.” He pushed me away. He tried to stand. "I'm all right. I was up a minute ago. Gregg, it’s getting cold. Where is she? I had her here — she wasn’t killed. I spoke to her." Irrational I “Snap I” I held him, shook him. "Soap, pid fellow I” He said, normally, “Easy, Gregg, I’m all right now.” Anita giypped him. “Who, Snap?” “She I, ITiere she is." Another figure was here! On the grid-floor by the door oval. A figure partly shrouded in a broken invisible ^loak and hood. An invisible cloak I I law a white face with opened eyes- re- garding me. The face of a girl. Venzal I bent down. "You I" Anita cried, "Yenzal" Venza here? Why — how — my thoughts swept away. Venza here, dying? Her eyes closed. But she mur- mured to Anita. “Where is he? I want him.” Dying? I murmured impulsively, "Here I am, t^enza dear.” Gently, as one would speak with gentle sympathy to humor the dying. "Here I am, Venza.” But it was only the confusion of the ■hock upon her. And it was upon us all. She pushed at Anita. "I want him.” She saw me. This whimsical Venus girl I Even here as we gathered, all o.f us hlurred by the shock, confused in the dim, wrecked ship with the chill of death coming— even here she could make a jest. Her pale lips smiled. "You, Gregg. I’m not hurt — I don’t think I’m hurt.” She managed to get herself up - on one elbow. "Did you think I wanted you' with my dying breath ? Why, what conceit I Not you. Handsome Haljan 1 1 was calling Snap.” He was down to her. “We’re all right, Venza. It’s over. We must get out of the ship— the air is escaping.” 'We gathered in the oval doorway*. We fought the confusion of panic. "The exit port is this way.” Or was it? I answered Snap, “Yes, I think so.” The ship suddenly seemed a stranger to me. So cold. So vibrationless. Broken lights. These slanting, wrecked corridors. With the ventilating fan^ stilled, the air was turning fetid] Chill- ing. And thiiming, with escaping pres- sure, rarifying so that I could feel the grasp of it in my lungs and the pin- pricks of my burning cheeks. We started off. Four of us, still alive in this silent ship of death. My blurred thoughts tried to cope with it aH. Venza here. I recalled how she had bade me create a diversion when the women passengers were landing on the asteroid. She had carried out her purpose I In the confusion she had not gone ashore. A stowaway here. She had secured the cloak. Prowling, to try and help us, she had come upon Hahn. Had seized his ray-cylinder and struck him down, and been herself knocked unconscmus by bis dying lunge, which also had broken the tubes and wrecked the Planetara. And Venza, unconscious, had been lying here with the mechanism of her cloak still operating, so that we did not see her when we came and found why Hahn did not answer my signals. "It’s here, Gregg.” Snap and I lifted the pile of Moon equipment. We located four suits and helmets and the mechanisms to operate them. “More are in the chart-room,” Anita said. But we needed no others. I robed

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98 ASTOUNDING STORIES r' \ Anita, and showed her the mechanisms. “Yes. I understand." | SNAP was helping Ve^a. We were all stiff from the coid; but within the suits and their pulsing currants, the blessed warmth came again. The helmets had admission por^s through which food and drink could be taken. I stood with my helmet ready. Anita, Venza and Snap | were bloated and grotesque ' beside me. We had found /food and water here, assembled in portable cases which | the brigands had prepared. Snap lifted them, and signed to me he wa$ ready. My helmet shut out a^I sounds save my own breathing, my pqunding heart, and the murmur of the mech|»nisni. The blessed warmth and pure ^ir were good. We ‘reached the hu|l port-locks. They operated I We weitt through in the light of the head-labps ovei« our foreheads. / I closed the locks aft^r us. An in- st^ct to keep the aia in tqe ship for the other trapped humain lyipg there. We slid down, the sloping side of fhe Planetsra. We were un\y«ighted, irra- tionally agile with the Slight gravity. I fell a dozen feet and landed with barely a jar. We were out on the Lunar surface. A great sfoping ramp of c^ags stretched down before us. Gray-black rock tinged with Earth-lighti The Barth hup^ amid the stars in ithe blackness ove^ead like a huge section of glow- ing yellow ball. This grim, desolate; silent land- scape! Beyond the , ramp, fifty feet below us, a tumbleg naked plain stretched away into blurred distance. But I could see mountsuns off there. Behind us the towering, frowning rampart-wall of Archimedes loomed against the sky. I had turned to look back at the PI$netara. She lay broken, wedged be- tween spires of upstanding rock. A few of her lights still gleamed. The eng of the Planetara! The three grotesque figures of Anita, Venza and Snap had started off. Hunchback figures with the tanks mounted on their shoulders. I bounded and caught them. I touched Snapf We made audiphone contact. "Which way do you think?" I de- manded. f “I think this way, down the ramp. Away from Archimedes, toward the mountains. It shouldn’t be too far.* “'Ybu run with Venza. I’ll hold Anita.” He. nodded. "But we must keep to- gether, Gregg.” We could soon run freely. Down the ramp, out over the tiunbled plain. Boundiifg, grotesque leaping strides. The girls were more agile, more skil- ful. They were soon leading us. The Earth-shadows of their figures leaped beside them. The Planetara faded into the distance behind us. Archimedes stood back there. Ahead, the moun- tains came closer. An hour perhaps. I lost count of time. Occasionally we stopped to rest Were we going toward the Grantline camp? Would they see our tiny wav- ing headlights? / Another interval. Then far ahead of us on the ragged plain, lights showedi Moving tiny spots, of light 1 Head- lights on helmeted figures I We ran, monstrously leaping. A group of figures were off there. Grant- line’s party? Snap gripped me. “Grantlinel We’re safe, Greggl Safe I” He took his bulb-light from his helmet ; we stood in a group while he waved it, A semaphone sig- nal. • '‘Grantline?" ^ And the answer came. "Yes. You, Dean?" ' ' Their personal code. No doubt of this — it was Grantline, who had seen the Planetara fall and had come to help us. I I stood then with my hand holoing Anita. And I whispered, "It’s Grant-

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fiJUGANDS OF THE MOON 99 line I We’re safe, Anita, my darling I" Death had been so close I Those hor- rible last minutes on the Ptanetara bad shocked' us, marked us. We stood trembling. And Crantline and his men came bounding up. A helmeted 6gure touched me. I saw through the helmet-pane the visage of a stern-faced, square-jawed, young- ish man. •'Grantline? Johnny Grantline?" ‘“Yes,” said bis voice at my ear-grid. “I’m Grantline. You’re Haljan? Gregg Haljan?’’ They crowded around us. Gripped us to hear our explanations. Brigands I It was amazing to Johnny GrmUine. But the menace was over, now, over as soon as Grantlipe had real- ized its existence. As though the wreck of the Planetara were foreordained by an all-wise Providence, the brigands’ adventure had come to tragedy. We stood for a time discussing it. Then I drew apart, leaving Snap with Grantline. And Anita joined me. I held her arm so that we had audipbone contact. “Anita, mine.” “Gregg, dear one.” ' Murmured nothings which piean so much to lovers I AS we stood in the fantastic gloom of the Lunar desolation, with the blessed Earth-light on us, I sent up a prayer of thankfulness. Not that a hundred millions of treasure were saved. Not that the attack upon Grant- line had been averted. But only that Anita was given back to me. In mo- ments of greatest emotion the human piind individualizes. To me, there was only Anita. Life is very strange I The gate to the shining garden of our love seemed swinging wide to let us in. Yet I recall that a vague fear still lay on me. A premonition ? I felt a touch on my arm. A bloated helmet visor was thrust near my own. I saw Snap’s face peering at me. “Grantline thinks we should return to the PJanetarX Might £nd some of them alive.” Grantline touched me. “It’s only humanity.” “Yes,” I said. We went back. Some ten of us — a line of grotesque figures bounding with slow, easy strides over the jagged, rock-strewn plain. Our lights danced before us. The Planetara came at last into view. My ship. Again that pang swept me as I saw her. This, her last resting place. She lay here in her open tomb, shat- tered, broken, unbreathing. The lights on her were extinguished. The Erentz system had ceased to pulse — the heart of the dying ship, for a while beating faintly, but now at rest. We left the two girls with some of Grantline’s men at the admission port. ^Snap, Grantline and I, with three, others, went inside. There still seemed to be air, but not enough so that we dared remove our helmets. It was dark inside the wrecked ship. The cofridorc were black ; the hull con- trol-rooms were dimly illumined with Earth-light straggling through the windows. This littered tomb I Already cold and silent with death. We stunqbled over a fallen figure. A member of the crew. f CRANTLINE straightened from examining him. “Dead.” Earth-light fell on the horrible face. Puffed flesh, bloated red from the blood which h^ oozed from its pores in the thinning air. I looked away., We nrowled further. Hahn lay dead in th^ pump-room. ^Tfie body of Coniston should have been near here. We did not see it. We climbed u^ to the slanting lit- tered deck. The dome had not ex- ploded, but the air up here bad almbst all hissed away. Again Grantline touched me. ’“^at the turret?" (/' “Yea."

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100 ASTOUNDING STORIES No: wonder he asked I Tbie wreckage was all BO formless. We climbed after Sna( into the broken turret room. We Ipassed the body: of that steward who ljust at the \ end had appealed to me and I had left dying. The legs of the fo^ard look- out still poked grotesquelly up from the wreckage of the observatory tower where it lay smashed down against the roof of the chart-room. We shoved ourselves into the turret. What was this? No bodies here 1 The giant Miko was gone 1 Theipool of his blood lay congealed into a frozen dark splotch on the metal grid. And Moa was gone I Tbey'^had not been dead. Had dragged ! themselves out of here, fighting desperately for life. We 'Would find them i somewhere around here. But we did not. Nor Contston. I re- called what Anita had said;: other suits and helmets had been here In the near- by chart-room. The brigands had taken them,-a^d food and water doubt- less, and escaped from the ship, follow- ing us through the lower admission ports only a few minutes after we had gone out. I WE tnade careful search of the entire ship. Eight the bodies which should have been ! here were missing : Miko, Moa, Conistjbn, and five of the steward-crew. We did not find them outside. The^ were hiding near here, no doubt, more willing to take their chances than to yield now to us. But how, 'in all this Lunar desolation, could tve hope to locate them? "No use,” said Grantline. "Let them go. If they want death — ^well, they de- serve it.” But we were saved. Then, as I stood there, realization leaped at me. Saved? Were we not indeed fatuous fools? In all these emotion-swept moments since we had encountered Grantline, memory of that brigand ship coming from Mars had never once occurred to ySnap or me I I told Grantline now. His eyes through the visor stared at me blankly. "What I” I told him again. It would be here in eight days. Fully manned and armed. "But Haljan, we have almost no weapons! All my Comet's space was taken with mining equipment and the mechanisnu for my camp. I can’t sig- nal Earth I I was depending^^ed.^ the Planetaral" ^ It surged upon us. The brigapd men- ace past? We were blindly congratu- lating ourselves on our safety ! But it would be eight days or more before in distant Ferrok-Shahn the non-arrival of the Planetara would cause any real comment. No one was searching for us — no one was worried over us. No wonder the crafty Miko was willing lo take his chances out here in the Lunar wilds! His ship, his rein- forcements, his weapons were, coming rapidly 1 And we were helpless. Almost un- armed. Marooned here on the Mqon with our treasure I (To be contiaued.) ASTOUNDING STORIES Appears on Newsstands THE FIRST THURSDAY IN EACH MONTH

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By Tom Curry The shrill voice o{ a woman stabbed the steady hum of the many machines in the great, semi-darkened laboratory. It was the onslaught of weak feminity against the ebony shadow of Jared, the silent negro servant of Pro- fesaor Ramsey Burr. Not many people were able to get to the famous man against his wishes; Jared obeyed or- ders implicitly and was generally an efficient barrier. « "I will see him, X will,” screamed the middle-aged wo- man. "I’m Mis. Mary Baker, and he — he — it’s his fault my son is going to die. His fault. Professor! Professor Burr!" Jared was unable to keep her qui^t. 101 From twenty mile* nwny itabbed the *‘etom*fUterinc^ reyi to Allen Beke'r in hit cell in the denth houte.

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102 Astounding stories Coming in from the sunlight, her eyes were not yet accustomed to the strange, subdued haze of the labora- toiyr, an immense chamber crammed full of equipment, the vista of which seemed like an apartment in hill. Bizarre shapes stood out frqm the mass of impedimenta, great still^- which rose fu^ two stories in height, dynamos, im- sense tubes of colored liquids, a hun- dred puzzles to the inexpert eye. The small, plump figure of Mrs. Baker was vdry out of p^ce in this setting. Her voice was; poignant, reedy. A look at her made it evident that she was a- conventional, good woman. She had soft, cloudy golden eyes and a pathetic mouth, and she seemed on the point of team. "Madam, madam, dc doctor is busy," whispered Jared, endeavor|ng to shoo her ouyol the laboratory with his po- lite i^ds. He was respectful, but firm. She refused to obey. She stopped when she was within a few feet of the activity in the laboratory,; and stared with fear and horror at tl^e center of the room, and at its occupant. Profes- sor Burr, whom she ha^ addressed during her flurried entrance. The professor’s face, as |ie peered at her, seemed like a disemtm<lied stare, for she could see only ejles~behind a mask of lavender gray gldss eyeholes, with its flapping ends of jdirty, gray- white cloth. Then the professor flooded the room in harsh gray-green light, and stopped the high-pitched, humming whine of his dynamos. A shadow picture'writh- ing on the wall, projected frdm a lead- glass barrel, ^disappeared suddenly^ the great color ^Iters and other machines lost their semblance of horrible Ilife, and' a' regretful sigh seemed to (jome from the metal creatures as they 'gave up the ghost. I . f To the woman, it had been entering tbe abode of fear. She could not re- strain her shudders. But she bravely confronted tbe tall figure of Professor Burr, as he came forth to greet her. He was extremely tall and -attenu- ated, with a red,, bony mask of a face pointed at the chin by a sharp little goatee. Feathery' blond hair, silvered and awry, covered his great head. "Madam,” said Burr in a gentle, dis- armingly quiet voice, "your manner of entrance might haye cost you your life. Luckily I was able to deflect the rays from your person, else you, might not now be able to voice your complaint— for such seems to be' your purpose is coming here.” He turned to Jared, who was standing close by. "Very'” well, Jared. You may go. After this, it will be as well to throw the. bolts, though in this case I am quite willing to see the visitor.” Jared slid away, leaving the plump littleswoman to confront the famous She drew in a deep !breath — and gasped, for the pungent ^mes, acrid and penetrating, of sulphuiiic and nitric acids, stabbed her lungs. ' It was like the breath of hell, to fit simile, and aptly Professor Burr seenjed the diKril himself, manipulating the linfemal ma- chines. Acting swiftly, the' tail figure stepped over and ! threw two switches in a single, swbeping move-; ment. The vermillion.digtt which had^ lived in a long row of tubes on a nearby bench abruptly ceased to vjrrithc like so' many tongues of flame, anid the embers of bell died out. « scientist. For a moment, Mrs. Baker stared into the pale gray eyes, the pupils of which seemed black as coal by contrast. Some, his bitter enemies, claimed that Professor Ramsejr^urr looked cold and bleak as an iceberg, others that he had a baleful glare. His mouth was grim and determinetj^^ Yet, with her woman’s eyes, Mrs. Baker, looking at the professor’s bony mask of a face, with tbe high- bridged, intrepid nose, the passionless gray eyes, thought that Ramsey Barr would be handsome, 9 a little less ca- daverous and more human.

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THE SOUL-SNATCHER 103 "The experiment which you ruined by your untimely entrance," continued the professor, "was not a safe one." His long white hand waved toward the bunched apparatus, but to her to _ the room seemed all glittering metal coils of snakelike wire, ruddy copper, dull lead, and tubes of all shapes. Hell cauldrons o^ unknown chemicals seethed and slowly bubbled, beetle- black bakelite fixtures reflected the hideous light. "Oh,” she cried, clasping her hands as though she addressed him in prayer, yforget jiour science. Professor Burr, and be a/ man. Help me. Three days from no^v my boy, my son, whom I love above all the world, is to die." “Three days is a long, time,” said Professor Burr calmly. "Do not lose hope ; I have no intention of allowing your son, Allen Baker, to pay the price for a deed of mine. I freely confess it was I who was r.espon^ble for the death of — what was the person’s name? —Smith, I believe.’,’ "It was you who made Allen get poor Mr. Smith to agree to the experiments which killed him, and which the world blamed on my son,” she said. "They called it the deed, of a Scientific fiend. Professor Burr, and perhaps they are right. But Allen is innocent.” "Be quiet,” c^derei Burr, raising his hand. "Remember, madam, your son Allen is only a commonplace medical man, and while I taught him a little from my vast store of knowledge, he was ignbrant and of much less value to science and humanity than myself. Do you not understand, can you not comprehend, also, that the man Smith ^was a martyr to stience? He was no loss to mankind, and only sentimental- ists could have blamed anyone for bis death. I should have succeeded in the interchange of atoms which we were working on, and Smith would at this moment be hailed as the first man to travel through space in invisible form, projected on radio waves, had it not been for the fact that the alloy which cbnducts-the three types of sinusoidal failed me and burned out. Yes, it was an error in calculation, and Smith would now be called the Lindbergh of the Atom but for that. Yet Smith has not died in vain, for I have finally cor- rected this error — science is but trial and Correction of error — and all will be well.” "But Allen — Allen must not die at all I” she cried. "For weeks he has been in the death house: it is killing me. The Governor refuses him a par- don, nor will he commute my son’s sentence. In three days he is to die in the electric chair, for a crime which you admit you alone are 'responsible for. Yet you remain in you*r labora- tory,* immersed in your experiments, and do nothing, nothing I” The tears came now, and she sobbed hysterically. It seemed that she was making an appeal to some- one in whom she had only a forlorn hope'. "Nothing?” repeated Burr, pursing his thin lips. “Nothing? Madam, I have done everything. I have, as I have told you, perfected the experi- ment. It is successful. Your son has not suffered in' vain, and Smith’s name will go down with the rest oi science's martyrs as one who died for the sake of humanity. But if you wish to save your son, you must be calm. You must listen to what I have to say, and you must not fail t6 carry \ut my instruc- tions to the letter. I am ready now.” Light, the light of hope^ sp^g in the mother’s eyes. She grasped bis arm and stared at him with shining face, .through tear-dipped eyelashes. “Do — do you mean it? Can you save him? After thC Governor has refused me? What can you do? No influence will snatch Allen from the jaws of the law: the public is greatly excited and very -hostile toward him.” A quiet smile played at the comers of Burr’s thin lips. “Come,” he said. “Place this floak about you. Allen wore it when he as- sisted me.’,’ •

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104 AjSTOUNDINC STORIES The professor replaced his own mask and (;onducted the woman into the in- terior of the laboratory. will show you," said Professor jlurr. \ She saw before her on long metal shelves which appeared to' be del^tety poised on fine s^es whose baluce was registered by bair-line in- dieatore, two small metal cjiges. Professor Burr stepped! over to a row of common cages set along the wall. There was a small menagerie there, guinea pig^^the mattyrs of the animal kingdom — rabbits, monl^eys, and some cats. i ^ The man of science reached in and dragged out a mewing cat, placing" it in the right-band cage on the strange tablp. He then obtained a small moiikey and put this anim4l in the left- hand cage, beside the cat. I The cat, on the right, squatted on its haunches, mewing in pique and looking up at its tormentor. The monkey, after a quick look around; began to investigate the upper reaches of its new c^ge. Over, each of the animpls was sus- pended a fine, curious metallic arma- ment. Por several minutes, whilp the woman, puzzled at how thU demonstra- tion was to affect the rescue of her con- demned son, waited impiatiently, the professor deftly worked ^ the appara- tus] connecting wires here and there. "I am ready now," said purr. "Watch the^ two animals carefully.^’ “Ves, yes,” she replied; faintly, for she; was half afraid. '^he great scientist Was stooping over, looking at the balances of the in- dicators through microscopes. She saw him reach fori his switches, and then a brusk order ipused her to turn her eyes back to the animals, the cat' in the right-hand cage, tl^ monkey at the left. Both animals screamedi in fear, and a sympathetic chorus sounded from the menageri/, as a long purple spark dapced from one gray metal pole to the other, over the cages on the table. At first, Mrs. Baker noticed no changp. The spark bad died, the pro- fessor’s voice, unhurried, grave, broke the silence. "The first part of the experiment is over," he said. "The ego — ” "Ob, heavens I” cried the woman. "You’ve driven the poor creatures mad I” SHE indicated the cat. Tliat animal was clawing at the top bars of its cage, uttering a bizarre, chattering sound, somewhat like's monkey. The cat hung from the bars, swinging itself back and forth as on a trapeze, then reached up and hung by its bind claws. As for the monkey, it was squatting on the floor of its cage, and it made a strange sound in its throat, almost a mew, and it hissed several times at the professor. "They are not mad," said Burr. "As I was explaining to you, I have finished the first portion of the experiment. The ego, or personality of one animal has been taken out and put into the other." She was unable to speak. He had mentioned madness: was he. Professor Ramsey Burr, crazy ? , It was likely enough. Yet — yet the whole thing, in these surroundings, seemed plausible. As she hekitated about speaking, watch-> ing with fascinated eyes the out-of- character behavior of the two beasts. Burr went on. "The second part follows at once. Now that the two egos have inter- changed, I will shift the bodiei. When it is completed, the monkey will have taken the place of the cat, and vice versa. Watch.” He was busy for some tinfe with his levers, and the smell of ozone reached Mrs. Baker’s nostrils as she stared with horrified eyes at the animals. She blinked. The sparks Shackled madly, the monkey mewed, the cat chattered. Were her eyes going back on her? She could see neither animal distinct- ly: they seemed to be shaking in some

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THE SOUI^SNATCHER 105 cosmic disturbance, ind were but blurs. This illusion — for to her, it seemed it must be optical — persisted, grew worse, until thf quaking forms of the two un- fortunate creatures were like so much ectoplasm ip swift motion, ghosts whirling about in a dark room. Yet she could sfce the cages quite distinctly, and the table and even the indicators of the scales. She closed her eyes for a moment. The acrid odors penetrated to her lungs, and she coughed, opening her eyes. NOW she could see clearly again. Yes, she could see a monkey, and it was climbing quite naturally about its cage; it was excited, but a monkey. And the cat, while protesting mightily, acted like a cat. Then she gasped. Had her mind, in the excitement, betrayed her? She looked at Professor Burr. On his lean face there was a smile of triumph, and he seemed to be awaiting her applause. She looked again at the two cages. Surely, at first thd. cat had been in the right-hand cage, and the monkey in the left I And now, the monkey was in the place where the cat had been and the cat had been shifted to the left-ha^d cage. “So it was with Smith, when the al- loys burned out,” said Burr. “It is im- possible to extract the ego or dissolve the atoms and translate them into radio waves unless there is a connection with some other ego and body, for in such a case the translated soul and body would have no place to go. Luckily, for you, madam, it was the man Smith Who was killed when the alloys failed me. It might have been Allen, for he was the second pole of the connection." , “But," she began faintly, “how can this mad experiment have anything to do with saving my boy 7" He waved impatiently at her evident denseness. "Do you not understand? It is so I will save Allen, your son. I shall first switch our egos, or souls, as you say; Then switch the bodies. It must always take this sequence; why, I have not ascertained. But it always works thus.” Mrs. Baker was terrified. What she had just seen, smacked of the blackest -magic — yet a woman in her position must , grasp at straws. The world blamed her son for the murder of Smith, a man Professor Burr had made use of as he might a guinea pig, and Allen must be snatched from the death house.' “Do— do you mean you can bring Al- len from the prison here — jhst by throwing those switches?” she asked. “That is it. But there is more to it than that, for it is not magic, ma<3stn; it is science, you understand, and there must be some physical connection. But with your help, that cdn easily be made.” pROFESSqi^ RAMSEY BURR, A. she knew, Was, the greatest electri- cal engineer the world had ever known. And he . stood high as a physicist. Nothing hindered him in the pursuit of knowledge, they said. He knew no fear, and he lived on an intellectual promontory. He was so great that he almost lost sight of himself. To such a man, nothing ras impossible. Hope, wild hope, sprang in Mary Baker’s heart, and she grasped the bony hand of the professor and kissed it. “Oh, I believe, I believe,” she cried. “You can do it. You can save Allen. I will do anything, afiything you tell me to.” “Very well. You visit your son daily at the death house, do you not?” She nodded ; a shiver of remembrance of that dread spot passed through her. “Then you wil^ tOll him the plan and let him agree to seejme the night pre- ceding the electrocution. I will give him final instructions as to the ex-; change of bodies. When my life spirit, or ego, is confined in your son’s body in the death house, Allen will be able to perform the feat of changing the bodies, and your son’s flesh will join his soul, which will have been tempo-

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106 ASTOUNDING STORIES rariljr inhabiting my oym aheU. Do you see? When they hnd me in the cell where they suppose your son to be, they will be unable to explain the phe- nomenon; they can do nothing but re- lease me. Your son will ge here, and c^n be whisked away to a safe place of concealment." .“Yes, yes. V/hat am t to do besides this?" Professor Burr pulled out a drawer near at hand, and from it extracted a folded garment of thin, ^hiny material. "This is metal cloth cbated with the new alloy," tie said, in aj matter of fact tone. He rummaged further, saying as he did so, "I expected ! you would be here to see me, and I hafe been getting ready for your visit. '^^11 is prepared, save a few odds and ends which I can easily clean up in the next two days. Her^ are four iups wh|ch Allen must place under each leg of l^is bed, and this delicate little director jcoil you must take especial pains wi^. It is to be dipped under your sonjs tongue at the time appointed.” I SHE was staring at liii^ still, half in fear, half in Wond^, yet she could not feel any doubt of thie man’s miracu- lous powers. Somehow, jwhile he talked to her and rested those! cold eyes upon her, she was under t^e spell of the great' scientist. Her pon, before the trouble into which he had been dragged by the professor, had i often hinted at the abilities of Ramsey Burr, given her the idea that his empjloyer was p'rac- tically a necromancer,] yet a magician whose advanced scieiitihc knowledge was correct and explainable in the light of reason. Yes, Allen had talked to her often when he was at home, iresting from his labors with Professoij Bu^r. He had spoken of,^the new electricity discov- ered by the famous m^, and also told hia mother that Burr had found a method of 'sepafating,“atoms and then transforming them into a form oI radio-electrieity ai^th^ they could be tent in radio wave^ to designated points. And she now remembered — the swift trial and conviction of Allen on the charge of murder had occupied her so deeply that she had forgotten all else for the time being — that her son had informed her quite seriously that Professor Ramsey Burr would soon be able to transport human beings by radio. • “Neither of us will be injured in any way by the change," said Burr calmly, “It is possible for me now to break up human flesh, send the atoms by radi(H electricity, and reassemble them in thyir proper form by these special transformers and atom filters.” Mrs. Baker took all the apparatus presented her by the professor. She' ventured the thought that it might be better to perform the experiment at onpe, instead of -waiting until the last minute, but this Professor Burr waved aside as impossible. He needed the extra time, he said, and there was na hurry. She glanced about the room, and her eye took in the giant switches of cop- per with their black handles; there were others of a gray-green metal she did not recognize. Many dials and meters, strange to her, confronted the little woman. These things, she fek with a rush of gratitude toward the inanimate objects, would help to save her son, so they interested her and she began to' feel kindly toward the great machines^ WOULD Professor Burr be abk to' save Allen as he claimed? Yes,, she thought, he could. She would make Allen consent to the tiiil of it, even though her son had cursed the scientist and cried he would never speak to Ramsey Burr again. She was, escorted from the home ol\ the professor by Jared, and going out into the bright, sunlit street, blinked a her eyes adjusted themselves to the daylight after the queer light of tlK laboratory. In a bundle she bad ■ strange suit aAd the cups: her purse held the tiny coil, wrapped in cottoa

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THE SOUL-SNATCHER How could she get the authorities to consent to her son having the suit? The cups and the coil she might slip to him herself. She decided that a mother would be allowed to give her son new underwear. Yes, she would say it was that. She started at once for the prison. Professor Burr’s laboratory was but twenty miles from the cell where her son was incarcerated. As she rode on the train, seeing people in everyday' attire, common- place occurrences going on about her, the spell of Professor Burr faded, and cold rrason stared her in the face. Was it nonsense, this idea of transporting bodies through the air, in invisible waves? Yet, she was old-fashioned; the age of miracles had not passed for her. Radio, in which pictures and voices could be sent on wireless waves, was unexplainable to her. Perhaps — She sighed, and shook her head. It was hard to believe. It was also hard believe that her son was in deadly peril, condemned to death as a “scien- tific fiend.” Here was her station. A taxi took her to the prison, and after a talk with the warden, finally she stood there, be- fore the screen through which she could 'talk to Allen, her son. “Mother I” Her heart lifted, melted within her. It was always thus whpk he spoke. “Allen,” she whispered softly. They were allowed to talk undis- turbed. “Professor Burr wishes to help you,” she said, in a low voice. Her son, Allen Baker, M. D., turned eyes of misery upon her. His ruddy hair was awry. This young man was imaginative and could there- fore suffer deeply. He had the gift of turning platitudes into puzzles, and his hazel eyes were lit with an elfin quality, which, if possible, endeared him the more to his mother. All his life he had been the greatest thing in the world to ' this woihan. To see him in- such lor straits tore her very heart. When he had' been a little boy, she had been able to make joy appear in those eyes by a word and a pat; now that he was a man, the matter was more difficult, but she had always done her best. "I cannot allow Professor Burr to do anything for me,” he 'said dully. “It is his fault that I am here.” “But Allen, you must listen, listen carefully. Professor Burr can save you. He says it was all a mistake, the alloy was wrong. He has not come forward before, because he knew be would be able to iron out the trouble if he had time, and thus snatch you from this terrible place.” . She put as much confidence into her voice as she could. She must, to en- hearten her son. Anything to replace that look of suffering with one of hope. She would believe, sheydid believe. The bars, the great masses of stone w^ich- enclosed her son would be as nothing. He would pass through them, unseen, unheard. For a time, Allen spoke bitterly of Ramsey Burr, but his mother pleaded with him, telling him*it was hi^only chance, and that the deviltry Allen suspected was imaginary. “He — he killed Smith in such an experimeht,” said Allen. “I took the blame, as you know, though I only fol- lowed his instructions. But you say he claims to have found the correct al- loys “Yes. And this suit, you must put it on. But . Professor Burr himself will be here to see you day after to-morrow, the day preceding the — the — ” She bit her lip, and got out the dreaded word, “the electrocution. But there won’t be any electrocutioi^ Allen ; no, there can- not'be. You wiH be safe, safe in my arms.” She had to fight now to hold her belief in tbe miracle which Burr had promised. The solid steel and stone dismayed her brain, f The new alloy seemed to interest Allen Baker. His mothqr told him of the exchange of the monkey and the

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108 ASTOUNDING STORIES cat, and he nodded excitedly, growing more and more restive, hnd Us eyes be- gan to shine with hope pnd curiosity. “I have told the watrden . about the suit,' saying it was something I nude for you myself,” she isaid, in a low voice. “You must pretMd the coil and the cups are things yoii desire for your own amusement. You (enow, they have allowed you a great ^eal of latitude, since you are educated land need diver- sion." i “Yes,, yes. There miy be some dif- ficulty, but I will overcome that. Tell Burr to come. I'll tal|c with him and he can instruct me in the final details. It is better than waiting here like a rat In a trap. I have been! afraid of going mad, mother, but this bjuoys me up’.” He smiled at her, an<j her heart sang in the joy of relief. How did the interve ling days pass? Mrs. Baker could nft sleep, could scarcely eat; she could do nothing but Wait, wait, wait. She watched the meeting of her son and Ramsey Burr, on the day preceding ihe date set for the execution. "Well, Baker,” Said Burr noncha- lantly, nodding to his former assistant. THowareyou?” "You see how I jaifi,”; said 'Allen, coldly. : ^ ' "Yes, yes. Well, lipten to what I have to say and note it jcarefully. There must be no Blip. You fajaVe the suit, the cups and the director Coil? You must keep the suit on, the cups go under the legs of the cot you lie ion. The<direc- tor under your tongue.!''. The professor spokp further with Allen, instructing hiln in scientific terms which’ the woma^ scarcely com- prehended. “To-night, then at eleven-thirty," taid Burr, finally. “Beiready.” Allen nodded. Mrs. Baker ac- coippanied Burr from the prison. "You — you will let nje be with you?" ^e begged. “It Is hardly necespary," said the professor. “But I must. I must see Allen the moment he is free, to make sure snis he is all right. Then, I want to be able to take him away. I have a place in which we can hide, and as soon as he is rescued he must be taken out of sight.” "Very well,” said Burr, shrugging. "It is immaterial to me, so long as you do not interfere with the course of the experiment. You must sit perfectly still, you must not speak until Allen stands belore you and addresses you." "Yes, I will obey you,” she promised, Mrs. Baker watche'd Professor Ram- sey Burr eat his supper. Burr himself was not in the least perturbed; it was wonderful, she thought, that he could be so calm. To her, it was the great moment, the momlmb when her son would be saved froij^he jaws of death. Jared carried a comfortable chair into the laboratory and she sat in it, quiet as a mouse, in one comer of the room. It was nine o'clock, and Professor Burr was busy wiu his preparations She knew he had been working steadi- ly for the past few days. She gripped the arms of her chair, and her heart burned within her. The professor was making sure of his apparatus. He tested this bulb and that, and carefully inspected the ciM- ous oscillating platform, over which was suspended a thickly bunched group of gray-green wire, which was seem- ingly an antenna. The numerous indi- cators and implements seemed to be satisfactory, for at quarter after eleven, ,Burr gave an exclamation of pleasure and nodded to himself. Burr seemed have forgotten the woifaan. He spoke aloud occasionally, but not to her, as be drew ^orth a suit made of the same metal cloth as Allen must have qp at this moment. The tension was terrific, terrific for the mother, who was awaiting the culmination of the experiment which would rescue her son from the electric chair— or would it fail? She

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THE SOUL-SNATCHER 109 ■buddered. Wliat if Burr were mad?, But look at him, she was sure he was ■ane, as sane as she was. “He will succeed," she murmured, digg^g her nails into the palms of her hands. “I know he will." She pushed aside the picture of what would happen on the morrow, but a few hours distant, when Allen, her son, was due to be led to a legal death in the electric chair. Professor Burr placed the shiny suit upon his lank form, and she saw him put a duplicate coil, the same sort of small machine which Allen possessed, under his tongue. The Mephistophelian figure con- sulted a matter-of-fact watch; at that moment, Mrs. Baker heard, above the hum of the myriad machines in the laboratory, the slow chiming of a clock. It was the moment set for the deed. Then, she feared the professor was insane, for he suddenly leaped to the high bwch of the table on which stood one of the oscillating platforms. Wires led out from this, and Burr sat gently upon it, a strange figure in the subdued light. Professor Burr, however, she soon saw, was not insane. No, this was part of it. He was reaching for switches near at hand, and bulbs began to glow with unpleasant light, needles on indi- cators swung madly, and at last. Pro- fessor Burr kicked over a giant switch, which seemed to be the final movement. For several seconds the professor did not move. Then his body grew rigid, ind he twisted a few times. His face, though not drawn in pain, yet twitched galvanically, as though actuated by slight jabs of electricity. The many tubes fluoresced, flared up in pulsing waves of violet and pink: there, were gray bars of invisi- bilily or areas of air in which nothing visible showed. There came the faint, crackling hum of machinery rather like a swarm of wasps in anger. Blue and gray thread of fire spat across the an- teima. The odor of ozone came to Mrs. Baker’s nostrils, and the acid odors burned her lungs. She was staring at him, staring at the professor’s face. She half rose from her chair, and utterpd a little cry. The eyes bad changed, no longer were they cold, impersonal, the eyes of a mail who prided himself on the fact that he kept his arteries soft and his heart hard ; they were loving, soft eyes. “Allen," she cried. Yes, without doubt, the eyes of her son were looking at her out of the body of Professor Ramsey Burr. “Mother,” he said gently. "Don’t be alarmed. It is successful. I am here; in Professor Burr’s body.” "Yes," she cried, hysterically. It was too weird to believe. It seemed dim to her, unearthly. "Are you all rigkt, darling?” she asked timidly. "Yes. I felt nothing beyond a mo- mentary giddy spell, a bit of nausea and mental ^iCEness., It was strange, and I have a slight headache. How- ever, all is well.” He grinned at her, laughed with the voice which Was not his, yet which she recognized as directed by her son’s spirit. The laugh was cracked and un- like Allen’s whole-hearted mirth, yet she smiled in S3^pathy. "Yes, the first part is a success,” said the man. “Our egos have interchanged. Soon, -our bodies will undergo the transformation, and then I must keep under cover. I dislike Burr — yet he is a great man. ' He has saved me. I sup- pose the slight headache wjiich. I feel is one bequeathed me by Burr. I hope he inherits my shivers and terrors and the neuralgia for the^time being, so be will get some idea of what I have undergone.” ' He had got down from the oscillating platform, the spirit of her son in Ram- sey’s body; "What — what are you doing now?” she asked. “I mi^ carry out the rest of it my- self,” he^id. “Burr directed me when we talked yesterday. It is more dif-

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ASTOUNDING STORIES no Ccult when one subject is out of the )<iboratory, and the itubes must be bhecked." He went carefully j about his vyork, and she satir Uni replacing four of the tubes with otters, new ones, which were ready at hand. Tboughvit was the body of Rapisey Burr, tne movements .were diffbftnt from the slow, precise work of the professor, and more and more, ste realized that her sc^ inhabited the ^hell before her. For a moment, the [mother thought Of attempting to dissuade her son ^rom making the final change; was it inot better thus, than t^ chance the dis- lintegration of the biodies? Suppose Isomething went wropg, and the ex- 'change did not take p^ce, dhd her son, [that is, his spirit, went back to the [death house? M^dnight struck as fie worked fever- iishly at the apparatus, the long face [corrugated as he checked the dials and {tubes. He worked swiftly, but evident; [was following a procedure which be had committed to meifiory, for he was forced to pause often to make sure of [himself. "Everything is Q.K.," said the [strange voice at last. He consulted his [watch. “Twelve-thirty,” he said. ^ She bit her lip in terror, as he crifd, ' "Now I” and sprang to the table tb take . his place on the metallic platform, .which oscillated to afid fro under his weight. The delicate grayish metal 'antenna, which, she kfiew, would form a glittering halo of blue and^ gray threads of fire, rested quiescent above his head. < "This is the last tbing,’''he said calm- ly, as he reached foe the big ebony handled switch. "I'll, be myself in a few minutes, mother." "Yes, son, yes.” The switch connepted, and Allen Baker, in the form pf Ramsey Burr, : suddenly cried out in pain. His mother leaped up to run to [his side, but he waved her away. Shp stood, wringing her hands, as he be^an to twist and turn, as though tom by tome invisible force. Eery screams came from the throat of the man on the platform, and Mrs. Baker’s cries of sympathy mingled with them. \ The mighty motors hummed in a high-pitched, unnatural whine, and suddenly Mrs. Baker saw the tor- tured face before her grow dim. The countenance of the professor seemed to melt, and then there came a dull, muffled thud, a burst of white-blue flame, the odor of burning rubber and the tinkle of broken glass. Back to the face came the clarity of outline, and still it was Professor Ramsey Burr’s body she stared at. Her son, in the professor’s' shape, climbed from the platform, and looked about him as though dazed. An acrid smoke filled the room, and burning in- sulation assailed the nostrils. Desperately, Without looking at her, his lips set in V determined line, the man went hurriedly over the apparatus again. “Have I forgotten, did I do anything wrong?" she heard his anguished cry. Two tubes were burned out, and these he replaced as swiftly as possible. But he was forced to go all over the '' wiring, and cut out whatever had been short-circuited so that it could be hooked up anew with uninjured wire. Before he was ready to resume hii seat on the platform, pHer half an hour of feverish baste, a Imock came on the door. The person outside was imperative, and Mrs. Baker ran over and opened the portal. Jared, the whites of his eyes shining in the dim light, stoodL there. "De professah — teil him dat dc wahden wishes to talk with biin It is very important, ma’am.” The body of Bi^, inhabited by Allen’s soul, pusbea by her, and slu followed falteringly, wringing her hands. She saw the tall figure snatch at the receiver and listen. "Oh, Cod,” he cried. At last, he put the receiver back oa

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THE SOUL>SNATCHER 111 the hook, automatically, and sank down It began to succeed, then I could feel In a chair, his face in his hands. Mrs. baker went to him quickly. “What is it, Allen?" she cried. "Mother,” he said hoarsely, "it was the warden of the prison. He told me that Allen Baker had gone temporarily insane, and claimed to be Professor Ramsey Burr in my body." “But — ^but what is the matter?” she asked. "Cannof you finish the experi- ment, Allen? Can’t you change the two bodies now?” He shook his head. "Mother — they electrocuted Ramsey Burr in my body at twelve forty-five to-night I” She screamed. She was faint, but the controlled herself with a great effort. something terrible bad'i happened. It was impossible to coi||plete the Beta circuit, which short-orcuited. They took him from the cell, do you see, while I was starting the exchange of the atoms.” For a time, the mother and her boy sat staring at one another. She saw the tall, eccentric figure of Ramsey Burr before her, yet she saw also the soul of her son within that form. The eyes were Allen’s, the voice was soft and loving, and his spirit was with her. "Come, Allen, my son,” she said softly. "Burr paid the price,” said Allen, shaking his head. "He became a martyr to science.” "But the electrocution was not to be until morning,” she said. Allen shook his head. “They are allowed a certain latitude, about twelve hours,” he said. "Burr protested up to the last moment, and begged for time.” “Then — then they must have come for him and dragged, hin/forth to die in the electric chair while you were attempting the second part of the change,” she said. "Yes. That was why it failed. That’s why the tubes and wires burned out and why we couldn’t exchange bodies. The world has wondered why Pro- fessor Ramsey Burr, so much in the headlines as a great scientist, suddenly gave up all his experiments and took .up the practice of medicine., . Now that the public furor and in- dignation over the death of the man Smith has died down, sentimentalists believe that Ramsey Burt has reformed and changed his icy nature, for he manifests great affection and care for Mrs. Mary Baker, the mother of the electrocuted man who had been his assistafit. BY NO MEANS Miss the Opening Inelalment of the Extraordinary Four-Part Novel MURDER MADNESS By Murray Leinster' / Starting In Our Next Issue

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A'^KNQX^ sounded at the door of Dr. mrd’s private labora- tory in the Bureau of Stand- ards. The faxhous scientist paid no attention to the interruption but bent his head lower over the spectroscope with which he was working. The knock was repeat- ed with a quality of quiet insistence upon recognition. The Doctor smoth- ered an exclamation of impatience and strode over to the door and threw it open to the knocker. ‘‘Oh, hello, Carnes," he es- claimed as he rec- ognized his vit-. itor.^ ‘‘Come in and sit down and Dr. Bird ancoTcrt a djutardJj plot, in ita mncbanical inanmiitr, hind ibn nppamntlj triTinl nje troubln of the President. 112

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kc«p your mouth shut for a few min- utes. I am busy just now but I’ll be at liberty in a little while.” “There’s no hurry, Doctor.” replied Operative Carnes of the United States Secret Service as he entered the room and sat on the edge of the Doctor’s desk. "I haven’t got a case up my sleeve this time; I just came in for a little chat.” “All right, glad to see you. Read that latrat volume of the Zeitschrift Tor a while. That article of Von Beyer's has got me guessing, all right.” Carnes picked up the indicated vol- ume and settled himself to re^d. The Doctor bent over bis apparatus. Time and again he made minute adjustments and gave vent to muttered exclama- tions of annoyance at the results be ob- tained. Half an hour later he rose from his chair with a sigh and turned to his visitor. » “What do younink of Von Beyer’s alleged discover^” he asked the oper- ative. Ail Sc. 113

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114 ASTOUNDING STORIES “TT’S too deep for ^e,. Doctor,” re- X plied the operative. "All that I can make out of it is that he claims to have discovered a new; element named ‘lunium,’ but hasn’t been able to isolate it yet. Is there anything remarkable about that ? It seems to me that I have read of other ifew elements being dis- covered from time to time.” "There is liothing remarkable about the discovery of a neW element by the spectroscopic method”’ replied ^r. Bird. “We know fro^ MendelejeS’a table that there are ajn\imber of ele- ments whicti we have i^ot discovered as yet, and several of the ones we know were ^st detected by tbe spectroscope. The thing which puzzles me is that so‘ brilliant a man as Von Beyer claims to have discovered it ip the spectra of the moon. His name, lunium, is taken from Luna, the moon.’’ "Why not the mooi^? Haven’t sev- eral elements been Cr^t di^overed in the spectra of stars ?” j ' "Certainly. The classic example is Lockyer’s discovery o^ an orange line in the spectra of the spn in 1S68. No known terrestrial element gave such a line and he named the new element which he deduced helitim, from Helos, the sun. The element helium was first isolated by Ramsey soipe twenty-seven yem-s later, pther elements have been found inVttTe spectra pf stars, but the point I m making is that the sun and the stats are incabdespent bodies and could be logically expected to show the characteristic lines of their constituent elements in their spectra. But tfie moon is a cold body without an atmos- phere and is visible only by reflected light. The element, lunium, may exist in the moon, but the manifestations which Von Be^er has observed must be, not from the moon, but from tbe source of the reflected; light which be spectro-analyzed. are over my depth. Doctor.” I “i’m over myi own. I have tried to follow Von Beyer’s reasoning ^d I have tried to check his findings. 'Twice this evening I thought that I caught a momentary glimpse on the screen of my fluoroscope of the ultra- violet line which he reports as charac- teristic of lunium, but I am not cer- tain. I haven’t been able to photograph it yet. He notes in his article that the line seems to be quite impermanent and fades so rapidly that an accurate meas- urement of its wave-length is almost impossible. However, let’s drop the subject. How do you like your new assignment?” “Oh, it’s all right. I would rather be back on my old work.” "I- haven’t seen you since you were assigned to the Presidential detail. I suppose that you fellows are pretty busy getting ready for Premier Mc- Dougal% visit?” "I doubt if he will come,” replied Carnes soberly. "Things are not ex- actly propitious for a visit of that sort just ndw.” y Dr. bird sat back in his chair b surprise. "I thought that the whole thing ia arranged.- The press seems to think so, at any rate.” "Everything is arranged, but ar- rangements may be cancelled. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that they were.” “Carnes,” replied Dr. Bird gravely, "you have either said too much or tM little. There is something more to thia than appears on the surface. If it ia none of my business, don’t hesitate to tell me so and I’ll forget what you have said, but if I can help you any, speak up.” Carnes puffed meditatively at Ilia pipe for a few minutes before reply- ing. “It’s really none of your busineak Doctor,” he said at length, "and yet 1 know that a corpse is a chatterbox com- pared to you when you are told any- thing in confidence, and I really need to unload my mind. It has been kept from the press so far ; but I don’t know how long it can be kept muzzled. In

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THE RAY OF MADNESS ttrict confidence, the President of the United States acts as though he were crazy.” “Quite a section of the press has claimed that for a long time,” replied Dr. Bird, with a twinkle in his eye. “1 don't mean crazy in'that way. Doc- tor, I mean really crazy. Bug8^ Nuts I Bats in his belfry I’” R. BIRD whistled softly. “Are you sure, Carnes?” he asked. “As sure as may be. Both of his physicians think ho. They were non- committal for a while, especially as the first attack waned and he seemed to recover, but when his second attack came 'on more violently than the first and the President began to act queerly, they had to take the Presidential de- tail into their confidence. He has been quietly examined by some of the great- est psychiatrists in the country, but none of them have ventured on a posi- tive verdict as to the nature of the mal- ady. They admit, of course, that it ex- ists, but they won’t classify it. The fact that it is intermittent seems to have them ’stopped. He was bad a nunth ago but he recovered and be- came, to all appearances, normal for a time. About a week ^o he began to ■how queer symptoms again and now he is getting worse daily. If he goeh on getting worse for another week, it will have to be annoilnced so that the Vice-President can take over the duties of the head of. the government.” HAT are the symptoms?” "The first we noticed was a failing of his memory. Coupled with this was a restlessness and a habit of nocturnal prowling. He tosses con- tinually on his bed and mutters and at times leaps up and rages back and forth in his bedchamber, howling and raging. Then he will calm down and compose himself and go to sleep, only to wake in half an hour and go through the same performance. It is pretty ghastly for the men on night guard." US “How does he act in the daytime?” "Heavy and lethargic. His memory becomes a complete blank at times and he talks wildly. Those are the times we must guard against.” "Overwork?” queried the Doctor. “Not according to his physicians. His physical \jiealth is splendid and his appetite unusually keen. He takes his c«:ercise regularly and suffers no ill health except for a little eye trouble.” Dr. Bird leaped to his feet. “Tell me more about this eye trouble, Carnes,” he demanded. “Why, I don't know much aboiit it. Doctor. Admiral Clay told me that it was nothing but a mild opthalmia which should yield readily to treat- ment. That was when he told me ^to see that the shades of the President’s study were partially drawn to keep the direct sunlight out.” “^PTHALMIA be sugared I What do his eyes look like?” “They are rather red and swollen and a little bloodshot. He has a tendency to shut them while he is talking, and he.avoids light as much as possible. I hadn’t noticed anything peculiar about it.” “Carnes, did you ever dee a case of snow bindness?” The operative looked up in surprise. “Yes, I Irave. I had it myself once, in Maine, now that you mention it, his case does look like snow blindness, but such a thing is absurd in Washing- ton in August.” f Dr. Bird rummaged in his desk and drew out a book, which he consulted for a moment. “Now, Carnes,” he said, “I want some dates from you and I want them accu- rately. Don’t guess, for a great deal may depend on the accuracy of your answers. When was this mental -dis- ability on the part of the President first noticed?” Carnes drew a pocket diary from his coat and consulted it. “The seventeenth of July,” he re- plied. “That is, we are sure, in view

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ASTOUNDING STORIES 11^ I of I later developments, that that was thd date it first caipe on, We didn’t resize that anything was wrong until , th^ twentieth. On the ^ght of the nii^eteenth the President slept very ^ poorly, getting up and eluting a dis- tuAance twice, and on (he twentieth he 'acted so queerly that jit was neces- sary to cancel three conferences.” I \ Dr. bird checked off the dates on the book before bin) and nodded. “Go on,” he said, “and describe the progress of the malady bp days.” “It got progressively worse until the night of the twenty-third. The twen- ty-fourth he was no worsp, aha on the twenty-fifth a slight improvement was noticed. He got steadily! better until, by the third or fourth of August, he was apparently normal. About the twelfth he began to shqw signs of rest- lessness which have increased daily during the past week.^Ust night, the nineteenth, he slept only a few minutes and Brady, who was on; guard, says that his howls were terrible. His mem- ory has been almost a tcjtal blank to- day and all of his appointments were cancelled, ostensibly because of his eye , trouble. If he gets any Worse, it prob- ably will be necessary to inform (he country as to his true cojndition.” When Carnes had finished. Dr. Bird sat for a time in concentrated thought. “You did exactly right in coming to me, Carnes,” he said presently. “I don't think that this is a job for a doc- tor at all — I believe' that it needs a physicist and a chemist apd' possibly a detective to cure him. We’ll get busy.” “What do you mean, ^octor?” de- manded Carnes. “Do yoii think that some exterior force is | causing the President’s disability ?” ^ “T THINK nothing, Carnes,”'replied X the Doctor grimly, *lbut I intend to know something before I am through. Don’t ask for explanations: this is not the time for tplk, it is the time for action. Can yoii get me into the White Hou^e to-nighf?” / "I doubt it. Doctor, bu( I’ll try. What excuse shall I give'? I am not Supposed to have told you anything about the President’s illness.” „ “Get Bolton, your chief, on the phone and tell him. that you have talked to me when you shouldn’t have. He’ll blow up, but after he is through ex- ploding, tell that I smell a rat and that I want him down here at once with carte blanche authority tojdo as I see fit in tl^e White House. ' If he inakes any fuss about it, remind him of the fact that he has considered me crazy several times in the past when events showed that I was right. If he' won’t play after that, let' me talk to him.” “All right. Doctor,” replied Camei as he p^ked up the scientist’s tele- phone and* gave the number of the home of the Chief of the Secret Ser- vice. “I’ll try to bully him out of it He has a good deal of confidence in your ability.” Half an hour later the door of Dr. Bird’s laboratory opened sud- denly to admit Bolton. "Hello, Doctor,” exclaimed the Chief, "what the dickens have you got on your mind now? I ought to skin Carnes alive for talking out of turn, but if you really ~have an idea. I’ll for- give’hhn. What do you suspect ?” "I suspect several things, Bolton, but I haven’t time to tell you what they are. I want to get quietly into the White House as promptly as possiUe.” "That’s easy,” replied Bolton, “but first I want to know what the object of the visit is.” “The object is to see what I can find out. My ideas are entirely top nebu- lous to attempt to lay them out before you just now. You’ve never worked directly with me on a case before, but Carnes can tell you that I have my own methods of working and that I won’t spill my ideas until I have some- thing more definite, to go on than .1 have at present.” “The Doctor is right. Chief,” said

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THE RAY OF MADNESS 117 Carnes. “He has an idea all right, but wild horses won’t drag it out of him until he's ready to talk. You’ll have to take him on faith, as I always do.”' Bolton hesitated a moment and then shrugged his shoulders. "Have it your own way, Doctor,”, be ^id. “Your rephtation, both as a scien- tist and as an unraveller of tangled skeins, is too good for me to boggle about your methods. Tell me what you want and I’ll try to get it.” “•T WANT to get into the White X House without undue promi- nence being given to my movements and listen outside the President’s door for a short time. Later I will want to examine his sleeping quarters care- fully and to make a few tests. I may be entirely wrong in my assumptions, but I believe that there is something there that requires my attention.” "Come along,” said Bolton. “I’ll get you in and let you listen, but the rest we’ll have to trust to luck on. You may have to wait until morning.” “We’li cross that bridge when we get to it,” replied the Doctor. “I’ll get a little stuff together that we may need.” In a few moments he had packed some apparatus in a bag and,' taking up it and an instnmuint case, be followed Bolton and Carnes down the stairs and out onto the grounds of the Bureau of Standards. "It’s a beautiful moon, isn’t it?” he observed. Caines assented absently to the Doc- tor’s remark, but Bolton paid no atten- tion to the luminous disc overhead, which was Sooding the landscape with its mellow light. “My car is waiting,” he announced. “All right, old man, but stop for a moment and admire this moon,” pro- tested the Doctor. “Have you ever seen ^ finer one?” "Come on and let the moon alone,” snorted Bolton. “My dear man, I absolutely refuse to move a step until you pause in your headlong devotion to duty and pay the homage due to Lady Luna. Don’t you realize, you benighted Christian, that you are gazing upon what has been held to be a deity, or at least the visi- ble manifestation of deity, for ages im- memorial? Haven’t you ever had time to study the history of the moon-wor- shipping cuits? 'They are as old as mankind, you know. The Worship of Isis was really only an exalted type of moon worship.^ 'The crescent moon, you may remember,, was one of her most sacred emblems.” Bolton paused and looked at the Doctor suspiciously. “What are you doing — pulling my leg?” he demanded. “Not at all, my dear fellow. Carnes, doesn’t the sight of the glowing orb of night influence you to pious medita- tion upon the frailty of human life and the insignificance of human ambition ?” “Not to any ve'ry great degree,” re- plied Carnes dryly. “Carnesy, old dear, I fear that you are a crass materialist, pi am beginning to despair of ever inculcating in you any respect for the finer and subtler things of life. I must try Bolton. Bolton, have you ever seen a finer moon ? Remember that I won’t move a step until you ha^ carefully consid- ered the ^tter and fully answered my question.’’ Bolton looked first at the Doctor, then at Carnes, and finally he looked reluctantly at the moon. “It’s a fine one," he admitted, “but all full moons look large on clear nights at this time of the year.” “Then you have studied the moon?” cried Dr. Bird with delight. “I was sure — ” He broke off his speech suddenly and listened. From a distance came the mournful bow} of a dog. It Was answered in a moment by another howl from a different direction. Dog after dog took up the chorus until the air was filled with the melancholy wail- ing of the animals.

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118. jASTOUNDINC STORIES "See, Bolton," remarked the Doctor, "evenj|te dogs feel the chastening in- fluen^of the Lady of Night and re- pent of the sins of theiir youth and the follies of their manhood, or should one say doghood? Come along, I feel that the cilT of duty must Itear us away from the contemplation o£ the beauties of nature.” i He led the way to Bolion’s car and got in without further wokds. A half- hour later, Bolton led the [way into the White House. A word io the secret senrice operative on guard at the dom admitted him and his party, and he lea the way to’ the newly cOhstructed so- larium where the Presraedt slept. An operative stood outride die door. “What word, BradyVuiaked Bolton in a whisper. | "He seems worse, sir. I doubt if be has slept at all. Admiral Clay has been in several tin^s, but he didn’t do much good. Tberu listen I The President is getting up again.” ' ' I * From behind the plosed door which confronted them came sounds of a person rising from a bed and pacing the floor, slwly at first, and then more and more rapidly, until it was almost a run. A series of groans came to the watchers ana then a long drawn out howl. Bolton shuddered. "Poor devil!” he muttered. Dr. Bird shot a quick glance around. "Where is Admiral Clay?” liC asked. "He is sleeping upstairs. Shall I call him?,” "No. Take me to his r<^m.” The President’s nav^ physician opened the door in response to Bol- ton’s knock. “Is he worse?” he dehianded’ anx- iously. "I don’t think so. Admiral,” replied Bolton. "I want to introjduce you to Dr. Bird of ?(he Bureau df Standards. He wants to talk with y^u about the case.” i “I am honored. Doctor,” said the physician as he grasped t^ie scientist’s outstretched hand. "Come in. Pardon my appearance, but I was startled out of a doze when you knocked. Have a chair and tell me how I can serve you." Dr. Bird drew a notebook from his pocket. “I have received certain dates in connection with the President’s mal- ady from Operative Carnes,” he said, "and I wish you to verify them.” "Pardon me ft moment. Doctor,” in- terrupted the Admiral, "but'may I ask what is your connection with the mat- ter? I was not aware that you were a physician or surgeon.” “T^R. BIRD is here by the authori- 3^ ty of the secret service,” re- plied, Bolton. "He has no connection with the medical treatment of the President, but permit me to remind you that the secret service is responsi- ble for the safety of the President and so have% right ttydemand such details about him as ai;e necessary for hit proper protection.” "I have no intention in obstructing ' you in the proper performance of your duties, Mr. Bolton,” began the Admiral stiffly. , “Pardon me. Admiral,” broke in Dr. Bird, “it seems to me that we are get- ting started wrong. I suspect that certain exterior forces are more or^less concerned in this case and I have com- municated my suspicions to Mr. Bol- ton. He in turn brought me here in order to request from you your coop- eration . in the matter. We have no idea of demanding anything and are really seeking help which wef believe that jrou can give us.” “Pardon me. Admiral,” said Bolton. "I had no intention of angering you.” “I am at your service, gentlemen," replied Admiral Clay. “What infor- mation did you wish. Doctor?” “At first merely a verification of the history of the case as I have it.” Dr. bird read the notes be had taken down from Carnes, and the Admiral nodded agreement. "Those dates are correct," he said.

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THE RAY OF MADNESS 119 *^ow, Admiral, there are two further points on which I wish enlightenment. The first is the opthalmia which is troubling the patient." “It is nothing to be alarmed about as far as symptoms go, Doctor,” re- plied the Admiral. "It is a rather mild case of irritation, somewhat analogous to granuloma, but rather stubborn. He had an attack several weeks ago and while it did not yield to treatment as.^ readily as I could have wished, it did clear up nicely in a couple of weeks and I was quite surprised at this re- current attack. His sight is in no dan- ger.” “Have you tried to connect this op- tlialmia with hrs mental aberrations?” “Why no. Doctor, there is no con- nection.” “Are you sure?” “I am certain. The slight pain which his eyes give him could never have such an effect upon the mind of so able and energetic a man as he is.” “Well, we’ll let that pass for (he mo- ment. The other question is this ; has he any form of skin trouble?” THE' Admiral looked up in sur- prise. "Yes, he has,” he admitted. “I had mentioned it to no one, for it really amounts to nothing, but he has a slight attack of some obscure form of der- matitis which I am.treating. It is af- fecting only, his face and hands.” “Please describe it.” “It has taken the form of a t^own pigmentation on the hands. A the face it causes a alight itching affl sub- sequent peeling of the affected areas.” “In other words, it is acting like sunburn ?” “Why, yes, somewhat. It is not that, however, 'for he has been exposed to the sun very little lately, on account of his eyes.** "I notice that he is sleeping in the new solarium which was added last srinter to the executive mansion. Can you tell me with what type of glass it Is equipped?” “Yes. It is not equipped with glass at all, but with fused quartz.” “When did he start to sleep there?” "As soon as it was completed.” "And all the time the windows have been of fused quartzf” "No. They were glazed at first, but the glass was removed and the fused quartz substituted at my suggestion about two months ago, just before this trouble started.” “Thank you. Admiral. You have given me several things to think about. My ideas are a little too nebulous to share as yet but I think that I can give you one piece of very soind ad- vice. The President is spending a very restless night. you would repiove him from the sdlariiim and get hun to lie down in a room which is glazed withtordinary glass, and pull down the shades so that he will be in thq^ark, I think that be will pass a Mtter night.” Admiral clay looked keenly into the piercing black eyes of the Doctor. “I know something of you by repu- tation, Bird,” he said slowly, “and I will follow your advice. Will you tell me why you make this particular suggestion ?“ “So that I can work in that solarium to-ni^ht without interruption,” replied Dr. Bird. “I have some tests which I wish to carry out while it is still dark. If my results are negative, for- get what I have told you. If they yield any information, I will be glad to share it with yoiKat the proper time. Now get the Resident out of that' solarium and tell me when the coast is clear.” The Admiral donned a dressing gown and stepped out of th; room. He returned in fifteen minuteA “The solarium is at your^ disposal. Doctor,” he announced. “Shall I accompany you?” “If you wish,” assented Dr. Bird as he picked up his apparatus and strode out of the room.

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m ASTOUNDING STORIES fin the solarium he glanded quickly uound, noting the position; of each of the articles of furniture. I "I presume that the President al- ways sleeps with his' head in this direction?” he remarked, pointing to the pillow on the disturbed bed. The Admiral noddqd asse^it. Dr. Biii4 opened the bag which he kad packed in his laboratory, took outia sheet of cardboard cqvered with a metallic look- ing substance, and placed i it on the pillow./ He stepped back and donned a pair of smoked glasses. Watching it intently. Without a word fie took off the glasses \Wnd handed them to the Admiral. The Admiral dobned them and looked at the pillow. |As he did so' an exclamation broke from his lips. “That plate seems to gloii^," he said in an astonished voice. Dr. bird stepped forward and laid his hand on the pillow. He was wearing a wrist watph with a radiolite dial. The substanqe suddenly increased its luminescence |and began to glow fiercely, long luminous stream- ers seeming to come from thp dial. The Doctor took away his hand pnd substi- tuted a bottle of liquid for the plate on the pillow.. Immediately |the bottle began to glow with a 'phosphorescent light. , “What on earth is it?" gasped Carnes. “Excitation of a radioactive fluid,” replied the Doctor. “The question is, 'what is exciting it. Somebody get a stepladder.” While Bolton was gone after the ladder, the Doctor took from his bag what looked like an ordinal pane of glass. “Take this, Carnes," be directed, “and start holding it over each of those panes of quartz which you can reqxh. Stop when I tell, you to.” ' The operative held the glass o^er each of the panes in wccessioh,\ but the Poctor, who kept; his eyes^ covered with the smoked glasses and fastened on the plate which) he had replaced on the pillow, said/ nothing. When Bolton arrived with the ladder, the process went on. One end and most of the front of the solarium bad been covered before an exclamation from the Doctor halted the work. “That’s the one,” he exclaimed. “Hold the glass there for a moment.” Hurriedly he removed the plate from the pillow and replaced the phial of liquid. There was only a very feeble 'glow. “Good enough,” he cried. “Take away the glass, but mark that pane, and be ready |o replace it when I give the word.” From the instrument case be had brought he took out a spectroscope. He turned back the mattress and mounted it on the bedstead. “Cover that pane," he directed. Carnes did so, and the Doctor swung the receiving tube of the instrument until it pointed at the covered pane. He glanced into the eyepiece, and then held a tiny flashlight for an instant opposite the third tube. “Uncover that pane,” he said. Carnes took down the glass plate and the Doctor gazed into the instrument He made some adjustments. “Are you familiar with spectroscopy. Admiral?” he asked. “Somewhat.” “Take a squint in here and tell me what you see.” The Admiral applied his eye to the instrument and Iqoked long and earnestly. “There are some lines there. Doctor,” he said, “but your instrument is badl^ out of adjustment. They are in what ^sho(lld be the ultra-vfolet sector, according to your scale.” “I forgot to tell you that this is s fluoroscopic spectroscope designed for the detection of ultra-violet lines,” replied Dr. Bird. “Those lines you see are ultra-violet, made visible to the eye by activation of a radioactive com- pound whose rays in turn impinge on

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THE SAY OF MADNESS 121 • zinc blende sheet. Do you recog- nize the lines?" “No, I don’t.” "Small wonder ; f doubt ^whether there are a dozen people who would. I have never seen them before, although I recognize them from descriptions I have read. Bolton, come here. Sight along this instrument and through that plate of glass which Cames is holding and tell me what office that window belongs to." Bolton sighted as directed up at the fide of the State, War and Navy Building. “I can’t tell exactly at this time of Wght, Doctor,” he said, "but I’ll go Into the building and find out." “Do so. Have yoii a flashlight?” “Yes.” “Flash it momentarily out of each of the suspected windows in turn until you get an answering flash from here. When you do, flash it out of each pane of glass in the window until you get mother flash from here. Then come hack and tell me what office it is. Mark the pane so that we can locate it again In the morning." **TT is the office of the Assistant to X the Adjutant General of the Army," reported Bolton ten minutes later. “What is there in the room?" “Nothing but the usual desks and chairs." “I suspected as much. The window is merely a reflector. That is all that we can do for to-night, gentlemen. Admiral, keep your patient quiet and in a room with glass windows, pre- ferably with the shades drawn, until further notice. Bolton, meet me here with Cames at sunrise. Have a picked detail of ten men standing by where we can get hold of them in a hurry. In the mean time, get the Chief of Air Service out of bed and have him order i plane at Langley Field to be ready to take off at 6 A. M. He is not to take off, however, until I give him orders to do so. Do you understand?” “Everything .will be. ready for you. Doctor, but I confess that I don’t know what it is all about.” “It’s the biggest case you ^er tackled, old man, and I hope that we can pull it off successfully. I’d like to go over it with you now, but I’ll be busy at the Bureau for the rest of the night. Drop me off there, will you?” At sunrise the next morning, Bolton met Dr. Bird at the entrance to the White House grounds. “Where is your detail?” he asked. “In the Stajie, Wa'r and Navy Build- xng. “Good. I want to go to the solariuni, put a light on the place where the President’s pillow was last night, and mark that pane of quartz we were looking through. Then we’ll join the detail.” Dr. bird placed the light and walked with Carnes across the White House grounds. Bolton’s badge secured admission to the State, War and Navy Building for the party and they made their way to the office of the Assistant ‘{o the Adjutant General. “Did you inark the pane of glass through which you flashed your light last night, Bolton?” asked the Doctor. The detective touched one of the panes. ‘!Good,” exclaiined the Doctor. “I notice that this window has hooks for a window washSr’s belt. Get a life belt, will you?” When the belt was brought, the Doc- tor turned to Cames. “Cames,” he said, “hook on this life saver and climb out on the window ledge. Take this piece of apparatus with you.” He handed Cames a piece of ap- paratus which looked like two tele- scopes fastened to a base, with a screw adjustment for alWring the angles of the barrels. CARNES took it and looked at, it inquiringly. “That is what I yras making at the

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122 ASTOUNDING STORIES Bureau last night," explained Dr. Bird. "It is a device which will i enable me to locate the source of the beam which was reflected from this pane pf glass onto the President’s pilldw. l;’ll sh6w you how to work it. You kndw that when light is reflected the angl4 of reflection always equals the angle qf incid<^ce? Well, you place these . three feet against the pane of glass,] thus putting the base, of the instrument in a plane parallel to the pane ot gl^ss. By turn- ing' these two knobs, o^e of which gives lateral and the other vertical adjustment, you will’ manipulate the instrument until the first telescope is pointing directly toward the Presi- deqt’s pillow. Now notice that the two telescope barrels are fas^ned together and are connected to the ^obs, so that when the knobs are turned, the scopes are turned in equal and opposite amounm When one is turned from its present' position five decrees to the west, the other automatically turns five deuces to. the east. Wh^n one is ele- vated, the other is correspondingly de- pressed. ^uB, when 4ie first tube points toward the pillow, the other will point toward the sourct of the re- flected beam.” j "Clever I" ejaculated Bqlton. “It is rather crude an4 may not be accurate enough to locate the source exactly, but at least it Will give us a pretty good idea of where to look. Given time, a much niore accurate instrument could have b^en made, but two telescopic rifle sightk and a theo- dolite base were all the materials I could find to work with; Climb out, Camesy, and do your stuff.” CARNES. climbed out on the win- dow and fastened the hooks of the life saver to the rings set in the window casings. He sat the base of the instrument against the pane of glass and manipulated the telescope knobs as Dr. Bird signahed from the inside. The scientist ^s hard to please with the adjustment, but at last the cross hairs of the first . telescope were centered on the light in the sola; rium. He changed his position and stared through the second tube. "The angle is too acute and the dis- tance too great for accuracy," he said with an air of disappointment. “The beam comes from the roof of a house down 'along Pennsylvania Avenue, but I can’t tell from here which one it is. Take a look, Bolton.” The Chief of the Secret Service stared through the telescope. "I couldn’t be sure^ Doctor,” he re- plied. “I can see something on the roof of one of the houses, but I can’t tell what it is and I couldn’t tell the house when I got in front of it.” "It won’t do to make a false move,* said the Doctor. “Did you arrange for- that plane?” “It is waiting your orders at the field. Doctor.” ' “Good. I’ll go up to the office of the Chief of Air Service and get in touch with the pilot over the Chiefs private line. There are some orders that I wish to give hhn and some signals to be arranged.” Dr.' bird returned in a few minUtu. “The plane is taking off now and will be over the city soon,” he announced. “We’ll take a stroll down the Avenue until we are in the vicinity of the house, and then wait for tlx plane.. Carnes Will take five of your men and go down behind the house and the rest of us will go in front Which building do you think it is, Bolton ?!’ “About the fourth from the comer.* “All right, the men going down the back will take station behind the houA next to the corner and the rest of us will get in front of the same building When the plane comes oyer, watch it If you receive no signal, go to the next house and wait for him to make a loop and come over you again. Continue this until the pilot thrown a white parachute over. That is the signal that we are covering the right house. When

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T^E RAY OF MADNESS 123 you get that signal, Carijes, leave two men outside and break in with the other three. Get that apparatus on the roof and the men i^ho are operating it. Bolton and I will attack the front door at the same time. Does everybody understand ?** Murmurs of assent came from the detail. “All right, let’s go, Carnes, lead out with your men and go half a block ahead so that the two parties will arrive /in position at about the same time.” CARNES left the building with five of the operatives. Dr. Bird and Bolton waited for a few minutes and then started down Pennsylvania Ave- nue, the five men of their squad fol- lowing at intervals. For three-quarters of a mile they sauntered down the street. ‘This should be it. Doctor," said Bolton. “I think so, and here comes our plane.” They watched the swift scout plane from Langley Field swing down low over the house and then swoop up into the sky again without making a signal. The party walked down the street one house and paused. Agdin the plane swept over them without sign. As diey stopped in front of the next house a white parachute flew from the cock- pit of the . plane and the aircraft, its mission accomplished, veered off to the south toward its hangar. This is the place," cried Bolton. “Haggerty and Johnson, you two cover the street. Bemis, take the lower door. The rest come with me." Followed closely by Dr. Bird and two operatives, Bolton sprinted across the street and up the steps leading to the main entrance of the hofise. The door was barred, and he burled hie weight against it with- out result. “One side, Bolton," snapped Dr, Bird. The diminutive Chief drew aside and* Dr. Bird's two hundred pounds of bone and muscle crashed against the door. The lock gave and the Doqtor barely saved himself from sprawling head- long on the hall floor. A woman’s scream rang out, and the Doctor swore under his breath. ‘‘Upstairs I To the roof!” he cried. Followed by the rest of the party, he sprinted up the stairway which opened before him. Just as he reached the top his way was barred, by an Ama- 'zonian figure in a green bathrobe. "Who th’ divil arre yez?” demanded an outraged voice. “Police,” snapped Bolton. “One side I”’ “Wan side, is it?" demanded the fiery, haired Amazon. "The divil a Btip ye go until ye till me ye’er bizness. Phwat th’ divil arre yez doin’ in th’ bouse uv a rayspictable female at this hour uv th’ marnin’?” “One side, 1 tell you I" cried Bolton as he strove to push past the figure that barred the way. “Oh, ye wud, wud yez, little mann?” demanded the Irishwoman as she grasped Bolton by the collar and shook him as a terrier, does a rat. Dr. Bird stifled bis laughter with difficulty and seized her by the arm. With a. heave on Bolton’s^llar she raised him from the grounded swung him against the Doctor, knocking him off his feet “HilpI P’lUel Murtherl" she screwed at th?top of her voice. “Damn it, woman, we’re on — ’’ Dr. BIRD’S voice was cut short by the sound of a pistol shot from the roof, followed by two others. The Irishwoman dropped Bolton and slumped into a sitting position and screamed lustily. Bolton and Dr. Bird, with the two operatives at their heels, raced for the roof. Before they reached it another volley of shots rang out, these sounding' from the rear of the building. They made their way to the upper floor and found a ladder running to a skylight in the roof. At the foot of the ladder stood one of Carnes’ party.

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124 4ST0UN01NG STORIES “What is it, Williams?'' demanded Bolton. “I don’t know. Chief. iCames and the other two went up thete, and then I heard shooting. Hy orders were to let no one come down the| ladder." As he spoke, Carnes* hejid appeared at the skylight. ! "It’s the right place, all; right. Doc- tor,” he called. “Come ion up, . the shooting is all over.” ! ^ Dr. bird mounted, thi ladder and stepped out on ^e rjoof. Set on one .edge was a large pSece of ap- paratus, toward which tpe scientist eagerly hastened. He benjt over it for a few moments and then straightened up. j “Where is the operator?" he asked. Carnes silently led th^ way to the edge of the roof and pointed down. Dr. Bird leaned over. At the foot of the fire escape he saw a cfiimpled dark heap, with a secret servKe operative bending over it. | "Is he dead, Ohnstpad?" called Carnes. | *' "Dead as a mackerel^” came the reply. ‘‘Richards got hiih through the head on his Erst shot.” “Good businesa,” said ifr. Bird. "We probably could never halve secured a conviction and the natter is best hushed up anyway. Boljton, have two of your n)en help me get jtbis apparatus up to the''Bureau. I want to pxamine it a little. Have the bodjy uken to the morgue and shut up thi press. Find out which room the chap occupied and search it, and bring all! his papers to me. From a criminal s^dpoint, this case is settled, but I want to look into the scientific end of it a little more.” “I’d like to know what it was all about. Doctor,” protested Bolton. "I b.ave followed your lead blindly, and now I have a housebreaking without search-warrant and a killing to explain, and still I am about ai much in the dark as I was at the bei^nning.” “Excuse me, Bolton,” said Dr. Bird contritely; "I didn’t qiean to slight you. Admiral Clay wants to know about it and so does Carnes, although he knows me too well to soy so. As soon as I have digested the fise I’ll let you know and FU go over the whole thing with you.” A WEEK later Dr. Bird sat in con- ference with the President iI^ the executive office of the White ' House. Beside him sat Admiral Clay, Carnes and Bolton. “I have told the Prudent as much as I know. Doctor,” said the Admiral, “and he wotild like to hear the details from yoiir lips. He has fully recov- ered horn his malady and there is no danger of- exciting 1dm.” "I cannot read Russian,” said Dr, Bird slowly, “and so was forced to depend on one of my assistants to translate the papers which Mr. Bolton found in Stokomky’s room. There is nothing in them to definitely connect him with the Russian Union of Soviet Republics, but there is little donbt in my mind that he was a Red agent and that Russia supplied the money which be spent. It would be disastrous to Russia’s plans to have too c^ose an accord between . this country (and the British Empire, and I have nh doubt that the coming visit of Premier Me- Dougal was the underlying cause of the attempt. So much for the reason "As to how I came to suspect what was happening, the explanation is very simple. When Carnes first told me of your malady, Mr. Pftsident, I ha|^ pened - to Im checking Von Beye^i results in the alleged Discovery of s element, lunium. In the article describing bis experiments. Von Beya mentions that whdn he tried to observe the spectra, he Jencountered a mild form of opthalmia which was quite stubborn to treatment. He also men- tions a peculiar mental unbalance and intense exhilaration which the rays neemed to cause both in ^himself and in bis assistants. The analogy between bis observations and your case struck me at once.

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THE RAY OF MADNESS 125 UT^OR ages the moon has been an object of worship by various religious sects, and some of the most obscene orgies of which we have rec- ord’occurred in the moonlight. The full moon seems to' affect dogs to a state of partial hypnosis with conse- quent bowling and evident pain in the eyes. Certain feeble minded persons have been known to be adversely affected by moonlight as well as. some casA of complete mental aberation. In other words, while moonlight has no practical effect on the normal human in its usual concentration, it does have an adverse effect on certain types of mentality and, despite the laughter pf medical science, there seems to be something in the theory of ‘moon madness.' This effect Von Beyer at- tributed to the emanations of lunium, which element he detected in the spec- tra of the moon, in the form of a wide band in the ultra-violet region. OBTAINED from Carnes a his- X tory of your case, and when I found that your attacks grew violent with the full moon and subsided with the new moon, I was sure that I was on the right track, although I had at that time no way of knowing whether it was from natural Jr artificial causes that the effect was Ijmng produced. I interviewed Admiral Clay and found that you were suffering from a form of dermititis resembling sunburn, .and that convinced me that an attack was being made on your sanity, for an eaccss of ultra-violet light will always tend to produce sunburn. I inquired about the windows of your solarium, for ultra-violet light will not pass through a lead glass. When the Ad- miral told me that the glass had been replaced with fused quartz, which it quite permeable to ultra-violet and that die change had been almost coincident with the start of your malady, I asked ■dm to get you out of the solarium and let me examine it. “By means of certain fluorescent •obstances which I used, I found that your pillow was being bathed in a flood of ultra-violet light, and the fluoro-spectroscope soon told me that lunium emanations were present in large quantities. These rays were not coming to you directly from their source, but one of the windows of the State, War and Navy Building was being used ^ a reflector. I located the approximate source of the ray by means of an improvised apparatus, and we surrounded the place. Stokowsky. was killed while attempting to escape.’ I guess that is about all there is to it.” “Thank you. Doctor," said the Presi- dent. “I would be interested in a description of the apparatus which he used to produce this effect.” apparatus was quite qjmple, X Sir. It was merely a large col- lector of moonlight, which was thrown after collection onto a lunium plate. The resultant emanations' were turned into a parallel beam by a parabolic re- flector and focussed, through a rock crystal lens witli an extremely long focal length, onto your pillow.” “Then Stokowsky had isolated Von Beyer’s new' element?” asked the President. “I am still in doubt whether it is a new element or. merely an allotropic modification of the common element, cadmium. The plate which be used has a very peculiar property. When moonlight, or any other reflected light of the same coi^osition falls on it, it acts on the ray much as the button of a Roentgen tube acts on a cathode ray. As the cathode ray is absorbed anfl an entirely new ray, the X-ray, is given off by the button, just so is the reflected moonlight absorbed and a new ray of ultra-violet given off. This is the ra^ which Von Beyer detected. I thought that I could catch traces of Von Beyer’s lines in my spectroscope, and I think now that it is due to a trace of lunium in the cadmium plat- ing of the barrels. Von Beyer could have easily made the same mistake. Von Beyer’s work, together with Sto-

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126 ASTOyNDING STORIES kowBky’s, opens up an entirely new think that the United States owes field of ' spectroscopic research. I you that trip. Dr. Bird,” said the Chief would give a good deal, to go over to Executive with a smile. “Make your Baden and go into tHe matter with plans to go as soon as you get your Von Beyer and make some plans for data together. I think that the the exploitation of the new field, but Treasury will be able to take care of I’m afraid that my pocketbook wouldn’t the expense without raising the income stand the trip. tax next year." IN THE NEXT ISSUE 5 Murder Madness BtgiMning an IntenBely Gripping Four-Part Novel By MURRAYS ULSTER The Atom Smasher A Thrilling Adventure into Time and Space By VICTOR ROUSSEAU Into the Ocean’s Depths A Segoel to “From the Oceania Depths” By SEWELL PEASLEE WRIGHT Brigands of the Moon Part Thrma of the Amazing Serial By RAY CUMMINGS And Others!

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y^J^eetJna PJace £or leaders o£ Astounding Stories Our Thanks appears under the caption, "And Kind Three months ago the Clayton Maga- zines presented to lovers of Science Fiction everywhere a new maguine with a brand-new policy — Astounding Stories — and now it is the Editor’s great pleasure to announce to our ^ousands of friends that this new magazine is enjoying a splendid success. Within twenty-four hours of the time that Astounding Stories was released for sale, letters of praise began pouring into our offices, and — and this is significant — many of them clearly revealed that their writers had grasped the essential difference of the new Science Fiction magazine over the others. ^e caiuiot better state this differ- ence, this improvement, than by quot- ing what the ..Reader whose letter to Their Grandmothers,” says in his very first paragraph: "And I was still more, pleased, and surprised, to find that the Editor seems to know that Eueh stories should have real story interest, besides a scientific idea.” It is exactly that. Every story that appears in Astounding Stories not only must contain some of the forecasted scien- tific achievemeiUs of To-morrow, but must be told vividly, excitingly, with all the human interest that goes to make any story enjoyable To-day. The Editor and staff of Astounding Stories express their sincere thanks to all who have contributed to our splen- did start — especially to those who had the kindness to write in with their hiflpful criticism. 'Already one of your common sug- gestions has been taken up and em- bodied in our magazine, and so we 127

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128 ASTOUNDING STORIES have this new departxpent, **The Readers* Comer/' which from now dn will be an informal meeting place for all readers of Astounding Stories. We want you never to forget ttiat a cordial\ and perpetual, invitation is extended to you to write in and talk over with all of us anything of interest you may have to say in connectidK with our magazine. If you can toss in a word of praise, that’s fine; if only criticisip, we’ll welt suggestion^, judmng by the letters they pfint. Well, I can conscientiously i give you some* praise. If Astounding Stories [keep up to the standard of the first issue it Will be all right. Evidently you can afford tq him the best writers obtainable, ^otice you've signed im some of my favorites, Murrayj Leinster, R. F. Starzl, Ray Cummings. I like their stuff be- cause it has the rare quality [rather vaguely described as "distinction,” Which "make the story remembered for a long pme. The story "Tanks,” by Murray Leinster, ^is my idea of What such a story ahould be. The author does not start out, "Listen my chil- dren, and you- shall hear a story so wonderful you won't believe it. Only after ^e deaUi of Professor Bulging Dome do tl dare to make it public to a doubting world.!* No; he simply proceeds to tell the story. , Ifj I were reading it in the Saturday Evening Post or Ladles Home Journal it would be ^ right to prepare me for the story by explaining that of coarse the author does not vouch for the story, it having been t<^ to him by a crazy Eurasian in a Cottage (jrove black-and-tan speakeasy at 3.30 A. M. In Astounding Stories I ezpect the story to be unusual, so don’t bother tell- ing me it is so. That criticism applies to "Phantoms of Reality," which is a story above the average, thou^, despite its rather flat title and slow beginning. Here's adbther good point about "Tanks." Its characters are human. Some authors of stories of the future make their characters all brains— cold monsters, with no humanity in them. Such a story has neither human in- terest nor plausibility. The the limit, I say, for mechanical or scientific accompU^- ments, but human emotiona will be the spme a thousand years from now. And even sup- posing that they will be changed, your readers have present day emotions. The magazine can not prosper unless those pres- ent-day emotions are aroused and mirrored by thoroughly human characters. The situa- tion may be juat as outre as you lik^— the more unusual the better— but it is the response of normal human emotions to most unusual situations that gives • magazine such as yours its powerful and unique "kick.” The response of the two infantrymen in "Tanks” to the strange and terrifying new warfare of the future ezemplifiea another poinP 1 would like to make — the fact that no matter what marvels the futore may bring, the people who will live then will take^^em in a matter-of-fact way. Their converaation will be cig^arettes, "sa^-paste," drinks, women. References to the saentific marvels around them will be casual and sketchy. How many million vfords of an average car owner’s con- versation would you have to report to give a visitor from 1700 an idea of internal combus- tion engines? The author, if sldlful, can con- vey that information in other ways. Yet a lot of stories printed have long, ^ted conversa- tions in which the author be is convey- ing in an entertaining way his foundatioii situation. Personally, I like a lot of physical action— violent action preferred lliia is so, probably, because I’m a school teacher and sedentary in my habits. I have never written a story in niy life, but I’m the most voracious ognsumer of stories in Chicago. I like to see the hero get into a devil of a pickle, and to have him smash his way out. 1 like 'em big, tough, and kind to their grandmothers. It seems to me that interplanetary stories offer the best vehicle for all the desirable qualities herein enumerated combined. Thefs is absolutely no restraint on the imagination, ezeept a few -known astronomical fact»^ plenty of opportunity for violent and dans'cr- ous adventures, strange and terrestially im- possible moostera. *Ae human actors, set down in the midst of such terrifying condi- tions. which they battle dauntleasfy, grinniof, 08 they take thw blows and returning them' with ^ood will, canaot fail to rouse Uie sd- miration of the reader. And moke him buy the nezt month's issue.

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THE READERS* CORNER 129 But spare plaaac, Che storlea in which the hero, arriving on aome other planet, U ad- mitted to the court of the king of the White race, and leads their battles against the Reds, the Browns, the Greens, and so on, eventu- ally marrying the king’s dai^ter, who is al- ways golden-haired, of milky white com- pletion, and has large blue eyes. Kindly re- ject stories of interplanetary travel in which a member of the party turns against the Earth party and allies himself with the wormlike Moon men, or what have you. Stories in which a great, inventor r^ne crazy threatens to burl the Earth into the Sun leave me cold and despondent, for the simple reason that crazy mtn are never great inventors. Name a great inventor who wasn’t perfectly sane, if you can. The author makes the great in- ventor insane to make it plausible that he should want to destroy the World. Well, if he is a good author he can find some other motive. One mdre thing. I like to smell, feel, hear and even taste the action of a story as well as lee it. Some anthors only let you see nt, and then they don’t tell yon whether it's in bright or subdued Tne autbocbof “Tanks” fol- fiUs my requirements in this respect, at least martially.— Walter Boyle, c/o Mrs. Anna ^eitz, 47S1 North Artesian, Chicago, lU. A Permanent Reader Dear Editor: I want to thank you for tiie very entertain- ing boors 1 spoit penisisg your new maga- zine, Astounding Stories. 1 read one or two other Sdence Fiction magazines— it seems that tales of this wort inbrigne me. However, I wish to say that rite debut number of your magazine contained the beat atories 1 ever read. Again thanking you and atsurlng you t^t should the atoriM continue thua I will be a permanent reader— Irving B. Bttinger, The &viHe, Detroit, Mich. We’re Avoiding Reprints Dear Editor: 1 am well pleased with your new magazine and with to offer you my coogratulations and best wiahea. Aa I am well acquainted with most of the Science Fiction now being writ- ten, I tm in a good position to criticise your nugazine. First: The cover iUustration is good, but tbe inside drawings could be greatly improved. Second: Holding tbe magazine together with two staples ia a good idea. Third: The paper could be improved. Fourth: The price la right. Here I classify tiie stories. Excellent : “The Beetle Horde,” and “Tanks.” Very Good: "Csve of Horror,” *Tovisible Death,” and “Phintoma of Reuty.” Medium: “Cbropen- sation.” Poor: “Stolen Mind.” Please dop't reprint any of Poe’a, Wells', or Veme'a works. My prejndke to Verne, WeUs and Poe la that I have read all their worha in other magazinea. However, with sm my critidziag, I think that your magazine ia a good one.— James Nichols, 1S09 19tfa Street, BakenSeld, Cali- fornia. Thayks, Mr. Marks! Dear Editor; ] I purchased a copy of “oar” new magazine .to-day and I think it excellent. I am glad to see most of my old author friends contribut- ing for it, but bow about looking up E. R. Burroughs, David . H. Keller, M. D., C. P. Wantenbacker and A Merritt? They are marvelous writers. I see Wesso did your cover, and it’s very good. I have been a read- er of ^ four other science Fiction monthly magazines and rwo quarterlies, but 1 gladly take this one into my fold and I think 1 speak for every other Saence Fiction lover when I say tUs. Which means, if true, that “our publication will have everlastmg success. Here's hoping!— R. O. Marks, Jr., 893 York Avenue, S. W., Atlanta, Ga. A Fine Letter Dear Editor: Having read through tbe first number of Astoundmg Stories, my enthusiasm has reached such a. pitch that I find it difficult to express myself adequately. A mere letter such as this can give scarcely an inkling of the unbounded enjoyment I derive from tbe pages of \his unique magazine. To use a trite but appeopriate phrase, “It fills a long-felt need.*' True, there are other magazinea which specialize in Sdence Fiction; but, to my mind they are not in a class with Astounding Stories. In most of them the sdentific ele- ment is so emphasized that it completely overshadows all else. In this magazine, hap- pily, such is not tbe case. Here we fi^ sdence subordinated to human interest which is as it should be. Tbe love element, too, ia pres- ent, and by no mean^unwelcome. As for the Uterary quality of the stories, it could not be improved on. Such craftsmen as Cummings, Leinster and Ronsteau never fail to tom out a vivM, well-written tale. If tbe stories ia the succeeding issues are on a par ^ith those in the first, tibe success of the magazine ia assured. By the your editorial explanation of Astounding Stones was a 'gem. So many of us take our marvelous modem mvenpons for granted that we never conaUer how miraculous they would seem to our fore- bears. As you say. the only real difference betweed the Astounding and the Common- place is Time. A magazine such aa Astound- ing Stories enables u to anticipate the won- ders of To-morrow, llirough Its pages we can peer into the vistas of the fnture and be- hold tbe world that is to be. Tru^, yon have given us a rare treat— Allen Glasaer,' 981 Forest Ave., New York,. N. Y. Tbe Science Correspondence Club Broadcasts Dear Editor: The other day I cafne upon Aatoundink Stories on our local newsstand. I immedi-

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130 : ASTOUNDING STORIES •tcly procured a copy becaoie Sdencc Fle> tion is my favorite pastime, »o to speak. I waa very much overjoyed th^ another good Sci^ce Fiction magazine should come out, ud a Cla^on Magazine too, Which enhances its splendid value s^ further. I have read various members of the Clayton family and I found each of them entertainiilg. iUter finishing the first issue I decided to write in and express my feelinigs. The stories were all good with the exception of **Th.e Stolen Mind.” Just keep printing stories by Capt. Meek, Ray Cummings, f Murray Lein- ster, C. V. Tench, Harl Vincent and R. F. Starlz and I can predict now>that your npw venture will be a huge success. The main rdason of this ^Utter is to ask your help in ^tting over lienee Fiction Week. IJIhia will take place in the early part of February, the week of the 9u or after. We want your cooperation in maldng this a big success. You can help ^ running the at- tached article upon the ^ence Correspon- dence Club in your “Readers* Comer.” It will be a big aid. ; I am rare, because you aru the Editor of Astounding Stories, that you [will be pleased td help us in this venture. Sdened Fiction is our common meeting ground: and our com- mon ideal. | I hope to have a JBig Science Fiction Week with your help.^Conrad H; Ruppert, 113 North Superior Street, Angola^ Indiana. To the Readers of Astounding Stories: At the present there exists- in the United States an organization the purpose of which is to spread the gospel of Science and Science Fiction, and Science Correspohdence Club. I am writing this to induce die readers of AstQOnding Stories to join usj After reading this pick up your pen or take ^e cover from your typewriter and send in ' an application for membervhip to our Secre^ry, Raymond A. palmer, 1431— 3dth St, Milwaukee, Wia- conain, or to our President, AiArey Clements, 6 SpuUi Hilliard St, Montgoipery, Alabama. They will forward application' blanks to "you and you will belong to the only organization in the world that ia like'it. The Clnb was formed by twenty young men 'from all over the U. S. We ihave a roll of almost 100, all over the world.! Its expressed purpose has been to help the cause of Science Pietton, and to increase the I knowledge of Science. It also affords the advantage of be- ing able to express your ideas airfields.^ ^Thc Preamble of the Constitution which we have worked ont reads: **We, the mem- bers of this organlzadi^ In order to promote die advancement of Science in general among laymen of the world through fche use of dis- cus^n and the creation and exchange of new Ideas, do ordfein and establish ! this organiza- tion for the Sdence Correspondence Chib.” Article Two reads: The ins^tution will re- main an organization to establish better co- ordination between the scientifically inclined IsytncB of ^0 world, regardless of sex, creeds color, or race. There will be: no restriction 46 to age, providing the member can pass an examination which shall be prepared by the membership committee.” The Club will also pnbtiah a monthly bul- letin, to which members may contribute. It will also publish dippings, srtides, etc., deal- V ing with science. " * The membership will have no definite limit, and the correspondence will be governed by the wishes of each member. Need more be said? I almost forgot to sap that we have two of - the beat Science Fiction authors as active members, and three more who are doing their best, but becapse of much work they cannot be active. I hope my appeal bears fnh and diat we shall hear from you soon.— Conrad H. Rup. pert. But — Most Everybody' Prefers the Smaller Size — and Price! /Dear Editor: I Last night 1 waa passing a newsstand and L^saw your magazine. I bMgbt it then and there. I do not read any other stories except the fantastic stories. Astounding Stories looks all right, but may I make a suggestion? Why not increase the size of the magazioe to that of Miss 1930 or Forest and Stream? It would certainly l6ok betterf You could also raise your price to twenty-five cents. Please f»rint as many stories as po^ble by the fol- owing authors: Ray Cummins, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Murray Leinster, Edmond Hsm3- ton, A. Hyatt Verrtll, Stanton A Coblenti, Ed. Earl Repp and Harl Vincent. My favorfte type of story Is the interplan- etary one. I you the best of hick b your new venture.— Stephen Takacs, 303 Eck- ford Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. ' ‘^First Copy Wonderfuf* Dear Editor: I have read t^e first copy of Astounding Stories and thin^ it wonderful. I am very ipuch interested in sdericc fiction. I prefer interplanetary stories and would like to see many of thepi in the new magazine. Yonr authors are fine. The ones I like particularly are Ray Cummings, Captain S. P. Meek, and Murray Leinster. I wonder if I could sib- scribe to Astounding Stories? Will you let me know ? Good luck to the new magazine.— Donald Sialer, 3111 Adams MiU Road, WasK ingtOD, D. C. CongratuJa ti oas Dear Editor; Allow me to congratnlate you upon tfat starting of your new magazine, Astounding Stories. Have juat finished reading' the first iarae and it b fine* While the class of stories that you publish do not appeal to all, I fe^ quite sure that there are many like myseB who win welcome yonr pdblicatlon and wbh H all raccesa.— R B. Norton, P. O. Box 226, Asbtabola, Ohio.

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I'Icasc mention Newsstand Gboup — Men's List, when answering advertisements

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Agents Rruesen! the Carlton LIN- I^AmeriCuS Be’if Pjj'/ny Proposiiionfl .SAMPLES FREE ^ergeauYs ?* Ser^eam’s Dog Medicines have been used by dog-owners for rpore than fifty years. There could be no belter guarantee oft^heir safety and. effectiveness. / : Famous Dog Book Free ! We ; urge you to write for your -free copy of Sergeant’s Dog Hook, which eip^atns in clear eveiyday language the care qf clog«. the syrDptoms of their diseases and t|ie best treat- ments. Tliis book, is illustrated 'and contains interesting articles on the raising, feeding, and breeding of dogs. Use the coupdh. Sergeant’s Dog Food In addition to the famous Sergeant’s Dog Medicines, your dealer now has Sergeant's Dog Food. This balanced ratir^ contains a large proportion of freshly cooked beef. A splendid ration for all dogs and pups, ff'e guarantee your dog Clear-Tone flears the Skii Clear'Toae it b pcnetndiigr purifying lodo^ uaed Bt night with Bstounding naccoM Co dor the akin of plinples, blotchea* blBck*heBdt md other ennoylngj uncl^dy ridn Anitedona 6m to ettemaL CBoaea. Many thouaenda In Aa laat 1 2 yeera have found relief by the uae of Clcar-Tone. '^Complexion Tragedlea wltk Heppy Endlngi^'f filled with facta auppUad bf Ckar'1 fone uaen aent Free on requeat. Clf Tone cah be had at your druggist^-or dlMl from oa. GIVENS CHEMICAL CO., 2551 Southweat Boulevard, Kanaaa City, Mo. Please mention Newsstand Group — Men’s List, when answering advertisements

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OM*t N • Vttur wMkJIni! D»n*t kt » tMr tnHw fv ■ita -Moni^d by far fMI*w-a«n, avoidtd by th« biml Ti a look at that dI| boy at tb# riaht and choor ay. Tbat'o I YoirREMBirr 'NawWatcbYOVR 8« .'tiondsrd Watches, tr.laronteeri tor a liMime af ssUtfactory amice, not only by the Santa Fe Watch Company, but by the Great lliiooi' Wstrb Factory. They ate rmind in the porketn of meo in the M-rviir on ever}' railroad la lhl» country. Senstora. Coogrc^'inee. and Ooremor^ keep ihe.r ooiclal sppomimMit* by "Sadia Ke Special" tune. Amy Odicers and Prirstn carried them ■II through tha GreatC'i War In blnory — ihmusnilt of thc«e 'I'lemlld watrhwt sir in u>e all orer the World. If yjw want one on my libeisl Buy and Pay the Kama Fe nay Plan— you had better write for my Watch Ibxik today and make your heleciloa. i will eren let you wear ibe watch M days FIIKF, then tell it to ymi Ndw **Saata Fw” Watch Baok Sand ^p(» for our T^ew Watch Book-Jiui off the prea-i. All tbo oewot watch ra»>e dealsna in wlilte or Co gold, fancy shape- and thin model* are tbnmi. paymmi offer. Wear the watch SO daya ^ir.L. Noting to rlak. Kee the \mtvb before you buy. Today— Ifa/FKKK. Kelecl Your watca Aon . 0B W ^ Umited offerl With erery Rama Fe v«%ACf ^h«cial. a beautiful gniney Uicents CLClcuf'^ 5 ■ wc«r<2Vf odys /DF anu of <xe Watches- Let Me Make YOU OVERT Please meotipfi Nfwsstand Group — Men's List, when answering advertisements

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Win Nash ai^d $500 or $1,845 Cash S«vM Bnind N«w 6>Cyllnd«r Cara Wvan MV iLi-^Uadcr “BpacUl 8U’* Nub foar*«loar Sedan, aa of Ibalr faiDlUc*. or wLna«ri ef aulomobllee or flrit prlua In aov oor prtfleua offer*, or neraben of Ibelr faraStlei. la tb* pletwa tbere are T cm iQ a bad IraDc lea. None of Um can mote forvard. for cieh lo be barbed ouL Whirh one! traflie Mlleamaa aaem* u> be alump> I edL Can jou itrtlablcn uo tbia I leafle for blinf Oolp one car may I be Diovrd birhvaid, and If $ou ' pick eul the rlabi one. rou vlll we that ll li not nrmaaiT to bach up any of the oibrn. Send the mm* bcr of lb* ear vhlrb when barhrd out vlll relJrre Htla ualBc ilc-un. ant If your anivrr I* rorrrrt you vlll be guallflad for ihla opponunlty. nih for prompinei* to Ibe vlnner of Aral pr^ If be or *he ha* been prompt. Thu*, the Aral prlie vInner will rerelre the Nath Sribn apd iMO.OO In caab, or ll.8IS.00. Find the car vhlch vhrn bartrO out vlll rellere Ihla tnfflr tangle and arnd the number i of It In V Iritrr or on a pr.ji rarJ. or you ran marh the car on ID* picture end lettd It to me. Be lure to vrlle or print not I Dame and a<Mrri* plainly. All vho anincr corrmlj can ahare In Ihe prize* or rath. DupUcato prUei paid la caia or iiei I ANttWEB TODAT. FREE PRIZE JUD0E,^apL 848. SIS N. DeWbMO 6L. ChlCM». III. u m caie »r iiti. /{^GOVERNMENT JOBS. REND NO MONEY. filDiply pay the pnztmtn on drllrrry, plua a few oMtUt poeiage. .Mnoey bach In 3 daya If dlMatl^fled. WYU* Pro|rcutf • Escrcucr Co. OcpLSRM, Dun Sirvel aaJ IcvaiMby Rev Terk City SONG WRITERSf SUBSTANTIAL ADVANCE ROYALTIB are pakl on work found acceptable tot pnU» lion. Anyone wiabing to write diker ihg ueaAw muilc forbonn may atibmit work for fieejw amination and advice. Paul New demand created by fully described in our free book. 723 Earle Building, New Yoifc STOP Tobacco No httaao being eao cacape the haimfol effecta of hakuw Don't try to qalt vtUurat aaiaUoce. Let oor Utay^a raoatly belp you. A complata trmuncnt avU but i;.M. BlM prnny peompUy refunded If you do not gel dealnd nvulta. port Is s barmlew mpnnclak carefoUy eonpoaodee to ew^ come lb* condlUoD. timt vlU make gulUina of totaaMO idwMi and eaay. it oonum wtUi * BUUMy (oaiulew And-Tobaeeo League ohahIl'^ Please mention KewsstWnd Croup — Men's List, when answering adverliscmcnts

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THE UNDERWORLD EXPOSED — The actual about Rackets and Racketeers — St^^iUmo- ThHIUmg- CMOhimg Over 100 pages filled with gangs, gun play and the law — Action! and lots of it! Find your tiearcst news dealer and get a copy NOW— pay 50c for $2:00 worth of sensational tales, pr send 50c in stamps, money order or cash to: pvfia noR coRP.. m nn puce, ipi idrk. i. t. DC A RAILWAY DLTRAFFIC INSPECTOR m fif PLAT A MUSICAL SAW Yeo have heard eur **Mu«lcol Saw" over the radio, og phonograph recorda, *od on the vaudeville alage. ll la the eaaleal mualcal Inatrument to play. Fun for rou and muaic your frienda will enjoy. We wiD aend you ihia Mualcal Saw with bow. hammer and lesaens on live daya trial. We will prove that you can play popular piecea in five daya. No notes to read, no drury fins«r exerciaea. No obligation to buy. FREE tnlfrmatioo. MUS5EHL ft WE5TPHAL IS South 3rd Street Fort Alklnaen, Wla. TT rsasJS."E t ] - A/(/// Ihts C\)iipon iitOilP i. T.. Smltli, Pnaldat, National Radio laAttuta, Dept. ODM, "'ashLafioiL D. C. Dar Ur. BbiIU): me your booh, ','Blch Bonrd* to Itadlo” whlcJi flrei the facts cm lUdloa ouportUBitln and >eiF) practical Radio tralnln. This raauert don not obliiato Bta and I undersiaiul no ai»t vlU eaU. PlcA’se tnention Newsstand Group — Men's List, when answering advertisements

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Please meotion Newsst/|nd Group— Men's List, when answering advertisements

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why nott? ** The Seat of Health’ L A Rowing Machine — Body Builder— Reducer Really a Portable flome Gymnoeium ■DUCER 0>Y BUILDER machine iBMMlNAL CHAIR nis iiigi'iiious ap(jaratu9 is scienlifically Hcsicned to rc'builil anil strengthen every INTKRNAL ^KjAN aiul MUSCI^E of the body by an automatic ^£ttg motion. Its wonderfully cxliiiarating action and Ubc effect on the entire body seem almost magical ! Fat melts away — strength rapidly increases— digeation liBOTeB, consripatiem and gueous conditioiu diuppear, iar ibe “SLAT OK HLALtH" actually helps to uuild I better, healthier and slsooger body, vibrant with I’ep tki Power. ' Tive minutes' daily fascinating >p)ay, brings these as* Misbii^ and guarantied results' in surpri;iingly short tec. Tliere has NEN'ER been a device like this l>eforc. lEVER anything so simple, speedy and sure. Instantly iriiuUble for use by weakest child or strongest athlete, lacbet the VITAL SPOTS — takes off that "pouch.” PORTABLE NOISELESS IN^PENSIVE PRACTICAL Fully illustrated chart shows every move and makca fail* urc imirossihlc. Visit Uemonsiralion Salon — New York, Chicago, Phiia* dciphia, Pittsburgli, Washington. eMBaaa.CLlP and' mail to-day I HEALTH DEVELOPING APPARATUS CO., INC., I I I Park Place. Oept. N4. New Vwk. N. Y. I I Genilrtneni Pleaso send FllIvB booklet about your **S£AS T I OF HEALTH. '* No obllKatioD. 1 am iniemied. ■ Name I Add/eas I I aiy Who Wants an Auto FREE?^ STUDEBAKCR— BUICK— NASHI OR B2000.00 CASH Yboanadi <d doUm la oefv aaUi and gmid nran will mtiwir te givan bto advmwa and mke new Irieada for nif Ann. Owifr of Studetete or K or Naah new 4*daar tedan delivcml free, or 6000.00 fh Atao Otdo- ■nbik. PoQliac, ChevroleU Korda, diamondi. other fine prim nad CMh will taa ■ha free. No prohlcxoRto do. No fine wriii^ required. No wcada to ■ihe. No to add. iBank guarantea all prim. Pick Your Lucks' Starl IS tta atara ta ttaa dreU an taaetly allka exevpt one. Hut star Is dlSsnBt to il te wms sad It mar ba a hwky star (or yea. Caa too plA H ootT If yon na. mnk te Mrat star aad saod tbs oreU to me at cbm akmg with yenr nanu aad aodrm. A answer aa start yoa oa the way la win tfaa fieat tew.CO (lea priss. BE PROMPT— WIN $650.00 EXTRA Baamw Uhs yon wba wtU eilla bs at oeea aa get IflBO.QD Saab hat (or balv wmaay tbaak rwr tacky stare U _yoo aead ymr aawer rtekt . No riak. Issey. Nothtaa hard ta do. Over FrapD.V la rataabis prtea wUI bs ^rwn tnm fete Way and 1 «(D shew yog lost bow yen aa get your free cbtes ^ tbas tow aMnaa or m.OO sab, wttMot cat a obNfatloa of any hiad. AO i ' ■wild fa srwrbedyl BBND NO MONCT. Arawer AT ONCS. feddgw CEO. WILSON. DEPT. 101» AUGUSTA. MAINE Your cKoImI fiARGED Please fnen^ion Newsstand Group — Men's List, when answering ad\*erliscmcnts

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, or o«. oui Of vori. non over iwuu.uv, a mr. oni/ la, won fvw.uv, I of dolJori will be evtarded to foriunair perwni who i«)re our puulM lU FIND THE TWIN FLYERS Wal^ ootf TheM Iwelrr picium of a fimoua woman fl/er ill lock itlb^— BDT- twu. «n.^ obIt lwT>. ere ciarilf alike. Fl>d theta twin flyenl Some plclurei an dlfTenni In tbo collar, belmeli CVlln. or tlr. Hcmeajbrr. only l»o of tha iwrire are eiartly alike. Find them, and aend Ibe numbiri ct iba twin fly era oB a P»u 7't of actual la'nplct *UOP^cd to men and women wKc >*lth lo f INCOMES Seo^for free book with full information. ^ TANNERS SHOE CO. ^4 C St., Beslofs, Mass. Hara'aYOURCluiKa tuSaf&OQ^ Sliewins SMiplM Mob's Shirts Tie*. Uoderwcmr belnfft ytra biff esab ctBunUaioDk. Ona Yesr Gumrmotae. No aubatitudooB. Ptm flllk Initials Morw czclofllTo Roaecliff tetures eo> tsbliah ksdenhip. Write for your FREE Outfit NOW1 IISECllFF SUIT Clip. U37 Broadvay, N. V. Outfit^ r CHASE THE JINX-! New Yvk’a Teicot Fad. FTpr>tvily Is wea/int Ihe IILACK CAT r:n.- If unlucky In. Lpto or Oamm nr all rndpHaklriB' wcwr a JII.Ai'K r\T KING and rliase the Jinx. Ma>b> of Solid SiniUiu filver Ona lurk) IxW'catkM* and noa lurkv cal wL»hlvmii OttATId wub ript. Oety fl.flS prepaid fr 91.79 C.O.D. K«)d nnp iB««.<ure today. DON'T DIAAS*. r AUSUM rtopuen CO.. m Br^iwmr.DanL n. lUw Tack. N.T. Please mention Newsstand Group— Men's List, when answering advertisementj

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MOULDING A MIGHTY ARM Please mention Newsstand Gboup — Men's List, when answering advertisements

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SEND for PROOF; NEWELL PHARMACAL CO. Dept. 793 Clajrton Stmtion St. LouU, Mo. 8m»4 ta» wttboot obllfattoa to m la ur proof thot Tobme lyoitirely fro* mt frooi tko Toho^ Habit or mraooof Noenat tMr boca— wtrefawii <o train (or TireoMn. •nrav vifM tlM-1.200 maaUUy. PromcMoil to Ca l*ni1n» hHlwa if m raUnadt. AHo oUrka. Kiliicailgial AaoetaUoB. Diet. D-SO, Brooklm. Nr* A Book Ercry ReABlooJej AnoricM Will Eajoj Readiog Thrillmg Adventures By V. E. LYNCH one of the World's famous guides aod hunters. It is profusely illustrated and contains true stories of the hunt. Not romances. This book is girea free with a year's subscription to FoRtsT^ll^yTiitAM at iio increase over the regular subscription price. Send $2.u0 to the address given below. It it the pioneer publication devoted to hunting, fishing aod the outdoor life. 1 This offer saves you considerable money and it made with a view of adding thousands to our sub. scription list. Remit to FOREST and STREAM 80 UrayaUrSt., Naw Yotk, N. Y. Forest and Stream ' Lafayette St., •New York, X. Y. Herewith $2.S0 for one year's subscription to FOREST AN'U STREAM and copy of book “Thrilling Ad%’entures” by Lynch. Name Styled* OnJRfth*Aye^ Please mention NewssItand Group — Men's List, when answering advertisem^ts BtmtaodNe^i MIN WANTED PON RAILROADS TIES PAY BIG voter OKES SCIEhTIfIC J HOVtUYCO. PARKPIACE.NY.C M

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RUPTURE I Tw jilV!ilclAn wUl icU yxMj ih»t honlA (lUpturet ii t mtucuUr MftH IB tb« AtxlgiDliul wbU.— Dd Dgl b« latlunol with mwvlj tadM Utcn« wwkcDcd mumJea. with your condiiloa proboblr pwlag worM «r«y lUyl— Sinke ai tbo roal cause of itae trouble. tti •eabaned Duaclea -raeorer tlialr aimgtb and elasdclv, •ad— fte Bulibtlj, -uaaalunl pratnulOD dlaappaafa, and— !■ iccoTte tnur tlm. rlcor and vlialli)'. — yuur nrcneth and ■eriv.— and you look and feel better kn nwj ■ar.— and your ttlauu notice tbo differoice,— Tani know your rupture Is loie. aod Ian know why for almod a quarur of a ceniuir nunvoui an itueinaus raxn complete reeotwr and freedom baa uncomfortable mecbanloal lupporui. vlitaout delay from SEND NO MONEY . A Ikit of the edAilfio Mlf-traaimaii matlooed In coupai k^a la BOV armllable to ytni. vlieiha you are youof or old, aa a oanaa. it ooaa yeu aieiuny to m*k« ibli teat.— Fa nr aOB food n«»ii Um ooupai' NOW— TODAY. FREE TEST COUPON n^ao Laboralerlee, 692 Smart Bldp., 5l. Loola* Mo. _lad mo a Frm 10-day tat supply of ufc remedial factor nmo and fB-paae lUustraiaS book ai Boptore; no ebarto a thU now a later. • HowTe Secure A GevemmenrilMHia Former ClaO Serriee Es- aminer lelU in new book how to get on Uncle Sam's big payroll. Book lent free. ROCHESTER. N. Y.— Arthur Pilter- eon, for 8 yi'eni Mnnbor and Secre- tary of U. S. Civil Service Board of Examiners haa pabllshcd a book that tella abow Government jobs open. Shove work la steady, pay good, and Includa vacations and eick leave with pay, travel, pcnalena and other beneflta. Telia how to become a Customs House Clerk, Railway Mail Clerk. City or Rur.tl Mall Carrier, etc. Forget iob-buntini; worrica— work for Uncle Sam. Send for tBIa book that tella how. IMPORTANT NOTICE— Railway Postal Clerk examina- tion coming. Prepare yourself at once for this position which i>aya an average, with allovancea. of 12789.00 ycnrly. Write now to Arthur B. Patterson. PATTER- SON SCHOOL. 1084 Wiscer Bldg.. Rochester. N. Y. A. R. PATTER80N. Civil Ssrvlrn Elpsrt, PATTERSON SCHOOL, lOM Wlw^ BldB-. Rocheitcr, N. Y. Rend me ywr Blf FREE BOOR taUInt h<w 1 can tecure a posliloo vldi the U. R. OOTwnmsn psrtns from Jl.OOO lo 13.300 a year to »ian, viib excellmt ebanoe for adTsncemwil. Tbls do«n*t coci me a pmny. Please mention Newsstand Croup— Men's List, when* answering advertiscmcnis

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'TOUT huniillatiite fkiE xe. Simply >^d >oiii r>-T‘, Ni> I70n‘l»ro»d- itp it li> r^Mim man. M«a or womi eaa «km >15 lo >2S owkiy ID mof* time Dt boc&a awkmc diiplay eaide. LicBt. plMMDt work. NocMWeming. W« iDrtnact yen aad Mippljr yo« with wvfc- Write te>oey for full pertaculan. The.MENH£NITT COMPAffY Umlt»d ^ t4B Dominion BMf ..Toronto. Ceru ^ He Gives Yau A New Skin Smooth, Clear and Beautiful 3 Day* Time! On Any Part of Your Face, Neck, Amu, Hands, Body READ FREE OFFER xrrn.UT iroaldl you uj if you evoke aorfi* mnrnins— lonknl In n your mirror and mw a mw. y.>mbhk*. clear Fkin oo your face, ted tbe UKly blemUbes all conof You would iQup with loy— Jaat like tho|isandv of penplr have dooe wbo bar* leaned now to perform .tint simple trea'meo- tbara-wbe* — tbe iamo that foreign beauty .doctors baio ciiarEnl ruoemotL^ prlcH for. — aae. vha£ wat oooaidered Impoa.'Ohlo^ before — tite ban. b. us of plisolaa. Markheads. freeSdsa. larco i"»r(a. tan. oily akin, sur- fat.'e blmkobcs and other defseta— can now he done by any t»rsoo home, m .1 days' time, barmlestly and ocwomlcally- ts all •‘xpialned In a new treatise called “BEAUTIFUL NEW SKIN Ibf 3 DAYS,’* which is being mtlled absolutely free in readers of ihit maraaioe by the' author. So. worry no mor. -- * - • . WllPl. IS way. New York. N. Y.. and you wil wlthotK rhargo. if t>lea-.cd. ii bSl^ Eatlly Cleaned Cao leiuovaJ lo ai tno: DO bomlnw haii«. An Idi^ han^. An Idi^low {treasure boiler and fasteurlxc* for i»«Mnn and farm. $afe20Z Dy ordering direct frem factory. NoartI* claofeuch taishtiiiallty and atUltyareraoldat aoeh amaslngly lew prloM. Piieea qootod are mah wUh order or oo^ fourth cash, bal* ance C.OlD. Bend ehaeh money ordcri prompt abJp^wnt — '*e In ptaJo e^yng boi.^no ta “Igy ElecMcHv rm* NBW Prarflaal Wag Patented new UniuBoard Syw tmn bring* foD-tlxed Ellacbrical equipment right loto yaur henMl Latm Electricity by doing at borne under euper* ^vlaion ef engineer* of this greattchool. Trained men earn M M ^ p |6()00->lCi,000ayear.2»tartoowl r If C C 48 Paaa Booh Write teday for FVE lllostrated 48>pag* bnoli frlTtogdetaUa h' Eura jconcui hy 5CH05L ENGINEERING] DEAFNESS IS MISERT JiModn ol pcfBW *>'b defsciiYt b«ar M «**.. hew T«l, GOnPOSITIONJ 35 TO 75 WEEKLY ( 1 By. Mat] Clert ( ^ Btmo- Typist 1) P. O. Laborer ( ) Immigrant loipactet I ) B. P. D. Carrier I I Reamitmi i Special Agent ( ) Auditor jrustoma In«|i.> ( 1 Slmo-SecreiarT 1 rhaufTwr-Cairttf ) tVaIcbman i Bhilled laborer 1 Poitmailer 1 ) Typlit I nlllM. etc. AI4. I Name iN.-rntucnns burkau. iiz-b. si. uoi*. I “‘'rj^icoiK* Howtoai^ifTT* ■'it." JilArim. larellw. <wi 14. SgNTrUFE. Please mention Nlwsstand Group — Men's List, when anjUL-rlng aiivcn'r^nients

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FREE To Men Past 40 A WELL-KNOWN scientist's new book about old age reveals facts which to many men will be amazing. Did you know that iwo- lliirds of all men past jniddic age arc said to have a certain scldofn mentioned disorder? Do you know the frequent cause of this dc- dine in health? CMMMa Old Age Ssrnptoau Medical men know this condition as hyper- trophy of the prostate gland. Science, now reveals that this swollen gland — painldss in itself — not only often cheats men of health, but also bears on the bladder and Is often directly responsible fof sciatica, backache, pains in the tegs and feet, frequent nightly risings, and dizziness denoting high blood pressure. When allowed to run on it is frequently the cause of the dreaded disease cystitis, a very severe blad- der inflammation. efico made in six days. Another grateful effect is usually the inimediale disappearance of chronic constipation. Vsually the entire body is toned up. These results are guaranteed. Either you feel ten years younger in six days or tlie treatroent costs nothing. Sold lor FREE Book If you have gland trouble, or any of the svmplome men- tioned, write today for scientist's free boi>(c, "Why Men Aie Old at Forty.” You can ask yourself certain frank questions that may i^evcal your true condition. Every man past 40 should make this test, as insidious prostate disorder often leads to surgery. This book is absolutely free, ^ hut mail coupon imm^iaiely, as the edition m limited. 'Address THE ELECTRO THERMAL CO. 4SM Itorris At*. StaabraTUl^ Ofel* II you live West o( Ihc Rockifs. ad.treu The Eleeiro Thrr:uai (.'o., Van Nuys Uuilding, Dept. 4s-E, Los Angeles, CoJif. In Canada, address The Electro 'I'hermal Co., Desk 4S K, fki Yoitge St., Toronto, Out., Canada. > this Olaad IMsardsr Prostate trouble now reached immediately by I Bew kind of home treatment — a new safe hy- |ieoe that goes directly to the gland itself, vilhout drugs, medicine, massage, lessons, diet or the application of electricity. It is abso- 'hilely safe. 50,000 men have used it to restore Ihi prostate gland to normal functioning. The principle inerred ia tiiis treatment is recommended by practically •11 the physicians in America. Arqazing recoveries are The Electro Tbemul Company, I 4U8 llorris Avc., Steubenville. Ohio I Please send me Free, and w ithout obligation, a copy J I of your booklet, "Why Men Arc Old at 40.’’ Mail | I in plain wrapper. ■ I Name . . I I Addre j j^ity.. State j WIN^2 fHendshJp offer. $3000 In prizes given away. Someone will win flOOOcash and Nash Sedan, or $2000 cashi Why 'not you? Over 115,000 Already given. Mra. Hanell won $000; N. LaValle, won $700; |L A. Dobbins won $2500; many others won flne prizes. Nothing totay. Dnlyd things to do— name the dogs, advertise us to a few pnpto right around your home, and then play In a jolly and f^d- Mllng fun game that you will enjoy. CO flne cuh prizes. MM MMiP TTMMF am pictured hmi.l. Colllo, W "WMt WWA a. poUny do*. 3. Almlalc. 4. Doll. t gter. 0. BioodlKXUUf. Can you Dane tbemT Mark the Collia aa No. l, gsm dof N o. 2. etc. Number all 0 dogi. fiend your answer at once. A ^^otserrer who naitws iho do** oorrertly la Koing to vin. Fim prt» BWP ^ah and Naab Sadan Extern for bemg on Jlroc;orMill00aUcaah. ^aamaaajBaa . Naim Iho d«vi and you start to Wini aauoo in prim, vm aOowvKa guaranteed U> «vay one wbo ukia actlvn part. No rlaii. nu a 2c atamp to mall your anawv. Coata nothlnR to wfnt If yoQ to win mid anawir today for eompleto pantculan. Evoyihlng ^Maad jpoaumld and yoa .will not bo obllgalod lo any way. Naan ■jpd (|£nO no uOnKt. Hurry! Promplnaa pays! .W, M. GOOD. Mgr. Oopt. B7. AUGUSTA, MAINE Please mention NEWSST.4Nri’ Croup — Mr.s’s List, when answering advertisements

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What Do Women Want Most? Women want He-Men for their husbands and isweethearts. >k>nc of this chorus- man stuff for the real girl. She wants to be prou(j of his physical itiakc-up;' proud of his hgurc in a bathing suit. She «nows that itU the fellow that is full of pep and '•italitjjf that gets ahead in this [world. He’s got the physical backbone tej back- up ilie n^ental decisions he makes, i He’ll win out Arc you [giving yourself a square deal? Have you got those big, rolling muscles that mcanjhealth and strength inside and out? The vitality that gives you the ambition to winlout at everything you start? Make tlyt ^irl ad- mire yoirhrst and foremost for a rqal 11*.'- Man and the li^lcst part in Winning her is over. ^ 1 Can Give It To You in 30 0a)^ In days 1 can do you over »o that Wie will hardly know you. I'll put a whole inch ©f muscle on each arm in .*10 days, and tw6 whole inches of ripplingr strength across your chrft. I've done it for over a hundred thousand others, and I can do it for you. 1 .don't care how wfak amd puny *you are. 1 like to get them weak arid puay, I’ccausc 'it’k the hopeless cases' that I w»k with best. It flives me a lot of real joy ju«tj to see them deve^p and tl\e surprised look in tl«ir eyes when theyi step before the mirror at the>end of ItO days apd see what a miracle I have' woAcd for them. ' You’ll ^ a He-Man From Now On! And. It's ao temporary layer of moscle I put oe you. It's there lo stayl With tboee newly broadmed should- ers: that pirfset neck and great, loanly cheat, .you ran maintain yoor self-reapect In any soeiscy. »ert woman will know that you are what 9tm^ man should br— a ' EARLE UEDERMAN, Tbe Muacle BuiMer Author of •'Musefe Building."* •‘Sdenco of Wrettling. "ScertU of Strength,’* Health, ** ^’Endurance,** Watch Them Turn Around tow ceery woman prefers the fellow pbo carries hlmur name and addrev to the ooupoo. If you haven't a ■tato._> (Htstal will do. But hoap Into «. Do if kow. To-morrow you Mf fotjet. Uamembrv. It’s Msmething for nothing and no strings suaMM. no ubUgatwii. UKAB ITI EARLE LIEDERMAN 30S BROADWAY, N. Y. CtrT CARLC llCOEftMAN Oept. 17W 3M Broadway. New Dear BIT'— riMM sand me, ahsoluuly ! without any obllfatioo on my part whaievar. your latest bo^. *'UuscuIar Oevetopmeut.' . - — Flail U'lea-e write or print -plajtUyi Dept. 1704 Please mention NewsstanId Group — Men's List, when answeryig aclvcrtiscmcntw

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THE HORSi: AWAITS WIYHOUT HIKED UNID DtlZZEEHUIIT “If you ask me," replied Aletia coldly, “you seem to have brought the hoarse in with you. The hoarseness of your voice repels me, sir! If you wish me to go buggy-riding with you, you’d better change to OLD GOLDS. “When my heart leaves me, it will go to the man who smokes this queen- leaf cigarette. There’s not a throat- scratch in a trillion.’’ 'om NOT A COUGH IN A CARLOAD FASTEST GROWING CIGARETTE IN HISTORY

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