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V v A » AFTER WORLDS COLLIDE V v by EDWIN BALMER and PHILIP WYLE Copyright, 1934, by Edwin Balmer and Philip Wyll*. WNU Senrlca. i ^ CHARTER XII—Continued . - —19— They stayed with them as willing little wives.” “No stabbing after they found the way In aod^out?” f said Shirley. “There’s where the Sabine women, were different” Jack Taylor whistled softly. "So that’s what you little girls were up to? he said. “Perhaps It’s Just as well we came along. But they rather show us up, eh, Eliot?” Dinner was a moody meal In the evening of that prolonged day. After dark, there were long, restless periods; and tonight Eliot James, Jack Taylor and Peter Vanderbilt, with two more of the younger men—Crosby and Whlt- ttaffton met for a midnight discus sion. Tony was not called to this informal council of his friends; nor was Bans* dell; for Tony, though personally the _jsame with all of them, yet was Chief of the Central Authority; he bore the responsibility; and If he forbade the enterprise on foot, his friends could scarcely proceed. So It was agreed not to let him know. And Ransdell, too—being charged with the security of the city—had better learn abool the plan much later. The five had gathered In Vanderbilt’s quarters. • The place delighted Peter; it was on a roof but near an edge of the city where the shield sloped steeply down; so the roof there was not high, and was easily reached by foot Also It was especially well adapted for habitaflon In the present emer gency when the heating apparatus pre pared for the city had failed or rather, had been cut off. For the original builders had allowed for no such emergency; they had been dealing with elements respecting which they hid no reason to allow for that factor of failure—the Internal heat and radio activity of the core of the plant. Stop page of that was unthinkable; and so, to them, was the cutting of the power conduits to any of the cities. There fore they had supplied no alternative heating arrangement. As a consequence the present tenants had to employ the most primitive methods of keeping themselves warm In these lovely supercivillzed cham bers. They were driven to build bon fires in some of the great halls; but * they spared those of exceptional splen dor. Peter Vanderbilt, being on the roof In his “penthouse,” had contrived a chimney and a fireplace which gave him heat without much smoke or soot “Wonderful place you have, Peter,” said Whittington, looking around. He had not visited,It before, a&l he went about examining the metal panels of mountain, woodland, marsh and sea. all splendid In the colors of enamel paints baked on. Vanderbilt asked him: “Are you complimenting me? All I’ve done is to choose it . .• . Do you know, not a thing wag flecked or rubbed, not a thing was worn. The - man who made it never used It” . “It seems so with most of the build ings,” said Whittington. “It seems they must have gone on building them to complete their plan, after they knew they themselves would never fill them.” “What else could they do," asked Eliot James, who had thought much about this, “while they waited? Could they Just wait—for slow annihilation?” Nobody spoke after that, until Jack Taylor put wood on the fire. “Did you hear, Peter,” be questioned, "what those girls—Marian and Shirley —tfere out to do?” “Yes,” said Vanderbilt; and the five got immediately at the problem of how to gain entrance and control of Qor- fulu. .-^ “Seidel la In command, Von Bela is sure,” Eliot said. “Cynthia agrees that is most probable. He was pushing aside Morkev, who was nominally chief commissar—he called himself that— when Lady Cynthia escaped. “Cynthia has told us, and Von Beltz has confirmed it, that the mixture on rop is constantly afraid of what they call ‘a rising of the serfs’—that is, the English. They guard against It. The English are allowed to gather—even for work—only in very small groups, and always under supervision." “It looks like a set-up," observed Whittington, optimistically “if once we get in." “There is a building which they call the Citadel," Jack Taylor said. “It held the offices of administration of the Old People. Seidel occupies It with his inner ring. If three of us could get in—or two of us—and kill ten of them—the ten top men, Including Seidel—We’d—” “WhatF “We’d at least be able to start some- “But the two of you would have to kill the ren of them—and the top ten- before you could really begin," said ,Peter Vanderbilt quietly. “How sim ple you make it seem!” Jack Taylor swore^and then laughed. “We don’t know what we could do, or what we'd have to do. But we do know this: some of us, somehow, have got- to- get into (hat city, and’ that •Citadel of that city. Then we can trust te God and what chances he may offer ps. But first, and whatever’s before us, we’re going to get in I Agreed?" “Agreed I" said all voices, and Van derbilt’s was distinct among them. - “Now how? We’ve no chance to ad vance against them by air or on the ground, or under the ground from the direction of ,this city. We know they’ve got guarded all the conduits and passages which we’ve discovered ; and probably some we don’t know about But would they guard the con duits from the other cities?” “That’s something, Jackl Say—" “See here. There’s Danot—on the other side of them from us. They’ve a guard in there; we’ve nobody. They’d never look for us to come from hiat quarter. We get into Danot and go underground 1 We—” • That night was long but not long enough for the five conspirators. * • • • • • . • Ransdell, on the evening of the third day later, reported to Tony: “Five men have not returned—three of our best friends, Tony,” he said, dropping formality. “Eliot, Jack Tay lor and Peter Vanderbilt and Whitting ton and Crosby with them. They left, you know, in two ‘laf£s’ about two hours before dusk yesterday. They said they were only going to have a look around. I ♦hought^lt was a good idea; I told them to go.” “No word from them at all since?" Tony asked. “Not a syllable. Marian Jackson is missing, foo.” “She went with ithem?" “No.; Entirely separately; and she went on the ground, not in the air. The gate watch who let her go out—it was Cluett—was ashamed of himself and did not report It promptly. It ap pears that she drove to the gate In one of the small cars, and wheedled Cluett Into letting her take a turn outside. It was near noon, and the sun was shin ing. He saw no harm and let her pass. Then she turned the battery on full, and streaked away.” “Which gate?" asked Tony briefly. “The northern gate. Duquesne’s Porte de Gorfulu.” “She disappeared down that road?" “Yes. And the only word she left behind with the girls she knew was that she was UretLpf being cold; she thought she’d try being warm again. She commented, further, that she sees now she pried herself Into the wrong party.” Tony nodded; he knew what that meant. Marian frequently reminded everybody that she hadn’t been selected among the original company for either Hendron’s or Ransdell's Space Ships; she had “pried herself intp the party.” Obviously, she meant she wished she had chosen the ship of the Asian Real ists who now held the capital city, Gorfulu. “Probably," said Tony, “she went right on. But do you think the others were up to anything foolish?” “I’m sure of it,” Ransdell answered. . “Why? Did they tell you?” “Not me—Higgins. And he’s Just (old me. Tony, they’re dead now; or they’re trying to get into Gorfulu from Danot. From what they told Higgins —who swore to keep it until .tonight— we can’t possibly help them now, ex cept by being ready to respond to their signal that they’re In Gogfulu and will have a gate open for us.” Tony rose excitedly. “From what they told Higgins, and he told you, Is the signal overdue?” “It is, Tony; that’s the trouble. I don’t know in detail what those—those glorious idiots tried to do; but the signal, Tony, Is overdue I” iTour of them, at that moment, were alive. Crosby wa»-4«ad; they had his body with them. Of the four alive, not__pne was unwounded; and they were lying in the dark in the tube of the power-conduit between Danot and Gorfulu, and with both ends of the tube closed against them. They had taken Danot; at least, they had surprised one gate and got in. For they bad grounded their larks in the valley beyond Danot, and accom plished this in the twilight, unseen. Then they had crept to the western gate, surprised the guard and got in. Two of the other side fell in this fight; and Crosby and Taylor were shot. Jack still could walk, but the others had to drag Crosby with them. Once inside, they met their bit of luck—or they thought It that. Four men had been at the gate they sur prised ; and the (Wo that fled separated. James and Whltf^pgton took after one of them, leaving Vanderbilt with the wounded men. The luck was that the man they pursued fled to the conduit tube which supplied Danot from Gor fulu. They caught that man in the tube, overpowered him;' and Whittington thing," Jack cndM gcmewhgt #ariny. ^vent back ta guideTayler aBd Vender- A.1 A. - M 1 J A. _ k. 1 1 A. 3 k. ^.1 a. • f • bilt and help him <wigi Crosby. Mean while, Eliot had found the work car which traveled in the tube beside the great cables to the transformers. The five had hardly got into the tube, and Vanderbilt was helping Crosby to the car, when the man who had escaped led another groap of the guard underground. Eliot and Whit tington turned' back to fight them; and Vanderbilt and Taylor turned, too. It was revolvers and knives and Iron bars—anything was a 1 weapon at close quarters. , v Everybody was wounded; but the five got away *on the car, with Crosby dying. Power was on; and lights were on. The whole tunnel whs illuminated; and the track of the car in the huge conduit was cleah CHAPTER XJII - There was a chance—a chance. So Sliot opened the power wide, and they f ped on—the four living men wounded, and one dead, on the car to catch by surprise the city that con trolled' the continent and which the. enemy from earth held. For two hours they traveled thus. Then—the lights were extinguished; the car rushed on in a Stygian cave. But the car’s sp$ed was slowing; the power that propelled it was shut off. It did no good for Eliot to thump the control; the power was gone; the cat slid to a stop. So there they lay underground In the tube, without light or food or water; one dead, four wounded. It seemed senseless; yet the only thing lef’ was for the wdunded to crawl \the rest of the way to the chief city held by the enemy. • • • • - • •. » Marian Jackson’s situation Was not In the least like theirs. Marian had driven by broad daylight to the chief gate of Gorfulu, and Shown herself and begged admittance. Marian was exceedingly good look ing; and the guard who parleyed with her had the good sense to take her at once to his superior, who knew that his business was to show her to SeideL Seidel spoke English; Marian’s “line," as weH as her appearance, pleased him. She pointed out that the American par ties—both of them from both ships— were composed of fools. She congratu lated herself that she had not been chosen by them to Join them; she had made them take her. This was true; and Seidel had learned that it was true, from his spies in the city. Marian was tired, she said, of ninnies from America who had chosen themselves to people this planet. They couldn’t even keep them selves warm! Seidel had Marian assigned to quar ters close to his in the Citadel. During the second day she lot a good view of the local situation, learn ing, among other things, that Seidel had taken very clever measures to protect himself against the always- feared uprising of the English “serfs”; All the outer rooms surrounding his suite were equipped with sprays which, upon pressing a lever, spread stupefy ing and paralyzing gas—the same gas which the Midianites had used in the attack on Hendron’s camp. Also, Seidel had learned thq use of klul. Indeed, he was addicted to klul, but he had let no one but the chemist who supplied him with the • drug, know It' Seidel thought It would be very amusing to Induct Marian Into the uses of kluL It was most pleasant and effective, he had found, when breathed ih a warm, almost steamy atmosphere. He liked to let it evaporate beside the bath, then to lie in the bath, breathing the klul-drenched afn He had a mar velous bath In his suite in the CitadeL The Ancient People had built a pool which could be heated to any tempera ture—a beautiful enamel-tiled pool with gay decorations. Seidel Insisted that Marian swim with him alone in the lovely pool and breathe klul He dismissed his attend: ants and led her in. The klul, in its big basin, was rapidly evaporating In the warm, steamy air. Marian kept herself covered with a single garment like a kimono. H# ordered her to throw it off and bathe with him. She asked, first, to breathe more klul ; and she pretended that she was very intoxicated. She danced and delighted Seidel who ordered her to throw off her gar ment and dive into the water with him “Why do you keep it clutched about you?” he demanded. In a moment she showed him; f0r he tried to tear off the kimono, and she let go with her hand, which had ( been holding, under the cloth, a knife. She stabbed him as he reached for her. She left the dagger in him as he staggered back. He cursed her, and found his alarm signal before he pulled out the knife, threw At at her—and died. • Marian heard them at the door. For a moment she was dizzy; perhaps the klul was affecting her. She picked up the knife, with which she bad killed him, and armed herself with it again. Then she remembered the protection he had prepared for himself against She pulled the lever that sprayed all the outer rooms with the stupefying gas—the rooms filled with his friends, the most dependable and trustworthy of those who had supported him. . • • • • » • • - The signal promised by the five—if they succeeded—did not come to Hen- dron-Khorlu. It became longer ■«»? longer overdue. At dawn Ransdell set out to *7 toward (he capital city and toward Danot beyond it; but on the way he met another plane. Ransdell swung about, and curiously, yet keeping a cautious distance, pur sued the plane, which was making straight for Hendron-Khorlu. It landed on the field outside the city; and Dave followed it down. Two men stepped out; and it was evident that the passenger was watch ing the pilot; the passenger was armed; the pilot was not Ransdell and Waterman, who was with him, approached the pair; and the passenger, forgetting his watch of the pilot, burrjed to them. “You’re the AmericansT he hailed them in English.; more, be spoke like an Englishman. “Yea I” called Ransdell “Who are you?” “Grlggsby-Cook I Once Major Grlggs- by-Cook, of the Royal Air forces I” “Where from?” challenged Ransdell wonderlngly. “Where from?” repeated the Engllsh- manj “Out of slavery, I’d sayl I came to tell you. We’ve taken over the city, since that girl of yours stabbed Seidel and gassed the rest of the ring! We’ve taken over the city I" “Who?” demanded Ransdell; and answered himself: “Oh, you mean the English l Then Taylor and James and Vanderbilt and the five of them got in 1” “The five?” repeated Griggsby-Cook. "It was a girl that got ini She did for Seidel in his bath—like Charlotte Cor- day with Marat I “Then she gassed a lot more. » r . There was nothing to it when we got wind of.that, and rose against them. I say, we’ve quite taken over the city I L buzzed off to tell you chaps.” “But the five—the five men that went from here?” Ransdell persisted. “Know nothing of them I” said the Englishman. “Sorry.” Then no one spoke; but the four of them stared, as in the dim gray dawn, the great dome of Khorlu began glow ing, and Illumination showed in the streets too. ' “The lights are coming on l” Rans dell exclaimed Incrudulously. “Yes,” said the Englishman. “We were working at that; they hoped to get the power to you before I got here!”,.. It was only a little later that the same English engineers restored the power supply- to Danot, which had been \cut off for reasons unguessed, optll tiiey had searched the tunnel and found hpe dead and four wounded America Tony Dhake, on entering the capital city, went ’first to the hospital rooms wh$re Eliory and Jack Taylor and Whittington and Peter Vanderbilt lay. They would allVpull through,” the Eng lish surgeon, premised; but he could not say so much of others under his care; for the uprising had cost, on both sides, thirty lives; and ten more of the wounded would not recover. But battle on Bronson Beta was over —at least for the present - They were gathered all together, in Gorfulu; and they were going to have a great meeting to discuss and agree upon the form of government What was it to be? Some suggested an alternate -dicta torship, like the consuls of the Roman republic,- with an American consul alternating in power with an English. Others declared as positively that all rivalries and Jealousies of the shat tered earth should be forever banished and denied. ; There were a score of other schemes. And more debate than ever before on manners and morals—especially about marriage. Should there be laws for love? Cast off conventions and t&boos! All right; try to get along without any. • , . , - , Tony retired to the lovely apartment provided in the capital city for Eve and himself; he was very tired. The day had been dark and tyng, and out side the shield of the city, very cold. It was neither dark not cold within; for the power plant more than sup plied needed beat and light The peo ple were provided with every material thing. “And today,” said Tony to his wife, “we ascertained beyond possible ques tion that this planet stays with the sun. Today we passed aphelion, and have definitely begun to approach the sun again. Life here will go on." “Our life together, Tonyl" He kissed her more tenderly for his child within her. L “I’ve not dared think too mu£fi of— our son, Eve. But now it seems cer tain he’ll come into a world where he can live. But what strange, strange things, my dear, he is sure to seel" [THE END.) Poplar Tree Is Beaver’s Favorite Along Streams Beavers are as easy to raise as sheep or pigs. They are more profitable and give less trouble. The beaver flour ishes wherever the poplar grosrifc and was once very much at home all over the continent from the Mexican border north, excepting only the deserts of the south and the sub-arctic barrena For the native it was an important source of food and warm clothing, and the value of Its pelts was responsible for attracting the advance guard of civilization. For a century the beaver skin was the standard of value among the dwellers of the frontier. - As engineers their architectural In genuity Is sufficient to enable them to withstand their natural enemies, the bear, the wolf, the bob-cat, the wolver ine and the otter. But they are not nearly so intelligent as 1^ Is generally supposed. In fact they are so easily trapped as to be the most difficult an imals to protect In their wild condition they are friendly and ' sociable among them selves, but regard other beavers andjatr ~ other living things as eoeatfe* ^ IMPROVED’ UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL UNDAVI chool Lesson o By aav. p. b. rrrawATER. d. d, Mtmb*r mt Faculty Moody Btbla Inttltut* of Chicago. C. Wootorn Nowapapor Union. Lesson v for August 11 —v V DANIEL Lesson text—Daniai t-.i-is. GOLDEN TEXT—Know y not that your body Is tha temple of (ha Holy Ohoat which la In you. which ya hava pf God?—I Corinthians f:19. PRIMARY TOPIC—How Denial Grew’ Strong. JUNIOR TOPIC—Ton Times Strong. • INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP- IC —^teylnsthe Lawa of Health YOUNO PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP IC—Motlvaa for Total Abstlnanca. The lesson committee has designat ed this lesson, “Temperance and Health.” In the use of this as a tem perance lesson It must be borne in mind that It Is temperance in the senae of self-mastery, rather than having to do with Indulgence In Intoxicating liquors. Daniel’s self-mastery was due to hla right relation and loyalty to his God. It Is utterly futile to hope to enforce a program of temperance upon those who are in rebellion against God. 1. Daniai In Captivity In Babylon (vy. 1-4). Daniel with his companions were carried away to Babylon in the first selge of Jerusalem ~by Nebuchadnez zar. At the command of the king, cer tain choice young men were carried away because they were “skillful in wisdom, and cunning In knowledge, and understanding science," that they might be trained to stand in the king's palace. II. Daniel's Trials (vv. 6-7). L Conscience tested (v. B). By the appointment of the king, T daily pro vision was arranged of the king's meat and wine for Daniel and bis compan ions. This was contrary to the custom among the godly Jews. Being con trary to the Jewish customs they could not conscientiously partake of them. 2. The change of name (w. 6, 7). Among the Hebrews names were given to children which were most signifi cant Daniel means “God is my Judge." The significance of this name is that all the problems of life werp submit ted to God for a decision. God was made the arbitrator of his life. His name was changed to Belteshazzar, which means “Bel’s prince." It meant therefore, one whom the chief god of the Babylonians favors. Hananiah means “gift or beloved of Jehovah.” His name was changed to Sbadrach, which signified “illumined by the sun god, Rach.” Mlshaei means “who is as God?” His name was changed to Meshach, which means “who is like the goddess, Sheshach, the gentle one?” Azariab means “Jehovah is our nelp." This was changed to Abed- nego, wbicb means “the servant -of Nego.” Back of the change of names was the attempt of Satan to wipe out the name of the true God. III. Daniel's Courtesy (vv. 8-13). Daniel seems to have been the spokesman for the company. Although his heart was fixed, he did not forget to be. a gentleman. He requested to be excused from this meat and drink in order that he be not defiled. We should learn from this that in times evfti of greht trials we should be courteous. When Daniel asked that a test be made as to the effect of the food upon the countenance of hlmaeft and companions, gracloqs considera tion was given to them. IV. Daniel’s Triumph (vv. 14-21). 1. As to physical health (w. 14-16). A test was made for ten days, tnd It was shown that Danlei and his com panions were fairer in countenance and fatter in flesh than those who in dulged In the eating of the king’s meat This meat and wine would have been pleasant to the palate, but would have meant a compromise of the con science. It is obligatory upon God’s children today to abstain from that which la contrary to his law. 2. Spiritual Insight (v. 17). Because of Daniel’s loyalty to God, Nebochad- nezzar’a dream was revealed to him (2:31-45), and was given visions sketching the whole history of the world. — ^ ' 3. Mental growth (vv. 17-20). Dan iel and his companions were found to be ten times superior In matters of wisdom and understanding to their comrades. Those who abstain from indulgence In the use of strong drinks have clearer minds and are thus bet ter equipped mentally for tbelr work than those who Indulge therein. 4. Their social and political prefer ence (v. 19). They stood before the king. No higher position of Influence and honor could have been given them. —~ 6. Their temporal Influence (v. 21), They were all advanced to positions of Influence, and Daniel became pres ident of the college of wise men, and Crochet Designs in Wide Demand Crocheted \>dgings and Insertions iave such a wide application’ te louaehold linens and wearing ap parel that they are always in de mand and always In use. Pillow cases, towels, table run ners, dresser seta, aprons, gowns kiddle dresses, handkerchiefs, cur tains, bed-spreads, and many otbet articles, require these handmade finishing touches to make them tractive. Book No. 26 contains 1 72 actual size Illustrations with Instructions for many beautiful edgings, soma Insertions and a few medallions, and la a valuable book to have on hand when an edging la wanted Use a thread of proper size, depend ing on article to whjch. edging la to be applied. Send 15c to our crochet depart ment and receive this book by man Address. HOME CRAFT COM PANY, DEPARTMENT B. Nine teenth and St Louis avenue, 8L Louis, Mo. Inclose a stamped addressed en velope for reply, when writing fe* any Information. Alpln* Manrioa |T . One of the moat beautiful customa which has been followed for turles In the mountains is that prme deed by the Alpine herdsmen at Switzerland. Just as the last raya of the setting sun are disappearing and the golden glow Is reflected on the white mountain tops, the herds man living on the highest peak takes hla Alpine horn and calls loudly, “Praise the Lord God! Praise the Lord God!" As soon as the neighboring herds man below hears these words he takes hla Alpine horn and relays the cal] to hla neighbor, who takes It op In turn. Down the mountain Mde the call goes, sounding like a won derful echo and rolling on for a quarter of an hour. When silence .tolls every herds man kneels by hla flock In evening prayers. When the devotions ai\ over the herdsman on the highest ridge again calls, “Good night ! Good night!" Thla call la In turn carried down the mountain aide and then the herdsmen drift back to their cot tages and all is silent the prime minister of the nation. This position he continued to hold dunng several dynasties. Good Actions Do you act as if you had ten thou sand years to throw | away. JDeath stands at your elbow. Be good for something, while you live and It is la your power. What remains but to live easy and cheerful and crowd one good action so dose to another that there may be the least empty space - betgreea them. - Habit * ^ Habit la the magistrate of our livaa; and, therefore, wa should see that we hava good habits.—-Lord Bacon. 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