acks of the heads of the passengers first, and then looked keenly into each man's face as he passed. He had, in common with all newspaper men, the detective instinct. Who knew

by a large, faded, black sombrero. The man under these garments had the upper part of his face hidden beneath the broad flap of his hat, while the under part of his face was entirely submerged in a large pamphlet. The man had the air of extreme retirement. Something about the dinginess of the felt hat seemed familiar to Swift. But, no;

urther ceremony sat down beside the recondite strange

ut Swift. "How the D-epa

ht elevated," replied

, too." Swift's heart burned w

Mr. Statis Ticks, lac

re you going, then?"

ell, of

rth did yo

fall from those dry lips. "You see," proceeded Mr. Ticks drearily, "the circumstance is a little unusual. I have read of nothing

ion?" asked Swi

cks raised hi

can get on with

what dazed. Who had suspected this anima

n to them," he answered with a sigh,

out of the window; now and then he jotted down a few abstruse figures. He was engrossed i

t. These were purchased and read with avidity by those on board the flying express. Groups cent

a funeral pace. People fought at each station for seats. The train split into sections on acc

representative of the greatest daily in America? But no one noticed Mr. Statis Ticks,

e and there in frenzy. Here was a group of women wailing for their husbands, imprisoned or dead-and who knew which?-within that awful circle. There a man looked, vacantly, with trembling lips, from group to group, hunting for the wife snatched from him. Here was a rude fellow peddling half a bus

he Red Cross Society and of the Law and Order League had already erected their tents, and were doing all they could to restrain the lawlessness and relieve the discomforts of the mob. Swift critically watched these seething

track, there by a village, until, having completed the gigantic circle, it met again. Thousands were flowing in each hour. They came from all points of the compass,

to the dead line, where it impinged on the railroad track. Here was the centre of the maddest rush. Here men groaned and cursed and wept aloud. Swift pushed his way through unti

-d shakes yet." With a grave smile Swift ducked under the rope and looked before him. The solitary, motionless, blasted prairie stretched out, relieved only by the outlines of the Buz

e attenuated until it disappeared in dull transparency. What did that cloud contain? What horrors did it hide? Of what was its nature? What was the secret of its deadly influence? No American catastrophe had impressed the reporter so muc

r had stirred over the polluted area si

ed into charcoal in their places, but the iron rails had evaporated. It was the same with the telegraph wires. At a certain point they stopped and were gone. The poles, tottering and scorched

of life as far as the eye could see. Had a fire swept the land? But no! No smoke had been hitherto visible, unless this inexplicable cloud were smoke. And yet, to Swift's practiced eye, there were evidences

rs were keen. The chances were even, the honor great, and no favors asked. As he stood for a moment, lost in thought over the apparent

d one," said

h careless interest. He recognized

ndred reporters are here, and more expected by every train. There is no food, no bed, no roof for

're right,

the compliment with a s

d the only team to be had,

autumnal colleague, who had alr

sly, "travel to the northeast. We will go to the north. If there are any remains the

mediately!" ex

s quietly, "I wish to test this

The crowd were too much stunned at his audacity. Had they not dragged a dozen adventurers back from the same mad enterprise? Men shuddere

he Planet staff only shook his head. He was not twenty yards away when he stopped abruptly. He put his hands to his head and heart, and struggled against the unseen force. It beat upon him: but he steadied his legs the firmer and met the shock. It smote at him, but he wearily smiled in return. He even made a motion

e newspaper man came to. S

ll through all right, old man

symptoms?" asked

es

ou wir

adn't ti

" He sank ba

? How do you feel?" a

icks solemnly. With these words upon his lip

hundred-dollar team under whose protecting shelter he had e

imself from the cu

dy?" he said

sked Swift in

st

-night

t be at the extreme north of this un