Pittston Gazette

              V K»t»b"-'«"1 IKSO. I 70L. XLVIIl N11..41' I Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Valley. P1TTST0N, LUZERNE COUNTY, PA., FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1898. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. j *1 .OO » 1 «»r ftu A(lvnuo« • noma or tnem anve. remarked, was only five miles in diameter.then doubtless we shall find the metal." calculated, will carry them back again to Mars." :arrctt P Tbe signal was given as be had ordt rod. Tbe flagship then alone dropped slowly toward the place on the asteroid where tbe prostrate Martians were. This hint was instantly acted upon. Something that wonld serve for a spade was seized by one of tbe men, and in a few minutes a hole bad been dug in tbe comparatively light soil of the asteroid. tance, and after they had reversed their polarity and applied their intensifier so as to make that intluenoe effective their motion was at first exceedingly slow. eucB of the danger many of them had lost all self command. A half dozen had dropped their disintegrators upon the ground. Others stood as if frozen fast in their tracks. The expert electrician whoso poor aim had had such disastrous results held in his hand an instrument which was in perfect condition, yet with mouth agape he stood trembling like a captured bird. hub tluy bi»Ci v uru rtuntiulng. as iu rbecaseof the first Martian killed, to indicate that such beings had ever existed. Tl-e nature of the metal composing these artichs was unknown to us. Evidently its vibratory rhythm did not correspond with any included iu the ordinary range of the disintegrators. Several of as from tbe flagship started oat hastily to explore tbe miniature planet. And now oar attention was recalled to an intensely interesting phenomenon which bad engaged our thoughts not only when we were upon the moon, but during our flight through space. This was tbe almost eutire absence of weight. "If that's so," exolaimed a voice, "we bad better look out for ourselves. We have got into a very hornets' nest. If this is the place where the Martiaus come to dig gold and if this is the height of tbeir season, as you say, they are not likely to leave us here long undisturbed " As we got near them a terrible scene unfolded itself to our eyes. There had evidently been not more than half a dozen of tlw monsters in the beginning. Two of these were stretched headless upon the ground. Three others bad suffered horrible injuries where tbe invisible vibratory beams from tbe disintegrators had grassed them, and they oould not long survive. Gnu only remained apparently uninjured. Fortunately, after a time they got under way with sufficient velocity to bring them back to us before tbe approaching Martians could overtake them. I shall never forget the sight or tbe exclamations of wonder that broke forth from all of us standing around when the yellow gleam of tbe precious metal appeared under tbe "star dust." Collected in huge masses, it reflected the light of the sun from its biding place. The latter were not moving with great velocity, having evidently projected themselves from Mars with only just sufficient force to throw tbeui within tbe feeble sphere of gravitation of the asteroid, so that they should very gently land upon its surfaoe. •Some of the giants bad been only partially destroyed, the vibratory currunt having grazed them in such a manner tbat the shattering undulations bad not acted upon the entire body. On tbe moon, where the force of gravitation is one-sixth as great as upon the earth, we bad found ourselves astonishingly light Five-sixths of our own weight and of the weight of the airtight suits in which we were incased bad magically dropped from us. It was therefore comparatively easy for us, incumbered as we were, to make our way about ou tbe moon. "These fellows must have been pirates that they had the tight with," »aid another. It was a disgraceful-exhibition. Mr. Edison, however, bad not lost his head. Again and again be sighted at the dreadful knob with his disintegrator, but the vibratory force refused to respond. The means of safety were In oar bands, and yet through a combination of ill luck and paralyzing terror we seemed unable to use them. Evidently tbe planet waa not a solid ball of gold, formed like a bullet run in a mold, but was composed of nuggets of various sizes, which bad oome together here under tbe influence of their mutual gravitation and formed a little metallic planet. "But what's become of the regulars, tben'r" One thing that lends a peculiar horror to a terrestrial battlefield was absent. There was no bloodshed. The vibratory energy not only completely destroyed whatever it fell upon, but it seared the veins und arteries of the dismembered bodies so that there was no sanguinary exhibition connected with its murderous work. "Gone back to Mars for help probably, and they'll be here again pretty quick, I am afraid." Indeed, looking out behind tbe eleotrlcal ship wbicb had brought us the warning, we immediately saw the projectile of tbe Martians approaching. It sparkled like a star in the black sky as tbe sunlight fell upon it. CHAPTER X. of Mars Itself on their own ground and prepared for war? It is impossible for me to describe the appearance of this creature in terms that would be readily understood. Was he like a man? Yes and no. He possessed many human characteristics, but tbey were exaggerated and monstrous In scale and in detail. His bead was of enormous size, and bis huge projecting eyes gleamed with a strange fire of intelligence. His face was like a caricu- Considerable alarm was caused by this view of the case, and orders were sent to severni of tue electrical ships to cruise out to a safe distanoe in the direction of Mars and keep a sharp outlook for the approach of enemies. OHAPTER IX. In a second more it would be all over with uh. "It is an astereid," said somebody. However, it would not do to despond. We bad been incautious, and we should take good care not to commit tbe same fault agaiu. Judging by the test of weight which we had already tried, and wbicb bad led to the discovery of the gold, tbe composition of the asteroid must be tbe same to its very center. "Yes, evidently, but how doe* it come inside the orbit of Mars?" But whin we were far from both the earth and tbe moon tbe loss of weight was more astonishing still—not astonishing becauso we bad not known that it would be so, but nevertheless a surprising phenomenon in contrast with our lifelong experience on the earth. Tbe ships of the squadron whose crews had not landed upon tbe planet were signaled to prepare for action, while those who were upon tbe asteroid made ready for battle there. A number of disintegrators were trained upon tbe approaching Martians, but Mr. Edison gave striot orders that no attempt should be made to discharge tbe vibratory force at random. The suspense in reality lasted only daring the twinkling of an eye, though it seemed ages long. All this time the shackled Martian bad lain on his back where we had left him bound. What bis feelings must have been may be imagined. At times I caught a glimpse of bis eyeB, wildly rolling and .exhibiting, when he saw that the victory was in our hands, the first indications of fear and terror shaking his soul that had yet appeared. "Ob, there are several asteroids," said one of the astonomers, "which travel inside the orbit of Man along a part of their course, and for aoght we can tell there may be many which have not yet been caught sight of from tbe earth that are nearer to tbe tun than Mars is." The first thing to do was to avenge tbe death of oar comrades. Tbe question wbetber we were able to meet these Martian* and overcome them might as well be settled right here and now Tbey bad proved %uat u*ij' Meanwhile our prisoner awoke. He tnrned his eyes upon those standing about him without any appearance of fear, but rather with a look of contempt, like that which Unlliver must have felt for tbe Lilliputians who had bound him under similar circumstances. Unable to endure it, I sharply struck the shoulder of the paralyzed eleotrioian. To have attempted to seize the disintegrator from his hands would have been a fatal waste of time. Luckily the blow either roused him from his stupor or caused an instinctive move- CHAPTER XI. In open space we were practically without weight. Only tbe mass of tbe electrical car in which we were inclosed attracted us, and inside that we could place ourselves in any position without falling. We could float in tbe air. There was no up aud no down, no top and no bottom for us. Stepping outside the car, it would have been easy for us to spring away from it and leave it for ever. In an assemblage of famous scientific men such as this tbe discovery of oourse immediately led to questions as to the origin of this incredible phenomenon. even when disabled and at a disadvantage. Now It km oar torn. "This n:u«t bo one vt them. * , "Manifestly so." How did these masses iff gold oome together? How did it chance that, with the exception of tbe thin crust of the asteroid, nearly all its snbstanoe was oouiposed of tbe precious metal? There were both hatred and defiance in his glance. He attempted to free himself, and the ropes strained with the tremendous pressure that be pnt upon them, but be could not break loose. "They do not know that we are here," be said, "and I am convinced that they are unable to control tbeir motions as we can do with our eleotrical ships. Tbey depend simply upon tbe force of gravitation. Having passed the limit of the attraction of Mars, they have now fallen within tbe attraction of tbe asteroid, and tbey must slowly sink to its surfaoe. ment of his hand that set the little englue in operation. The aquadron bad been rapidly withdrawn to a very considerable distance from the asteroid. The range of the mysterious artillery employed by the Martians was unknown to us. We did not even know tbe limit of the effective range of our own disintegrators. If it should prove that tbe Martians were able to deal tbeir strokes at a distance greater than any wbicb we could reach then they would of oonrse have an insoperable advantage. "That fellow is afraid at last," I said to Mr. Edison. As we drew nearer the mysterious flttle planet revealed itaelf to ss ail perfectly formed globe not more than five miles in diameter. I am snre he took no aim, bat providentially the vibratory foroe fell upon the desired point and the knob disappeared." Well, I should think he ought to be afraid," was the reply. One asserted that it was quite impossible that there sbonld be so much gold at so great a distance from tbe sun. Satisfied that the Martian was safely bound, we left him where he lay, and while awaiting news from the ships which bad been sent to reconnoiter continued tbe exploration of the little planet "So beongfat, bat if I am not mistaken this fear of bis may be tbe beginning of a new disoovery for us." "What is that upon it?" asked Lord Kelvin, squinting intently at the little world through bis glass. "As I live, it moves!" We were saved! One of the most startling experiences that I have ever bad was one day when we were navigating space about half way between the earth and Mara. I bad stepped outside tbe car with Lord Kelvin, both of un, of course, wearing our airtight suits. We were perfectly well aware what would be the consequence of detaching ourselves from the car as we moved along. We should still retain the forward motion of the car, and of course accompany it in its flight. There would be no falling one way or the other. The car would have a tendency to draw us back again by its attraction, but this tendtnoy would be very slight, and practically inappreciable at a distance.Instantly half a dozen rushed toward the oar of tbe Martians. We bitterly repented tbeir baste; they did not live to repent. "How so?" asked Mr. Edison. "It is a general law," be said, "that the planets increase in density toward the sun There is every reason to think that the inner planets possess tbe greater amount of dense elements, while tbe outer ones are comparatively light" "In tbis way: When once be fears our power and perceives that there would be no hope of contending against us, even if be were at liberty, he will respect us. This change in his mental attitude may teud to make him communicative. 1 do not see why we should despair of learning bis language from bim, and having done that be will serve as our guide and interpreter and will be of incalculable advantage to us when we have arrived at Mars." "Yes, yes!" exclaimed several others. "There are inhabitants npon it but what giants!" At a point nearly opposite to that where wetbad landed we came upon the mine wbioh the Martians bad been working. They bad removed the thin coating of soil, laying bare the rich stores of gold beneath, and large quantities of the latter bad been removed. Some of it was so solidly packed that the strokes of the instruments by means of which they bad detached it were visible like the streaks left by a knife catting cheese. "Having, as I am oonvinoed, no means of producing or oontrolling electrical attraction and repulsion, tbey cannot stop themselves, but must oome down upon tbe asteroid. Having got here tbey oould never get away again, except as we know the survivors got away from tbe earth, by propelling their projectile against gravitatioo with the aid of an explosive. Unknown to us tbe Martians carried band engines capable of launching bolts of death of tbe same obaracter as those which emanated from the knobs "What monsters!" On tbe other hand, if it should tarn out that our range waa greater than theirs the advantage would be on our side, or—which waa perhaps most probable—there might be practically no difference in tbe effective range of tbe engines. "Don't you see?" exolaimed an exoited savant. "They are the Martians!" But another referred to the old theory that there was once io this part of the solar system a planet whicb had been burnt iu pieces by some mysterious explosion, the fragments forming what we kaow as the asteroids. In bis opinion this planet migbt have contained a large quantity of gold, and in the course of ages the gold, having in consequence of its superior atomic weight not been so widely scattered by the explosion as some of tbe other elements of the planet, hail oollected itself together in this body. The startling truth burst upon tbe minds of all. Here upon this little planetoid were several of the gigantic inhabitants of the world that we were going to attack. There waa more than one man in the flagship who recognized them well, and who shuddered at the recognition, instinctively recalling the recent terrible experience of the earth. Anyhow we were going to find out bow tbe oaee stood and that without delay."Therefore to a certain extent they will be at our mercy. Letnaallow them quietly to land upon tbe planet and then I think, if it beoomea neoessary, we can master them." "Capital, capital!" said Mr. Edison. "We must concentrate tbe lingnistio genius of our company upon that problem at ouoe." Everything being in readiness, the disintegrators all in working order, and the men who were able to handle them, moat of whom were experienced marksmen, chosen from among the officers of the regular army of the United States and aooustomed to the straight shooting and the sore hits of the west, standing at their pasta, the squadron again advanced.Tbe more we saw of this golden planet the greater became our astonishment. What tbe Martians bad removed was a mere nothing in comparison with tbe entire bulk of tbe asteroid. Had the celestial mine been easier to reach perhaps tbey would have removed more, or possibly their political economists perfectly understood tbe necessity of properly controlling tbe amount of precious metal in oiroulation. Very likely, we thought, tbe mining operations were under government control in Mars, and it migbt be that tbe majority of tbe people there knew nothing of this store of wealth floating in the firmament. That would aocount for the battle with the supposed pirates, who no doubt had organized a secret expedition to the asteroid and been caught red banded at tbe mine. We were more than ever impressed with hi* {jigaiUic stature. Was this an outpost of the warlike Mart? "1 am going to step off," I suddenly said to Lord Kelvin. "Of course I shall keep right along with the car and step aboard again when 1 am ready." Notwithstanding Mr. Edison's reassuring words and manner, the oompany upon tbe asteroid experienced a dreadful suspense wbile tbe projectile, wbiob seemed very formidable as It drew near, sank with a alow and graoefol motion toward tbe surfaoe of tbe ground. Evidently it was about to land very near the spot where we stood awaiting it. To be Continued. ture, but not one to make the beholder laugh. Drawing himself up, he towered to a height of at least 15 feet. But I observed that Lord Kelvin and tbe other more distinguished men of science said almost nothing during this discussion. Tbe truly learned .man la the truly wise man. They were not going to set up theories without sufficient facts to sustain them. Tbe one fact tbat tbe gold was here was all tbey bad al piesent. Until tbey could learn more tbey were not prepared to tbeoriae as to bow the gold got there. VUUUM OI Around these monstrous enemies we saw several of their engines of war. Some of these appeared to have been wrecked, bnt at least one, as far as we could see, was still in a proper condition (or use. One of tbe very Interesting gifts received recently by tbe Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia is modestly recorded as '*46 ■ pedes and 103 specimens at grasshoppers of eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, collected by tbe Feldman Collecting social." This collection embraces about one-third tbe species within tbe boundaries named. There Is probably nothing new to the Academy of Natural Sciences in tbis lot, but it is valuable nevertheless, for it teaches the uninitiated at a glance, among other things, that there is much more embraced in the genua grasshopper than he before Imagined. Ha will discover, for Instanoa, that consplou* oua among the tribe is tbe universally datested oookroaoh, tbe terror of all careful housekeepers. If the person be a New Yorker, be will quickly identity among the cockroaches a little brown bug, whieh be baa perhaps hitherto only known aa tbe Croton bug, an insect which suddenly made its appeeranoe in vast numbers a few years ago in tbe Croton water furnish- But let the reader not suppose from this inadequate description that t.be Martians stirred in the beholder precisely the sensation that would be caused by the sight of a gorilla or other repulsive inhabitant of oue of our terrestrial jungles suddenly confronting hhn in its native wilds. right on general principles, young man," replied the great savant, "but beware in what manner you step off. Kemembar, if you give your body an impulse sufficient to carry it away from the car to any considerable distance you will be unable to get back again unless we can catch you with a boathook or a fish line. Out there in empty space you will have nothing to kick against, and you will be unable to propel yourself in the direction of the car, and its attraction is so feeble that we should probably arrive at Mars before it hud drawn you back again." In order to distract the attention of the Martians the electrical ships had been distributed over a wide space. Some dropped straight down toward the asteroid; others approached it by flank attack, from this side and that. The flagship moved straight in toward the point where the first disaster occurred. Its intrepid oommander felt that his post should be that of the greatest danger and where the severest blows would be given and reoeived. How bad these creatures got- there? "Wby, that is easy enough to account for," I said, as a sudden recoil eotion flashed into my mind. "Don't yon remember the report of the astronomers Its inmates had apparently just oaugbt sight of ns. Tbey evinced signs of astonishment and seemed at a loss exactly what to da We coald see projecting from the fore part of their oar at least two of tbe polished knobs, whose fearful use and power we well comprehended. • With all his horrible characteristics and all his suggestions of beast and monster, nevertheless the Martian produced the impression of being a person and not a mere animal. more than six months ago, at the end of tbe conference in Washington, that something which seemed to indicate tbe departure of a new expedition from Mars had been noticed by tbem? We have heard nothing of that expedition since. We know that it did not reach the earth. It must have fallen foal of this asteroid, run upon this rock in the ocean of space and been wrecked here." And, in truth, it most be confessed tbe greater number of ns really cared less for tbe explanation of tbe wonderful fact than we did for tbe fact itself. I have already referred to tbe enormous size of his head and to the fact that bis oountenanoe bore considerable resemblanoe to that of a man. There was something in this face that sent a shiver through the soul of the beholder. One oould feel in looking upon it that here was intellect, intelligence developed to the highest degree, but in the direotion of evil instead of good. Gold is a thing which may make its appearance anywhere and at any time without offering any exouaea or explanations.Several of our men cried out to Mr. Edison in an extremity of terror: The approach of the ships was made with great caution. Watching tbe Martians with oar teleaoopes we could clearly see that they were disoonoerted by the scattered order of our attack. Even if all of their engines of war had been in proper condition for use it wonld have been impossible for tbem to meet the simultaneous assault of so many enemies dropping down upon tbem from the sky. All this was, of course, perfectly self evident, yet I believe that but for tbe warning word of Lord Kelvin 1 should have been rash enough to step out into empty space, with sufficient force to have separated myself hopelessly from tbe electrioal ship. There were many detached masses of gold scattered about, and some of tbe men, on picking them up, exclaimed with astonishment at their lack of weight, forgetting for a moment tbat the same law wbioh caused their own bodies to weigh so little must necessarily affect everything else in like degree. A mass of gold that on tbe earth no man would have been able to lift could here be tossed about like a hollow rubber ball. " Why do you not destroy them? Be quick, or we shall all perish." "Phew 1 Won't we be rich?" exclaim erl a voice. "No," said Mr. Edison, "there is no danger. You can see tbat tbey are not prepared. Tbey will not attempt to attaok na until tbey have made their landing.""We've got 'em, then!" shouted oar electric steersman, who had been a workman in Mr. Edison's laboratory and had unlimited confidence in bis chief. "How are we going to dig it and get it back to earth?" aaked another. "No need of staking olaims here," remarked another. "There la enough for everybody." "Carry it in your pockets," said one. Throngh the breach wc saw the Martian*. of their larger machines. With these they fired, so to speak, through the breaoh in their car, and four of our men who were rushing upon them fell in heaps of cinders. The effect of the terrible fire was like that which the most powerful strokes of lightning occasionally produce on the earth. ed for drinking and domestic purposes. Among tba grasshoppers also are the crickets and katydids, and hers again one learns with surprise that tbe beautiful green, long winged creatures wbioh aw generally credited with accusing each other in tbe dnak at tbe evening of having done something or other are not guilty. The oulprtt is in the collection, however, and tt Is also green, but not of that delloate shade whieh is possessed by tbe one so long aooused. It is, moreover, a sullen looking creature, with rounded head and brownish legs, just tbe eort of an insect that one would imagine would take delight in indulging in recriminations. — Philadelphia Ledger. Tbe sensatious of one who bad stood face to face with satan when he was driven from the battlements of heaven by the swords of his fellow archangels and had beheld bim transformed from Lucifer, the son of tbe morning, into the prince of night and bell, might not have been unlike those whioh we now experienced as we gazed upon this dreadful personage, who seemed to combine tbe intellectual powers of a man, raised to their highest pitch, with some of tbe physical features of a beast and all the moral depravity of a fiend. As it was, I took good care to retain a hold upon a projecting portion of tbe car. Occasionally cautiously releasing my grip, I experienced for a few minutes tbe delicious, indescribable pleasure of being a little planet swinging through spaoe. with nothing to bold me up and nothing to Interfere with my motion. And Mr. Edison was right With gradually accelerated velocity and yet very, very slowly in comparison with the speed they wonld have exhibited in falling npon snch a planet as the earth the Martians and their oar came down to the gronnd. Tbe electrical ships wen immediately instructed by signal to slow down, an operation that was easily effected through the electrical repulsion of the asteroid. Mr. Edison suddenly turned the current of talk. Bat they were made of fighting metal, MM we knew from old experience. It was no question of surrender. They did not know how to surrender, and we did not know how to demand a surrender. Besides, the destruction of the two eleotrical ships with tbe 40 men, many of whom bore names widely known on the earth, had exalted a kind of fury among the members of the squadron which called for vengeance. "What do yon suppoae thoM Martians were doing here?" Wbile we were examining the mine one of the men left to gnard the Martian oame running to inform ns that the latter evidently wished to make some communication. Mr. Edison and others hurried to the side of the prisoner. He still lay on his back, from which position be waa not able to move, notwithstanding all his efforts. But by the motion of bis eyea, aided by a pantomime with his fingers, be made us understand that there was something in a metallic box fastened at bis side which he wished to reach. The Dearer we got the mora terrifying was tbe appearance of the gigantio creatures wbo were riding upon tbe little world before us like castaway sailors npon a block of ioe. Like men, and yet not like men, combining tbe human and the beast in their appearance, it required a steady nerve to look at them. If we had not known their malignity and their power to work evil, it wonid have been different, but in oar eyes their moral character shone through their physical aspect and thus rendered them more terrible than they would otherwise have been. "Why, they were wrecked here." We stood at a distance of perhaps 800 feet from the point where they tooohed the asteroid. Instantly a dozen of the giants sprang from the oar and gazed about for a moment with a look of intense surprise. At first it was doubtful whether they meant to attack as at alL "Not a bit of it," aaid Mr. Edison. "Aooordiug to your own showing, tbey soold not have been wrecked here. This The destruction of the threatening knob had instantaneously relieved the pressure upon the terror stricken nerves of our company and they had all regained their composure and self command. But thiB new and unexpected disaster, following so close upon the fear whioh bad recently overpowered them, produced a second panic, the effeot of whioh was not to stiffen them in their tracks as before, but to send them scurrying in every direotion in search of hiding places. Mr. Edison, happening to come upon tbe deck of the ship at this time and seeing what we were abont, at onoe said: "I uiunt provide agaimt this danger. If I do not, there is a chance that we shall arrive at Mars with tbe ships half empty and the crews floating helplessly around us." We stood on our guard, several carrying disintegrators in our hands, while a score more of those terrible engines were turned upon the Martians from the electrical ships which hovered near. Tbe appearance of tbe Martian was indeed so threatening and repellent that we paused at tbe height of 60 feet above the ground, hesitating to approach nearer. A grin of rage and bate overspread bis faoe. If be bad been a man, I should say be shook bis fist at us. What he did was to express in even more telling pantomime his hatred and defianoe and his determination to grind us to shreds if he could once get ns within bis clutches. 8i(u a MaacW Maker. Suddenly • repetition of tbe quick movement by the Martians which bad been the forerunner of their former ooop was observed. Again a blinding flash burst from their war engine, and instantaneously a shiver ran through tbe frame of tbe flagship. The air within quivered with strange pulsations and seemed suddenly to have assumed the temperature of a blast furnace. The German sugar manufacturer* at one of their reeent meetings have gone very thoroughly into the important role played by sugar on our physical organisms. We have on several previous ocoaaiona called attention to the advantages of sugat tor muscular development and cited practical experiments relating to the same. Some professors now go further and declare that sugar is the only source ot strength of man; other subetanoes, suofc as fats, albumen, etc., are transformed Into sugar before their assimilation Is possible. Efforts are being made to have the war minister look into the subject and give special sugar allowances to the soldiers. That there shall be no expense for the government in giving the eubjeot a trial it is proposed that the German sugat manufacturers furnish gratuitously suffl dent sugar for the 8,000 men who are to be kept under observation. Mr. Edison's way of guarding against the danger was by contriving a little apparatus, modeled after that which was tbe govern ingforoe of the electrical ships themselves, and which, being inclosed in tbe airtight suits, enabled their wearers to manipulate the electrical charge npon tbem in such a way that they conld make excursions from the cars into open space like steam launches from a ship, going and returning at their will. With some difficulty we succeeded in opening the box, and in it there appeared a number of bright red pellets as large as an ordinary egg. Suddenly he who seemed to be the leader of the Martians began to speak to them in pantomime, using his Angers after the manner in which they are used for conversation by deaf and dumb people.And now a most curious effeot of the smallness of the planet we were on began to play a conspicuous part in our adventure. Standing on a globe only five miles in diameter was like being on the summit of a mountain whose sides sloped rapidly off in every direotion, disappearing in the black sky on all sides, as if it were some stupendous peak rising out of an unfathomable abyss. When we first saw them, their appearance was most forlorn, and their attitudes indicated only despair and desperation, bnt as tbey caught sight of us their malign power of intellect instantly penetrated tbe mystery, and tbey recognised us for wbat we were. When the Martian saw these in our hands, be gave us to understand by the motion of his lips that he wished to swallow one of them. A pellet was accordingly placed in his mouth, and he instantly and with great eagerness swallowed It. We all gasped for breath. Our throats and lungs seemed soorcbed in tbe act of breathing. Some fell nnooosoious upon the floor. Tbe marksmen, oarrying the disintegrators ready for use, staggered, and one of tbem dropped his instrument.Of course we did not know what he was saying, but his meaning beoame perfectly evident a moment later. Clearly they did not oomprehend the powers of the insignificant looking strangers with whom they had to deal. Instead of turning their destructive engines upon us they advanced on a run, with tho evident purpose of making ub prisoners or crushing us by main force. Mr. Edison and I still stood upon tbe deck of the ship, where several others bad gathered around us. The atmosphere of the little asteroid was so rare that it practically amounted to nothing, and we could not possibly have survived it if we bad not continued to wear our airtight suits. How the Martians contrived to live here was a mystery to us. It was another of their secrets whioh we were yet to learn. Their despair immediately gave place to reawakened malevolence. On tbe instant they were astir, with such heart chilling movements as those that characterise a venomous serpent preparing to strike. These litfle machines being rapidly manufactured, for Mr. Edison bad a miniature laboratory aboard, were distributed about the squadron, and henceforth we had the pleasure of paying and receiving visits among the various members of the fleet. While trying to communicate his wishes to us the prisoner had seemed to be in no little distress. He exhibited spasmodic movements which led some of the bystanders to think that be was on the point of dying, but within a few seoonds after he had swallowed the pellet he appeared to be completely restored. All evidences of distress vanished, and a look of content oame over bis ugly face. In oonsequenoe of the quiok rounding off of the sides of this globe, the line of the horizon was close at hand, and by running a distance of less than 200 yards the fugitives disappeared down the sides of the asteroid and behind the horizon, even from the elevatiou of about 16 feet from whioh the Martians were able to watch them. From our sight they disappeared muah sooner. But we bad not been destroyed like our comrades before us. In a moment tbe wave of beat passed. Those wbo bad fallen recovered from their momentary stupor and staggered to their feet. Not imagining that tbey would be in a condition to make serious resistance, we had been somewhat incautious in approaching. The soft whir of the disintegrator in the hands of Mr. Edisou standing near me came to ny ears through the telephonic wire. He quickly Swept the concentrating mirror a little up and down, and instantly the foremost Martian vanished. Part of some metallic dress that he wore fell upon the ground where he had stood, its vibratory rate not having been included in the range imparted to the disintegrator. Examples are given of Russian factories where men employed are more willing to work when a certain daily sugar allowance 1s granted. This is combined with a sort of fruit pulp and may be kept for a period of years without undergoing th« slightest change. It very considerably promotes digestion and musoular strength. One need only recall a book written in the early part of this oantury, In whioh It was agreed that life oould be considerably prolonged by eating sugar in determined quantities; for those in excellent heelth it helpe to digest those dishes in which the rich too fluently Indulge; for those who suffer from stomaeh pains sugar when eaten after a meal will generally prove a valuable specific.—Sugar Beet Tbe electrical steersman stood hesitating at bis post Mr. Edison retained his disintegrator in his baud. But to return from this digression to our experience on the asteroid. Tbe latter being a body of some mass was, of course, able to impart to us a measurable degree of weight. Being five miles in diameter, on the assumption that its mean density was the same as that of tbe earih, tbe weight of bodies on its surface should have borne tbe same ratio to their weight upon the earth that tbe radius of the asteroid bore to tbe radius of tbe earth; in other words, as 1 to 1,(500. Suddenly there was a quicker movement than usual among tbe Martians, • "There it a lot of dead Martians over "Move on," said Mr. Edison sternly, his features set with determination and bis eyes afire. "We are still beyond tbeir effective range. Let ns get closer in order to make sure work when we strike." "Kill him." said some one. "He is too horrible to live." there," he naUt. planet hasn't gravitation enough to wreck them by a fall, and, besides, 1 have been looking at their machines, and I know there has been a fight." "If we do not kill bim. we shall never be able to land upon tbe asteroid," ♦aid another. "It must be a powerful medicine," said one of the bystanders. "I wonder what it is." The slight attraction of the planet and their consequent almost entire lack of weight enabled tbe men to run with immense speed. The result, as I subsequently learned, was that after they had disappeared from our view they quitted the planet entirely, the force being sufficient to partially free them from its gravitation, so that they sailed out into space, whirling helplessly end over end, until tbe elliptical orbits in which they traveled eventually brought them back again to the planet on the side nearly opposite to that from whioh they had departed. "I will explain to you my notion," said Professor Moissan, the great French chemist. "I think it was a pill of the air which he has taken." "No," said Mr. Edisou, "I shall not kill bim. We got other use for bim. Tom," he concluded, turning to one of his assistants, whom lie hast brought from his laboratory, "bring me tbe aueesthetizer." "A fight?" exclaimed several, pricking up their ears. The ship moved on One conld hear the heart beau of its inmates. Tbe other members of tbe squadron, thinking for the moment that disaster bad overtaken tbe flagship, had paused and seemed to be meditating flight. His followers paused for a moment, amazed, stared about as if looking for their leader, and then hurried back to their projectile and disappeared within it "Yes," said Mr. Edison; "those machines bear the marks of the lightning of the Martians. They have been disabled, but they are made of some metal or some alloy of metals unknown to me and consequently they have withstood the destructive force applied to them as our electric ships were unable to withstand it. It is perfectly plain to me that they have been disabled in a battle. The Martians must have been fighting among themselves." "My meaning is," said Professor Moissan, "that the Martian must have, for that he may live, the nitrogen and the oxygen. These can he not obtain hero, where there is not the atmosphere. Therefore must he get them in some other manner. This has be managed to do by combining in these pills the oxygen and the nitrogen in the proportions which make atmospherio air. Doubtless upon Mars there are the very great obemists. They have discovered bow this may be done. When the Martian has swallowed his little pill, the oxygeu and the nitrogen are rendered to bis blood as if be had breathed them, and so he can live with that air which has been distributed to him with the aid of bis stomach in the place of his lungs." "What do you mean by that?" This was something entirely new to nearly all the members of tbe expedition. Mr. Edison, however, bad confided to me before we left the earth tbe fact tbat be had inveuted a little instrument by means of whioh a bubble, strongly charged with a powerful anawtbetio agent, could be driven to a considerable distance info the face of an enemy, where, exploding without Other damage, it would instantly put bim to sleep. Having made this mental calculation, I knew that my weight, being 160 pounds on tbe earth, should on this asteroid be an ounoe and a half. "Now we've got business on our hands," said Mr. Edison. "Look out for yourselves." "Signal tbem to move on," said Mr. Edison. Am 111 TtaMd Text. Tbe signal was given, and tbe circle sf electrical ships olosed in upon the asteroid.A young woman who lives on Capitol hill and has a name which exactly ex presses her nature spent a part of last summer in Atlantic City. There Is in Atlantio City an Eplsoopal ohurch whose doors are never closed. Tbe pastor Is exceedingly devout and ultra high ohurch, and he reads prayers every day. The Washington young woman went Into the eburch one morning. The rector had just begun to read tbe servloe, and she was tbe only listener. Tbe rector finished the prayers, and It then became evident that he meant to do his full duty by his congregation. He was going to preaoh a sermon to the Washington young woman. Curious to see whether faot would bear out theory, I bad myself weighed with a spring balance. Mr. Edison, Lord Kelvin and tbe other distinguished scientists stood by watching the operation with great interest. As he spoke I saw the death dealing knob of the war engine contained in the car of the Martians moving around toward us. In another instant it would have launched its destroying bolt. In tbe meantime Mr. Edison bad been douning bis airtight suit. Before we could fully oomprebend his intention be bad passed through tbe double trapped door which gave access to the exterior of the oar without permitting the loss of air and was standing upon wbat served fur tk« deck of tbe ship. But several of us, with Mr. Edison, stood fast, watching for an opportunity to get the Martians within range of the disintegrators. Luckily we were enabled, by shifting our position a little to tbe left, to get out of the line of sight of our enemies concealed in the car. "About the gold!" exclaimed one. "Of course. What alse was there to fight about?" Before that could oocur, however, it bad been dissipated into space by a vitrntory stream from a disintegrator. To our complete surprise my weight instead of coining out an ounoe and a half, as it should have done, on tbe supposition that the mean density of tbe asteroid resembled that of tbe earth—a very liberal supposition on the side of the asteroid, by the way—actually came out 5V4 ounces! When Tom bad placed the instrument ia bis bandit, Mr. Edison ordered tbe electrical ship to forge slightly ahead and drop a little lower toward the Martian, who, with watchful eyes and threatening gestures, noted our approach iu the attitude of a wild beast on the spring. Suddenly Mr. Edison discharged from tbe instrument in his hand a little gaseous globe, which glittered like a ball of tangled rainbows in the sunshine and darted with astonishing velocity straight into tbe upturned face of the Martian. It burst as it touched, and the mouster fell back senseless upon tbe ground. At this instant one of onr men came running from a considerable distance, waving his ariuB excitedly, but unable to give voioe to bis story iu the inappreciable atmosphere of the asteroid until he bad oome up and made telephonic connection vlth us. nui we were not to get tne victory quite so easily. There was another of the war engines in the oar, and before we could oonoentrate onr fire upon it its aw ful flash shot forth, and a dozen of our comrades perished before our eyes. In his band be carried a disintegrator. With a quick motion he sighted it. "If we cannot catch sight of them," said Mr. Edison, "we shall have to riddle the car on the chanoe of hitting them." As quickly m possible 1 sprang to his rids. I was just in time to note the familiar bine gleam about the instrument which indicated that its terrific energies were at work. Tbe whirring sound was absent because here iu open space, when there was no atmosphere, there oonld be no sound. If M. Moissan's explanation was not oorrect, at any rate it seemed the only one that would fit the facts before us. Certainly the Martian ooald not breathe where there was practically no air, yet just as»certainly after he had swallowed his pill he seemed as comfortable as any of us. "Quiok! Quiok t" shouted Mr. Edison to one of his eleotrical experts standing uear. "There is something the matter with this disintegrator, and I cannot make it work. Aim at the knob and don't miss it." "It will be like tiring into a bush to kill a hidden bear," said one of the party. "Dearly beloved," be began, gazing earnestly into space, "I purpose speaking to you this morning from the test"— and to the dismay of his solitary listener be continued, "from the text, 'Depart from me, for 1 am a sinful man.' Chioago Ictet Ocean. "Wbat in the world makes me so heavy?" I asked. "There is a lot of dead Martians over there," be said. "They've been cleaning one another out." "Yes, indeed! Wbat an elephant you have become!" said Mr. Edisou. "That's it," said Mr. Edison. "I knew it when I saw the oondition of those machines." Bat help came from a quarter which was unexpected to us, although it should not have been so. Several of the electric ships had been hovering above us during the fight, their commanders being apparently uncertain how to act, fearful perhaps of injuring us in the attempt to smite our enemy. Lord Kelvin screwed bis eyeglass in bis eye and carefully inspected the balance.Anotfvtr of our ships, with all'its crew, was destroyed. But the aim was not well taken, and the vibratory force fell upon a portion of the car at a considerable distance from the knob, makiug a great breach, but leaving the engine uninjured. My eyes were fixed upon the Martians' engine, whiah had just dealt as a staggering bat not fatal blow, and particularly I noticed a polished knob projecting from it, wMoh seemed to have been tbe focus from which its destructive bolt emanated. "Then this is not a wrecked expedition, directed against the earth?" "Not at all." Circumstantial Kvldence. swift adjustment of that one of their engines of war which, as already noticed, seemed to be practioally uninjured, and then there darted from it and alighted upon one of the foremost ships a dazzling lightning stroke a mile in length at whose tonoh tbe metallic sides of the car curled and withered and, licked for a moment by what seemed Ism bunt flames, collapsed into a mere cinder. "It's quite right," he said. " Yon do indeed weigh ounces. Too much, altogether too much," he added. "You shouldn't do it, you know." Suddenly, while we were gathered around the prisoner, and interested in this fretrb evidence of the wonderful ingenuity of the Martians and of their control over the processes of nature, one of the electrical ships that had been sent off in the direction of Mars was seen rapidly returning and displaying signals. Magistrate—You Kay you found this man wandering about the graveyard last night. Why do you think he intended robbing the vault? "You have killed him I" exclaimed "This must be tbe great gold mine of Mars," said the president of an Australian mining company, opening both bis eyes and mouth as be spoke. A section of the aid* of the oar had been destroyed, and the vibratory energy had spread no farther. To have attempted to sweep the oar from end to end would have been futile, because the period of action of the disintegrators during each discharge did not exoeed one second, and distributing the energy over so great a space would have seriously weakened its power to shatter apart tbe atoms of the resisting substance. Tbe disintegrators were like firearms in that after each discbarge they must be readjusted before they oould be used again. But now the situation apparently lightened for them. They saw that we were at an immense disadvantage, and several of them immediately turned their batteries upon the oar of the Martians."No," said Mr. Edison, "be is not dead, only asleep. Now we shall drop down and bind him tight before he can awake." "Perhaps the fault is in tbe asteroid," suggested Professor Sylvan us P. Thompson.Constable—Because I found skeleton keys In his pocket, yer worship.—London Fun. A moment later tbe knob disappeared. Tbe irresistible vibrations darted from tbe electrical disintegrator had fallen upon it and instantaneously shattered it into atom*. "Quite so," exclaimed Lord Kelvin, a look of sudden comprehension overspreading his features. "No doubt it is the internal constitution of the asteroid that is the cause of the anomaly. We must look into that. Let me seel This gentleman's weight is times as great as it ought to be. What element is there whose density exceeds the mean density of the earth in about that proportion?""Yes, evidently that's it. Here's where they oome to get their wealth." When we came to bind our prisoner with strong ropes, we were more than ever impressed with his gigantic stature and strength. Evidently in single combat with equal weapons he would Have been a match for 20 of us. "And this," I said, "must be their harvest time. You notice that this asteroid, being several million milea nearer to the sun than Mars is, must have an appreciably shorter period of revolution. When it is iu conjunction with Mars, or nearly so, as it is at present, the distance between the two is not very great, whereas when it is in the opposite part of its orbit they are separated by an enormous gap of space and the sun is between them. They riddled it far more quickly and effectively than we could have done. Every stroke of the vibratory emauation made a gap in the side of the car, and we conld perceive from the commotion within thut our enemies were being rapidly massaored in their fortification. NAT'o:g^g| mr of the Globe for f rheumatism! ■ NETOALCHA and similar Complaints, I and prepared under the stringent LGERMAN MEDICAL LAWS,^ prescribed by eminent phy sicians Mm DR- richter's (Km ANCHOR  fPAIN EXPELLERl I World renowned! Remarkably successful I 1 ■ Only genuine with Trade Mark " Anchor, "■ ■F. ad. BlchUx ••Co., CKPearlSt., New York. ■ 31 HIGHEST AWARDS. i 13 Branch Houses. Ova Glassworks. ■ 50c. Endorsed A recommended  Farrer ft Peck, 30 Luzerne Avenue. G. C. Glick, 60 North Main St. J. H Houcit, 4 North Main 8t Pitttston, Pa. Da*Sfcinw« I **ANCHOR" STOMACHAL best for I I O..U, Dr— Complaint.1 CHAPTER XII. It reported that the Martians were coming! For an instant not a word waa spoken, so sudden and unexpected bad been tbe blow. "That fixes them," mid Mr. Edison, turning to me, with a smile. And indeed it did fix them. We had most effectually spiked their gun. It would deal no more deathblows. • All that I had read of giants had failed to produoe ujwn my inind the impression of enormous size and tremendous physical energy which tbe sleeping body of this immense Martian produced. He bad fallen on his back and was in a most profound slumber. All his features were relaxed, and yet even in that condition there was a devilish ness about him that made tbe beholders instinctively shudder. The alarm was spread instantly among those upon the planet and through the remainder of the fleet. We knew that every aoal in tbe stricken car bad perished. "Back! Back!" was tbe signal in* itantaneously flashed from tbe flagship, and, reversing their polarities, tbe members of the squadron sprang away from tbe little planet aa rapidly as tbe electrical impulse conld drive tbem. Tbe doinga of tbe flagship had been closely watched throughout tbe squadron. The effect of its blow bad been evident to all, and a moment later we saw on some of tbe nearer ships men dressed in their air raits appearing upon the deck, swinging tbeir arms and sending forth noiseless cheers into empty spttce. One of the men from the returning electrical ship dropped down upon the asteroid and gave a more detailed aocount of what tbey had *een. So overwhelming were the force and the advantage of the ships that in a little while it was all over. Mr. Edisou signaled them to stop' firing, because il was plain that all resistance had ceased and probably not one of the Martians remained alive. For a moment we were startled beyond expression. Tbe truth bad flashed upon us. "Oold, " exclaimed one of the party Through the breach we saw the Martians inside making desperate efforts to train their engine upon us, for after their first disastrous stroke we had rapidly shifted our position. Swiftly the polished knob, which gleamed like an evil eye, moved round to sweep over us. Instinctively, though incautiously, we had collected iu a group. "Manifestly iu the latter case It would be perilous if not entirely impossible for tbe Martians to visit tbe golden asteroid, but when it is near Mars as it is at present and as it must be periodically for several years at a time then is their opportunity. His ship bad been the one which had gone to the greatest distance iu the direction of Mara. While cruisiug there, with all eyes intent, they had suddenly perceived a glittering object moving from rbe direction of the ruddy planet and manifestly approaching them. A little inspection with the telescope had shown that it was one of tbe projectile oars used by tbe Martians. This must be a golden planet—this little asteroid. If it were not composed internally of gold, it could never have made me weigh three times more than I ought to weigh. But before we were oat of reach a second flaming tongue of death shot from tbe fearful engine, and another of our ships, with all its crew, was destroyed.We now approached the car, whioh bad been transpierced in every direction and whose remaining portions were glowing with heat in consequence of the spreading of the atomic vibrations. Immediately we discovered that all our anticipations were oorreot and that all of our enemies bad perished. The stroke that we had dealt was taken by several of the electrical ships as a signal for a oommon assault, and we saw two of the Martians fall beside the rain of tbeir engine, tbeir heads having been blown from their bodies. So powerful was tbe effect of the an- SRStbetio wbich Mr. Edison bad discharged into bis face that he remained perfeotly unconscious while we turned him half over in order the more seourely to bind his muscular limbs. "But where is tbe gold?" cried ona "With their projectile cars sent forth with the aid of the mysterious explosives which they possess it is easy for them under such circumstances to make visits to the asteroid. A single discbarge would sweep us all into eternity. It was an inauspicious beginning for os. Two of our electrical ships, with tbeir entire crews, had been wiped oat of existence, and this appalling blow had been dealt by a few stranded and disabled enemies floating on an asteroid. What hope would there ba far aa HfclBwe name to snnpaatsctfrw PjpW»p "Covered up, of oourse," said Lord Kelvin. "Buried iu star dust. This asteroid could not have continued to travel for millions of years through regions of space strewn with meteorio particles without becoming covered with the inevitable dust and grime of such a journey. We must dig down, and "Will no one fire upon them?" exclaimed Mr. Edison, struggling with the disintegrator in bis bands, which still refused to work. "Signal tbem to stop firing I" commanded Mr. Edison. "We have got them down, and we are not going to murder tbem without necessity. Be- be added, "I want to capture In the meantime the other electrical ships approached and several of tbem made a landing upon the asteroid. Everybody was eager to see this wonderful little yrarld, wbich. as I have already Our ship bad ventured so far from tbe asteroid that for a moment it seemed doubtful whether it would be able to return in time to give warning, because tbe eleotrioal influence of the asteroid "Huving obtained all tbe gold tbey lDeed, or all that they can carry, a comparatively slight impulse given to their car. tbe direction ut wUioh is uarafully The effect of the disintegrators upon them had been awful—too repnlsive, indeed, to be described in detail. Some of the bodies had evidently entirely vanished, only certain metal articles At this fearful moment I glanoed around upon our company and was asbutiahad at tba snaotaola Is the him was oomnaxalively sUnht at such a di»-