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CfynjU fiyEiwin^m«r&niil^\Myli WNU Service. CHAPTER IV—Continued ——7— “I think the people looked first to the fresldent, anyway; and the Presi dent had the good sense to kick poli ties In the face and take full author ity upon himself to do anything and everything which he thought would keep the country In operation. There was some trouble In the army and navy, still more In the National (Juard, especially with soldiers who were fa thers and wanted to remain with their families. I suppose there are nearly half a million men doing police duty right now.” Hendron looked keenly at Tony. “That’s all according to the plan that the League worked out before the news broke. A man named Carey Is .-largely responsible for It. He’s an economist. I believe he’s a guest at the White House right now, and has been for ten days.” •‘I’ve seen his name,” Tony said, and continued: “As I was saying. It hasn’t made as much difference as you would Imagine 1 saw one nasty riot In Bal timore, between soldiers on one side and oops on‘the nllier, but in half an hour It was all over. I think that the .work of .keeping the public Informed has been marvelous. The radio goes twenty-four hours a day, and the^news- papers appear as often as they have anything fresh to print. People are kept encouraged and reassured and directed. Of course, part of the geTP ami so -were a few -tow* “eral culidhess is due simply to mass Inertia. For every person that will get hysterical or do something foolish, ■ there are about ten who will not only fall to get hysterical, but who will not even recognize that their lives are presently going to be changed entirely. The whole city of Philadelphia, with the exception of jhe university, is almost unaltered. Anyway, that’s the Ih^ression you get of It. “And the unemployed have been corraled en masse. There Is a project to turn the entire basin of th£>, Missig- sIppI north and west of Kansas City Into an abode for the coast popula tions, and the unemployed are building there, I understand, quarters for ten million people. Slost of them are tem porary. They are also planting vast, areas of lands in crops. I Imagine that they are going to compel the migra tion when the Interior of the country Is prepared as well ns possible to re ceive It, and when the danger of tidal waves draws near. As a matter of fact, every Industrial center is work ing at top si>eed. and Chicago Is head quarters for their produce. I don’t Just remember the figures, but an ap palling quantity of canned goods, cloth ing, medical supplies, and things like that 'are being prepared and distrib uted to bases In the Mississippi valley. Granted that the valley remains In habitable, I really believe that a ma jority of our population will be suc cessfully moved there and Installed for an Indefinite time.” “It’s wonderful, Isn’t It?” Eve said. Tony nodded. “The machinery, which organized millions of men during the war was still more or less available for this much bigger tindertaking, from peated Hendron’s Inquiry. “1 don’t know much about the rest of the world. What I do know 111 teH* you; but the Information Is garbled, contra dictory and unreliable. For one thing, taany pf the European uatlona are still foolishly trying to keep their plans secret in order to protect their bor ders. and so on. In fact, I wouldn’t be at all surprised If they fell to fighting. There seems to be small thought of co-operation, and they stick fiercely to national lines. “England’s labor troubles festered the minute she tried to Institute com pulsory work for those who tended her utilities. I believe London was with out power or light for five or six days. There was a vast amount of sabotage. The police fought battles through Pic cadilly and Trafalgar square with armed mobs. “Australia and Canada, on the other hand, acted very much as the United States has acted. They got down to brass tacks and the doing what they can for and with their people. So Is Sojith Africa. “The French are very gay about it. and very mad. The whule couatry Is filled with sputtering, Ineffective peo ple. They’re playing politics for all It’s worth, utrrfTiew cabtnets cmne and go, sometimes at the rate of three a day, without ever getting anything accom plished at all. Hut at least ihey have kept functioning as a nation. In Ger many a' few communists were killed; “Mussolini Is'struggling to keep his control—so far, with success, A» for Russia, little is known. Of course It is a ‘terrible blow to the Soviet 1 be- * - lleve the government Is carrying on rather bitterly, but as best It can. China Is still Just 'China. So you can tell very little about It. In South Amer ica^ the news has served merely to augment the regular crop of revolu tions." • Tony put down his fork. “That’s all I know." He. reached for a cigarette and lighted 1L “What to expect tomor row or a week from tomorrow, no one can say. Since It’s Impossible to tell Just how high tides will be. how far Inland they will rush, and what areas will be devastated, and since not even the best guess will be any Indication whatsoever of where the- land may rise, where It may fall, and what por tions of It will witness eruptions and quakes, it may be that even the gigan tic steps being taken by some govern ments will he futile." After dinner I^lghton ushered Uana- dell Into the apartment. Tony was furious. He had hoped to have Eve to himself. How be had hoped to have her, and with what further satisfaction, he did not define; but at least he knew that he wanted Ransdell away. “He has flown five times to Wash ington for Father,” Eve explained. “And he’s wonderful in the lahwni- tory. He has a genius for mechanics.” The South African listened to this account of himself with embarrass ment; and Tony realized that under any other circumstances he would havre liked him. In fact, originally Tony had liked David Ransdell Immensely— until he had realized that he also was to go with him—and with Eve—on the Space Ship! Tony saw more of the world’s activi ties thaa most of its citlsens at this time. He had scarcely returne<Dfrom his first tour of the eastern cities when he was sent out again, this time to the Middle and Far West That Journey was arduous because of the Increasing difficulties of travel The railroads were moving the Pacific and the At lantic civilizations Inland, and pas senger trains ran on uneasy schedules. He iaw-rhe. vast accumulation of freight in the mid-western depots. He saw the horizon-filling settlements be ing prepared. He saw the breath-tak ing reaches of prairie which had been put under cultivation to feed the new’ horde In the high flat country north and west of Kansas. Along the Pacific coast he observed the preparations being made for the withdrawal from the western ocean. Seattle, Tacoma. Portland, San Fran cisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, were digging up their roots. Millionaires drove eastward In great limousines with their most priceless treasures heaped around them. Tony’s* work was^ varied. He con tinued to send back by ones and twos those scientists whose counsel Hern don desired, and the flower of the young men and women who might be useful In the event of a great, cata clysm. Hendron’s own Ideas were still un- crystallzed: he felt witli increasing in tensity the need for gathering together the best brains, the healthiest bodies and the stanchest hearts that could be found. He had a variety of plans. He had founded two stations in the United States, and vvas in the process of equip ping them for all emergencies. Under the best conditions, the personality of his group might divide Into two parts and move to those stations, there to remain until the first crisis passed so that afterward they could emerge as leaders in the final effort against doom. Under the pressure of the Impend ing destruction, his scientists had pushed their experiments In obtaining power from atomic disintegration to » point where the power of the atom could be utilized, within limits, as a be, Bve.” He could aol eey any more. When Tony went down, the street was sttM filled with people. All the people were talking.. They walked, but It did not seem to matter to them what direction they took or what chance company th^y shared. The strange small moon, growing larger each night, shone palely in the sky. Tony hailed a cab. His eyes settled on his shoes when he sat down. Into every thought darted the face of Eve as he had last seen it—a face growing hourly more haggards He remembered the downcastlng of herleyes. When Tony arrived"at his apartment he called a number In Greenwich, Connecticut, waited an abnormally long time, then asked a maid for Mrs. Drake. His voice was warm and calm. “Well, Mother. How are youf’ His mother’s reply was controlled, but nerves stabbed through every word she said. “Tony, darling! I’ve tried and tried to reach you. Oh! I’m Just an Inch short of fainting. I thought something had happened to you.” “Sorry, Mother, I*ve been busy.” “I know. Com^ right out and tell me all about It propulsive force. ... S> Hendron had thereupon succeeded In bombarding the surface of the moon with a projectile that was, In its es sentials, a small rocket. He had set tled the problems of hull composition. Insulation anff aeration, which would arise in such a vessel, If made In a size to be occupied by men. The chief problem tha^ remained un solved was a metal sufficiently re- House Dress That ■ Gives Slim Effect PATTOM IMS THE TROUBLE Two, negroes were boasting about the merits of their respective motor cars, both worn, shabby, bid wrecks. One of them said, “Deys - Ju’ one reason why Ah caln’t run dls cah ©’mine 100 miles a houah.” “An* what’s dat reason?” asked the other. • “Da distance is too long fo* de shortness of de time,” said the first Being Gate Little John was busily watching two little girls sitting behind him In church. After the service a woman who had noticed him and admired his big blue eyes, said to him: '*John. I think you are about as cute as they grow, aren’t you?” “Well, I ain’t as cute as the two little girls who wero behind me,” lit- . tie John replied. Had Heard About That Little Johnny, aged seven, had been taken to the zoo. He stood be fore the leopard’s cage for a few minutes staring Intently. ,Then, turn ing to hisjxLOther, he asked: “Moth er, Is that the dotted lion that every one wants dad to sign on?” • ~ - Unreasonable Hank—Had your telephone re moved, HI? Hi—xes—th 1 fools said I couldn't cuss over It 1 How could I tell Josh Medders his cows was In my corn . without cussln’?—Lorain Journal and Times-Unlon. The Black Buildings Which Man Had Deserted. Brighter and Brighter, and ^lighsr and Higher, Each Night the Strange Stars Stood In the South ern Skies. Indeed, One Ceased to Resemble a Star at All. the standpoint of plans and human cogs. The hardest thing Is to .convince the people that It must he done; but the leaders have recognized the fact and are going ahead. A sort of pros perity has rehjfned. Of course, all prices sand wages are rigidly fixed now, but there is more than enough work to go around, and keeping busy Is the secret of holding the masses in emotional balance. “I can’t give you $ really good pic- ‘tiire of It all I really know very, little of ft It all came in dashes—things read ln newspapers, things heard over "the radio, things told me; but this country st least has grasped the basic Idea that there Is going to be trouble, and great trouble. In a short time.” “Quite so,”' Hendron said. * “Now Bow about the rest of the world?” “Hm rest of the world?” Tony ro- CHAPTER V , — ^.Brighter and brighter, and higher and higher, each night the strange stars stood In the southern skies. In?, deed, one ceased to resemble a star at all and appeared, instead, as a small full moon which grew balefully each night; and now the other also showed a disc even to the naked eye. Each night, also, they altered posi tion slightly, relatively to each other. For the gravitational control of . the larger—Bronson Alpha — swung the smaller, Bronson, Beta, about It in an orbit like that‘of the moon about the earth. Their plain approach paralyzed en terprise on the earth. Throughout the civilized world two professions above all others adhered most universally to thetr calling: day and night, in thu face of famine, blood, fire, disaster and every conceivable form of human an-* guish, doctors and surgeons clung steadfast to their high calling; and day and night -amid the weltering change of conditions a^d In the glut of fabulous alarms and reports, the men who gathered news and printed It, labored to fulfill their purposes. slstant to the awful force Hendron em ployed. Even the experimental rockets often failed In their flight because the heat generated by the atomic combus tion within them melted and blew away the walls intended to retain it. So, at the Hendron laboratories, the world's metallurgists concentrated their forces upon finding an alloy cap able of withstanding Che temperatures and pressures involved In employing atomic energy as a driving force. 7 Tony visited both of Hendroti’s sta tions. One was In Michigan and one in New Mexico. He brought back re ports on the progress being made there In the construction of laboratories, ma chine shops and dormitories. He found Hendron sleepless and Icily calm In the midst of his multitu dinous enterprises. But Eve showed the strain more than her father, and during the first evening, which they spent together, she expressed her fear: “Father’s greatest hope was that his ship would be successful There Is more Informa tion than has been given out about the Bronson bodies. We admit that they .will come very close. 1 Terribly close. We do not admit yet precisely how They were standing together on the balcony overlooking the brightly lighted and still noisy city. Their arms were locked together in defiance of their oath to the league. . “He’ll succeed," Tony said. “He has succeeded, except that every rocket he builds Is limited in t^e distance It can fly and the power It can use by the fact that its propulsive tubes mjell There Isn’t a metal nor an alloy In the world that will with stand that heat.” Tony did not answer. After a long silence she spoke again. “It’s an awful thing, Tony. Look down there. .Look down bn the city. Think of the peo ple. Look at the lights, and then imagine water, mountains of It. Water that would reach to here!” * Tony held her arm more tightly. “Don’t torture yourself, EVe." “I can’t help it Oh, Tony, Just think of It!" “Well that’s the way things have to FROM THE OPENING CHAPTERS V David Ransdell arrives at New fork from South Afrlca^eommiseloned to de liver a case of photographic plates to Dr. Cole Hendron. Tony Drake calls at Jhe Hendrons* apartment. Ransdell arrives and Eve Hendron, with whom Tony Is deeply In love, Introduces Tony to RansdelL Newspapers publish a statement by\' Hendron saying that Professor Bronson, famous astronomer, has discovered two planots, which have been brought under the attraction of our sun. The result of,the Inevitable Collialori. with the earth must be the end of our world. The approaching bodies are referred to as Bronson Alpha and Brdnsbn Beta.' Bronson Beta will pass, hut the other will hit the earth end demolish it. To devise means of transferring to Bronson Beta is what is occupying the minds of the members of tho League of the Last Days. Hendron plans to build a “Space Ship," with the Idea of landing on Bronqbh Beta with refugeea from tho oarth. Tony rounds up suitable moa and women to build tho shin.. “1 can’t.” There was a pause. “You can’t put It In words?” “No.” ( There was another long pause. Mrs. Drake’* voice was lower, more trem ulous—and yet It was not the voice of a hysterical or an unreasoning wom an. “Tell me, Tony, how bad la It going to be?” How could he tell her that for her, there was annihilation, but for him self some chance of escape? She would wish It for him, whatever hap pened to herself; but he could not accept It A.berth in the Space Ship, leaving her here! Leaving here mil lions of mothers—and children, too! But probably no one at all would be saved, Tony recollected almost with relief. Work on the Space JJhip, in recent days, was not really-advancing. They were’held up from lack of a ma terial to withstand the power that science now could loose from the atom. The Idea of escape was prob ably only a fantasy, utterly vain. So thinking, Tony ended his talk, and put uj> the receiver. Taxicabs had been sent for Tony aiML-his party. They made their way Immediately downtown to the big building which housed the Hendron laboratories. The cab bad covered a few blocks when Tony realized that throughout Its length and breadth Man hattan had been depopulated. Here and there a lone figure was visible— usually a figure In the uniform bf'a policeman or -a soldier. Once ha thought he caught sight of a man skulking In the shadows of a doorway. But he was not sure. And there were no women, no children. After the sun had set. It was easy fo appreciate why the last recalcitrant thousands of New York’a. populace had departed. The Bronson Bodies, on this night, rose In frightful majesty: a sphere- of lustrous white larger than the moon, and a second sphere much smaller, but equally brilliant Thetr awesome Illumination flooded the city, rendered superfluons the street lights which, however; remained stubbornly burning. There were few lights {p the sky scrapers. As the taxles bowled through the murk and dark, unchecked by traffic signal*, Tony and Jack Taylor 1 shuddered Involuntarily to see Abe black buildings Vfitcb man had de» serted.. At the elevator they were met by Eve. She kissed Tony, In u ecstasy qf defiance, and then hurried to assist his group In the removal of their bag gager and In directing its disposal Every oqe left the street reluctantly Tbs Bronson Bodies vers ‘ * TO M Ifle—I think HI wear., a word skirt to the dance. Hubby—I know you better than anyone else—and I can’t solve you. ever have to be careful about choosing slenderizing lines la the clothes yon wear, then yon al ways have to be careful Never choose a thing that Isn’t becoming. Selebt a house dress like this I Ion will agree that It Is attractive and it does very nice things for the figure of Its wearer. That pointed front closing la much more alias* mer looking than a straight oast the paneled skirt is excellent, and the—IPPTPS, wnemer ybn have them long or, short, are exactly right for you. The scallops, wttb their smart pretense of buttoning down, make them very chic. Nice In a gay cotton print Pattern 1968 ts available In staan 34. 86, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, and 4& Slse 36 takes 3ft yards 86-inch fabric Illustrated step-by-step, tewing In structions Included. ;/ SEND FIFTEEN CENTS (16c) fm coins or stamps (coins preferred) for this pattern. Write plainly name, address and style number; BE SUBS TO STATE SIZE. Address orders to Sewing Circle Pattern Department 248 Wert lev enteenth Street New York City. Redoubled Effort “What dov you think has been the result of cutting the ralne of the dollar In half?” ”It baa stimulated our energies,” answered Senator Sorghnm. "Every body seems to feel that he’ll have to hustle twice aa hard to get the old results.” Something Wrong GuesW-Do you operate a bus be tween the hotel and the railroad sta tion? Manager of Ritzy Hotel—No, sir I -Guest—That’* strange. All my friends said you would get me com ing and going. ~ '■■■" i i iimwB Safety Pint Gardener—Is this .your ball In the garden here? Boy—Are there any windows broken? Gardener—No, sonny. Boy—Oh, that'll be my ball, then. —Peareoh’a Weekly. SLIGHT MISTAKE V “I Just congratulated Doctor Brews os marrying one hi* patients, sag he seemed quite annoyed.” “That Isn’t Doctor Brown, yog Idiot That's Doctor Smith, the lunacy expert"—Vancouver Provlmec Spertiug SuapuuM “Is the election over In Crimes* Gulch?” * “Not yet” answered Cactus Joe “▲ lot of the boys are still beltin' eg how many votes there will ho la itbo ballot boxes after a recount” imall -Sir, j You Can Start S Doctor (ecstatically)—Slf, yours Is a case which will enrich medical scl- sbcst Patient—Oh, dear, and I thought I wouldn’t have to pay more than five or ten dollars.—Boston Evening Transcript Blows” Up? Man—I understand that BUI was the-victim of a powder blast Friend—Yes, his wife was furious ly Jealous when she found the evi dence on his coat—Chelsea Record. Painting Collector “I am told that you have paid $50- 000 for a palm “Yes,” answered Mr. Dustin Stax. “The make-up of a stage beauty has cost ms even more than that” The OM Question “They say every Jack has his JUL* “Yes, but I betfsome of them would rather make a pint.’’—Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. A TICK IN THE CASK Bug Sleuth—At last I hale dlscsv* ered the mystery of the disappear ance of Mr. Tick. He's Imprisons# In that watch easel Acting Upon the Word Mistress Did you put mjr evening frock la soak as I .told you? * “Yes, mum, but 1 could only gat $2 on It 1"—Pearson’s Weekly. \ Hour She Took It Husband—B Is s strange thing; but true, that tbs biggest fools have Iks most beautiful wives. Wlfs (pleased)—Oh, what a AM terer yen are, darling. 1 ■ i, it