diff options
Diffstat (limited to '29069.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 29069.txt | 1725 |
1 files changed, 1725 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/29069.txt b/29069.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ced1ced --- /dev/null +++ b/29069.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1725 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Poisoned Air, by Sterner St. Paul Meek + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Poisoned Air + +Author: Sterner St. Paul Meek + +Release Date: June 8, 2009 [EBook #29069] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POISONED AIR *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from Astounding Stories March 1932. + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the + U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. + + + [Illustration: _Dr. Bird fell back under the ferocity of + her attack._] + + + + Poisoned Air + + By Capt. S. P. Meek + + * * * * * + + + + +[Sidenote: Again Dr. Bird closes with the evil Saranoff--this time +near the Aberdeen Proving Ground, in a deadly, mysterious blanket of +fog.] + + +A telephone bell jangled insistently. The orderly on duty dropped his +feet from the desk to the floor and lifted the receiver with a +muttered curse. + +"Post hospital, Aberdeen Proving Ground," he said sleepily, rubbing +his eyes. + +A burst of raucous coughing answered him. Several times it ceased for +an instant and a voice tried to speak, but each time a fresh spasm of +deep-chested wracking coughing interrupted. + +"Who is this?" demanded the now aroused orderly. "What's the matter?" + +Between intervals of coughing difficultly enunciated words reached +him. + +"This is--_uch! uch!_--Lieutenant Burroughs at +the--_uch!_--Michaelville range. We have been--_uch!_--caught in a +cloud of poison--_uch!_ _uch!_--gas. Send an ambulance and +a--_uch!_--surgeon at once. Better bring--_uch!_--gas masks." + +"At the Michaelville range, sir? How many men are down there?" + +"_Uch! uch! uch!_--five--all help--_uch! uch!_--helpless. Hurry!" + +"Yes, sir. I'll start two ambulances down at once, sir." + +"Don't forget the--_uch! uch!_--gas--_uch!_--masks." + +"No, sir; I'll send them, sir." + + * * * * * + +Five minutes later two ambulances rolled out of the garage and took +the four-mile winding ribbon of concrete which separated the +Michaelville water impact range from the main front of the Aberdeen +Proving Ground. On each ambulance was a hastily awakened and partially +clothed medical officer. For three miles they tore along the curving +road at high speed. Without warning the leading machine slowed down. +The driver of the second ambulance shoved home his brake just in time +to keep from ramming the leading vehicle. + +"What's the matter?" he shouted. + +As he spoke he gave a muttered curse and switched on his amber +fog-light. From the marshes on either side of the road a deep blanket +of fog rolled up and enveloped the vehicle, almost shutting off the +road from sight. The forward ambulance began to grope its way slowly +forward. The senior medical officer sniffed the fog critically and +shouted to his driver. + +"Stop!" he cried. "There's something funny about this fog. Every one +put on gas masks." + +He coughed slightly as he adjusted his mask. His orders were shouted +to the ambulance in the rear but before the masks could be adjusted, +every member of the crew was vying with the rest in the frequency and +violence of the coughs which he could emit. The masks did not seem to +shut out the poisonous fog which crept in between the masks and the +men's faces and seemed to take bodily possession of their lungs. + +"I don't believe we'll ever make the last mile to Michaelville through +this, Major," cried the driver between intervals of coughing. "Hadn't +we better turn back while we can?" + +"Drive on!" cried the medical officer. "We'll keep going as long as we +can. Imagine what those poor devils on the range are going through +without masks of any sort." + + * * * * * + +On through the rapidly thickening fog, the two ambulances groped their +way. The road seemed interminable, but at length the flood lights of +the Michaelville end of the range came dimly into view. As the +vehicles stopped the two surgeons jumped to the ground and groped +their way forward, stretcher bearers following them closely. Presently +Major Martin stumbled over a body which lay at full length on the +concrete runway between the two main buildings. He stooped and +examined the man with the aid of a pocket flashlight. + +"He's alive," he announced in muffled tones through his mask. "Take +him to the ambulance and fit a mask on him." + +Three more unconscious men were carried to the ambulances before the +prone form of Lieutenant Burroughs was found by the searchers. The +lieutenant lay on his back not far from the telephone and directly +under the glare of a huge arc-light. His eyes were open and he was +conscious, but when he tried to speak, only a murmur came from his +lips. There was a rattle in his chest and faint coughs tried in vain +to force their way out between his stiffened lips. + +"Easy, Lieutenant," said Major Martin as he bent over him; "don't try +to talk just now. You're all right and we'll have a mask on you in a +jiffy. That damned gas isn't as thick right here as it is down the +road a way." + +Two medical corps men lifted the lieutenant onto a stretcher and +started to fit a mask over his face. He feebly raised a hand to stop +them. His lips formed words which he could not enunciate, but Major +Martin understood them. + +"Your men?" he said between intervals of coughing. "We've got them all +in the ambulance, I think. There were four besides yourself, weren't +there?" + +The lieutenant nodded. + +"Right. We have them all. Now we'll take you back to the hospital and +have you fixed up in a jiffy." + + * * * * * + +The entire rescue crew were coughing violently as the ambulances left +Michaelville. For a mile they drove through fog that was thicker than +had been seen in Maryland for years. They reached the point where they +had encountered the congealed moisture on the way out, but now there +was no diminution of its density. The main post was less than two +miles away when they burst out into a clear night and increased their +speed. + +As the two machines drew up in front of the post hospital, the driver +of the leading ambulance swayed in his seat. Blindly he pulled on his +emergency brake and then slumped forward in his seat, his breath +coming in wheezing gasps. Major Martin hastily tore the mask from his +face and glanced at it. + +"Take him in with the rest!" he cried. "His mask must have leaked." + +As they entered the hospital, a sickening weakness overcame Major +Martin. From all sides a black pall seemed to roll in on him and bits +of ice seemed to form in his brain. He reeled and caught at the +shoulder of a corps man who was passing. The orderly caught at him and +looked for a moment at his livid face. + +"Sergeant Connors!" he cried. + +A technical sergeant hastened up. Major Martin forced words with +difficulty through stiffening lips. + +"Call Captain Murdock," he wheezed, "and have him get Captain +Williams. I'm down and probably Dr. Briscoe will be down in a few +minutes. Telephone the commanding officer and tell him to quarantine +the whole proving ground. Have the telephone orderly wake everyone on +the post and order them to close all windows in all buildings and not +to venture outside until they get fresh orders. This seems to be the +same stuff they had in Belgium last December." + +As the last words came from his lips he slowly stiffened and slumped +toward the ground. The sergeant and the orderly picked him up and +carried him to a bed in the emergency ward. The orderly hurried away +to close all of the hospital windows while Sergeant Connors took down +the receiver of the telephone and began to carry out the Major's +orders. + + * * * * * + +Dr. Bird glanced at the news-paper clipping which Operative Carnes of +the United States Secret Service laid on his desk. Into his eyes came +a curious glitter, sure evidence that the famous scientist's interest +was aroused. + +"Last December when we discussed this matter, Doctor," said the +detective, "you gave it as your opinion that Ivan Saranoff was at the +bottom of it and that the same plague which devastated the Meuse +Valley in Belgium would eventually make an appearance in the United +States. You were right." + +Dr. Bird bounded to his feet. + +"Is Saranoff back on this side of the Atlantic?" he demanded. + +"Officially, he is not. Every customs inspector and immigration +officer has his photograph and no report of his arrest has come in, +but we know Saranoff well enough to discount negative evidence where +he is concerned. Whether he is here or not, the plague is." + +"When did it appear?" + +"Last night at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. It has killed +eight or ten and twice as many more are sick. The place is quarantined +and a rigid censorship has been placed over the telephones, but it is +only a matter of time before some press man will get the story. I have +a car waiting below and a pass signed by the Secretary of War. Grab +what apparatus you need and we'll start." + +Dr. Bird pressed a button on his desk. A tall, willowy girl entered, +notebook in hand. Carnes glanced with keen appreciation at her slim +beauty. + +"Miss Andrews," said the doctor, "in five minutes Mr. Carnes and I +will leave here for Aberdeen Proving Ground in the Government car +which is waiting below. You will see that Mr. Davis is in that car and +that traveling laboratory 'Q' is ready to follow us." + +"Yes, Doctor." + +"You remember that mysterious plague in Belgium last December, do you +not?" + +"Yes, Doctor." + +"I was unable to get over to Belgium, but an army surgeon and two +Public Health Service men went over. You will get copies of all +reports they made, including especially any reports of autopsies on +bodies of victims. I want all data on file in the Public Health +Service or the War Department. You will then obtain a car and follow +us to Aberdeen. Arrangements will be made for your admittance to the +proving ground. The Belgian plague has made its appearance in the +United States." + + * * * * * + +Swiftly the expression of the girl's face changed. Her dark eyes +glowed with an internal fire and the immobility of her face vanished +as if by magic to be replaced by an expression of fierce hatred. Her +lips drew back, exposing her strong white teeth and she literally spat +out her words. + +"That swine, Saranoff!" she hissed. + +Carnes sprang to his feet. + +"Why, it's Feodrovna Androvitch!" he cried in astonishment. + +In an instant the rage faded from her face and the calm, immobility +which had marked it reappeared. Through the silence Dr. Bird's voice +cut like a whip. + +"Miss Andrews," he said sternly, "I thought that I had impressed on +you the fact that even a momentary lapse from the character which you +have assumed may easily be fatal to both of us. Unless you can learn +to control your emotions, your usefulness to me is at an end." + +Although Carnes watched closely he could not detect the slightest +change of expression in the girl's face as the doctor spoke. + +"I am very sorry, Doctor," she said evenly. "We were alone and I +allowed the mask to slip for an instant. It will not happen again." + +"It _must_ not," said the doctor curtly. "Carry out your +instructions." + +"Yes, Doctor." + +She turned on her heel and left the office. Carnes looked quickly at +Dr. Bird. + +"Surely that is Feodrovna Androvitch, Doctor?" he asked. + +"It was. It is now Thelma Andrews, my secretary. She changed her name +with her appearance and politics. I have been training her since last +August. This is her first official appearance, so to speak." + +"In view of her past associations, is it safe to trust her?" + +"If I didn't think so, I wouldn't use her. She has ample reason to +hate Ivan Saranoff and she knows how much mercy she has to hope for +from him if he ever gets her in his clutches. We can't play a lone +hand against Saranoff forever and I know of no better place to recruit +an organization than the enemy's camp. Thelma saved our lives in +Russia, you may remember." + +"But even when she was rescuing us from the clutches of Saranoff's +gang, she was an ardent communist, if I remember correctly." + +"Theoretically I believe she still favors the world revolution, but +she hates Saranoff even more than she does the bourgeoisie and I +believe she had come to be willing to accept capitalistic institutions +for the present, at least as far as this country is concerned. At any +rate, I trust her. If you have any doubts, you can have her watched +for a while." + + * * * * * + +Carnes thought for a moment and then picked up the telephone. + +"I have plenty of confidence in your judgment, Doctor," he said +apologetically, "but if you don't mind, I'll have Haggerty trail her +for a few days. It won't do any harm." + +"Very well; and if any of the Young Labor gang should penetrate her +disguise, he'd be a mighty efficient bodyguard. Do as you see fit." + +Carnes called the number of the secret service and conferred for a few +moments with Bolton, the chief of the bureau. He turned to Dr. Bird +with a smile of satisfaction. + +"Haggerty will be on the job in a few minutes, Doctor." + +"Good enough. The five minutes I allowed are up. Let's see how well +she has performed her first task." + +As they emerged from the Bureau of Standards, Carnes glanced rapidly +around. In the front seat of the secret service car which he had left +sat a young man whom the detective recognized as one of Dr. Bird's +assistants. Behind the car stood a small delivery truck with two of +the Bureau mechanics on the seat. + +Dr. Bird nodded to the mechanics and followed Carnes into the big +sedan. With a motorcycle policeman clearing a way for them, they +roared across Washington and north along the Baltimore pike. Two hours +and a half of driving brought them to Aberdeen and they turned down +the concrete road leading to the proving ground. Two miles from the +town a huge chain was stretched across the road with armed guards +patrolling behind it. The car stopped and an officer stepped forward +and examined the pass which Carnes presented. + +"You are to go direct to headquarters, gentlemen," he said. "Colonel +Wesley is waiting for you." + +The commanding officer rose to his feet as Carnes and Dr. Bird entered +his office. + +"I am at your service, Dr. Bird," he said formally. "The Chief of +Ordnance has given instructions which, as I understand them, put you +virtually in command of this post." There was resentment in the +colonel's tone. + + * * * * * + +Dr. Bird smiled affably and extended his hand. The old colonel +struggled with his chagrin for a moment, but few men could resist Dr. +Bird when he deliberately tried to charm them. Colonel Wesley grasped +the proffered hand. + +"What I want most, Colonel, is your cooperation," said the doctor +suavely. "I am not competent to assume command here even if I wished +to. I would like to ask a few favors but if they should prove to be +contrary to your established policies, I will gladly withdraw my +request." + +Colonel Wesley's face cleared as if by magic. + +"You have only to ask for anything we have, Doctor," he said +earnestly, "and it is yours. Frankly, we are at our wit's end." + +"Thank you. I have a truck with some apparatus and three men outside. +Will you have them guided to your laboratory and given what aid they +need in setting their stuff up?" + +"Gladly." + +"My secretary, Miss Andrews, will arrive from Washington later in the +day with some information. I would like to have her passed through the +guards and brought directly to me wherever I am. You have the place +well guarded, have you not?" + +"As well as I can with my small force. All roads are patrolled by +motorcycles; four launches are on the waterfront, and there are seven +planes aloft." + +"That is splendid. Now can you tell me just what happened last night?" + +"Captain Murdock, the acting surgeon, can do that better than I can, +Doctor. He is at the hospital but I'll have him up here in a few +minutes." + +"With your permission, we'll go to the hospital and talk to him there. +I want to examine the patients in any event." + +"Certainly, Doctor. I will remain at my office until I am sure that I +can give you no further assistance." + + * * * * * + +With a word of thanks, Dr. Bird left, and, accompanied by Carnes, made +his way to the hospital. Captain Murdock was frankly relieved to greet +the famous Bureau of Standards scientist and readily gave him the +information he desired. + +"The first intimation we had of trouble was when Lieutenant Burroughs +telephoned from the water impact range where they were doing night +firing last night at about four A.M. Two ambulances went down and +brought him and his four men back, all of them stricken with what I +take to be an extremely rapidly developing form of lobar pneumonia. +All of the men who went down were stricken with the same disease, two +of them as soon as they got back. So far we have had eight deaths +among these men and all of the rest, except Lieutenant Burroughs, are +apt to go at any moment. + +"The trouble seemed to come from a cloud of some dense heavy gas which +rolled in from the marsh. On the advice of Major Martin, every door +and window in the post was kept closed until morning. The gas never +reached the upper part of the post but it reached the stables. Eleven +horses and mules are dead and all of the rest are stricken. The stable +detachment either failed to close their barracks tightly or else the +gas went in through cracks for seven out of the nine are here in the +hospital, although none of them are very seriously ill. As soon as the +sun came up, the gas seemed to disappear." + +"Let me see the men who are sick." + +Captain Murdock led the way into the ward. Dr. Bird went from man to +man, examining charts and asking questions of the nurses and medical +corps men on duty. When he had gone the rounds of the ward he entered +the morgue and carefully examined the bodies of the men who lay there. + +"Have you performed any autopsies?" he asked. + +"Not yet." + +"Have you the authority?" + +"On the approval of the commanding officer." + +"Please secure that approval at once. Have all lights taken out of the +operating room and the windows shaded. I want to work under red light. +We must examine the lungs of these men at once. With all due respect +to your medical knowledge, Captain, I am not convinced that these men +died of pneumonia." + +"Neither am I, Doctor, but that is the best guess I could make. I'll +have things fixed up for you right away." + + * * * * * + +Dr. Bird stepped to the telephone and called the laboratory. When, in +half an hour, Captain Murdock announced that he was ready to proceed, +Davis had arrived with an ultra-microscope and other apparatus which +the doctor had telephoned for. + +"Did you arrange about the horses, Davis?" asked Dr. Bird. + +"Yes, sir. They will be up here as soon as the trucks can bring them." + +"Good enough. We'll start operating." + +An hour later, Dr. Bird straightened up and faced the puzzled medical +officer. + +"Captain," he said, "your diagnosis is faulty. With one possible +exception, the lungs of these men are free from pneumonicocci. On the +other hand there is a peculiar aspect of the tissues as though a very +powerful antiseptic solution had been applied to them." + +"Hardly an antiseptic, Doctor; wouldn't you say, rather, a cauterizing +agent." + +Dr. Bird bent again over the ultra-microscope. + +"Are you familiar with the work done by Bancroft and Richter at +Cornell University last November and December?" he asked. + +"No, I can't say that I am." + +"They were working under a Heckscher Foundation grant studying just +how antiseptic solutions destroy bacteria. It has always been held +that some chemical change went on, but this theory they disproved. It +is a process of absorption. If enough of the chemical adheres to the +living bacterium, the living protoplasm thickens and irreversibly +coagulates. It resembles a boiling without heat. I have seen some of +their slides and the appearance is exactly what I see in this tissue." + +Captain Murdock bent over the microscope with a new respect for Dr. +Bird in his face. + +"I agree with you, Doctor," he said. "This tissue certainly looks as +though it had been boiled. It is certainly coagulated, as I can +plainly see now that you point it out to me. You believe, then, that +it is a simple case of gassing?" + +"If so, it was done by no known gas. I have studied at Edgewood +Arsenal, and I am familiar with all of the work done by the Chemical +Warfare Service in gases. No known gas will produce exactly this +appearance. It is something new. Carnes, have those horses been +brought up yet?" + +"I'll see, Doctor." + +"If they are, bring one here." + + * * * * * + +In a few moments the body of a dead horse was dragged into the +operating room and Dr. Bird attacked it with a rib saw. He soon laid +the lungs open and dragged them from the body. He cut down the middle +of one of the organs and shaved off a thin slice which he placed under +the lens of a powerful binocular microscope. + +"Hello, what the dickens is this?" he exclaimed. + +With a scalpel and a delicate pair of tweezers he carefully separated +from the lung tissue a tiny speck of crystalline substance which +glittered under the red light in the operating room. He carefully +transferred it to a glass slide and put it under a microscope with a +higher magnification. + +"Rhombohedral regular," he mused as he examined it. "Colorless, +friable, and cleaving in irregular planes. What in thunder can it be? +Have you ever seen anything like this in a lung, Murdock?" + +The medical officer bent over the microscope for a long time before he +shook his head with a puzzled air. + +"I never have," he admitted. + +"Then that's probably what we're looking for. Start slicing every lung +in this place and look for those crystals. Save them and put them in +this watch glass. If we can get enough of them, we may be able to +learn something. Carnes, get the rest of those horses in here and open +them up." + +Two hours of careful work netted them a tiny pile of the peculiar +crystals. Some had come from the lungs of the dead animals and some +few from the lungs of the dead soldiers. Dr. Bird placed the crystals +in a glass bottle which he covered with layer after layer of black +paper. + +"Get me more of those crystals if you can find them, Captain +Murdock," he said, "and in any case, leave the bodies here for +further study. Davis and I will go to the laboratory and try to find +out what they are. Carnes, hasn't Miss Andrews showed up yet?" + +"No, Doctor." + +"Locate her on the telephone if you can and tell her not to bother +about anything except the autopsy reports and to get them here as +quickly as possible. Let me know when you have that done." + + * * * * * + +In a dark room of the photographic laboratory, Dr. Bird removed the +black wrappings from the bottle. He dropped a few of the crystals in a +test tube and added distilled water. The water assumed a pink tinge as +the blood with which the crystals were covered dissolved, but the +crystals themselves did not change. They rose and floated on the +surface of the water. + +"Insoluble in water, Davis," commented the doctor. "Better wash the +lot and then we'll get after the ultimate analysis. Whether we'll be +able to make a proximate is doubtful in view of the small amount of +sample we have. It's dollars to doughnuts that it's some carbon +compound." + +He heated a few of the washed crystals in a watch glass. Suddenly +there was a sharp crack and the material disappeared. Dr. Bird thrust +his nose toward the glass and sniffed carefully. + +"The dickens!" he muttered. "Davis, have I got a cold or do you smell +garlic?" + +"Faintly, Doctor." + +"I have a hunch. Fill a gasometer with purified argon and we'll +introduce a few of these crystals and explode them. If I'm right--" + +Half an hour later he straightened up and examined the tube of the gas +analysis apparatus with which he was working. The level of the gas +showed it to be of the original volume but the liquid under the argon +was stained a light brown. + +"It's impossible, Davis," cried the doctor, "but nevertheless, it's +true. Expose some of those crystals to strong sunlight and see what +happens." + +The crystals rapidly disappeared as the light from a sun-ray arc fell +on them. + +"It's true, Davis," cried the doctor, positive awe in his voice. "Keep +this strictly under your hat for the present. Now that you know what +we're up against, fix up a couple of masks and air-collecting +apparatus. That stuff will show up again in the swamp to-night and I +am going down there to collect some samples. I'll telephone the +hospital now." + + * * * * * + +As Dr. Bird emerged from the dark room, Carnes hurried up with a +worried expression. + +"The devil's to pay, Doctor," was his greeting. + +"All right, stall him off for a minute while I telephone the hospital. +I think I can save some of those poor fellows up there." + +Carnes paced the floor in anxiety while Dr. Bird got Captain Murdock +on the telephone. + +"Bird talking, Murdock," he said crisply. "How much deep therapy X-ray +apparatus have you got up there?... Too bad.... Well, at least you can +give every patient a four-minute dose of maximum intensity and repeat +in an hour or so. Keep them under sun-ray arcs as much as you can. Be +ready for a fresh attack of the same epidemic to-night. As fast as the +patients come in, give them a five-minute dose of X-rays and then +sun-rays. Do you understand?... All right, then." + +"Just a moment more, Carnes," he went on as he called the office of +the commanding officer. "Colonel Wesley, this is Dr. Bird. I think +that I have some light on your problem. You must anticipate another +more virulent attack than you had last night, probably as soon as the +sun goes down. Will you arrange to have everyone removed from the +swamp area before that time? Never mind trying to guard the place; +you'll just lose more lives if you do. Warn everyone to keep inside +the buildings with all doors and windows closed tight. Get all the +women and children and everyone else who isn't needed here off the +post before dark. Send them to Aberdeen or Baltimore or anywhere.... +No, sir, the sick had better not be moved. I think they will be safer +in the hospital than they would be elsewhere.... Yes, sir, that's all. +Thank you." + + * * * * * + +Dr. Bird turned to the waiting Carnes. + +"Did you locate Miss Andrews?" he asked. + +"No, I didn't and that is what I want to talk to you about. I just +started to telephone when a hurry call came through from Washington +for me and I took it. It was Haggerty on the wire. He followed your +precious secretary from the Bureau of Standards over to the Public +Health Office and waited for her to come out. She stayed in the +building for about an hour and brought a bundle of papers with her +when she returned. She walked toward the State, War and Navy Building +and Haggerty followed. + +"On Pennsylvania Avenue, she was stopped by two men whom Haggerty +describes as dark, swarthy, bearded Europeans of some sort. He tried +to overhear their conversation but it was in a language which he did +not recognize. He got only one word. The girl called one of them +'Denberg.'" + +"Denberg!" cried the doctor, "Why, he's one of the Young Labor crowd, +but he's in Atlanta." + +"He was, Doctor, but I telephoned Atlanta, and found that he had been +released last month. After several minutes of talk the two men and +your secretary went off together in perfect amity with Haggerty +following. The trio got into a waiting car and Haggerty trailed them +in a taxi. They drove around town rather aimlessly for some time and +then left the car and walked. Haggerty was afraid he would lose them +in the crowd so he closed in on them. He doesn't know what happened +except that he felt a sudden stab in his arm and everything went +black. He recovered in the police station twenty minutes later but the +birds had flown." + +"The devil!" cried Dr. Bird, consternation in his voice. "Of course, +it's easy to see what happened. They spotted him and a confederate +slipped a hypo into his arm. What worries me is the fact that they've +got Thelma." + + * * * * * + +"I hope they kill her," snapped Carnes vindictively. "She was never +kidnapped in broad daylight. Haggerty says she went with them quite +willingly and talked and laughed with them. She has deserted, if she +wasn't simply acting as a spy from the first. I didn't trust her at +all." + +"I hate to admit that my judgment is that rotten, Carnes, but the +evidence certainly points that way. At that, I think I'll reserve +final judgment until later. Now, in view of what you have learned, I +have a job for you." + +"It's about time, Doctor. I have been rather useless with all the +high-powered science that has been flying around here." + +"Well, you'll be in your element now. We know that Denberg is loose +and their capture of Thelma is no coincidence. I was pretty sure that +Saranoff and his gang were at the bottom of this; now I am certain. +They must have introduced something onto the marshes last night which +caused the trouble. They could not have come overland very well, for +the place is too well patrolled. Had they come by air, they would have +attracted attention, even had they used a Bird silencer on their +motor, for they couldn't muffle their propeller, especially on a +takeoff, and there are plenty of men here who would have recognized +it. You might check up on that, but I am confident that they came by +water. Launches and boats are continually passing up and down the +Chesapeake and its tributaries and one more could easily have escaped +notice. The Bush River is at the far end of the Michaelville range and +it is navigable for craft of light draft at high tide. Find out +whether any strange craft were seen in the vicinity of the proving +ground last night. If you draw a blank, go to Perryville and Havre de +Grace and see what you can find out there. I have a hunch that their +base is more likely to be up the Susquehanna than down toward the +coast. Above all, Carnes, don't approach the proving ground by water +to-night and don't get near the mouth of the Bush River." + +"All right, Doctor. What are you going to do?" + +"I'm going down on the swamp and collect samples. Oh, don't look so +worried. I know just what I am up against and I will have adequate +protection. I'll be in no danger and you would just be in the way. +Toddle along, old dear, and report to me by telephone as soon as you +have learned anything." + +"As you say, Doctor. You'll hear from me the minute I do." + + * * * * * + +When Carnes had left, Dr. Bird climbed into the waiting car and was +driven back to the hospital. Captain Murdock greeted him with a +smiling face. + +"I don't know how you got on to that treatment, Dr. Bird," he said, +"but it is doing the men good. The worst cases haven't been affected +much, one way or the other, but the progress of the malady in the mild +cases from the stables has been completely checked. I think they have +a chance now." + +"They'll be all right if the destruction and coagulation of tissue +hadn't progressed too far before you checked it, Captain. Treat them +now for simple lung cauterization and they ought to get well." + +"I have some more of those crystals dissected out, Doctor." + +"Keep them in the dark until Mr. Davis comes after them. I want to +take a few of them back to Washington for study." + +"You expect another attack to-night, Doctor?" + +"Yes, sometime after sundown." + +"What, in heaven's name, is it?" + +"Heaven has nothing to do with it, Captain; the stuff comes from the +devil's regions and it is the product of a Russian chemist, who I +sometimes believe is verily the devil himself. How it's done and what +it is, I haven't found out yet, but I am going to investigate a little +to-night. The effect is what you have seen. Are you familiar with the +various forms of oxygen?" + +"The forms of oxygen? Why, there is only one, oxygen gas. Wait a +minute though, there is another form, ozone. Are there any more?" + +"None that have been previously listed and studied, but at least one +other form exists. Those crystals are pure oxygen." + +"Impossible! Oxygen is a gas at all ordinary temperatures." + + * * * * * + +"Yes, a gas, but one whose density varies. Oxygen, to which we +chemists assign the formula O_{2}, meaning that its molecule consists +of two atoms of oxygen, has a weight of 32 grams per gram molecule. +Ozone, to which we assign the formula O_{3}, meaning that its molecule +contains three atoms of oxygen, weighs fifty per cent more or 48 grams +per gram molecule. This new form has a density less than water, but +tremendously greater than any known gas. I have not yet been able to +determine its structure, so I will have to assign to it the formula, +O_{x}, meaning an indefinite number of atoms per molecule. The only +name which suggests itself is oxyzone, a combination of oxygen and +ozone. + +"The stuff is a polymerization, or condensation, to speak roughly, of +the oxygen of the air. The oxygen takes this form which the lungs +cannot assimilate except with great difficulty and with great damage +to the tissues. The oxyzone will break down rapidly under the +influence of sunlight or of any ray whose wave-length is shorter than +indigo. As a result, it disappears as soon as the sun is up and it +will reappear after dark. That is why I suggested X-rays as a +treatment. They have a very short wave-length and will penetrate +tissues and affect the particles in the lungs themselves. Once the +material is removed from the lungs, the cauterization of the tissue +ceases and it is merely a matter of slow recovery." + +"It is a marvelous discovery, Doctor. I can foresee great uses for it +in medical science if a way can be found to produce it." + +"Just now we are much more interested in stopping its production than +in producing it. Carry on with the line of treatment I have prescribed +and be ready for a busy time to-night." + + * * * * * + +From the hospital, Dr. Bird made his way to the headquarters building +where he conferred with Colonel Wesley on the measures being taken to +clear the proving ground of all persons not strictly necessary for its +guarding. The commanding officer, when he learned Dr. Bird's plans, +wished to send guards with him, but the doctor promptly vetoed the +scheme. + +"My assistant, Mr. Davis, won't be able to fix up more than two masks +before dark, Colonel," he said, "and you would just be condemning men +to death to send them with me into that fog without proper protection. +I can see that you are anxious to know what is causing it, but I'm not +ready to tell just yet. I had given your medical officer enough +information to enable him to treat the hospital cases scientifically, +and to-morrow or the next day I hope to be able to tell you all about +it. Now, if you'll pardon me, I'm going to the laboratory to see how +Mr. Davis is getting along. It will be dark in three-quarters of an +hour and I hope that everyone will stay under cover as much as +possible." + +Davis looked up as Dr. Bird entered the laboratory. + +"I'll have the masks completed in an hour, Doctor," he said, "but I +don't know how much value they will be. If the oxygen polymerizes +before it enters the body, these masks ought to stop it, but if it +polymerizes under the influence of heat and moisture in the lungs, +they will be useless." + +"I'll have to take a chance on that, Davis. From the description of +the fog, I strongly suspect that the process takes place outside the +body. Have you had your supper?" + +"No, Doctor." + +"Neither have I. I'll go over to the officers' mess and get a bite to +eat. As soon as you have those masks done, get your supper and then +telephone me at the club. If Carnes isn't back, I may have to ask you +to drive me down toward Michaelville." + +"I'll be very glad to, Doctor." + + * * * * * + +Carnes had not returned when Davis called Dr. Bird at the officers' +club two hours later. Night had fallen and everyone on the proving +ground sat behind tightly closed windows with lights blazing on them, +wondering whether the finger of death would reach in from the swamp to +touch them. The fog had not yet made an appearance on the main post +and Dr. Bird had no fear of it when he entered his car and drove down +to pick up his assistant. + +Davis came out to meet him with a curious hood made of vitiolene and +rubber, pulled down well over his head. In his hand he carried a +second one. Dr. Bird adjusted the second mask and the two men loaded +the rear of the car with apparatus designed for collecting samples of +air. The outside of each sample cylinder was heavily coated with black +rubberine paint. At a word from the Doctor, Davis took the wheel and +drove off along the winding ribbon of concrete which led to the upper +end of the Michaelville range. + +For a mile they drove through a clear, calm night with no traces of +fog apparent. Dr. Bird's eyes continually searched the swamps on both +sides of the road. + +"Stop!" he said suddenly, his voice coming muffled through the +enveloping mask. The car stopped and the Doctor pointed to the west. +Over the swamp a few stray fingers of fog were curling up from the +water. + + * * * * * + +Leaving Davis in charge of the car, Dr. Bird donned rubber hip boots +and with a gas cylinder in his hand, splashed through the water +toward the fog. He reached the place with no difficulty and spent ten +minutes trying to collect a sample. Finally, with a muttered +exclamation, he removed his mask and inhaled deeply a dozen times. +Carrying the mask in his hand, he made his way back to the car. + +"False alarm," he said as he pulled on his mask. "It was so thin that +I couldn't get a sample so I tested it by breathing. There isn't a +trace of cough in that fog. Drive on." + +A half mile farther along the road, a curtain of fog swept in on them, +momentarily hiding the road from view. They were through the belt of +fog in a few feet and the car came to a stop. Dr. Bird sprang out, gas +cylinder in hand. He returned to the car shortly. + +"We may have what we are looking for, Davis," he said, "but I am not +at all certain. It looked very much like ordinary fog. Let's go down +to the range." + +The car drew up between the two main buildings of the Michaelville +front. The air was clear as far as they could see, but from under the +north building, a tiny wisp of fog was coming. As it came under the +glare of the three huge arc-lights which flooded the ground with +light, it grew more tenuous and gradually dissipated into nothingness. +With an exclamation of satisfaction, Dr. Bird bent down and thrust the +end of a cylinder under the building. He removed it in a moment as the +fog began to stream from the upper end. Carefully he closed the +pet-cocks of the tube and replaced it in the car. He filled a half +dozen tubes before he was satisfied. + +"I'd like to go down to the water," he said through his mask. "What +kind of a jigger do they run on that track?" + +"It's a Ford scooter, I was told. It's probably in that shed." + + * * * * * + +Half an hour later the two men were running the scooter down the four +miles of narrow gage track which separated Michaelville from the Bush +River. A few scattered patches of fog could be seen on either side of +the track, but none were of sufficient thickness to warrant much +success in sample taking. At the water front Dr. Bird looked across +the half mile wide river and grunted. + +"The tide won't be in for another three hours," he said. "Right now +there isn't over sixteen inches of water in there." + +Carnes was waiting in the well lighted laboratory when they drove up. + +"All right, Davis," said the doctor, "get busy on those samples. If +you can't make out the first two, don't crack the others but leave +them for me. Give Carnes your mask; he'll drive the rest of the night. + +"What luck, Carnesy?" he asked, as the detective, wearing Davis' mask, +drove toward the officers' club. + +"No stray plane landed or even flew over here last night so far as I +could learn. Most of the boats on the bay were either known or lent +themselves to ready identification. There were four that I couldn't +exactly place, but I think we can safely discard all but one. Some +fishermen were pulling nets on the bay about half a mile outside the +mouth of the Bush River last night. About eleven, a boat running +without lights passed them. They said that they could not hear an +engine running, but just a dull hum and the gurgle of a propeller. +They hailed it, but got no answer. It faded away into the darkness and +they think it was headed toward the mouth of the Bush River. They had +their nets up and reset in another hour but the boat didn't +reappear." + +"Hmm. High tide was at ten minutes after midnight. There was plenty of +water in the river at that hour. It sounds promising." + +"I thought of telephoning Washington and getting a Coast Guard cutter +put on patrol in the bay but I didn't like to do it without your +sanction." + +"It might have been a good idea, but on the whole it's probably better +that you didn't. Carnes, we'll go down to the water front and see +whether anything shows up to-night. High tide will be about +eleven-thirty. It's about half-past nine now. We'd better get going." + + * * * * * + +On the second drive to Michaelville, the fog patches were quite +noticeably denser than they had been earlier in the evening. Three +times the car had to pass through bands of fog which covered the road. +As they passed the second one Carnes suddenly began to cough. + +"What's the matter, old man?" cried Dr. Bird, a note of anxiety in his +voice. For a few moments Carnes could not answer for coughing. He +seized the mask to tear it from his head but Dr. Bird restrained him. +In a few minutes his voice became intelligible. + +"It seemed like that fog bit right into my lungs, Doctor," he gasped. +"I felt as if I were choking. It's better now." + +"Are you sure your mask isn't leaking, Carnes? It'll be all up with +you if it does. Test it." + +The detective closed the intake valve of the mask and expelling all of +the air from his lungs, took a deep breath. The air whistled noisily +in through the outlet valve. + +"The devil!" cried the doctor. "Take that mask off and let me look at +it." + +A few moments were enough to make the needed repairs and they drove +on. Carnes still coughed from time to time. At Michaelville, they +started the scooter and ran down the track to the river. They secreted +the scooter under the parapet on the water pent-house and walked to +the river's edge. + +"There's no telling just where they may land, Carnes," said the doctor +reflectively, "but this looks like the most likely place. I'll tell +you what we'll do. The river narrows a good deal about half a mile +east of here. You go up to the narrows and keep watch while I stay +here. If any craft passes you, follow it upstream until you find me. +If they land, handle the situation as well as you can alone. If you +hear any shooting, come as fast as you can leg it. I'll do the same." + + * * * * * + +The detective stole away into the darkness and Dr. Bird settled +himself for a long vigil. For an hour nothing broke the stillness of +the night. Suddenly the doctor was on his feet, peering downstream. A +faint purring murmur came over the water, so faint that no one with +less sensitive ears than the doctor's could have detected it. Assured +after a few minutes of listening that some kind of a craft was coming +up the river, the doctor sank back into his hiding place, an automatic +pistol firmly grasped in his long tapering fingers. + +The purr came nearer, but it was not appreciably louder. The gurgle of +water past the prow of the boat could be heard and Dr. Bird could see +a long ribbon of white on the water where the craft was passing. He +stepped from his cover and leaned forward, straining his eyes to see +the boat. It passed beyond him and continued up the river. He stepped +quickly along the river bank, trying to keep it in sight. Suddenly he +paused. The boat had turned and was coming back. Hurriedly he +returned to his hiding place. + +The boat came down the river until it was opposite the point where he +crouched, and then it turned and came in toward the shore. Dr. Bird +gripped his pistol and waited. When the craft was less than twenty +feet from shore it stopped and a guttural voice spoke. Dr. Bird +started. He had expected the language to be Russian, but it came as a +shock to him, nevertheless. He strained his ears and cursed his +inability to make out the words. Dr. Bird had been assiduously +studying Russian under the tutelage of his new secretary for some +months, but he had not yet progressed to the stage where he could +readily understand it. The gift of languages was one which the erudite +doctor did not possess. + + * * * * * + +The boat lay motionless for several minutes. Nervously the doctor +glanced at his wrist watch. He barely stifled a cry of amazement. From +the face of the luminous dial, long streamers of faintly +phosphorescent light were streaming. He whirled to meet an attack from +the rear but he was too late. Even as he turned the muzzle of a pistol +pressed into his back and a voice spoke behind him. + +"Drop that pistol, Doctor, or I'll be under the unpleasant necessity +of making a hole in you." + +Reluctantly, Dr. Bird dropped his pistol and the voice went on. + +"Really, I hardly expected to catch you by surprise, Doctor. I thought +you were clever enough to realize that our boat would be equipped with +an ultra-violet searchlight. However, even the best minds must rest +sometimes, and yours is due for a nice long rest. In fact, I might +almost prophesy that it will be a permanent rest." + +Dr. Bird shivered despite himself at the cold mercilessness of the +railing voice behind him. The accents were ones which he did not +recognize. His captor chuckled for a few moments and then called out +in Russian. The boat came into the shore and eight figures climbed +out. Two of them bore a small chest which they set down on the wharf. +One of the figures picked up the doctor's automatic and his captor +stepped in front. A flashlight gleamed for an instant and Dr. Bird +started in surprise. The men wore no masks but only a plate of glass +which protected their cheeks and eyes. Fastened to the neck of each +one, below the chin, was a long tube which gleamed like glass. They +wore heavy knapsacks strapped to their backs from which wires ran to +each end of the bars. + +"Those protectors make your enveloping head-mask look rather clumsy, +don't they, Doctor?" said his captor mockingly. "It's too bad you +didn't think of them first. It must be such a blow to your pride to +think that anyone had invented something better than yours. Really, +that mask of yours worries me. Remove it!" + + * * * * * + +At his words two of the men stepped forward and tore the doctor's mask +roughly from his head. The mocking voice went on. + +"In view of the fact that you have only a few hours of life left, Dr. +Bird, it will give me pleasure to let you know how thoroughly you have +been defeated. You may not know me by sight, although my name may not +be unfamiliar. I am Peter Denberg." + +He turned the flashlight for an instant on his own face, and Dr. Bird +gazed at him keenly. + +"I'll know you the next time I see you," he muttered, half to himself. + +"The next time you see me will be in the hereafter, if there be such a +thing," laughed the Russian. "The sweetest blow of all is now about +to fall. We expected you to be here and came prepared to capture you. +Had we not known that the arch enemy of the people would be here +to-night, we would have struck at a point miles away. Do you know who +betrayed you? It was one we placed in your laboratory for the very +purpose which she served." + +He turned on the light again and it picked out of the darkness another +face, a long oval face with startlingly red lips and dark oval eyes +which glowed as with an internal flame. As the face became visible, +the red lips drew back, exposing strong white teeth and the words were +literally spat out. + +"Swine!" she hissed. "Bourgeois! Did you think you could bribe me with +your gifts to tolerate your vileness? I have brought about your +downfall and death, Dr. Bird. I, Feodrovna Androvitch! Now will I +avenge my brother's death at your hands!" + +She sprang forward and spat full in the doctor's face. Dr. Bird fell +back for an instant under the ferocity of her attack and long nails +ripped the skin from his face. Denberg stepped forward and caught her +wrists. + +"Gently, sister," he warned. Feodrovna struggled for an instant but +gave way to the powerful muscles of the communist leader. "There is no +need for anything of that sort," he went on. "In a few moments we will +open the chest which we have and then you will enjoy the amazing +spectacle of the man who has temporarily checked the plans of our +leader a dozen times, gasping for breath like a fish out of water. +Start your protectors." + + * * * * * + +Each of the Russians closed a switch on the knapsack which he wore. +From the bars below their chins came a dull violet glow which made +their faces stand out eerily in the darkness. The flashlight was +centered on the box which Dr. Bird could see was made of lead, +soldered into a solid mass. At a word from Denberg, one of the +Russians stepped forward with a long knife in his hand and started to +cut open the box. + +With a sudden effort, Dr. Bird shook himself loose from the two men +who were holding him and sprang forward. Denberg turned to meet him +and the doctor's fist shot out like a piston rod. Full on the +Russian's chin it landed and he went down like a poled ox. Two of the +Russians closed with him but the two were no match for Dr. Bird's +enormous strength, fighting as he was for his life. He hurled one away +and swung with all of his strength at the other. His blow struck +glancingly, and while the Russian spun away under the blow, he did not +fall. A man caught at him from the rear and Dr. Bird whirled, but as +he did so, two men seized his arms from behind. Mightily the doctor +strove but others flung themselves on him. He straightened up with a +superhuman effort and then from an unexpected source came help. + +One of the men holding him gave a choking gasp and reeled sideways. +Dr. Bird felt his neck deluged with liquid and the smell of hot blood +rose sickeningly on the air. He shook himself loose again and smote +with all of his strength at his nearest opponent. His blow landed fair +but at the same instant an iron bar fell across his arm and it dropped +limp and helpless. Again a knife flashed in the darkness and a howl of +pain came from the Russian who felt it bite home. + +"We are attacked!" cried one of them. They whirled about, their +flashlights cutting paths through the thickening fog. With her back +to the crippled doctor's Feodrovna Androvitch held aloft a bloody +knife. + +Something seemed to catch Dr. Bird by the throat and shut off his +breath. From a gash which had been cut in the lead box, a heavy gray +fog was rising and enveloping everything in its deadening blanket. The +fog penetrated into the doctor's lungs and an intolerable pain, as +though hot irons were searing the tissues, tore him. He tried to +cough, but the sound could not force its way through his stiffening +lips. Darkness closed in on him and he swayed. He was dimly conscious +that the Russians were swarming about Feodrovna, knives and clubs in +their hands. Then through the night came an ear-splitting crack and a +flash of orange flame. One of the Russians toppled and fell forward, +knocking the weakened doctor down as he did so. Again came a flash and +a report, and to the doctor's fading senses came a sound of shouts and +pounding feet. Over his head another flash split the fog and then +darkness swarmed in and with a sigh of pain, Dr. Bird let his head +fall forward on his chest. + + * * * * * + +He recovered consciousness slowly and looked about him. He was in a +white bed in a strange, yet somehow familiar, place with a ray of +light of almost intolerable brilliance boring its way into his brain. +He tried to raise his hand and found himself curiously weak. With a +great effort he raised his hand until he could see it and let it fall +with a cry which came from his lips only as a feeble murmur. His hand +was thin almost to the point of emaciation. Blue veins stood out on +the back and his long, slim, mobile fingers, the fingers of an artist +and dreamer, were mere claws, with the skin drawn tight over the +bones. + +A man in a white uniform bent over him. "Drink this, Doctor," came in +soothing tones. + +He was too weak to protest and he managed to sip the drink through a +glass tube. Slowly he felt himself sinking through vast unexplored +reaches of darkness. + +How long he lay there he did not know but when he again opened his +eyes the light was no longer over him. He strove to speak and a husky +whisper came from his lips. A tall woman in white hastened forward and +bent over him. + +"Where am I?" he asked with difficulty. + +"You're in the hospital at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Doctor," said the +nurse. "Everything is all right and you're doing splendidly. Just +don't excite yourself and you'll get well in no time. Captain Murdock +will be here in a few minutes." + +"How long have I been here?" he asked. + +"Oh, quite a while, Doctor. Now don't ask any more questions. You must +rest and get well and strong, you know." + +Strength seemed to be surging slowly back into the doctor's wasted +frame. His voice came clearer and stronger. + +"How long have I been here?" he demanded. + + * * * * * + +The nurse hesitated, but her face suddenly cleared as Captain Murdock +entered the ward. + +"Oh, Captain," she cried, "come here and take care of your patient. He +won't keep quiet." + +"Out of his head again?" asked Captain Murdock as he hastened forward. + +"No more than you are," came in a husky whisper from Dr. Bird's lips. + +Captain Murdock looked quickly down and smiled in relief. "You'll +live, Dr. Bird," he said. "Just take it easy for a few days and then +you can talk all you want to." + +"I'll talk now," came in stronger tones from the doctor's lips. "How +long have I been here?" + +Captain Murdock hesitated, but a glance at the doctor's flushed face +warned him that it was better to give in than to fight him. + +"You were brought in here two weeks ago yesterday," he said. "It was +touch and go for a while, and, but for the treatment you devised, you +would have been a goner. We fed you X-rays until I was afraid we would +burn you up, but they did the business. It will cheer you up to learn +that every man who got your treatment is either well or on the high +road to recovery." + +"The plague?" asked the doctor faintly. + +"Oh, that's all over, thanks to you. It reached the post that night +but under the influence of the daylight blue bulbs you had installed, +it lost most of its virulence. We had a lot of sore throats in the +morning but there wasn't a man dangerously sick. It all faded when the +sun hit it." + +An orderly entered and spoke in an undertone to Captain Murdock. The +surgeon hesitated for a moment, his eyes on Dr. Bird, and then nodded. + +"Bring him in," he said quietly. + + * * * * * + +A small, unobtrusively dressed man entered the room and stepped to the +bedside. Dr. Bird's face lighted up in one of its rare smiles and he +strove to raise his hand in greeting. + +"Carnesy, old dear, I'm glad to see you got out all right," he +whispered. "I was afraid your mask wouldn't hold up after the trouble +you had with it. Tell me what happened that night." + +Carnes glanced at Captain Murdock, who nodded. + +"I went down to the narrows and watched, Doctor, and when the Russian +boat passed, I started to make my way back to you. The tide had come +in and I had to make quite a detour to get to you. I got there a +little later than I liked but still in time to do some good. You were +down and Miss Andrews was standing over you with a bloody knife in her +hand, fighting like a wildcat. I started shooting and ran in yelling +as loud as I could. I managed to plug three of them and I guess they +thought I was a dozen men. I tried to make enough noise for that many. +The rest took to their heels and Miss Andrews and I rigged one of +their protectors over your face and dragged you to the scooter. The +rest was plain sailing. We brought you in and Captain Murdock did the +rest. That's all there was to it. If I hadn't been so slow, I could +have driven them off before they opened that box and saved you all of +this." + +"Thelma?" asked the doctor faintly. + +"Oh, she's none the worse, Doctor. I want to apologize to you for the +poor opinion I had of your judgment. That girl wasn't recognized; she +recognized Denberg on the streets of Washington and deliberately put +her head into the lion's mouth by declaring herself. She got their +whole plan and went along to try to checkmate them. If she hadn't +started knifing when she did, the devils meant to hold your head +directly over that box and it would have been just too bad." + +"What was in the box?" + + * * * * * + +"She found that out. It was some kind of a microbe that Saranoff +developed in a Belgian laboratory which does something to the oxygen +of the air. You'll have to get Dr. Burgess to explain that to you +later; he has some of the bugs shut up for you to play with when you +get back on the job. When we found that you were knocked out, Davis +got him to come down from Washington to take charge. He has been +running ray machines over the swamps for two weeks and says that every +trace of the bugs are gone except those he has in the laboratory." + +"Saranoff has more." + +"No, he hasn't, thanks to Miss Andrews. Every day they started a fresh +colony, leaving one lot back to start the next brood with. She tipped +us off where they were kept and Bolton and Haggerty raided and got the +lot and turned them over to Dr. Burgess." + +"That's enough for to-day, Mr. Carnes," interrupted Captain Murdock. +"You can see Dr. Bird to-morrow, but he has had enough excitement for +to-day." + +As Carnes took his leave, the nurse spoke to Captain Murdock. He +looked carefully at Dr. Bird and nodded. + +"For one minute. No longer!" he said. + +The nurse stepped to the door. Into the room came a slim young woman +of remarkable beauty, her eyes glowing as with an internal light. Her +parting lips of startling redness showed strong white teeth. Her eyes +grew misty as she leaned over the doctor's bed. Dr. Bird blinked for a +moment and his face grew stern. + +"Miss Andrews," he said in a husky whisper, "Mr. Carnes has told me +what you did. In my service, success does not excuse disobedience. I +thank you for your services which may have saved my life and which may +have put me in worse danger. In any event, please remember two things. +Unless you can learn to entirely suppress your emotions and learn that +I will tolerate nothing but implicit obedience, your usefulness to me +will be at an end and I will no longer need you." + +The happiness faded from the girl's face as if by magic and an +expression of absolute immobility took its place. Her eyes looked as +though a curtain had been drawn over them. + +"Yes, Doctor," she said in a toneless voice as she turned and left the +room. + + * * * * * + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Poisoned Air, by Sterner St. Paul Meek + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POISONED AIR *** + +***** This file should be named 29069.txt or 29069.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/0/6/29069/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |