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diff --git a/29416-h/29416-h.htm b/29416-h/29416-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4fa5f7b --- /dev/null +++ b/29416-h/29416-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5687 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mind Master, by Arthur J. 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Burks + +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: The Mind Master + +Author: Arthur J. Burks + +Release Date: July 15, 2009 [EBook #29416] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MIND MASTER *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dan Horwood and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="trnote"> +<h4>Transcriber’s Note:</h4> +<p> +This etext was produced from “Astounding Stories” January and +February, 1932. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence +that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. +</p> +<p> +The original “What has gone before” recap section from the +second part (February edition) has been removed from this +combined version. +</p> +<p>The original page numbers have been kept.</p> +<p>Author’s archaic and variable spelling is preserved.</p> +<p>Author’s punctuation style is preserved.</p> +<p>Typographical problems have been changed and these are + <ins class="trchange" title="Was 'hgihligthed'">highlighted</ins>.</p> +<p>A list of changes is included at the end of the text.</p> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;'> +<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' title='' width='375' height='539' /><br /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h1>The Mind Master</h1> +<h3>Beginning a Two-Part Novel</h3> +<h2 style="margin-bottom:1em">By Arthur J. Burks</h2> +<div style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:650px"> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a> +</div> +<div class='figleft' style='width:300px'> +<img src='images/illus-001.jpg' alt='' title='' width='300' height='315' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +<i>A sequel to “Manape the Mighty”</i><br /> +</p> +</div> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a> +</div> +<div class='figleft' style='width:300px'> +<img src='images/illus-002.jpg' alt='' title='' width='300' height='367' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +<i>A bullet ploughed through the top of the ape’s head.</i><br /> +</p> +</div> +<hr class="toprule" style="clear:both; padding:1em" /> +</div> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_I_THE_TUFT_OF_HAIR' id='CHAPTER_I_THE_TUFT_OF_HAIR'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3><i>The Tuft of Hair</i></h3> +</div> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">“Let’s</span> hope the horrible +nightmare is over, dearest,” +whispered Ellen +Estabrook to Lee Bentley +as their liner +came crawling up +through the Narrows +and the +Statue of Liberty +greeted the two +with uplifted torch beyond Staten +Island. New York’s skyline was +beautiful through the mist and +smoke which always seemed to +mask it. It was good to be home +again. +<span class="sidenote">Once more Lee Bentley is caught +up in the marvelous machinations +of the mad genius Barter.</span></p> +<p>Certainly it was a far cry from +the African jungles +where, for +the space of a +ghastly nightmare, +Ellen had +been a captive of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +the apes and Bentley himself had +had a horrible adventure. Caleb +Barter, a mad scientist, had drugged +him and exchanged his brain with +that of an ape, and for hours +Bentley had roamed the jungles +hidden in the great hairy body, the +only part of him remaining “Bentley” +being the Bentley brain which +Barter had placed in the ape’s skull-pan. +Bentley would never forget +the horror of that grim awakening, +in which he had found himself +walking on bent knuckles, his voice +the fighting bellow of a giant anthropoid.</p> +<p>Yes, it was a far cry from the +African jungles to populous Manhattan.</p> +<p>As soon as Ellen and Lee considered +themselves recovered from +the shock of the experience they +would be married. They had already +spent two months of absolute rest +in England after their escape from +Africa, but they found it had not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +been enough. Their story had been +told in the press of the world and +they had been constantly besieged +by the curious, which of course +had not helped them to forget.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">“Lee,”</span> whispered Ellen, “I’ll +never feel sure that Caleb +Barter is dead. We should have +gone out that morning when he +forgot to take his whip and we +thought the vengeful apes had slain +him. We should have proved it to +our own satisfaction. It would be an +ironic jest, characteristic of Barter, +to allow us to think him dead.”</p> +<p>“He’s dead all right, dear,” replied +Bentley, his nostrils quivering +with pleasure as he looked +ahead at New York, while the +breeze along the Hudson pushed +his hair back from his forehead. +“He had abused the great anthropoids +for too many years. They +seized their opportunity, don’t mistake +that.”</p> +<p>“Still, he was a genius in his +way, a mad, frightful genius. It +hardly seems possible to me that he +would allow himself to be so easily +trapped. It’s a reflection on his +great mentality, twisted though it +was.”</p> +<p>“Forget it, dear,” replied Bentley, +putting his arm around her shoulders. +“We’ll both try to forget. +After our nerves have returned to +normal we’ll be married. Then nothing +can trouble us.”</p> +<p>The vessel docked and later Lee +and Ellen entered a taxicab near +the pier.</p> +<p>“I’ll take you to your home, +Ellen,” said Bentley. “Then I’ll +look after my own affairs for the +next couple of days, which includes +making peace with my father, then +we’ll go on from here.”</p> +<p>They looked through the windows +of the cab as they rolled into lower +Fifth Avenue and headed uptown. +Newsies were screaming an extra +from the sidewalks.</p> +<p>“Excitement!” said Bentley enthusiastically. +“It’s certainly good +to be home and hear a newsboy’s +unintelligible screaming of an +extra, isn’t it?”</p> +<p>On an impulse he ordered the +cabbie to draw up to the curb and +purchased a newspaper.</p> +<p>“Do you mind if I glance through +the headlines?” Bentley asked +Ellen. “I haven’t looked at an American +paper for ever so <a name='TC_1'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Added closing double-quote">long.”</ins></p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">The</span> cab started again and +Bentley folded the paper, falling +easily into the habit of New +Yorkers who are accustomed to +reading on subways where there +isn’t room for elbows, to say nothing +of broad newspapers.</p> +<p>His eyes caught a headline. He +started, frowning, but was instantly +mindful of Ellen. He mustn’t show +any signs that would excite her, +especially when he didn’t yet understand +what had caused his own instant +perturbation.</p> +<p>Had Ellen looked at him she +might have seen merely the calm +face of a man mildly interested in +the news of the day, but she was +looking out at the Fifth Avenue +shops.</p> +<p>Bentley was staring again at the +newspaper story:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>“An evil genius signing his +‘manifestoes’ with the strange +cognomen of ‘Mind Master’ +gives the authorities of New +York City twelve hours in +which to take precautions. To +prove that he is able to make +good his mad threats he states +that at noon exactly, to-day, he +will cause the death of the chief +executive of a great insurance +company whose offices are in +the Flatiron Building. After +that, at regular stated periods, +warnings to be issued in each +case ten hours in advance, he +will steal the brains of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +twenty men whose names are +hereto appended:” (There followed +then a list of names, all +of which were known to +Bentley.)</p> +</blockquote> +<p>He understood why the story had +startled him, too. “Mind Master!” +Anything that had to do with the +human brain interested him +mightily now, for he knew to what +grim uses it could be put at the +hands of a master scientist. Around +his own head, safely covered by +his hair unless someone looked +closely, and even then they must +needs know what they sought, was +a thin white line. It marked the +line of Caleb Barter’s operation on +him that terrible night in the African +jungles, when his brain had +been transferred to the skull-pan of +an ape, and the ape’s brain to his +own cranium. Any mention of the +brain, therefore, recalled to him a +very harrowing experience.</p> +<p>It was little wonder that he +shuddered.</p> +<p>Ellen noticed his agitation.</p> +<p>“What is it, dearest?” she asked +softly, placing her hand in the +crook of his arm.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">He</span> was about to answer her, +desperately trying to think +of something to say that would not +alarm her, when their taxicab, with +a sudden application of the brakes, +came to a sharp stop. Bentley noticed +that they were at the intersection +of Twenty-second Street +and Fifth Avenue. The lights were +still green, but nevertheless all traffic +was halted.</p> +<p>And for a strange reason.</p> +<p>From the west door of the Flatiron +Building emerged a grim apparition +of a man. His body was +scored by countless bleeding +wounds which looked as though +they had been made by the fingernails +of a giant. The man wore no +article of clothing except his shoes. +Apparently, his clothing had been +ripped from his body by the same +instrument which had turned his +body into a raw, dripping horror.</p> +<p>The man staggered, half-running, +at times all but falling, toward the +traffic officer at the intersection.</p> +<p>As he ran he screamed, horrible, +babbling screams. His lips worked +crazily, his eyes rolled. He was +frightened beyond the comprehension +of ordinary mortals. His +screams began and ended on the +high shrill notes of utter dementia, +and as he ran he pawed the air +with his bleeding hands as though +he fought out on all sides against +invisible demons seeking to drag +him down.</p> +<p>“Oh, my God!” said Ellen. “Even +here!”</p> +<p>What had caused her to speak the +last two words? Did she also have +a premonition of grim disaster? Did +she also feel, deep down inside her, +as Bentley did, that the nightmare +through which they had passed was +not yet ended?</p> +<p>Bentley now sat unmoving, his +eyes unblinking, as he saw the +naked man stagger over to the traffic +officer. The color drained from +his face.</p> +<p>He looked at his watch. It was +exactly noon.</p> +<p>Even without further consideration +Bentley knew that this gruesome +apparition had some direct +connection with the newspaper story +he had just read.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Unobtrusively,</span> trying to +make it seem a preoccupied +action, he folded the newspaper +again and thrust it down at the +end of the seat cushion. But Ellen +was watching him, a haunting fear +gradually coming into her eyes.</p> +<p>She quickly reached past him and +snatched the paper before he realized +her intent. The item he had +read came instantly under her eyes +because of the way he had automatically +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +folded the paper. She +read it with staring eyes.</p> +<p>“So, Lee,” she said, “you think +there’s a connection with––with––well, +with <i>us</i>?”</p> +<p>“Absurd!” he said heartily, too +heartily. “Caleb Barter is dead.”</p> +<p>“But I have never been sure,” insisted +Ellen. “Oh, Lee, let’s get +away from here! Let’s take the first +boat for Bermuda––anywhere to +escape this terrible fear.”</p> +<p>“No!” he retorted harshly. “If +our suspicions are correct, and I +think we’re unwarrantedly keyed up +because of our recent experiences, +the officials of New York may need +my help.”</p> +<p>“Your help? Why?”</p> +<p>“I know more about Caleb Barter +than any other living man, perhaps.”</p> +<p>“Then you <i>do</i> have doubts that +he is dead!”</p> +<p>Bentley shrugged his shoulders.</p> +<p>“Ellen,” he said, “drive on home +without me. I’m going to drop off +and find out all I can. If we’re in +for it in any way it’s just as well +to know it at once.”</p> +<p>“You’ll come right along?”</p> +<p>“Just as soon as I can make it. +And I hope I’ll be able to report our +fears groundless.”</p> +<p>Bentley stepped from the cab. +He ordered the chauffeur to turn +right into Twenty-second Street +and to proceed until Ellen gave him +further directions.</p> +<p>Then Bentley hurried through the +congestion of automobiles toward +the traffic officer who was fighting +with the naked man, trying to subdue +him. Other men were running +to the officer’s assistance, for it +could be seen that he alone was +no match for the lunatic. Bentley, +however, was first to arrive.</p> +<p>“Give me a hand!” gasped the +officer. “I can’t handle ’im without +usin’ my club and I don’t wanna +do that. The poor fella don’t know +what he’s a-doin’.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Bentley</span> quickly sprang to +the patrolman’s assistance. Between +them they soon reduced the +stranger to a squirming bundle and +dragged him to the sidewalk; another +officer was phoning for an +ambulance. The stricken man was +now mumbling, babbling insanely. +Blood trickled from the corners of +his lips. The sight of one eye had +been destroyed.</p> +<p>Bentley watched him, sprawled +now on the sidewalk, surrounded +by a group of men. The man was +dying, no question about that. The +talons, which had scored him, had +bitten deeply and he was destined +to bleed to death soon even if the +wounds were not otherwise mortal.</p> +<p>Bentley noticed something +clutched tightly in the man’s right +hand––something that sent a chill +through his body despite the heat +of a mid-July noon. The officer, apparently, +had not noticed it.</p> +<p>Soon a clanging bell announced +the arrival of an ambulance, and as +the crowd stepped aside to clear +the way, Bentley bent over the +dying man. The man’s lips were +parted and he was trying with a +mighty effort of will to speak.</p> +<p>Bentley put his ear close to the +bleeding lips through which words +strove to bubble. He heard parts of +two words:</p> +<p>“...ind ...aster....”</p> +<p>Bentley suddenly knew <a name='TC_2'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Was 'that'">what</ins> the +man was trying to say. The half-uttered +words could mean only––“Mind +Master.”</p> +<p>Bentley suppressed a shudder and +extended his hands to the closed +right hand of the dying man. Carefully +he removed from between the +fingers three tufts of thick brown +hair, coarse and crude of texture. +There was a rattle in the naked +man’s throat.</p> +<p>Five minutes later the ambulance +<a name='TC_3'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Was 'interne'">intern</ins> hastily scribbled in his record +the entry, “Dead on Arrival.”</p> +<p>Bentley, more frightened than he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +had ever been before, entered a +taxicab as soon as the body had +been removed and the streets +cleared. He stared closely at the +tufts of hair in his hand. Maybe he +had been wrong in taking them before +detectives arrived on the scene, +but he had to know, and he felt +that these hairs proved his mad suspicions.</p> +<p>Caleb Barter was alive!</p> +<p>The hairs came from the shaggy +coat of a giant anthropoid ape or a +gorilla.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_II_ULTIMATUM' id='CHAPTER_II_ULTIMATUM'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3><i>Ultimatum</i></h3> +</div> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">How</span> terribly far-fetched it +seemed! It was unbelievable +enough that Bentley had once reposed +in the body of an ape. That +had been in the African wilds. But +the idiocy of the thing now rested +in Bentley’s belief that here, immediately +upon landing, he was +again facing something just as horrible.</p> +<p>But the coincidences were too +clear. The palaver about “brains,” +and “Mind Master”––and those ape +hairs in Bentley’s hands. He wished +he knew all that had led up to that +story he had read in the paper +just prior to the appearance of the +naked man from the west door of +the Flatiron Building. However, the +killing would get front page position +now, due to the importance +of the dead man––Bentley never +doubted it was the man whom, in +the paper, the “Mind Master” had +promised to slay.</p> +<p>Great apes in the heart of New +York City! It sounded silly, preposterous. +Yet, before he had gone +through that dread experience with +the mad Barter, Bentley would have +sworn that brain transplantation +was impossible. Even now he was +not sure that it hadn’t all been +a terrible dream.</p> +<p>Should Bentley go at once to the +police to give them the benefit of +whatever knowledge he might have +of Caleb Barter? He wasn’t sure. +Then he decided that sooner or +later he must come out into the +open. So he caught a cab and went +to police headquarters.</p> +<p>“I wish,” he said, “to talk to someone +about the Mind Master!”</p> +<p>If he had said, “I have just come +from Mars,” he could scarcely have +caused a greater sensation.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">But</span> his calm statement got him +an instant audience with a +slender man of thirty-five or so, +whose hair was prematurely gray at +the temples, and whose eyes were +shrewd and far-seeing.</p> +<p>“My name’s Thomas Tyler,” said +the detective. He certainly didn’t +look the conventional detective, but +Bentley knew instantly that he +<i>wasn’t</i> the conventional detective. +“I work on the unusual cases. If +you hadn’t sent in your name I +wouldn’t have seen you, which +means that as soon as you leave +here you are to forget my name and +how I look.”</p> +<p>He motioned Bentley to a seat. +Bentley sat back. Suddenly Thomas +Tyler was around his desk and had +pushed back the hair from Bentley’s +temples. He drew in his breath with +a sharp hiss when he saw the white +line which circled Bentley’s skull.</p> +<p>“It’s not exactly proof,” he said, +as though he and Bentley had been +in the midst of a discussion of +that awful operation Barter had +performed on Bentley, “but I’d take +your word for it.”</p> +<p>“The story, in the main, was +true,” said Bentley.</p> +<p>“I thought so. What made you +come here?”</p> +<p>“I saw that naked man run across +Fifth Avenue from the door of the +Flatiron Building. I saw the officer +subdue him, helped him do it in +fact, and saw the man die. Since +there was no detective there, I took +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +the liberty of removing these from +the fingers of the dead man.”</p> +<p>Bentley gave Tyler the coarse +hair, stained with blood. Tyler +looked at it grimly for a moment +or two.</p> +<p>“Not human hair,” he said, as +though talking to himself. “Not +like any I know of. But ... ah, +you know what sort of hair, eh? +That’s what sent you here!”</p> +<p>“It’s the hair of an ape or a +gorilla.”</p> +<p>“How do you know, for sure?”</p> +<p>“Once,” said Bentley grimly, “for +several horrible hours ... I was +a giant anthropoid ape.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Tyler’s</span> chair legs crashed +solidly to the floor.</p> +<p>“I see,” he said. “You think this +thing has some connection with +your own experiences. How long +ago was that?”</p> +<p>“Slightly over two months.”</p> +<p>“You think the same man...?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know. But who could +want, as a newspaper story I just +read says, to steal the brains of +men? What for? It sounds like +Barter. I’ve never heard of anybody +else with such an obsession. +I’m putting two and two together––and +fervently hoping they’ll add +up to seven instead of four. For +if ever in my life I wanted to be +wrong it’s now.”</p> +<p>Tyler pursed his lips. Bentley +saw that his eyes were glinting +with excitement.</p> +<p>“But there’s a possibility you’re +right. Do you know what the Mind +Master’s first manifesto said? It +was published by a tabloid newspaper +as a sort of gag––a strange +crank letter. Here it is.”</p> +<p>Tyler tossed Bentley a newspaper +clipping a week old. Bentley +read quickly:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>“The white race is deteriorating +physically at a dangerous +rate. In fifty years, if +nothing is done to prevent it, +the world will be filled with +men whose bodies are so soft as +to be almost worthless. But I +shall take steps to prevent that, +as soon as I am ready. I need a +week. Then I shall begin my +crusade to make the white race +a race of supermen, whom I +alone shall rule. They shall +keep the brains they have, +which shall be transferred to +bodies which I shall furnish.</p> +<p style='margin-left:0.0em; margin-right:0.0em; text-align:right'>(Signed) The Mind Master.”<br /></p> +</blockquote> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Tyler</span> squinted at Bentley +again.</p> +<p>“You see? Brains are all right, +he says, but the white race needs +new bodies. If he isn’t suggesting +brain substitution, what is he suggesting? +Though I confess I never +thought of your story until your +name was sent in to me a while +ago. For the world thinks of Barter +as having been killed by the +great apes.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I told newspaper reporters +that. I thought it was true. But +this Mind Master must be Barter. +There couldn’t be two persons in +the world with mental quirks so +much alike.”</p> +<p>“Tell me what Barter looks like. +Oh, there are plenty of pictures +extant of the famous Professor +Caleb Barter who disappeared from +the world some years ago, but he’ll +know that, of course, and he won’t +look like the pictures.</p> +<p>“Alteration of his own features +should be easy for a man who +juggles brains.”</p> +<p>“He may have changed his features +since I saw him, too,” said +Bentley. “But I’m sure I’d know +him.”</p> +<p>Tyler’s telephone rang stridently.</p> +<p>He took down the receiver. His +mouth fell slackly open as his eyes +lifted to Bentley’s face. But he +recovered himself and slapped his +hand over the transmitter. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span></p> +<p>“Anybody know you came here?” +asked Tyler.</p> +<p>Bentley shook his head.</p> +<p>“Well,” went on Tyler, “I don’t +know how it happens, but this telephone +message is for you!”</p> +<p>Bentley’s heart seemed to jump +into his throat. One of those +hunches which sometimes were so +valuable to him had struck him, as +though it were a blow between the +eyes. His lips tightened. His face +was pale, but there was a grim light +in his eyes.</p> +<p>He hesitated for a second, the receiver +in his hand, his mouth +against the transmitter.</p> +<p>“Well, Professor Barter?” he said +conversationally.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">There</span> came a gasp from +Thomas Tyler. He jumped to +the door and motioned to someone. +A man in uniform came to his side. +Bentley distinctly heard Tyler tell +the man to have this telephone call +traced.</p> +<p>From the receiver came a well-remembered +chuckle.</p> +<p>“So you were expecting me, eh, +Bentley? You never really believed +that one of my genius would fall +such easy prey to the great apes +did you?”</p> +<p>“Of course not, Professor,” said +Bentley soothingly. “It would be +an insult to your vivid mentality.”</p> +<p>“<i>Vivid</i> mentality! <i>Vivid</i> mentality! +Why, Bentley, there isn’t +another brain in the world to compare +with mine. And you of all +people should know it. The whole +world will know it before I’m finished, +for I have made tremendous +strides since you helped me to perform +that crowning achievement in +Africa. By the way, tell your friend +Tyler, who just called the officer +to the door, that it’s useless to +try to trace this call!”</p> +<p>Bentley jumped as though he +had been stung. How had Barter +known what Tyler was doing? How +had he guessed what Tyler had told +the man in uniform? How had Barter +known Bentley was visiting +Tyler? How had he discovered even +that Bentley was back in the +United States? Why, besides, was +he so friendly with Bentley now?</p> +<p>“You speak, Professor,” said +Bentley softly, “as though you +could see right into police headquarters.”</p> +<p>“I can, Bentley! I can!” said +Barter impatiently, as though he +were rebuking a schoolboy for saying +the obvious.</p> +<p>“You’re close by, then?”</p> +<p>“No. I’m a long way––several +miles––from you. But I can see +everything you do. And you needn’t +look at Tyler in such surprise!”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Bentley</span> started. He had +looked at Tyler in a surprised +way and, clever though he was, he +didn’t think that Barter could have +<i>guessed</i> so accurately to the second +the gesture he had made. Barter +chuckled.</p> +<p>“It’s a good jest, isn’t it? But +listen to me, Bentley, I’ve a great +scheme in hand for the amelioration +of mankind. I need your help, +mostly because you were such an +excellent subject in my greatest +successful experiment.”</p> +<p>“Will it be the same sort of experiment +as the other?” Bentley’s +heart was in his mouth as he asked +the question.</p> +<p>“Yes, the same ... but there are +improvements I have succeeded in +perfecting since the creation of +Manape. My one mistake when +Manape was created was in that I +allowed myself to lose control of +him––of you! That will not happen +again. Oh, if you’ll help me, +Bentley, that operation will not be +performed on you until you yourself +request it because I shall have +proved to you that it is better for +you. You shall be my assistant and +obey my orders, nothing more.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span></p> +<p>Lee Bentley drew a deep breath.</p> +<p>“If I prefer not to work with +you again, Professor?”</p> +<p>A chuckle was Barter’s answer. +The chuckle broke off shortly.</p> +<p>“You should not refuse, Bentley,” +said the scientist at last. “For then +I should find it necessary to remove +you. You might stand in my way, +and though you would be but a +puny obstacle, you still would be +an obstacle. For example, consider +Ellen Estabrook, your fiancée. I can +find no use for her ... and she +knows as much about me as you do. +Therefore, at my convenience, I +shall remove her.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">“Caleb Barter,”</span> Bentley’s +voice was hoarse with anger +as he dropped his soothing mode of +address toward the man he knew +was insane, “if anything happens to +Miss Estabrook through you I shall +find you no matter how well you +are guarded ... and I shall destroy +you bit by bit, as a small boy destroys +a fly. For every least evil +thing that happens to Miss Estabrook, +a hundred times that will +happen to you at my hands.”</p> +<p>“Good!” snapped Barter, no +longer chuckling. “I am happy to +know how much she means to you. +It shows me how easily I may control +you through her. It means war +then, between us? I’m sorry, +Bentley, for I like you. In a way, +you know, you are my creation. But +in a war between us, Bentley, you +haven’t a chance to win.”</p> +<p>Bentley clicked up the receiver.</p> +<p>“Could you trace the call, Tyler?” +he snapped.</p> +<p>Tyler shook his head ruefully.</p> +<p>“We couldn’t locate the right +telephone, but we could tell which +exchange it came through, and the +lines of that exchange cover a huge +section of the city.”</p> +<p>“Can you find out exactly the section +and the address of each phone +on every line?”</p> +<p>“Yes. The exchange is Stuyvesant.”</p> +<p>“That gives me some help. I used +to live in Greenwich Village and +I had a Stuyvesant number. I’m +going after Barter. Say, Tyler, how +do you suppose Barter knew exactly +what was going on in this room?”</p> +<p>Tyler’s face slowly whitened as +his eyes looked fearfully into the +eyes of Lee Bentley. He shook his +head slowly.</p> +<p>Bentley squared his shoulders and +spoke quietly and determinedly.</p> +<p>“Mr. Tyler,” he said, “I am in +a great hurry. May I be conducted +in a police car? Might as well. I’ll +be working with you hand and glove +until Barter is captured.”</p> +<p>Bentley rode behind a shrieking +siren to the home of the Estabrooks +... while from a distance of two +miles Caleb Barter watched every +move and chuckled grimly to himself.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_III_HELLS_LABORATORY' id='CHAPTER_III_HELLS_LABORATORY'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3><i>Hell’s Laboratory</i></h3> +</div> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">The</span> huge room was absolutely +free of all sounds from anywhere +save within itself. The walls, +the floors, the doors were of chrome +steel. The cages were iron-ribbed +and ponderous.</p> +<p>The long table which ran down +the strange room’s center was covered +with retorts, test tubes, Bunsen +burners––all of the stock-in-trade +of the scientist who spends +most of his time at research work. +The man who bent over the table +was well past middle age. His hair +was snow-white, but his cheeks were +like rosy red apples. He literally +seemed to glow with health. He was +like a strange flame. His hands were +slender, the fingers long and extraordinarily +supple. His lips were +redder even than his cheeks, and +made one, strangely enough, think +of vampires. His eyes were coal-black, +fathomless, piercing. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span></p> +<p>On the bronze wall directly across +the table from the swiftly laboring +man was a porcelain tablet set into +the bronze, and in the midst of the +table were a score of little push-buttons. +Above each was a red +light; and below, a green one.</p> +<p>Several inches below each green +light was a little slot which resembled +a tiny keyhole, something +like the keyhole in the average +handbag. There was a key in each +hole, and from each key hung a +length of gleaming chain which +shone like gold and might have +been gold, or at least, some gold-plated +metal. On the dangling end +of each chain was another key +which might have been the twin of +the key in the hole above.</p> +<p>In the space between the keyholes +and the green lights there +were the letters and figures: A-1, +B-2, C-3, D-4 ... and so on up to +T-20.</p> +<p>Plainly it was the beginning of +a complicated classification system +with any number of combinations +possible.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Behind</span> the working man the +row of cages partially hid the +brooding horror of the place. There +were twenty cages––and in each one +was a sulking, red-eyed anthropoid +ape. Plainly the fact that the number +of apes coincided with the number +of push-buttons, and with the +number of keys, to say nothing of +the red lights and the green lights, +was no accident. The apes were sullenly +silent, proof that they feared +the man at the table so much that +they were afraid to move.</p> +<p>At last the white-haired man +stopped and breathed a sigh of satisfaction. +Carefully he placed in the +middle of the table the instrument +which he had been examining. It +looked like a slightly concave aluminum +plate or tympanum, save that +on the apex appeared a tiny ball of +the same metal. Except for the color +and the fact that the thing was +almost flat, it looked like a small +Manchu hat.</p> +<p>“Naka Machi!” said the man suddenly +in a conversational tone of +voice.</p> +<p>The chrome steel door swung +open swiftly and silently and another +man entered. He was about +the same height as the first man, +but he was younger and his eyes +were blacker. His hair was as black +as the wings of a crow. He was a +Japanese dressed in Occidental +garb.</p> +<p>“Naka Machi,” said the white-haired +one again, “I have examined +every bit of the infinitesimal mechanism +in the ball on this tympanum. +It is perfect. You are a genius, +Naka Machi. There is only one +genius greater––Professor Caleb +Barter!”</p> +<p>Naka Machi bowed low, and as he +spoke his breath hissed inwardly +through his teeth after the Japanese +manner of admitting humility––“that +my humble breath may not +blow upon you”––which never +needed really to be sincere.</p> +<p>“I am merely a genius with my +fingers, Professor Barter,” said +Naka Machi in a musical voice. +“The smaller the medium in which +I work the happier I am, Professor; +and in that I am a genius. But the +plan for this so marvelous little +radio-control, as you call it, came +entirely from your head, my master. +I did exactly as the plans bade +me. Will it work?”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Caleb Barter’s</span> red face +went redder still. His eyes +shot flames of anger. His lips +pouched. Almost he seemed on the +point of striking down his Japanese +assistant.</p> +<p>“Will it work?” he repeated. +“Have you not just told me that +you followed my plans exactly? +Have I not just now checked your +every bit of work and pronounced +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +it perfect? Then how can it fail to +work? Have you another one +ready?”</p> +<p>“Yes, my master. Now that I have +perfected two, the work will become +monotonous. If the master +wishes, I can create still another +radio-control, inside the head of +a pin, which I should first render +hollow with that skill which only +Naka Machi possesses?”</p> +<p>Caleb Barter almost smiled.</p> +<p>“It will not be necessary. But it +will be necessary for you to make +eighteen additional radio-controls +of the same size as this one, or say +make twenty-four so that we shall +have some extra ones in case of +accident. These two will be put +into action at once. Naka Machi, +bring me Lecky, completely uniformed +as a smart chauffeur! Have +you laid in a store of clothing, as +I bade you, to fit every conceivable +need of Lecky, Stanley, Morton and +Cleve?”</p> +<p>“Yes, my master.”</p> +<p>“Then bring in Lecky accoutered +as a chauffeur.”</p> +<p>Ten minutes later a young man +entered behind Naka Machi. He +was slender and his chauffeur’s +uniform fitted him like a glove. He +looked like a soldier in it. Indeed +his bearing, his whole stance, spoke +of many years as a soldier––and a +proud one. The fellow was brimful +of health. His cheeks were rosy +with vitality. He looked like a man +with health so abundant he never +found means to tire himself to the +point where he could sleep dreamlessly.</p> +<p>But, nevertheless his arms hung +listlessly at his sides. His eyes +seemed empty of hope, dull and +lifeless, and one looked into those +eyes and shuddered. One tried to +gaze deeply into them and found +oneself baffled. There was no soul +behind them.</p> +<p>“Come here, Lecky,” said Barter +coldly.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Lecky</span> glided effortlessly forward +to stand before Barter.</p> +<p>“You’ve no brains, Lecky,” said +Barter emotionlessly; “no brains +of your own. You have a splendid +body which moves only at the will +of Caleb Barter. I need that body +for my purposes. But a man with +brains is dangerous. That’s why +you haven’t any.”</p> +<p>Barter now took the silvery tympanum +with the ball atop it and set +it on the head of Lecky. On top +of it he placed the chauffeur’s cap, +bringing it down tightly to keep +the tympanum in place.</p> +<p>“If I had it to do again I’d insert +the tympanum under the skull +as part of the operation, Naka +Machi,” said Barter as he worked. +“We’ll do that hereafter. And we +begin work immediately. I’m going +to send Lecky out now to get the +first subject.”</p> +<p>“The first subject, sir?”</p> +<p>“Yes. Manhattan’s richest man. +A man must have brains to become +Manhattan’s richest man, and +I need men with brains. His name +is Harold Hervey. He will be +leaving his office in the Empire +State Building in about half an +hour. I want Lecky to be on hand +to meet him.”</p> +<p>On his own head Barter placed a +second tympanum which Naka +Machi had brought him. Over it he +pulled a rubber cap, like a bathing +cap with a hole cut in the top.</p> +<p>“Now, we’ll try it out, Naka +Machi,” said Barter. “Which one +of these lights is Lecky’s?”</p> +<p>“B-2, my master.”</p> +<p>Barter sat down under the light +marked “B-2” and lifted the key +which dangled from the end of the +golden chain. This key he inserted +in a tiny orifice in the ball atop +his head. Then he turned in his +chair to look at Lecky. Barter’s +face was a mask of concentration +as he gazed intently at the young +man. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span></p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Lecky</span> stiffened to attention. +His right hand shot to his +cap visor in salute. His lips twisted +into a travesty of a smile. For a +few seconds he went through a +strange series of posturings. He +stood in the attitude of a boxer preparing +to attack. He danced +smartly on his toes. He bent double +and touched the floor with the +palms of his hands. He jumped up +and down with his legs stiff. He +stopped suddenly with his right +hand at rigid salute. But his eyes +were still vacant through every posture.</p> +<p>Barter’s face showed a glow of +satisfaction.</p> +<p>“He did exactly what I willed +him to do! I am his master. He is +my slave––even more abjectly than +you are my slave, Naka Machi!”</p> +<p>“But that would be impossible, +my master,” said Naka Machi, hissing +again through his teeth as he +sucked in his breath. “None could +be more abjectly your slave than +I.”</p> +<p>“Do not say anything is impossible,” +said Barter peevishly, “when +I say otherwise. Anything is possible +to me! Now, we’ll send Lecky +forth. I’ll watch him through the +heliotubes and control his every +move. While I am directing Lecky +you will prepare the table behind +me for the first of our world-revolutionizing +operations.”</p> +<p>“Yes, my master,” said the Japanese +humbly.</p> +<p>“But first, it’s just as well that +Lecky is in a good humor, even +though he is my slave. Where are +the walnuts, Naka Machi?”</p> +<p>The Japanese tendered a large +walnut to Barter. Barter rose and +approached Lecky who still stood +at salute. He stopped a couple of +paces in front of the soldierly man +and held up the walnut as a man +sometimes holds up food to a dog, +bidding him “speak” before he may +be fed.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Then</span> Lecky did a strange +thing.</p> +<p>He began to jump up and down +like a pleased child. His jumping +caused him to lose his balance, but +he recaptured it by pressing the +backs of his hands against the floor. +His hitherto expressionless eyes +lost their dullness. Saliva dribbled +at the corners of his mouth. Barter +tossed him the walnut. Lecky held +it under his right forefinger, against +the <i>heel</i> of his thumb, instead of +between thumb and forefinger, as he +lifted it to his mouth.</p> +<p>Barter chuckled.</p> +<p>“Even the human casement cannot +wholly hide the ape, eh, Naka +Machi?” said Barter.</p> +<p>Naka Machi hissed.</p> +<p>Barter returned to the porcelain +slab banked with the lights and +the keys. He readjusted the keys +and his face became thoughtful +again.</p> +<p>Lecky turned smartly, still nibbling +at his walnut, strode to the +bronze door and let himself out.</p> +<p>Through the heliotube directly +above the key marked “B-2,” Caleb +Barter watched him go, and kept +watching him as he made his way +to the street. Barter looked ahead +of his puppet, noting the cars which +were parked at the curb. He saw +a stately limousine. He grinned. +The chauffeur was not in sight. +Barter looked for him and found +him at a table in a nearby restaurant, +his back to the window.</p> +<p>Barter looked back at his puppet +and his face became serious with +concentration.</p> +<p>Lecky walked blithely along the +street and turned right when he +was opposite the limousine. Without +a moment’s hesitation, he +stepped into the limousine, pressed +the starter, shifted gears, turned +in the middle of the block and +started swiftly uptown.</p> +<p>After Lecky had shifted gears +he drove with his left hand alone. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +His right was still busy with the +walnut.</p> +<p>Barter now looked like a man in +a trance, so deeply did he concentrate +on his task of guiding his +soulless, ape-brained puppet, Lecky, +through the heavy traffic of Manhattan.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV_THE_OPENING_GUN' id='CHAPTER_IV_THE_OPENING_GUN'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3><i>The Opening Gun</i></h3> +</div> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">“That</span> list, Tyler,” said Bentley, +after he had somewhat +calmed the fears of Ellen Estabrook +and had returned to the task +of tracing Barter, “is headed by +Harold Hervey, the multi-millionaire. +I know Barter well enough to +know that he’ll go down the list +methodically, taking each person in +turn. We’d best take immediate +precautions to guard the old man’s +home. For Barter, if not entirely +ready to take drastic steps, must +be almost ready, else he couldn’t +issue his manifestoes and take a +chance of some slip-up before he +could get really started.”</p> +<p>“Why do you suppose he named +Hervey on the list?” asked Tyler.</p> +<p>“Because Hervey is a financial +genius. Barter wishes not only to +carry out his plan of creating a +race of supermen, but wishes at +the same time to maintain personal +control of them. And to control +Manhattan, from which he logically +hopes to extend his control to the +whole United States, then to the +whole world, Barter must also control +the money marts. Hervey is +the shrewdest financier in the +world.”</p> +<p>“But won’t we frighten Hervey’s +family if we take steps now?”</p> +<p>“Better to frighten them now +than to be too late entirely. However, +we can place his house under +surveillance without the knowledge +of the family for the time being. +And you’d better send a couple of +men to his office in the Empire +State Building to see that nothing +happens to him on the way home +this evening. I talked to him by +telephone and he pooh-poohed the +whole thing. Hard-headed business +executives have no imagination.”</p> +<p>Bentley and Tyler rode uptown +in the back seat of a speeding police +car driven by one of the best chauffeurs +Bentley had ever ridden behind. +He edged through holes in +the traffic where Bentley could +scarcely see any holes at all. He +estimated the speed of cars which +might have collided with the police +vehicle and slipped through with +inches to spare. In his way the +man was a genius. But Bentley was +yet to see the driving of a master +genius....</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Far</span> out in the residential district +the police car came to a +stop. Other police cars arrived at +intervals to disgorge men in plain +clothes who immediately entered +upon their guard duties as unobtrusively +as possible. If Hervey’s +family noticed at all they would +scarcely attach any importance to +the arrival of cars and the discharging +of passengers who seemed +to have nothing to do except dawdle +on the sidewalks.</p> +<p>But all the way uptown a hunch +had ridden Bentley. He had the +feeling that no matter how fast the +police car traveled, no matter how +skilfully the chauffeur inched his +way through the press, they would +be too late to save Hervey. The +feeling became an obsession. Many +times he called through the speaking +tube.</p> +<p>“Faster, driver, for God’s sake, +faster!”</p> +<p>Now near the home of Harold +Hervey, Bentley found himself unable +to walk slowly, with the air +of nonchalance, which the other +police officers wore like a cloak.</p> +<p>“Something’s happened,” said +Bentley, “I’m sure of it. I feel that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +Barter is so close to me that I +could touch him if I knew in which +direction to extend my fingers.”</p> +<p>Suddenly a speeding car, with +horn bellowing, came crashing up +the street toward the Hervey residence. +It was traveling at great +speed, careening from side to side +like a ship in a storm at sea.</p> +<p>“There comes Hervey’s car,” said +Tyler. “And something has happened +to make him travel like that. +Old man Hervey doesn’t allow his +chauffeur to go faster than twenty +miles an <a name='TC_4'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Added closing double-quote">hour.”</ins></p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Tyler</span> and Bentley were near +by when the car squealed to a +stop before the Hervey residence +and a hatless, disheveled man leaped +out almost before the car stopped +rolling.</p> +<p>“That’s not Hervey,” said Tyler. +“That’s his private secretary. Something’s +up. It’s time we took a hand +in things.”</p> +<p>Tyler and Bentley grasped the +young man by the elbow.</p> +<p>“What’s up?” demanded Tyler.</p> +<p>“It’s Mr. Hervey, sir,” panted the +secretary. “It just happened. He’s +been kidnaped!”</p> +<p>The secretary was a slight man, +but fear had given him strength. +He almost dragged Tyler and Bentley +off their feet as he strode on +up the walk leading to the home of +Hervey.</p> +<p>“You’ll scare his family half to +death!” said Tyler.</p> +<p>“It’ll have to come sometime, +Tyler,” said Bentley. “It might as +well be now. They’ll have to know. +We’ll have to sit inactively from +this moment on. Tyler, there’s nothing +that can be done for Hervey. +Barter has scored. We couldn’t +catch him now to save ourselves +from perdition. But his next step +will involve the Hervey menage. +We’ll have to wait there for his +next move.”</p> +<p>Tyler and Bentley entered the +vast gloomy structure of the old-fashioned +Hervey domicile on the +heels of the frightened secretary. +Mrs. Hervey, a faded woman of +sixty or so, met them at the door. +Her head was held high, her lips +grimly drawn into a straight line.</p> +<p>“So,” she said evenly, “they’ve +got Mr. Hervey. I begged him to +take those threats seriously. He’s +been either killed or kidnaped.”</p> +<p>“Kidnaped,” said Bentley, continuing +brutally because of the +courage he saw in the old woman’s +face. “And that means he’ll be +dead within the hour, if he isn’t +dead already. We’ve got to stay +here for a few hours, to await the +next move of the madman calling +himself the Mind Master, in the +hope that we can trace him when +he makes his next move.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Hervey lifted her head still +higher.</p> +<p>“We’ll place no obstacles in your +path, gentlemen,” she said, “if you +are from the police. The family will +confine itself to the upper floors +of the house.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Tyler</span> and Bentley took possession +of the living room. Outside +a dozen plain-clothes men were +to patrol the grounds during the +hours of darkness.</p> +<p>Other men were at every adjacent +street corner. A rat could not have +got through unobserved.</p> +<p>Tyler and Bentley took seats at +a table facing the door. The police +car in which they had arrived stood +at the curb, with the chauffeur at +the wheel, the motor humming +softly.</p> +<p>“Timkins,” said Bentley, addressing +the private secretary who stood +in the most distant corner of the +room, his eyes fearfully fixed on +the street door, “how was Mr. +Hervey captured?”</p> +<p>“I was accompanying him to his +car, sir,” replied the young man, +“when a dapper fellow in a chauffeur’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +uniform confronted us on the +sidewalk. He stood as stiff and +straight as a soldier. He didn’t say +a word. He just looked at Mr. +Hervey. Mr. Hervey stopped because +the man was blocking the +sidewalk. I looked into the chauffeur’s +eyes. They seemed utterly +dead. I shivered. I’d have sworn +the man had no soul, now that I +look back at it. Suddenly he lashed +out with his fist, striking Mr. Hervey +on the jaw. Mr. Hervey started +to fall. The man caught him under +the arms and tossed him into the +tonneau of a limousine at the curb. +The car was away before I could +summon the police.”</p> +<p>Bentley nodded.</p> +<p>“Which way did the car go?” he +demanded.</p> +<p>“Downtown, at top speed,” replied +Timkins.</p> +<p>Bentley turned to Tyler.</p> +<p>“The Stuyvesant exchange is +downtown,” he said. “Now Timkins +says that the kidnaper’s car went +downtown. And the naked man was +killed in the Flatiron Building, +which is well downtown in its turn. +Tyler, fill all the area covered by +the Stuyvesant exchange with plain-clothes +men. Telephone Headquarters +to see whether a stolen +limousine has been reported from +somewhere in the area. Barter +wouldn’t have cars of his own for +fear they could be traced. He’ll use +stolen cars when he uses cars at all. +And he had his puppet pick up the +limousine close to his hideout.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Tyler</span> nodded and quickly +spoke into the telephone on +the table at his elbow.</p> +<p>The telephone reminded Bentley +of Ellen Estabrook.</p> +<p>When Tyler had finished issuing +pointed instructions Bentley called +the residence of the Estabrooks in +Astoria, Long Island.</p> +<p>Carl Estabrook answered the +telephone.</p> +<p>“Is Ellen all right?” asked +Bentley. “May I speak to her?”</p> +<p>Carl Estabrook’s answering gasp +came plainly over the wire.</p> +<p>“Are you crazy, Lee?” he asked. +“Not ten minutes ago you telephoned +Ellen and told her to meet +you near the arch in Washington +Square. I asked her if she was sure +the voice was yours, and she +was....”</p> +<p>But Bentley, white-faced, had +already clicked up the receiver.</p> +<p>“Tyler,” he said, “Ellen Estabrook, +my fiancée, is walking into +a trap. It’s Barter again. He’d know +how to imitate my voice well +enough to fool Ellen. It would be +simple enough for a man like him. +He probably had that long conversation +with me at headquarters to +make sure he hadn’t forgotten the +timbre and pitch of my voice ... and +to hear how it sounded over the +telephone. Please have plain-clothes +men pick up Ellen in +Washington Square. And that, +Tyler, if you’ll notice, is also downtown.”</p> +<p>Bentley felt that he would go +mad with anxiety as he awaited +some news from the plain-clothes +men Tyler had ordered to look for +Ellen Estabrook.</p> +<p>He had asked Tyler to issue +rather unusual instructions to the +plain-clothes men around the Hervey +residence. They were to make +no attempt to halt anyone who +might approach the house, but were +to permit no one to depart. It was +a weak plan, but knowing the supreme +egotism of Barter, Bentley +felt that the old scientist would deliberately +accept such a challenge. +He wouldn’t mind risking the loss +of a minion.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">“He</span> controls his puppets from +his hideout, Tyler,” Bentley +explained, “and won’t hesitate to +send them into danger since it can’t +touch him. And he watches every +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +move they make, too. He’s made +some television adaptation of his +own. I’ll wager, if he so desires, he +can see us sitting here right now, +even perhaps hear what we say. +I can fancy hearing him chuckle, +and Tyler...?”</p> +<p>“Yes?”</p> +<p>“I can see old man Hervey on +an operating table with Barter bending +over him, working fiendishly. +Behind Barter are cages of apes.”</p> +<p>“But how could he transport +apes to his hideout?”</p> +<p>“He could manage to smuggle +anything anywhere. Money paves +the way to any accomplishment, +Tyler. We needn’t concern ourselves +with how he does it, but +with the fact that he must surely +have apes in his hideout.”</p> +<p>There came suddenly an imperious +ringing of the doorbell.</p> +<p>Bentley and Tyler leaped to their +feet, their hands streaking for their +automatics which they had placed +within easy reach on the table. Side +by side they sprang for the door, +and flung it open.</p> +<p>A chill of horror ran through +Bentley.</p> +<p>“Mother of God!” cried Tyler.</p> +<p>“Mr. Hervey!” shrieked Timkins. +The secretary, noting the figure +which toppled so grimly into the +room, fainted. The thud of his body +followed the thud of the old man’s +body to the floor.</p> +<p>In that first moment of overwhelming +terror, all three men +noted that Hervey’s skull-pan was +missing.</p> +<p>“Look after details here, Tyler!” +cried Bentley, quickly recovering +himself. “I’m after whoever brought +the old man home.”</p> +<p>Bentley was racing down the +path for the street, where a man in +chauffeur’s uniform was hurling +himself into a limousine, while bullets +from half a dozen plain-clothes +men, racing to head him off, sang +about his ears. But the stranger +gained the driver’s seat and the +limousine was away like a shot. The +police car was rolling as Bentley +leaped upon the running board, +then eased in beside the driver.</p> +<p>“Don’t stop for anything!” cried +Bentley. “Keep that car in sight!”</p> +<p>The car headed downtown at +breakneck speed.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_V_TO_BROADWAYS_HORROR' id='CHAPTER_V_TO_BROADWAYS_HORROR'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3><i>To Broadway’s Horror</i></h3> +</div> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Bentley</span> would never forget +that nightmarish ride downtown. +It was a dream as terrifying +and ghastly as had been his experience +in the African jungles +when he had been Manape. Added +to the utter fear of the ride was +his fear for the safety of Ellen +Estabrook. Caleb Barter, so far, was +utterly invincible. It seemed he +could not be beaten or outwitted in +any way. But Bentley set his lips +tightly.</p> +<p>Caleb Barter must have some +weak spot in his insane armor, some +way by which he could be reached +and destroyed––and Bentley swore +to himself that it would be he who +would find that weak spot.</p> +<p>The limousine ahead was going +at dangerous speed. The police +chauffeur beside Bentley crouched +low over the wheel as he drove. +His eyes never left the speeding +limousine. People on the sidewalks +stared in astonishment as the two +cars flashed downtown.</p> +<p>The leading car sped on, the +driver obviously expecting ways to +open in the last second before +threatened collision. He passed cars +on the left and the right. There +were times when his wheels were +up on the curb as he went through +lanes between cars and sidewalks. +He was determined to go through.</p> +<p>Only Bentley understood that the +driver ahead was an automaton, a +man whose brain did not know the +meaning of fear. He knew that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +from his hideout Caleb Barter was +directing the flight of the escaping +car. He could fancy the old man of +the apple-red cheeks, sitting in a +chair in his hideout, his hands in +the air as though they gripped the +wheel of a car, sweat breaking forth +on his cheeks as he guided his +puppet through the press of cars.</p> +<p>But by now in that uncanny way +that sometimes happens the streets +were being cleared as if by magic +before the flight of one whom all observers +must have thought a madman. +Only Bentley knew that the +driver ahead was not a madman.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">His</span> own car careened from side +to side. Bentley wondered +what the chauffeur would think if +he knew he was driving a race +against one of Barter’s supermen. +He would perhaps have realized that +no man could possibly follow with +any degree of success. The police +driver had succeeded so far only +because, Bentley guessed, he felt +that where any other man could +drive, so could he.</p> +<p>Only Bentley knew that the +driver up there was not a “man” in +the normal meaning of the word. +He wondered who “he” really was––not +that it mattered greatly, for +the entity required to make “him” +a normal man had perhaps been destroyed, +or had become part of +some giant anthropoid to be used +later in Barter’s ghastly experiments.</p> +<p>“I wonder if Tyler will send out +calls for police cars in other parts +of the city to try and cut off the +runaway,” shouted Bentley above +the shrieking of the motor and the +wailing of the siren. “Are any police +cars equipped with radio?”</p> +<p>“Several,” answered the police +chauffeur. “And they are able to +cut in on various public radio stations, +too. By this time warnings +are being heard on every blaring +radio in Manhattan.”</p> +<p>The two cars sped on. For a brief +space the car ahead took to the +sidewalk. Suddenly a human body +was tossed violently against the +side of a building, and the fleeing +car passed on. As the pursuing car +passed the spot Bentley knew by +the shape of the bundle that the +enemy had killed a woman. At that +speed he must have crushed every +bone in her body. In a matter of +seconds the information would be +telephoned to radio studios and +people would be warned to take to +open doorways when they saw cars +traveling at undue rates of speed.</p> +<p>“I’m a better driver than he is!” +yelled the police chauffeur, out of +the side of his mouth at Bentley. +“I haven’t killed anyone yet.”</p> +<p>The words had <a name='TC_5'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Was 'scarely'">scarcely</ins> left his +mouth when a blind man, tapping +his way with a cane, came from behind +a building at an intersection +and stepped into the gutter. The +fool, couldn’t he hear the shrieking +of the siren? But perhaps he was +deaf, too.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">The</span> police chauffeur turned +sharply to the left and for a +second Bentley held his breath expecting +the careening car to turn +over. If it did it would roll over a +dozen times, and destroy anything +that happened to be in its path. But +with a superhuman manipulation of +the wheel the police chauffeur +righted the car, got it straightened +out again, and was on his way. The +old man had not been touched, but +there was no doubt that he had felt +the wind of the great car’s passing.</p> +<p>The fleeing car was gaining now.</p> +<p>It rode madly down Broadway. +The great pillared intersection +where Broadway cuts through Sixth +Avenue was dead ahead. The fleeing +car continued on, crashing +through, while cars evaded it in +every direction, and into Broadway +beyond. After it went Bentley, all +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +other matters forgotten as he prayed +to the god of speed to guide them +through.</p> +<p>Two cars came out of Thirty-first +Street. Their drivers saw their +danger at the same time. But they +turned different ways, and as Bentley’s +car flashed past them the two +cars seemed welded solidly together. +They were rolling across the +sidewalk toward the huge plate +glass window of a restaurant. Just +as the pursuing car lost them as +they swept past, the two cars went +through that plate glass window. +Bentley, in his mind’s eye, saw the +two dead, <a name='TC_6'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Was 'multilated'">mutilated</ins> drivers, and +the passengers with them, he saw +the wreckage of the restaurant, the +mangled diners who sat at the +tables nearest the fatal window.</p> +<p>“More marks against Barter,” he +muttered to himself. “How long will +the list be before I’ll be able to +drag him down?”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">On</span> and on went the two cars. +People packed the sidewalks, +but they kept close against the +buildings. The streets were almost +deserted now, for that warning had +got ahead. Three other police cars +were careening down the street, too. +Bentley saw them with pleasure. +Other cars would be coming in to +head off the fleeing limousine. This +one puppet of Barter’s, at least, +would be pocketed before he could +find time to leap from his car and +escape.</p> +<p>“Barter’s sweating blood as he +saws with both hands at an imaginary +driver’s wheel,” thought +Bentley. “When will he give up––and +what will his driver do when +Barter <a name='TC_rel'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Was 'relinquished'">relinquishes</ins> control?”</p> +<p>For the first time the grim +thought came to him. He knew that +the creature there had the brain of +an ape. What would an ape do if he +suddenly found himself at the wheel +of a car going down Broadway at +eighty miles an hour? He would +chatter, and jump up and down. +The plunging car, with accelerator +full on, would be out of control.</p> +<p>“God Almighty, I never thought +of that!” yelled Bentley. “As soon +as he sees he can’t save his puppet +he’ll let him get out the best way +he can, himself ... and that car +will be traveling, uncontrolled, at +eighty miles an hour.”</p> +<p>As though his very statement had +fathered the thought, two police +cars swept into the intersection at +Twenty-third Street and Fifth Avenue. +The fleeing limousine was turning +right to go down Fifth Avenue.</p> +<p>The police cars were brought to +a halt to effectively stop the further +progress of the speeding limousine. +Three other cars plunged +in to make the box barrage of cars +effective. The fleeing car was +trapped. Barter must know <a name='TC_7'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Changed ',' to '.'">that.</ins> If +he did know, it proved that he +could see everything that transpired. +The next few seconds would +show.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Bentley</span> gasped as he put his +hand on the driver’s arm to +have him slow down to prevent a +wholesale pile-up in the busy intersection. +He gasped with horror as +he did so, for the fleeing car was +now going crazy. It zigzagged from +side to side. Now it rode the two +right wheels, now the two left.</p> +<p>And suddenly the driver swung +nimbly out through the left window, +his hands reaching up over +the top, and in a moment he was +on the roof of the careening car.</p> +<p>“I’ve seen apes swing into trees +like that,” Bentley thought.</p> +<p>While the car plunged on, the +creature stood up on the doomed +limousine, and in spite of the fact +that the wind of the car’s passing +must have been terrific, the ghastly +hybrid jumped up and down on the +top like a delighted child viewing +a new toy or riding a shoot-the-chutes. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span></p> +<p>Suddenly the creature’s right leg +went through the top’s fabric. It +struggled to regain its footing as +an ape might struggle to regain +position on a limb in the jungles.</p> +<p>At that moment the fleeing car +crashed mercilessly into the two +nearest police cars ahead. The men +inside had expected the driver to +slow down to avoid a collision. How +could they know what sort of +brain lurked within the driver’s +skull? They couldn’t ... and three +policemen paid with their lives for +their lack of knowledge as their +bodies were hurled beneath a mass +of twisted wreckage, crushed out of +human semblance.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">The</span> hybrid atop the fatal car +was hurled through the air like +a thunderbolt. His body passed over +the railing of the subway entrance +before the Flatiron Building and +Bentley knew he had crashed to his +death on the steps.</p> +<p>The police car had already come +to a stop, and Bentley was running +toward the subway entrance.</p> +<p>The shapeless bleeding bundle on +the steps no longer even resembled +a man. Fortunately nobody had +been struck by the hurtling body; +and, miraculously enough, Barter’s +pawn was not yet quite dead.</p> +<p>Moans of animal pain came +through his bleeding lips. The eyes +scarcely noticed Bentley, though +there was a slight flicker of fear +in them. Then, in the instant of +death, even that slight expression +passed from them. Bentley saw the +scarline about the skull.</p> +<p>And now Bentley knew that Barter +was missing no slightest move, +that he saw everything....</p> +<p>For the ghastly hybrid on the +steps raised his right hand in meticulous +salute ... and died. It +was an ironic, grotesque gesture.</p> +<p>Plain-clothes men gathered +around.</p> +<p>“Take his fingerprints,” said +Bentley quickly. “Then telegraph +the fingerprint section, U. S. Army, +at Washington, for this man’s +identity.”</p> +<p>An ambulance was taking aboard +the three mangled policemen as +Bentley stepped back into his car +for the ride down to Washington +Square to see what dread thing had +happened to Ellen Estabrook.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI_HIGH_JEOPARDY' id='CHAPTER_VI_HIGH_JEOPARDY'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3><i>High Jeopardy</i></h3> +</div> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Ellen Estabrook</span> was almost +in hysterics when Bentley +reached her. She had been immediately +picked up by <a name='TC_8'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Was 'plainclothes'">plain-clothes</ins> +men and had thought herself captured +by minions of Barter. She had +been panic-stricken for a moment, +she told Bentley, and it had taken +her some little time to be <a name='TC_9'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Was 'persuuaded'">persuaded</ins> +that she was in the hands +of police.</p> +<p>But Bentley’s heart was filled to +overflowing with gratitude that he +had been able to safeguard Ellen +against Barter. He never doubted +it had been Barter who had telephoned +her. And even now he +fancied he could hear Barter’s +chuckle of amusement. Barter was +watching, perhaps even listening. +Bentley felt that the madman was +just biding his time. Barter could +have taken Ellen in this attempt, +but hadn’t tried greatly, knowing +himself invincible, knowing that he +could take her at any moment if +it was necessary. And he might take +her even if it were not necessary, +since he had warned Bentley she +must be removed.</p> +<p>The police car raced back uptown +so that Bentley could inform himself +of any new developments in +the Hervey case. Ellen snuggled +against him gratefully. “You’ll have +to stick close to me,” said Bentley, +“until something happens, or until +the exigencies of service draw me +away from you. Then it will be up +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +to Tom Tyler to look after you.”</p> +<p>“I can look after myself,” she retorted +spiritedly. “I’m over age +and not without brains....”</p> +<p>“Yet you went to Washington +Square,” said Bentley gently. +“Didn’t it even seem strange to you +that I would have selected such a +place as a rendezvous?”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Ellen</span> turned away from him +and her lips trembled. His +gentle thrust had hurt her.</p> +<p>“But I would have sworn it was +your voice, Lee,” she said. “And––I +still think it was!”</p> +<p>“I tell you I didn’t phone you +to meet me in Washington Square!”</p> +<p>“But you told me you had talked +with Barter for a long time on the +headquarters phone, didn’t you? Remember +that you are dealing with +the cleverest and maddest brain we +know of to-day. What if he had +merely talked with you to get a +record of your voice? Suppose a +voice were composed of certain ingredients, +certain sounds. Suppose +those ingredients could somehow be +captured on a sensitized plate of +some kind! Edison would have been +burned as a sorcerer a few centuries +before he invented the wax +record. Twenty years ago who +would have thought of talking pictures ... voices +permanently recorded +on celluloid?”</p> +<p>“But the talkie films merely +parrot, over and over again, the +words of actual people. When I +talked with Barter this morning I +certainly said nothing about meeting +you at Washington Square.”</p> +<p>“But the tone, the timber, the +frequency of your voice! Lee, suppose +he had gone a step further +than the talkies and had found a +way to break the voice apart and +put it back together to suit himself...?”</p> +<p>“Good Lord, Ellen! It sounds +crazy ... but if you would have +sworn that voice was mine, then +mine it may have been, speaking +words with my voice that I never +spoke personally. But wait until we +find out for sure. We’re just guessing.”</p> +<p>But the idea stuck in his mind +and he believed in it enough to tell +Tyler, upon arriving at the Hervey +residence, to warn every man named +on the list of the Mind Master to +make no appointments over the +telephone, no matter how sure they +were of the voices at the other end +of the wire.</p> +<p>It sounded wild, but was it?</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">That</span> night Ellen and Bentley +occupied rooms which faced +each other across the hall in a midtown +hotel, and plain-clothes men +were on duty to right and left in +the hall. There were men on the +roof and in the lobby, in the garage, +everywhere skulkers might be expected +to look for coigns of vantage +from which to proceed against +Ellen Estabrook. Bentley knew +quite well that Barter would not +drop his intention against Ellen, +especially since he had failed once +already.</p> +<p>Tyler and Bentley sat in Bentley’s +room drinking black coffee +and discussing their plans for the +next day. The latest paper had contained +another manifesto of the +Mind Master! the second man on +his list was to be taken at ten +o’clock the next day. The man was +president of a great construction +company. His name was Saret +Balisle; he was under thirty, slim +as a professional dancer, and dark +as a gypsy.</p> +<p>“But what does Barter want with +all these big shots?” asked Thomas +Tyler. “Just what is the point of +his stealing their brains and putting +them into the skull-pans of apes, +if that’s what you think he has in +mind?”</p> +<p>“The Barter touch,” said Bentley +grimly. “At first he probably intended +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +to kill just any men and +make the transfer, and then use his +manapes to send against the men +he wished to capture, and through +whom he intended to gain control +of Manhattan. Then he decided, +since he had learned to control his +manapes, by radio I suppose, that it +would be an ironic touch to make +virtual slaves of the “key” men he +had chosen for his crusade.”</p> +<p>“But why the transplantation at +all, even if the man is mad? He +reasons logically. Only his premises +are unthinkable ... and he builds +successful ghastly experiments on +top of them....”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">“He</span> claims he wishes to build +a race of supermen,” Bentley +answered. “His reason for the +brain transference is therefore +plain. An anthropoid ape has a body +which is several times as hardy, +durable and mighty as that of even +the strongest man, but the ape has +not the brain of a civilized man. +A specialized man, one with a +highly developed brain, generally +has a very weak body. He’s constantly +put to the necessity of +taking exercise to keep from growing +sick. Therefore the ape’s body +and the man’s brain would seem, to +Barter, an ideal combination. That +nature didn’t plan it so troubles +him not at all. He will make a fool +of nature!”</p> +<p>“I wonder if we’ll get him. Nobody +knows how many lives have +been lost already.”</p> +<p>“We’ll get him, Tyler. I’ll bet +anything you want to name that +your men have walked back and +forth across his hideout. I’ll bet +that decent, respectable people live +within mere yards of him and do +not know it. We’ll get to him the +second he makes a mistake of any +kind. Maybe he’ll make his first one +when he tries to get Saret Balisle––Good +Lord, I forgot something. +Tyler, phone again and ask Headquarters +if the coroner found anything +strange about the head of the +men I chased down Fifth Avenue.”</p> +<p>Tyler phoned.</p> +<p>“Yes,” he said, clicking up the +receiver, “he had bits of metal which +looked like aluminum in his scalp; +but the autopsy shows that it came +from outside somewhere.”</p> +<p>“It’s part of Barter’s radio control,” +muttered Bentley, “it <i>must</i> +be! It has to be ... and I didn’t +think of looking for it at the time.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Long</span> before sunrise Bentley +and Tyler repaired to the office +of Saret Balisle, letting themselves +in with keys which had been +furnished them last night. It had +been decided that Balisle would not +try to run away from the threat of +the Mind Master, but would be in +his office as usual. If he ran, and +got out of touch with the police, +Barter would get him anyway and +nobody would be the wiser.</p> +<p>Balisle had grinned and shrugged +his shoulders, but the wanness in +his cheeks showed that he didn’t +take the threats lightly, considering +what it was thought had happened +to Harold Hervey.</p> +<p>“I wonder,” said Tyler as they +walked through the cool of the +morning to the Clinton Building on +lower Fifth Avenue, where Balisle +had his offices, “how Barter keeps +his apes with men’s brains from +trying to break away from him +when he has to divert his mental +control to other channels?”</p> +<p>Bentley hesitated, seeking a logical +answer. It seemed simple +enough when the answer came to +his mind.</p> +<p>“Suppose, Tyler,” he said, “that +you wakened from a nightmare and +looked into a mirror to discover +that you were an anthropoid ape? +That you were incapable of speaking, +of using your hands save in +the clumsiest fashion? When it +came home to you what had happened +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +to you, would you rush right +out into the street, hoping that the +people on the sidewalks would +understand that you were a man +in ape’s clothing?”</p> +<p>“Good Lord! I never thought of +that!”</p> +<p>“You would if you’d ever been +an ape. I know the feeling.”</p> +<p>“Then Barter’s manapes are more +surely prisoners than if they were +sentenced to serve their entire lives +in the deepest solitary cells in +Sing Sing! How horrible––but still, +they yet would have a way of +escape.”</p> +<p>“Yes, simply break out and start +running, knowing that the crowd +would soon take and destroy them. +Right enough––but even when one +knows oneself an ape it isn’t easy to +destroy oneself.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">They</span> entered the offices of +Saret Balisle and looked about +them. It was just an ordinary office. +They looked in clothes closets and +in shadowy corners. They took +every possible precaution in their +survey of the situation. They looked +for hidden instruments of destruction. +They looked for hidden dictaphones. +They were extremely +thorough in their preliminary preparations +for the defense of Saret +Balisle.</p> +<p>At five minutes of ten o’clock +Balisle was at his desk, pale of +face, but grinning confidently.</p> +<p>There were men in uniform in +the hallways, on the roof, in the +windows of rooms across the avenue. +Bentley and Tyler should have +felt sure that not even a mouse +could have broken through the +cordon to reach Saret Balisle. But +Bentley was doubtful.</p> +<p>He went to the window nearest +Balisle and looked out. Sixteen +stories down was Fifth Avenue, patrolled +in this block by a dozen +blue-coats and as many more plain-clothes +men. Saret Balisle seemed +to be impregnable.</p> +<p>But at ten o’clock exactly, a +blood-curdling scream came from +the room adjoining Balisle’s, where +some insurance company had offices. +The scream was followed by +other screams––all the screams of +women....</p> +<p>For just a moment Bentley and +Tyler whirled to stare at the door +giving onto the hall, their hands +tightly gripping their automatics.</p> +<p>“God Almighty!” It came in a +choked scream from the lips of +Saret Balisle, simultaneous with +the falling of a shower of glass in +the room.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Tyler</span> and Bentley whirled +back.</p> +<p>A giant anthropoid ape stood on +the window sill, and the brute’s +left hand held tightly clasped the +ankle of Balisle, holding him as +a child holds a rag doll.</p> +<p>The ape swung Balisle out over +the abyss.</p> +<p>Tyler flung up his automatic.</p> +<p>“Don’t!” shouted Bentley. “If you +shoot he’ll drop Balisle!”</p> +<p>Bentley felt sick and the bottom +seemed to drop out of his stomach +as the anthropoid, still holding +Balisle as lightly as though he +didn’t know he held extra weight +at all, dropped from sight.</p> +<p>Tyler and Bentley leaped to the +window, looked down. The ape had +dropped safely to the ledge of the +window just below. He held on +easily with his right hand while +Bentley and Tyler swayed dizzily. +The anthropoid still held Balisle +by the ankle.</p> +<p>A head looked out of the window +to the right. A frightened woman.</p> +<p>“God!” she choked. “That beast +came out of the clothes closet. +We’ve been wondering why we +couldn’t open it. He must have been +inside, holding it.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span></p> +<p>A hundred men, all crack shots, +stood helpless on roofs, in windows +across the street, in the street +below, while the anthropoid ape +dropped slowly down the face of +the Clinton Building toward the +street.</p> +<p>How would Barter lead his +minion free of this tangle when, as +was inevitable, the brute reached +ground level?</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII_STRANGE_INTERVIEW' id='CHAPTER_VII_STRANGE_INTERVIEW'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3><i>Strange Interview</i></h3> +</div> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Bentley</span> and Tyler were to +learn in the next few minutes +how great was the executive ability +of Caleb Barter. He had created a +mighty puzzle, each and every bit +of which must fit together exactly. +Time was important in making the +puzzle complete––and the puzzle +changed with each passing second. +As the anthropoid went slowly +down the face of the Clinton Building, +Bentley was sure that Barter +controlled every move and saw +every slightest thing that transpired. +He knew very well that of +all the great organization which +had been set to prevent the taking +of Saret Balisle, not a man would +now shoot at the ape for fear of +jeopardizing the life of Balisle.</p> +<p>And yet Balisle was being +spirited away to pass through an +experience which would be far +worse than a merciful bullet +through the brain or the heart. +Bentley knew he would be justified +in the eyes of humanity if he +ordered his men to fire upon the +anthropoid, even if he were sure +that Balisle would die. But as long +as there was life there was hope, +too, and he couldn’t bring himself +to give the order.</p> +<p>The ape dropped down the face +of the building as easily as he +would have dropped from limb to +limb of a jungle tree. The sixteen +stories under him did not disconcert +him at all. Bentley had a suspicion +about this particular ape, but +he wouldn’t know for a time yet +whether his suspicion had a basis +in fact. He couldn’t think of a man––especially +an old man like Harold +Hervey––making that hair-raising +descent. Yet ... if he were controlled, +mind and soul, by Caleb +Barter the Mind Master...?</p> +<p>“Tyler,” said Bentley tersely. +“The instant the ape reaches the +street I’m going to order your men +to fire. You will shout out to them +now, designating which ones shall +fire. Be sure they are crack marksmen +who will drill the ape without +hitting Balisle––and, by all means, +have them wait so that the ape’s +fall won’t send Balisle crashing to +death.”</p> +<p>“Maybe I’d better tell them to +rush him?”</p> +<p>“Maybe that’s better, but remember +they’re dealing with a giant +anthropoid, in strength at least, and +that somebody is likely to be +fatally injured. In addition the ape +may tear Balisle apart as soon as +men start to close in on him. Barter +will have thought of that, and +all he’ll have to do to make his +puppet perform is to will him to do +it. No, they’ll have to shoot––and +tell them to aim at his head and +heart.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Tyler</span> leaned out of the window +and shouted to the men +across the street.</p> +<p>“Shoot as soon as the ape reaches +the sidewalk!” he cried. “Be careful +you don’t hit Balisle.”</p> +<p>And from Balisle himself, muffled +and frightened, came a sudden +cry.</p> +<p>“Shoot now! I’d rather fall and +have it over with!”</p> +<p>There was a moment of silence. +Bentley almost gave the order to +fire when the ape was at the +twelfth story, but he held his +tongue by a supreme effort of will. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span></p> +<p>Balisle looked down. It must +have been a terrifying experience +to swing above such a horrible abyss +by one leg, and for a moment +Balisle lost his head. He screamed +and started to grapple with his +grim captor.</p> +<p>“Don’t, Balisle!” shouted Tyler. +“You’ll make him lose his balance. +Hang on as you are and we’ll get +him when he reaches the street.”</p> +<p>“What good will it do?” screamed +Balisle, his voice taking on a high +keening note as the ape dropped +again, this time from the twelfth to +the eleventh floor. “He slipped it +over a hundred men to get me this +far. He’ll find a way to beat you +when he reaches the street, too.”</p> +<p>Bentley had a sinking feeling that +Balisle spoke the truth; but even +so, he could not see how anybody, +even Barter, could walk +through the trap which was being +tightened around the descending +anthropoid.</p> +<p>It made Bentley dizzy to watch +the slow methodical descent of the +anthropoid. He could fancy himself +in Balisle’s position and it made +him sick and faint. He understood +the desperation which caused +Balisle to make yet another attempt +to battle with the ape.</p> +<p>Then the ape did a grim thing.</p> +<p>He paused on the eleventh floor, +and crouching on a window sill, +deliberately snapped Balisle’s head +against the wall of the Clinton +Building! In his time Bentley had +slain rabbits exactly like that. +Balisle hung now as limp as a rag +and blood dripped from his mouth +and nose. But Bentley knew, as his +face went white at the sound of +that sharp, thudding blow that +Balisle had not been killed by it.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Savage</span> oaths burst from the +lips of policemen who saw the +action of the ape.</p> +<p>“He acts like a human being! An +ape wouldn’t have thought of that!”</p> +<p>The words came hysterically +from the lips of a woman who, +frightened though she was, could +not tear herself from the window +to the right of where Bentley and +Tyler leaned out to stare down.</p> +<p>Bentley smiled grimly. What +would she think if he told her +gravely that the creature crawling +down the face of the building was +not quite an ape?</p> +<p>So far the public didn’t know +what the Mind Master schemed. +He’d spoken of stealing brains, but +that had meant nothing to the general +public. Just the maunderings +of a madman, perhaps.</p> +<p>At the third floor the anthropoid +hesitated. He seemed to be gazing +all around, noting the preparations +which were being made to trap him +at the street level.</p> +<p>“An ape wouldn’t do that,” muttered +Bentley. “A man would. The +man in that manape is showing +through––but he won’t be able to +force himself free of Barter’s domination. +If he could he’d probably +throw Balisle down now to keep +him from being ... well, treated as +Barter intends to treat him.”</p> +<p>The ape dropped to the second +floor. Silence seemed to hang over +Fifth Avenue. Ugly gun muzzles +protruded from every window across +the street. Scores of rifles were +aimed down from windows in the +Clinton Building, to drill the ape +through from above.</p> +<p>At that instant a limousine +whirled into Fifth Avenue, traveling +fast, and ground to a stop +under the ape.</p> +<p>“What’s this?” cried Bentley.</p> +<p>“That’s Saret Balisle’s car,” said +Tyler. “There’s nobody in it but +his chauffeur. The fool! Does he +think he can take his master away +from the ape singlehanded?”</p> +<p>“That looks like foolhardy loyalty, +but I’m not so sure that it’s +Balisle’s chauffeur at the wheel. +Tyler, send somebody down to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +wherever it is that Balisle parks his +car.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">But</span> before Tyler could move +to obey, the anthropoid ape +made his surprise move, and did +a thing which no ape would have +thought of doing. He hurled Balisle +toward the limousine. The somersaulting +body struck the roof of +the car, crashed through the fabric, +and dropped into the tonneau.</p> +<p>At the same instant the limousine +leaped to full speed ahead.</p> +<p>A shower of bullets smashed +windows and scored deeply and +menacingly the brick walls all +around the giant anthropoid which +for a second still crouched on the +second-story ledge. The ape whirled +and crashed through the window at +his back.</p> +<p>“Tyler, send half a dozen cars +after that limousine. They simply +have to catch it. But they mustn’t +fire for fear of killing Balisle. +Have the car followed right to Barter’s +hideout. The men in this building +will scatter at once through +the building. We must trap that +ape!”</p> +<p>The whole police organization +was in a turmoil.</p> +<p>Sirens screamed as police cars +flashed after the fleeing limousine +which carried Saret Balisle away. +Doors slammed and windows +crashed as two score policemen +scattered through the building, +armed with riot guns and pistols, +seeking the ape.</p> +<p>Tyler, after barking the staccato +orders which set his men in motion, +turned to Balisle’s secretary.</p> +<p>“Quickly, the number Balisle +calls when he wants his automobile +sent around.”</p> +<p>The girl gave it, and Tyler called +the number.</p> +<p>“Are Mr. Balisle’s car and chauffeur +there?” he asked.</p> +<p>He swore explosively and hung +up the receiver.</p> +<p>“Another killing,” he said. “Balisle’s +car is gone and the garage +people have just found his chauffeur, +almost ripped to pieces, in +another car left at the garage for +storage.</p> +<p>“That means this ape is armed +with metal fingernails, just like the +one that killed the insurance man in +the Flatiron Building. That means +he’ll be doubly dangerous when +caught. The murdered chauffeur +will have to wait for a few moments +while we capture the ape.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Shouts</span> and shots rang through +the Clinton Building. The ape +was going wild, crashing through +doors and windows as if they +weren’t there. His mad bellowing +sounded terrifying in the extreme, +so deep and rumbling that the air +seemed to tremble with its menace.</p> +<p>But in the end there came a +chorus of triumphant shouts which +told that the giant ape had been +surrounded.</p> +<p>Bentley and Tyler raced in the +direction of the sounds. From all +directions came the sounds of footfalls +as other plain-clothes men +raced to be in at the death. Bentley +held his automatic tightly gripped +in his right hand. He knew exactly +where he was going to aim if the +ape were not dead when he reached +him.</p> +<p>The creature had been cornered +in the areaway between two banks +of elevators and had climbed up the +cage as high as he could go. He was +just out of reach of human hands, +even had there been any men there +with the courage to try to take +him alive. A white foam dripped +from the chattering lips of the +anthropoid. His red-rimmed eyes +flashed fire. Bentley noted the little +metal ball on top of the creature’s +head.</p> +<p>Deliberately he stopped, raised +his automatic, and held it steady +while he pressed the trigger with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +the extreme care which a sharp-shooter +knows to be necessary ... +and a bullet ploughed through the +top of the ape’s head.</p> +<p>The little ball vanished, and the +ape released his grip suddenly. His +chattering died away to an uncertain +murmur, the fire went out of +his eyes, and he fell to the floor. +No bullet had yet actually struck +him, for he had whirled into the +window from the second-story ledge +simultaneously with the barking of +the policemen’s rifles and pistols. +He had escaped there––but here he +was not to escape.</p> +<p>Bentley and Tyler both lifted +their voices to shout warnings to +the policemen, but their voices were +drowned in the savage explosions of +a dozen weapons, in the hands of +men who probably thought the creature +was in the act of charging ... +and the ape sprawled on the floor, +his legs and arms quivering.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Half</span> a dozen men rushed forward, +weapons extended.</p> +<p>“Keep back!” yelled Bentley, +rushing in.</p> +<p>He stood over the ape, staring intently +at his glazing eyes.</p> +<p>“Tyler,” snapped Bentley, “have +everybody fall back beyond earshot.”</p> +<p>Tyler issued the orders. Bentley +shouted, “Quickly, quickly!” knowing +he had little time.</p> +<p>Then, with Tyler beside him, he +knelt beside the ape.</p> +<p>“I know you can’t talk, but you +can answer me by nodding or +shaking your head. You are Harold +Hervey, aren’t you?”</p> +<p>The eyes of the ape were hopeless. +Tyler gasped, staring at Bentley +as though for a moment he +thought him crazy. But in the next +instant he doubted his own sanity, +for the ape, slowly and ponderously, +nodded his head.</p> +<p>“I’m going to name a number of +places where I think you might +have been taken,” went on Bentley. +“In each case nod or shake your +head. Is it near Sixth Avenue?”</p> +<p>Slowly the great head moved, +more slowly even than before; but +it nodded.</p> +<p>“Where? Below Twenty-third +Street?”</p> +<p>Again the ponderous, agonizing +nod.</p> +<p>Bentley went on.</p> +<p>“Below Fourteenth Street?”</p> +<p>Again the nod, barely perceptible +this time.</p> +<p>“Below Christopher Street?” asked +Bentley.</p> +<p>This time the head shook from +side to side, ever so slightly.</p> +<p>“Two blocks above Christopher?”</p> +<p>But this question was never destined +to be answered. The giant +anthropoid in whose skull-pan was +the brain of Harold Hervey, entirely +controlled by Caleb Barter, +until Bentley had shot the little +metal ball from his head, had died.</p> +<p>Bentley rose and looked down at +the anthropoid for several seconds.</p> +<p>“Barter will hate to lose this creature,” +he said. “He probably has +just the number of apes he needs––and +Tyler, here’s a hunch: he’ll +need an ape to take the place of +this one! Get me the best surgeon +to be found in Manhattan, and get +him as fast as you can!”</p> +<p>“Good God!” ejaculated Tyler. +“What do you want a surgeon for? +What are you going to do?”</p> +<p>“Barter needs an ape to take the +place of this one. I shall be that +ape!”</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h1>The Mind Master</h1> +<h2>By Arthur J. Burks</h2> +<h3 style="margin-bottom:1em">Conclusion</h3> +<div style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:650px"> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_4' id='linki_4'></a> +</div> +<div class='figleft' style='width:292px'> +<img src='images/illus-051.jpg' alt='' title='' width='292' height='324' /><br /> +</div> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_5' id='linki_5'></a> +</div> +<div class='figleft' style='width:290px'> +<img src='images/illus-052.jpg' alt='' title='' width='290' height='359' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +<i>“Now, Bentley,” said Barter, “I’ll explain what I intend doing.”</i><br /> +</p> +</div> +<hr class="toprule" style="clear:both; padding:1em" /> +</div> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII_THE_MUTE_PLUNGERS' id='CHAPTER_VIII_THE_MUTE_PLUNGERS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3><i>The Mute Plungers</i></h3> +</div> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">It</span> would be difficult to comprehend +the nervous strain under +which Manhattan had been +laboring during the past thirty-six +hours. The story of the kidnaping +of Harold Hervey had not been +given to the newspapers, for an excellent +reason. If Hervey’s financial +enemies knew of his kidnaping and +death they would hammer away at +his stocks until they fell to nothing +and his family, accustomed to fabulous +wealth, would have been reduced +to beggary.</p> +<p>The Mind Master himself, up to a +late hour, had given no word to the +newspapers in his “manifestoes.” +The Hervey family held its breath +fearing that he would––for the newspapers +would have played the story +for all the sensationalism it would +carry. Bentley, when this matter was +called to his attention, wondered. +Barter had kept his own counsel for +a purpose, but what was it? There +was no way of asking him.</p> +<p>The story of the mad race down +Broadway in pursuit of the limousine +which had returned the lifeless body +of Hervey to his residence had been a +sensational one, and the tabloids had +given it their best treatment. The +chauffeur who had crawled out like +a monkey atop his careening car, to +lose his life when catapulted into the +entrance to the Twenty-third Street +subway station: the three policemen +whose lives had been lost because the +chauffeur hadn’t stopped as they had +expected him to, the kidnaping of +Saret Balisle by a great ape hadn’t +yet broken as a story, nor the murder +of Balisle’s chauffeur.</p> +<p>But everybody knew something of +the story of the naked man of the +day before. Many were the speculations +as to what had ripped and torn +his flesh from his body, along with +his clothes. What manner of claws +had it been which had sliced him in +scores of places as though with many +razors?</p> +<p>Men and women walked the streets +apprehensively, and many of them +turned at intervals to look behind +them. No telling what they would do +when the story of Balisle’s kidnaping +by an anthropoid ape and a queer +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span> +mute chauffeur got abroad. To top it +all the police pursuers lost the +Balisle limousine and Saret Balisle +had taken his place among the lost.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Bentley</span> knew as soon as the +disgruntled and rather frightened +police officers returned to the +Clinton Building with the news that +Balisle had got away from them in +the stolen Balisle car, that already +the ill-fated young man was probably +under the anesthetic which Caleb +Barter used on his victims.</p> +<p>“Tyler, do you know a surgeon +who can do any surgical job short of +brain transplantation?”</p> +<p>“Yeah. There’s a chap has offices in +the Fifth Avenue Building. He’s +probably the very best in the racket. +Maybe it’s because of his name. It’s +Tyler.”</p> +<p>“Some relative of yours?”</p> +<p>“Not much. He’s just my dad––and +one of the world’s finest and cleverest.”</p> +<p>“Will he listen to reason? Can he +perform delicate operations?”</p> +<p>“He’s my dad, Bentley, and he’d +do almost anything I asked him so +long as it was honest ... and he +could switch the noses of a mosquito +and a humming bird so skillfully +that the humming bird would go +looking for a sleeping cop and the +mosquito would start building a nest +in a tree.”</p> +<p>“Get him here. No––has he an operating +room where all sound can be +shut out? I’ve got a hunch I’d like +somehow to try and drop a screen +around us as we work. Maybe your +dad would know what to do. You see, +I’m positive that Barter sees everything +we do and if he sees me turning +into an ape he would just chuckle +and pass up the trap.”</p> +<p>“He’s got a lead armored room +where he keeps a bit of radium.”</p> +<p>“That’s it. Talk to him. No, not on +the phone. You’ll have to figure out +some way to do it so that you can be +sure Barter isn’t listening.”</p> +<p>“I’ll manage. I’ll send him a note.”</p> +<p>“Your messenger will be killed on +the way to him.”</p> +<p>“Then I’ll go myself.”</p> +<p>“And Barter will watch everybody +that goes into his office or comes out, +and mark down each person as possibly +being connected with the +police. However, you figure it out.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">When</span> Tyler had gone and the +dead “ape” had been stretched +out in one corner of Balisle’s office, +and covered with something to cloak +its hideousness, Bentley telephoned +Ellen Estabrook.</p> +<p>“Have I been making any appointments +with you this morning?” he +asked her cheerily.</p> +<p>“Please don’t jest when things are +so terrible. Have you seen the latest +papers?”</p> +<p>“No. What do they say?”</p> +<p>“There’s a lot of the story I’m +thinking about. You’d better read it +right away. It’s an extra, anyhow. +The newsies ought to be calling it +around you somewhere––and where +are you, anyway?”</p> +<p>Bentley informed her, and told +her, too, that he would be with her +as soon as he possibly could. Taking +the usual masculine advantage he decided +to tell her now what he +wouldn’t have had the heart to tell +her to her face, that he was planning +a rather desperate stunt to reach Barter, +and would consequently be away +from her for an indefinite period.</p> +<p>“But I’ll see you first?” she said +after a long hesitation. Bentley could +hear her voice tremble, though he +knew she was fighting desperately to +keep him from noting the catch in +her voice.</p> +<p>“Yes, nothing will happen until––well, +not until I’ve seen you again.”</p> +<p>Just as Bentley hung up the receiver +the extra was being cried. +Some two hours had now elapsed +since Balisle had been taken away, +and now the newsboys were shouting +the headlines. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span></p> +<p>“Extra! Extra! All about the big +Wall Street crash! Hervey fortune +entirely swept away!”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Bentley</span> sent an office boy out +for the paper and spread it out +on the desk to digest it as quickly as +possible.</p> +<p>“One million shares of Hervey Incorporated,” +read the black words in +a box on the first page––a story in +mourning, “were dumped on the market +at eleven o’clock this morning. +Four men seem to have been behind +the queer coup. One of them had a +power of attorney from Harold Hervey +himself, and he had the shares to +sell. So many shares were dumped +that the bottom fell out of the stock. +Others holding the Hervey shares, +fearful that they would get nothing +at all, also began to dump, and every +share thus dumped was bought up +quickly by three other men about +whom nobody knew anything, except +that they paid with cash. The +strangest thing about it all was that +the three men who bought Hervey +Incorporated, seemed to be dumb-mutes, +for they didn’t say anything. +They acted through a broker, and +indicated their purchases with their +fingers in the conventional manner +and tendered cards as identification! +They were Harry Stanley, Clarence +Morton, and Willard Cleve––addresses +unknown, history unknown.</p> +<p>“Nothing, in fact, is known about +any of the three or the little white-haired, +apple-cheeked man who sold +so heavily in Hervey Incorporated. +That the three mutes did not buy the +shares sold by the little white-haired +man would seem to indicate that all +four of them worked together ... but +it is only a supposition as they were +not seen together and apparently did +not know one another. But the three +mutes constantly ate walnuts. All +four men, who among them knocked +the bottom out of Wall Street, and +wiped away the Hervey fortune, +slipped out in the excitement inspired +by their rapid buying and selling, +and seemed to vanish into thin +air.”</p> +<p>Bentley didn’t know much about +the stock market, but it seemed to +him that Barter had managed a theft +of mighty proportions. With a power +of attorney, which he had wrung +from Hervey after his capture, he +had managed to possess himself of +Hervey’s shares. In themselves they +were worth millions. Even at a fraction +of their price Barter would realize +heavily on them. Selling quickly +he would force the price far down. +Then his puppets––and Bentley had +no doubt that Stanley, Morton and +Cleve were his puppets––bought all +other shares offered by panicky investors +in Hervey Incorporated at a +tiny fraction of their value. Far less, +naturally, than Barter had made by +selling his loot.</p> +<p>The purchased shares Barter could +hold for an increase. Hervey Incorporated +was good and its price would +go up again, and Barter would sell +and gain millions.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">That</span> is how Bentley saw it, and +his lips drew into a firmer, +straighter line as, half an hour later, +he explained it all to Ellen.</p> +<p>“It’s desperate, dear,” he whispered +in her ear. “Manhattan’s financial +structure has been shaken to its +foundations. But that isn’t all by any +means. Barter has performed his horrible +operation on two of New York’s +most brilliant men. It was a Barter +gesture to send ‘Harold Hervey’ to +capture Balisle, and the horror of it +staggered me.”</p> +<p>“Lee,” said Ellen, “understand +this: that if I have no word from you +within seventy-two, no, forty-eight +hours after you get started on this +scheme you have in mind, I’m going +to get through to Barter somehow. If +I put an ad in the paper and tell him +where I’m to be found he’ll surely +make another attempt to take me in. +If he’s captured you, or uncovered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +the trap you’re laying, then I’ll at +least be with you. If he kills you he +kills me. If we can’t live together we +can die together.”</p> +<p>Bentley kissed her fervently, trying +not to think what it would mean +to him now if she were in the hands +of Caleb Barter. Secretly he intended +having Tyler keep her so closely +guarded that she couldn’t possibly do +anything as foolish as she had suggested.</p> +<p>The late evening papers carried +another manifesto of the Mind Master +to the effect that the remaining +eighteen men named on the original +list were to be taken before noon of +the next day.</p> +<p>Oddly enough eighteen kidnapings +were reported from various places in +Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.</p> +<p>“So,” thought Bentley, “he’s afraid +to send out normal apes to capture +his eighteen key men. Maybe his control +over them is not perfect. That’s +it. I suppose––he needs human brains +before he can exercise perfect control. +I suppose Stanley, Morton and +Cleve did the kidnapings.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Late</span> that night Bentley kissed +Ellen good-by, told her to keep +up her courage, and repaired to the +rendezvous arranged for by Thomas +Tyler and his surgeon father. In the +operating room was the cold body of +the anthropoid that had successfully +abducted Saret Balisle.</p> +<p>“Young man,” said Dr. Tyler, “just +what is it you want me to do? I’m not +asking for your reasons. Tommy tells +me you know what you’re doing. I +must say though, I don’t believe that +story of brain transplantation. No +doctor would believe it for a minute.”</p> +<p>Bentley looked at the dead ape.</p> +<p>“You’ll take Tommy’s word for it +that that ape kidnaped Saret Balisle +to-day and took him down the face of +a building, sixteen stories to the +ground?”</p> +<p>“Of course. Tommy wouldn’t +string his father.”</p> +<p>“Well, part of your surgical work +to-night will make it necessary for +you to look at that creature’s brain. +You’ll recognize a human brain in +that ape’s skull. After you’ve made +that discovery, here’s what I want +you to do: I’ll strip to the skin; then +I want you to place the skin of that +ape on me, so that from top to toes I +am an ape. You’ll have to do the job +so perfectly that I’ll <i>be</i> an ape––as +soon as, under your watchful eye +and Tom’s, I have mastered all the +ape mannerisms the three of us can +remember. Can you do it?”</p> +<p>Tyler senior shrugged.</p> +<p>He motioned his son and Bentley +to help him lift the huge ape body to +the operating table, and under the +glaring light above he set to work +with instruments which gleamed like +molten silver, then became a sullen +red....</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX_THE_FURRY_MIME' id='CHAPTER_IX_THE_FURRY_MIME'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3><i>The Furry Mime</i></h3> +</div> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">“Listen,</span> boys,” said Dr. Tyler, +after he had removed the skin +of the ape, and for a few brief seconds +had examined the brain, to +shake his head in astonishment. “I’ve +an idea that may help you. It would +be impossible for you, Bentley, to +play the ape well enough to fool this +mad Mind Master. But a hitherto unknown +type of ape has just been discovered +in Colombia. I read the story +of it in a scientific journal to-day. +The ape is more manlike than any +other known to science. You shall be +that ape, brought in during the night +by a famous returned explorer. There +will be great interest in you now that +the story of Saret Balisle’s kidnaping +has broken. With the attention of +New York upon you, certainly your +presence will interest Caleb Barter.”</p> +<p>Tyler senior rummaged in a pile of +papers on his desk and brought forth +the story he referred to, which also +carried a picture of the Colombian +ape. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span></p> +<p>“It would be impossible for me to +change your shape and add to your +size sufficiently to make you a real +giant anthropoid. You’d have to be +twice as deep through the chest; +you’d have to have bowed legs as big +as small tree trunks; you’d have to +have a sloping forehead. No, it’s impossible, +for I’d have to equip you by +padding to an impossible degree, and +a scientist would only need to touch +you to know you as an imitation ape. +But if you are made up as the Colombian +ape––”</p> +<p>Bentley quickly interrupted.</p> +<p>“The idea is excellent. I was dubious +before about my chances of success, +but as an ape of a new species I +have a far better chance, and my inevitable +human behavior won’t be so +noticeable.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Dr. Tyler</span> measured Bentley as +carefully as a tailor, proud of +his skill, measures a particular, +wealthy customer.</p> +<p>“You will almost suffocate,” he +said, keeping up a running <a name='TC_10'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Was 'monolog'">monologue</ins> +as his inspired hands worked with +forceps and scalpels, “but I can make +plenty of air vents in the ape skin +which will allow the pores of your +skin to breathe. If they are hidden +under the hair they will scarcely be +noticed, unless of course Barter sees +what we are doing here and suspects +from the beginning.”</p> +<p>“I can stand the discomfort for as +long as may prove necessary,” said +Bentley grimly, conquering a feeling +of terror as he already saw himself +in the role of an ape, a role previously +played in which he had suffered +the torments of the damned, “and +anything is preferable to the wholesale +carnage which Barter is doing. +In seventy-two hours he has wrecked +the morale of Manhattan. I shall try +to get it back. Tyler, will you make +every effort to guard the other eighteen +men named on the Mind Master’s +original list?”</p> +<p>“Of course,” but Tyler said it +dubiously. Barter had proved it almost +impossible to outwit him. In +their hearts both Bentley and Tyler +knew that Barter would make good +his boast to take the eighteen men he +had named. It seemed a grim price +Manhattan must pay to be finally rid +of Barter’s satanic machinations.</p> +<p>When Bentley, stripped naked, +quietly announced his readiness to +take his place on the operating table, +Tyler senior took a deep breath, like +a diver preparing to plunge into icy +water, and looked questioningly at +Bentley.</p> +<p>“I’m ready, sir,” said Bentley +quietly. “Let’s get on with the task.”</p> +<p>Dr. Tyler set to work with amazing, +uncanny speed. He had never +been more skilful in closing sutures +of the flesh in any of his myriad of +operations. He was a man inspired as +he labored on the task of changing +Lee Bentley from a normal human +being to a Colombian ape.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">While</span> the surgeon worked his +son telephoned to the Colombian +explorer whose return from +Latin-America had been mentioned +in the day’s news. He couldn’t explain +anything over the telephone, he +said, but would Doctor Jackson come +at once to the private offices of James +Tyler, surgeon?</p> +<p>Doctor Jackson grumbled, but the +urgency in the voice of Tyler convinced +him that the thing was important. +He promised to be on hand +within an hour. It then lacked a few +minutes of three o’clock in the morning.</p> +<p>Next at Bentley’s suggestion––and +he talked quickly and eagerly to keep +his mind off the ordeal he knew he +was facing––Tyler got the curator of +the Bronx Zoo out of bed and asked +him to wait upon Doctor Tyler immediately.</p> +<p>At four o’clock Doctor Jackson +and the curator entered the room +where Surgeon Tyler had performed +a miracle. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span></p> +<p>Doctor Jackson stepped back in +amazement when he noted the manlike +ape which leaned with arms +folded against one wall of the operating +room. His eyes were big with +amazement.</p> +<p>He studied Bentley for several +minutes, while no one spoke a word.</p> +<p>It was the curator who broke the +strained silence.</p> +<p>“So this is your Colombian ape,” +he said. “I read the news story, but I +understood that the ape you had +found had been killed in the attempt +to capture it.”</p> +<p>Surgeon Tyler spoke easily.</p> +<p>“That news story,” he said, “was +to prevent Doctor Jackson from +being annoyed by visitors eager to +see his find. As a matter of sober fact +Doctor Jackson captured the Colombian +ape alive and is now about to +turn it over to the zoo. Understand +me, Doctor Jackson?”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Still</span> the explorer said nothing. +For a moment longer he stared +at Bentley; then he walked over to +him.</p> +<p>“The hair is different,” he said as +though talking to himself. “The Colombian +ape’s hair is of a slightly +finer texture. But that could be explained +away as I allowed only the +merest bit of information to the reporters +to-day. I can add a supplementary +story in the next newspaper +which will explain that the coarse +fur of the Colombian ape is the only +thing about it which makes it resemble +a giant anthropoid.”</p> +<p>Jackson had walked to Bentley +without fear and ran his fingers +through the hair as he spoke.</p> +<p>“I know it’s a man, and some surgeon +has performed a miracle,” he +said. “Just what is it you wish me to +do?”</p> +<p>“You’ve read the stories relating to +the Mind Master, Doctor?” asked +Bentley suddenly. How strangely his +voice came from the body of an ape!</p> +<p>“I’ve read some of them,” answered +Jackson. “Is this a scheme +whereby you hope to trap the Mind +Master?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Then depend upon me for any +assistance I can render. As a scientist +I understand fully the power for evil +of a mad genius of our class. This +Mind Master should be ruthlessly destroyed.”</p> +<p>“Thank you,” said Bentley, stepping +forward. “You know, perhaps, +how the Colombian ape behaves, +enough that you can coach me how +to walk, how to gesture?”</p> +<p>“Certainly. It will take perhaps an +hour to prepare you to fill your role +creditably.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Jackson’s</span> face flushed with enthusiasm. +He was launched on a +task which fired his interest. He was +an authority on apes and anything +relating to them inspired him.</p> +<p>“Seat yourself on a chair,” said +Jackson. “The Colombian ape sits +upright like a man.”</p> +<p>Bentley seated himself as Jackson +had bidden him.</p> +<p>“Now spread your legs apart awkwardly, +with the knees straight. The +Colombian ape doesn’t exactly sit on +a chair or a rock or a tree, he leans +against it in a <i>half</i> sitting position.”</p> +<p>Bentley quickly assumed the awkward +strained position suggested by +Jackson.</p> +<p>Jackson stepped up to him and +placed Bentley’s arms, unbent, so +that his fists hung down outside his +wide-apart knees, and cupped his +fingers so that they seemed perpetually +in the act of closing on something.</p> +<p>“You can’t possibly take the proper +position with your toes,” went on +Jackson, “for it’s beyond a man’s +ability to curve his toes as he does +his hands. The Colombian ape’s toes +are prehensile.”</p> +<p>“Can’t you say in your next news +story, Doctor,” suggested Bentley, +“that the Colombian ape, the nearest +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span> +animal relative of man, seems to be +in an advanced stage of evolution. +Can you not say that the Colombian +ape is by way of losing the use of his +toes?”</p> +<p>“Many scientists know that to be +untrue,” said Jackson, “but perhaps +we can help you through your +scheme before they begin denying +details in the newspapers. Too bad +we can’t send secret suggestions to +all anthropologists that they remain +discreetly silent until the mantle of +horror is lifted from Manhattan. But of +course we can’t, since we’d betray +ourselves. Our only hope, then, is to +work at top speed.”</p> +<p>“I am as eager as anyone to finish +a particularly horrible task,” said +Bentley.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Under</span> Jackson’s instructions +Bentley walked up and down +the room. His shaggy shadow on the +several walls as he turned, marched +and countermarched at Jackson’s +commands, filled Bentley with self-loathing. +He found himself repulsive. +His body perspired freely impregnating +the ape skin with a harsh odor +that was biting and terrible in his +nostrils. It was sickening. He tried +to close his mind to the repulsiveness +of what he was doing.</p> +<p>He walked with a swaying, side-to-side +gait, something like a sailor’s +rolling walk, while his arms swung +free at his sides as though they merely +hung from his body. The Colombian +ape walked like that, Jackson +said.</p> +<p>“How about the intelligence of the +Colombian ape?” asked Bentley.</p> +<p>“We shot the only specimen so far +seen by man before we could discover +any facts bearing on his intelligence,” +said Jackson.</p> +<p>“Then you can safely say that he +possesses intelligence far beyond +that of known apes,” said Bentley +quickly, “somewhere, let us say, between +that of the lowest order of +mankind and civilized man.”</p> +<p>Jackson nodded his held dubiously.</p> +<p>“It seems,” he said unsmilingly, +“that I arrived in the United States +at exactly the right time! You would +have failed signally to convince the +Mind Master in the role of an African +great ape.”</p> +<p>Bentley managed a short laugh. +How horribly it came from the lips +of an ape!</p> +<p>“I’m not overly superstitious,” he +said, “but I regard this as a good +omen. I feel we’re sure to succeed in +what we are planning. I think Barter +will surely wish to experiment with +me if he thinks I am in reality a great +ape from Colombia. He’ll welcome +the chance to examine any ape which +so nearly resembles man. I’m an important +link in his plan to create a +race of supermen. At least that’s how +we must hope that Barter will estimate +the situation when my story is +told in to-morrow’s papers.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">An</span> hour before dawn Doctor +Jackson, weary from his arduous +instruction of the equally exhausted +Bentley, pronounced Lee a +satisfactory “ape.”</p> +<p>“Now here’s where you come in,” +said Bentley tiredly to the curator. +“I’m to be taken now to a cage in the +Bronx. During the rest of to-day you +will quietly instruct your attendants +that their guard to-night at the +zoo must not be too strict. I must be +in position to be stolen by the minions +of the Mind Master.”</p> +<p>Now the full significance of the +desperate expedition upon which +Bentley was embarking came home +to them all. Their faces were white. +Bentley shuddered under his ape +robe. His mind went catapulting back +into the past to the time when he had +been Manape. This was much like it, +save that all of him was now encased +in the accouterments of an ape and +he did not suffer the mental hazards +which had almost driven him insane +when he had been Manape, with the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span> +perpetual necessity of keeping close +watch over his own human body +which had held the brain of an ape.</p> +<p>He stiffened. “I’m ready,” he said.</p> +<p>Immediately upon arrival the +curator had been asked to have a +closed car, quickly walled with a +mixture of lead and zinc––which +Bentley and Tyler hoped would +thwart the spying of Caleb Barter––brought +to Tyler’s door.</p> +<p>Three or four zoo attendants entered +with a cage when Bentley +pronounced himself ready. They +stared agape at Bentley and their +faces went white when he strode +toward them upright, like a man.</p> +<p>Bentley would have spoken to reassure +them, but Tyler signaled him +to keep silent. The zoo attendants +might talk and entirely spoil their +scheme.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Two</span> hours later, long before the +first crowds began to arrive at +the Bronx Zoo, Lee Bentley was +driven from his small cage in the car, +into a huge cage at the zoo. From a +dark corner, in which he crouched +as though overcome with fear, he +gazed affrightedly out across what +he could see of Bronx Park.</p> +<p>“When I used to feed the animals +here,” he said to himself, “I never +expected that the time would come +when I myself would be caged––and +one of them.”</p> +<p>The curator had ridden out with +the cage. But, save for making sure +of the fastening on the big cage, he +paid no heed to Bentley. He treated +him, of necessity, as though he were +actually the Colombian ape he pretended +to be. From now on until he +succeeded or failed, Lee Bentley was +an ape from the jungles of Latin-America.</p> +<p>Just before the crowds could reasonably +be expected to begin arriving, +curious to see this strange thing +Doctor Jackson had brought from +Colombia, an attendant arrived with +a freshly painted sign.</p> +<p>“Colombian Great Ape,” it read, +“Presented to Bronx Zoo by Doctor +Claude Jackson.”</p> +<p>It seemed to close entirely behind +Lee Bentley the vast door which separated +the apes from civilization. +Miserably he crouched in his corner +and awaited the coming of the +curious.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_X_GRIM_ANTICIPATION' id='CHAPTER_X_GRIM_ANTICIPATION'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3><i>Grim Anticipation</i></h3> +</div> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">A numbing</span> fear began to grow +upon Lee Bentley as the ordeal +of waiting began.</p> +<p>Naturally he could not eat the food +given usually to apes and of course +he could not be seen calmly eating +bacon and eggs with knife and fork. +And because he couldn’t eat he was +assailed by a dreadful hunger, which, +however, he managed to fight down +partially. He smiled inwardly as he +looked ahead and understood that +despite the warnings not to feed the +animals, children of all ages, from +four years to sixty, would surreptitiously +toss peanuts and walnuts into +his cage.</p> +<p>He felt a little hopeful about it. +They would at least allay his hunger.</p> +<p>But no, he could not do that, +either. Nobody had thought to ask +Doctor Jackson how a Colombian +ape manipulated his food. Even a +certain clumsiness in that respect +might start questions which would +cause the public to doubt the authenticity +of Jackson’s find.</p> +<p>Bentley decided to sulk. The ape +he was supposed to be could reasonably +be expected to resent captivity +and would probably go on a hunger +strike. He would do likewise and be +in character if he starved.</p> +<p>He crouched in a far corner as the +first comers began to arrive. They +were fathers and mothers with their +children, and the older people carried, +usually, newspapers under their +arms. Bentley wished with all his +soul that he could see one of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span> +papers close enough to read the headlines.</p> +<p>However, when the crowd was not +too thick, Bentley waddled nearer to +the wire mesh which separated him +from the curious crowd and through +lids which were half closed as +though he slept, he managed to +glimpse a few excerpts from the +paper:</p> +<p>“Police department redoubling +their precautions to prevent Mind +Master from capturing eighteen intended +victims.”</p> +<p>“Hideout of Mind Master still undiscovered. +When will the public be +delivered from the stupidity of the +police?”</p> +<p>“Doctor Jackson returns from Colombia, +bringing a living specimen of +an ape hitherto unknown to civilized +man, but more like him than any ape +hitherto known. Visitors may see the +creature to-day in the Bronx Zoo.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">That</span> was the story which had +brought out the visitors who +were forming, moment by moment, a +bigger crowd before Bentley’s cage. +Bentley managed a glimpse of a +woman’s wrist-watch after what +seemed an age of trying to do so +without his intention becoming plain +to the too bright children who +crowded as close to the cage as attendants +would permit. It was ten +o’clock. It would be at least twelve +more hours before Bentley could +reasonably expect any action on the +part of Barter. Barter would now be +concentrating on his plans to kidnap +the eighteen men he had first named.</p> +<p>Bentley tried to make the time pass +faster by imagining what Barter +would be doing. By now his labors +must be titanic. He must have separate +controls for each of his minions, +and there were many times +when he must control several at one +time, thus making his task akin to +that of a man trying to look two +ways at once, while he rolled a cigarette +with one hand and shined his +shoes with the other. Certainly the +concentration required was enormous.</p> +<p>Yet, no matter how complicated +became his puzzle, Barter was its +master because he was its creator, and +Bentley hadn’t the slightest doubt +that, until someone actually penetrated +Barter’s stronghold, he would +not be stopped.</p> +<p>Bentley knew that at the very first +opportunity he would destroy Caleb +Barter as he would have destroyed a +mad dog or stamped to death a deadly +snake. The life of one man would +rest lightly upon his conscience, if +that man were Caleb Barter.</p> +<p>Perhaps, though, he could learn +many of Barter’s secrets before he +destroyed him. Properly used they +might prove boons to mankind. It +was only the use Barter was putting +them to that threatened to fill the +world with horror and bloodshed.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">“Mama,</span> why don’t he eat?”</p> +<p>“Hush,” said a woman, as +though afraid the Colombian ape +would hear and become angry; +“don’t annoy the creature. He looks +fully capable of coming right out at +us.”</p> +<p>But the child who had been admonished +began to juggle a bag of peanuts +which he managed to throw into +the cage. Bentley stooped forward, +sniffing suspiciously at the sack, +while a wave of hunger made him +feel weak and giddy for a moment. +He just realized that he hadn’t eaten +for almost twenty-four hours. His +time had been so filled with action +and excitement that there hadn’t +been opportunity.</p> +<p>“I hope,” he said to himself, in an +effort to drive away thoughts of +food, “that Tyler will take every precaution +to prevent Ellen from doing +something foolish.”</p> +<p>Knowing that he could no longer +communicate with her, could no +longer be absolutely sure that she +was still out of Barter’s clutches, he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span> +suffered agonies of fear for her +safety.</p> +<p>“If Barter places a hand on her I’ll +tear his skin from his carcass, bit by +bit!” he said, unconsciously clenching +his fists.</p> +<p>“Oh, look, mama, he’s shuttin’ his +fists as though he wanted to fight +somebody! I’ll bet he could whip +Dempsey, couldn’t he, mama?”</p> +<p>“Perhaps he could, son. Hush now, +and watch him. There’s a good boy!”</p> +<p>It brought Bentley sharply back to +his surroundings and proved to him +that he must not allow his mind to go +wool-gathering if he did not wish to +give himself away. What if, in an access +of anger, he happened to speak +his thoughts aloud? He could imagine +the amazement of the crowd.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">The</span> day wore on.</p> +<p>At noon a strange horror +seemed to travel over the Bronx Zoo, +and within a short time every last +visitor had precipitately departed. +Bentley could now safely approach +the wire mesh and look out and +around over a wider radius.</p> +<p>Right under the wire mesh was a +newspaper someone had thrown +away.</p> +<p>By pressing tightly against the +mesh Bentley could see the headlines.</p> +<p>“Mind Master successful on all +counts!”</p> +<p>So that’s what had turned the +crowd to stony silence with very +fear? They had all fled, wondering +who would be next. Bentley had +heard the shouting of the extra on +the distant streets, but it had been so +far away he hadn’t heard the words. +One solitary newspaper had appeared +among the Bronx crowd and the +story it carried under startling +scareheads had passed from brain to +brain as though by magic ... and the +crowd had fled.</p> +<p>Bentley stared down at the newspaper +in horror, a horror that was in +no way mitigated by his having fully +expected Barter to succeed. Mutually, +with no words having been spoken +to express the thought, Tyler and +Bentley had conceded to Barter the +eighteen victims he had named.</p> +<p>Nothing could be done to stop him. +His brains were greater than the +combined wisdom of the city of New +York.</p> +<p>What else was in that paper?</p> +<p>Bentley stared at it for an hour, +and finally a vagrant breeze, for +which he had hoped and prayed during +that hour, whipped across the +park and stirred the paper. He read +more headlines.</p> +<p>“Lee Bentley disappears! Believed +kidnaped or slain by Mind Master!”</p> +<p>How had that story got out? Surely +Tyler would have kept that from +the press. Following on the heels of +the Colombian ape story, Barter +would almost surely put two and two +together to arrive at the proper total.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Bentley</span> read on:</p> +<p>“Ellen Estabrook, fiancée of +Lee Bentley, disappears mysteriously +from her hotel room. Guarded by +a score of police, not one has yet +been found who knows anything of +her disappearance or saw her leave. +Nobody seems to have seen anyone +go to her room or leave it. Our police +department must have fallen on evil +days indeed when twenty crack +plain-clothes men cannot keep one +woman under surveillance.”</p> +<p>Something was radically wrong, +but Bentley could not piece the +whole story together, simply because +he had been out of touch for so many +hours that the thread of it had +slipped from his fingers.</p> +<p>Suddenly Bentley noticed that a +solitary man was watching him curiously, +a dawning amazement in his +face. Bentley roused himself and +saw that he was standing against the +mesh, fingers hooked into it above +his head, his weight on his left leg, +his right foot crossed over his left, +his head thoughtfully bowed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span></p> +<p>To the amazed man yonder the +“Colombian ape” must have looked +remarkably like a condemned man +clutching the bars of his cell, awaiting +the coming of the executioner.</p> +<p>Bentley recovered himself and sat +down on the floor of the cage in the +loose easy manner an ape would have +used.</p> +<p>He forced himself to sit thus until +evening, when the last curious one +vanished from the park and darkness +began to fall.</p> +<p>Then excitement at the approach +of a hoped for denouement began to +rise in his heart like a rushing tide.</p> +<p>Would Barter fall for the ruse? Or +did he already know that the Colombian +ape was Lee Bentley?</p> +<p>In either case, Bentley thought, +the Mind Master would take action +during the first hours of darkness. +Bentley was gambling desperately +on what he knew to be characteristic +of Caleb Barter.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI_IN_THE_DEAD_OF_NIGHT' id='CHAPTER_XI_IN_THE_DEAD_OF_NIGHT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3><i>In the Dead of Night</i></h3> +</div> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Bentley</span> knew that if Ellen +were in the hands of Caleb Barter +the mad professor would probably +do her no harm, but use her as a +club against Bentley, and through +Bentley, the Manhattan police. He +did not believe that the Mind Master +would consider performing the brain +operation on Ellen. Caleb Barter’s +scheme seemed to consider only men, +and men of substance.</p> +<p>No, Ellen would not be harmed, he +felt, but that made him feel no easier, +knowing that she might be in the +hands of Barter.</p> +<p>How could he know of Naka +Machi, and the refined vengeance of +the Mind Master?</p> +<p>The last visitors had left the park +and comparative quiet settled over +the zoo. Save for the sounds of animals +feeding and the occasional cursing +voices of attendants there were +no sounds. Not since Bentley had +taken his place in the cage had anyone +spoken to him. He had never felt +so lonely and uncertain in his life.</p> +<p>Now there was utter darkness and +silence.</p> +<p>And then before his cage appeared +a tiny spot of light. If Barter’s minions +expected to deal with a powerful +ape they would come prepared to +subdue him by whatever means +seemed necessary. Bentley had no +wish to be injured, and yet he must +make some show of resistance in order +to allay any possible suspicion +that he <i>wished</i> to be stolen.</p> +<p>There was a faint gnawing sound +at the wire outside the cage. Mice +might have made that sound, sharpening +their teeth on the wire. Bentley +decided to feign sleep. Had Barter +come personally to supervise his +capture? That didn’t seem reasonable +as Barter must realize that all +his effectiveness depended upon his +ability to retain control of whatever +organization he might have built up––and +his central control must be his +hideout.</p> +<p>Then he would be sending some of +his puppets to get Bentley.</p> +<p>Would they be apes with man’s +brains? Impossible. Apes could not +travel from place to place without +attracting attention, especially if +they traveled unguarded and went +casually to a given destination as +men would go. So, if his puppets +were not men in the normal meaning, +then they were “apemen.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">The</span> wire came softly down. +Bentley hoped that no attendant +might come blundering around +now to spoil everything. His heart +pounded with excitement.</p> +<p>At last he was going to see Caleb +Barter again at close quarters.</p> +<p>“I shall destroy him,” he told himself.</p> +<p>The shadowy outlines of two men +came through the severed wires. +Bentley still pretended to be asleep. +He wondered if Barter’s televisory +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251' name='page_251'></a>251</span> +equipment included any arrangements +permitting him to see in the +dark, and knew instantly that it did. +How else could these two puppets +have come so unerringly to the +proper cage in Bronx Park?</p> +<p>No, Bentley did not dare allow +himself to be taken easily in the hope +that his actions would pass unnoticed.</p> +<p>But he waited until the ropes began +to fall about him, testing the +strength of his adversaries by mental +measurement. By their uncertain, +hesitating actions he knew that he +dealt only with the <i>forms</i> of men––forms +which were ruled by brains +which had not in themselves intelligence +enough to perform the acts +they were now performing. Ape +brains in the skull-pans of men. The +brains in themselves were only important +because they were living matter +which was being used as a sensory +sounding board by which Caleb Barter, +the Mind Master, transmitted his +commands to the arms and legs and +bodies of his puppets.</p> +<p>Bentley sprang into action. He +growled and snarled at the two men +who were trying to take him. Only +two men? Surely Barter would have +sent more than two men to take a +great ape! He knows I’m not a true +ape, thought Bentley. He’s giving me +a challenge. He knows I wish to get +to his hideout and he is making sure +that I get there.</p> +<p>But Bentley was only guessing. +Calmness descended upon him as he +realized that he was soon to face a +crucial test.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Just</span> now, however, he struck out +at the two men who were striving +to bind him. They were husky chaps, +and one of them packed the wallop +of a real fighter. Neither man said a +word to him, and when his own hands +clawed at them––how would he dare +strike out with his fists?––the men +made queer animal sounds in their +throats. Bentley could well remember +how helpless, hopeless and lost +he had felt when his brain had been +in the skull-pan of Manape.</p> +<p>The brain of an ape could not be a +terribly intelligent instrument in the +first place. What thoughts, if apes +had thoughts at all, coursed through +an ape brain which found itself inside +a human skull?</p> +<p>The answer to that was simple: +only such thoughts as Barter originated +and transmitted through the +mental sounding board. After all, the +material of the human brain and the +ape brain were perhaps very much +alike, and Barter was working on a +sound scientific principle in making +a sounding board of an ape’s brain.</p> +<p>Bentley shuddered through the fur +that covered him. Knowing the sort +of creatures with which he had to +deal––men in all things save their intelligence––made +him tremble with +nausea. Such grim, ghastly hybrids. +But he stopped shuddering when he +recalled that he still dealt with men +after all––at least with one man, +Caleb Barter. When he thought of +these two “apemen” as separate entities +of a human being of many personalities––Caleb +Barter––he was +able to plan some method by which +to deal with them.</p> +<p>So now he fought, seemingly with +the utmost savagery, to keep them +from binding him with ropes. Even +as he fought, however, he fancied he +could hear the grim chuckling of +Caleb Barter. What did Barter know?</p> +<p>Bentley knew that eventually he +would discover the truth.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">In</span> struggling against the two +“men” his hands encountered the +knobs on their heads––the tiny metal +balls protruding from the top of the +skull at the point where, in babies, +the head remains soft during babyhood. +He could have broken connection +with Barter for these two by +jerking the controls free. And then +what? He would never get through +to Barter and would release in Bronx +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252' name='page_252'></a>252</span> +Park two men whose strange type of +madness, when they were discovered, +would startle the countryside. Two +men with the savagery of anthropoid +apes! He shuddered as he carefully +refrained from disturbing those balls.</p> +<p>At last Bentley was quite securely +bound, only his lower limbs remaining +free so that he could walk, +though the length of his steps was +strictly limited. His hands were entirely +and securely bound, and the +significance of this fact did not +escape him. Barter knew that he did +not need his hands to aid him in +walking! Of course the newspaper +story released by Doctor Jackson had +reported the Colombian ape as being +able to walk exactly like a man.</p> +<p>But that didn’t prevent Bentley +from nursing the suspicion that Barter +already <i>knew</i>. Even if he did, it +could in no wise alter the determination +of Bentley. His task was to +penetrate the hideout of Barter––and +he was on the way there now.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">With</span> little attempt at concealment +the two men led Bentley +to a long black closed car outside the +park. They met no one. The two men +avoided discovery with uncanny ease. +Bentley thrilled with excitement. He +felt he knew approximately where +Barter’s hideout was.</p> +<p>It was useless, to speculate, however; +time would show it to him.</p> +<p>Bentley was tossed into the tonneau +of the car. His two captors, +moving with the precision of men in +a trance, took their places in the +front seat. Bentley struggled for a +time against his bonds. He wanted to +sit up and peer out, to see what way +they took so that he would know +where he was when he reached Barter’s +hideout. But of course, even if +he shook his bonds free he did not +dare rise to a sitting position, for to +control the intricate handling of his +two puppets, Barter’s attention must +have been pretty carefully fixed upon +this car.</p> +<p>So Bentley contented himself with +waiting.</p> +<p>Lying on his back on the floor of +the car he tried to see what he could +through the car windows. He knew +when he was carried under an elevated +system by the crashing roar of +trains over his head. He knew he was +being carried downtown, but he +wasn’t sure that this was the Sixth +Avenue elevated.</p> +<p>How could he find out the road +they were traveling without sitting +up and looking at street signs?</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">He</span> felt he didn’t dare do that. +He’d be as careful as possible +on the off-chance that Barter really +believed him a Colombian ape, when +the benefit of surprise would be with +Bentley.</p> +<p>The car progressed downtown at a +normal speed. It stopped for red +lights and obeyed all other traffic +regulations. Barter was taking no +chance on losing more of his puppets.</p> +<p>Bentley suddenly gasped with horror +as he remembered something. +Eighteen important men of Manhattan +had been kidnaped that day by +Caleb Barter. Would Bentley be +forced to watch the mad professor +perform the eighteen inevitable operations?</p> +<p>Perspiration poured from every +pore as he visualized the horror he +might be compelled to witness when +he was finally taken into Barter’s +hideout. The ape skin clung to him +as though it were actually his own. +There were even moments when +Bentley feared that it might grow to +him.</p> +<p>But he put the feeling of horror +from him with the thought that if +Ellen were in Barter’s power, Barter +might even be forcing her to anesthetize +for him while he performed his +grisly slaughter.</p> +<p>Bentley’s courage returned and +now it seemed to him that the journey +would never end, so eager was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253' name='page_253'></a>253</span> +he to discover whether or not Ellen +had eluded the hands of the Mind +Master.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII_A_WOMAN_OF_COURAGE' id='CHAPTER_XII_A_WOMAN_OF_COURAGE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3><i>A Woman of Courage</i></h3> +</div> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Caleb Barter</span> smiled warmly +at the woman who had come to +him almost as though in answer to a +prayer. He admired her flashing eyes +and the lifted chin which spoke of +pride and courage.</p> +<p>“I had thought of improving the +feminine strain of the race also,” he +told her, but almost as though he +spoke to himself, “but I realized that +it mattered little the stature of the +mothers of the race as long as the +fathers were made virile. But if all +women were like yourself, Miss +Estabrook, the race would not require +the improvement it is now my +duty to bestow upon it.”</p> +<p>Ellen stared directly into the eyes +of the white-haired old man. As she +looked at him she found it hard to +believe that one so gentle from outward +appearances had such a vast, +grim power for evil. In repose his +face was kindly, though there was +something out of character in the +fact that it was so apple rosy. And +his lips were far too red.</p> +<p>“Where,” she said quietly, fearlessly, +“is Lee Bentley?”</p> +<p>Barter raised his eyebrows as he +stared back at her. So far she had not +looked around at this great room into +which he had had her conducted; she +had seemed interested only in her +mission, whatever that might be.</p> +<p>“You mean that delightfully rude +young man?” he asked sardonically.</p> +<p>“You know well enough whom I +mean! Where is he?”</p> +<p>“Then he is not to be found in his +usual haunts?”</p> +<p>“He has disappeared.”</p> +<p>“And you come out seeking Professor +Barter because Bentley his +disappeared! It is almost as though +you had previously arranged with +him to come seeking me if, at a certain +time he failed to return from +some mysterious rendezvous....”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Barter’s</span> face was now a mask +of uncanny shrewdness. In a +few words he had pierced through +Ellen’s secret of why she had deliberately +placed herself in the way of +Barter’s minions in order to be taken, +and now he had used the words of her +own questions to form a weapon +against her. Ellen gasped in terror.</p> +<p>Had she made a hideous mistake? +Had she, by failing to wait for word +from Bentley, ruined all his well laid +plans?</p> +<p>Barter now stood before her, his +eyes almost shooting fire.</p> +<p>“Tell me quickly,” he began, and +for a second she thought he would +put his hands on her, “what sort of +plan is he making to betray me into +the hands of my enemies, who are the +enemies of super-civilization because +they are my enemies?”</p> +<p>“I know of nothing,” said Ellen +stoutly, hoping that she had not, +after all, betrayed the fact that she +knew Bentley had started to work +out an unusual scheme. The details +she didn’t know, for Lee hadn’t told +her. “But I do know, what all the +world knows, that he was helping the +police against you. Naturally, then, +when he vanished I thought of you. +Besides you had already warned him +that you would remove him in your +own good time. He caused you the +loss of two of your puppets and I +thought, naturally enough, that you +would try to remove him to some +place where he could not operate so +successfully against you.”</p> +<p>“That’s all?” queried Barter eagerly. +“You don’t know of some special +scheme that has been worked out to +trap me?”</p> +<p>“I know of no scheme. Now that I +am in your hands, Professor, what do +you intend doing with me?”</p> +<p>Barter stared at Ellen for several +minutes. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254' name='page_254'></a>254</span></p> +<p>“I haven’t captured Bentley ... +yet,” he said at last, slowly, “but I +shall––no doubt about that. It is inevitable––as +inevitable as Caleb Barter. +I can use him in my labors for +humanity. How I treat him after he +is taken depends somewhat on you. +You may therefore consider yourself +a sort of hostage. I have much medical +work to perform. Have you ever +been a nurse?”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Ellen</span> recoiled in horror. +“You don’t mean you would +ask me to help you perform those +horrible––” She stopped abruptly before +her sudden tendency to hysterics +should make her say things to anger +Barter too far.</p> +<p>“So,” he said quickly, “you think +my brain operations are horrible, eh? +Well, you shall see that they are not +horrible; that Professor Barter, the +greatest scientist the world has ever +produced, is really preparing to prevent +civilization from utterly decaying.”</p> +<p>“And afterward?” asked Ellen. “I +know that eventually you will be +taken and that the people will destroy +you, tear you limb from limb. +But you will never believe that. Tell +me, then, what you plan to do with +me.”</p> +<p>For a brief time he considered the +matter.</p> +<p>“I am an old man,” he said at last, +musingly, “but I am young in spirit +and in body. It would be amusing to +have a mate––but no, no, that would +not do! The destiny of Caleb Barter +is not linked with a woman. You +would simply hold me back. However, +I have often been interested in +miscegenation and its effect on the +race if properly guided. My assistant +Naka Machi, is one of the finest +specimens of his race. Perhaps I +shall arrange for you to mate with +him, under conditions which I shall +dictate, in order to experiment with +your offspring....”</p> +<p>Ellen swayed, her face going dead +white. She hadn’t yet met Naka +Machi, but his name told her enough. +The thought of a Japanese, however, +was far less repellent than the cold, +calm way in which Barter spoke of +using the offspring of such a union.</p> +<p>“I’ll kill myself at the first opportunity,” +said Ellen suddenly.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Barter</span> put his forefinger under +Ellen’s chin in a paternal +fashion. His eyes looked deeply into +hers. She thought of what his fingers +had done in the past ... those long +slender fingers. His touch made her +shudder.</p> +<p>But his eyes held her. They seemed +like deep wells. Then they were like +black coals advancing upon her out +of the darkness, growing bigger and +bigger as they came, with little +flames in their centers also growing +as they approached.</p> +<p>“You will submit your will to +mine,” said the soft voice of Caleb +Barter.</p> +<p>His right hand was making swift +snakelike movements back of Ellen’s +head. His voice droned on, but +already it seemed to Ellen to come +from a vast distance.</p> +<p>“Your mind will be concerned only +with the welfare of Caleb Barter,” +droned on the voice. “You will think +only of Caleb Barter; your greatest +desire will be to serve him. There is +nothing you would not do for him. +Let your objective mind sleep until +Caleb Barter wakens it; give your +subjective mind into my keeping.”</p> +<p>Beads of perspiration broke out on +the cheeks of Caleb Barter as he +worked quickly to place the girl entirely +under his skilled hypnosis. At +last she stood like a statue, her wide-open +eyes staring into space, straight +ahead. She did not move. She +scarcely seemed to breathe.</p> +<p>“You will know that my home is +your home, Ellen,” said Barter softly. +“You will feel that you are welcome +here and that you love this place. It +needs the attention of a loving woman; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255' name='page_255'></a>255</span> +you will give it that attention. +But you will be subservient always +to my will. You will enter upon +your duties.”</p> +<p>Ellen Estabrook sighed softly as +though with relief. Her hands went +up to remove her hat, which she +placed on a chair in a corner of the +hellish laboratory. She removed her +light coat and arranged her hair with +skilled fingers. But even as she moved +around the room of the long table her +eyes stared vacantly into space. She +was as much a puppet of Caleb Barter +as were Stanley, Morton and +Cleve. But, mercifully, she did not +know it.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Barter</span> studied her for several +moments; his eyes squinted. He +was making sure that she was not +duping him with pretense. Satisfied +at last be turned his eyes away from +her. He stepped to the porcelain slab +set in the bronze wall of his laboratory +and looked at the push-buttons +marked “C-3” and “E-5”. The red +lights were on, indicating that the +two puppets controlled by these two +keys were returning toward their +master. The lights had been green +when Barter had begun his conversation +with Ellen Estabrook, indicating +that the two puppets were still +going away. With a tremendous +effort of will he had given them sufficient +mental stimulus to keep them +traveling without his direct will for +the few minutes he would require for +Ellen.</p> +<p>Now, however, he quickly donned +the metal cap and the little ball, and +inserted into the orifice in his cap the +swinging key which connected by +chain with the key which fitted into +the slot under the button marked +“C-3”.</p> +<p>He had returned to his puppets +just in time. “C-3” was Cleve, who +was driving the car sent out to bring +in the Colombian ape. As Barter got +in touch with the car it narrowly +averted a crash with a police car ... +and the perspiration broke forth +afresh on the body of Barter as he +resumed control of his puppets.</p> +<p>The second creature, in the front +seat of the car, was Morton, and it +didn’t matter particularly about him +as he was not driving. But Morton +was now becoming all ape. Barter did +not wish to use any more of his mental +energy than was necessary. He +contented himself by sending his +will into Cleve, who began at once to +drive like a master. Whenever Morton, +beside him, showed an inclination +to jump out of the car or otherwise +interfere with Cleve in his +work, Barter had but to express the +thought, and Cleve either pulled him +back to his place beside him, or gave +him a walnut from his pocket.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Barter</span> could as easily have +had them change places, since +he assumed control of either at will, +or could have controlled a score +simultaneously. But that would have +required additional thought stimulus, +and he wished to conserve his +mental energies for the work which +yet faced him.</p> +<p>Once he switched his attention +from the heliotube which controlled +Cleve––and through which, concurrently, +he saw everything that +transpired near Cleve, because his +televisory apparatus and his radio +control were co-workers on almost +identical vibratory waves––to the +area of Manhattan immediately surrounding +his own neighborhood.</p> +<p>“Hmm,” he said to himself, “the +police are getting too close. As soon +as I have completed my labors to-night +I shall destroy some of them +as a warning to others to keep their +distance.”</p> +<p>Morton and Cleve drew up to the +curb while Barter watched carefully +on all sides, through the heliotube, +to make sure that their arrival was +unmarked by the police.</p> +<p>They climbed out quickly and +raced across the sidewalk to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_256' name='page_256'></a>256</span> +green gate which gave on a gloomy +old court, inside which they were +swallowed by the shadows from all +eyes save those of Caleb Barter.</p> +<p>Five minutes after the strange trio +had entered the “place,” the great +chrome-steel door of Barter’s laboratory +swung open.</p> +<p>“Morton and Cleve, my master,” +announced Naka Machi, bowing low +and sucking in his breath with a hissing +sound.</p> +<p>Barter’s own puppets entered with +the ape between them.</p> +<p>Barter walked fearlessly forward. +He had slipped the key from the orifice +atop his head. Morton and Cleve +now stood listlessly, dumbly, looking +with dead eyes at their master. +Barter tossed them several walnuts +each.</p> +<p>Then he turned his attention to the +ape, rubbing his hands together with +pleasure.</p> +<p>But the ape was behaving strangely. +His eyes were staring past Barter. +His hands sought to lift as though he +would hold them out to someone; but +the ropes prevented him. Barter +turned to look. Ellen Estabrook +stood beyond him, white of face, motionless +as a statue. The ape was +straining toward her.</p> +<p>Caleb Barter chuckled with understanding.</p> +<p>“Good evening, Lee,” he said gently. +“I’ve been expecting you!”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII_WHERE_THE_BODIES_WENT' id='CHAPTER_XIII_WHERE_THE_BODIES_WENT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3><i>Where the Bodies Went</i></h3> +</div> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Bentley</span> had been bound carelessly. +Who could expect ape +brains to devise clever bonds, even +when controlled by Caleb Barter? +And now it seemed that Caleb Barter +had known all along; he said he had +been expecting Bentley. No, that +wasn’t it. Barter had seen him yearning +toward Ellen Estabrook, statuesque +and wide-eyed on the other +side of the room. If it hadn’t been +for the presence of Ellen he might +have been accepted as an ape. Now it +made little difference.</p> +<p>But his bonds were not tightly +drawn. He found himself fighting +them fiercely, trying to get his hands +on Caleb Barter. He could see the +scrawny Adam’s apple of the mad +scientist, and his fingers itched to +press themselves into the flesh.</p> +<p>Caleb Barter stood his ground +calmly. “Naka Machi,” he said softly.</p> +<p>Suddenly Bentley felt a dull, paralyzing +blow on his skull. He knew it +had been intended to render him utterly +unconscious. But Naka Machi +hadn’t taken into consideration that +his skull was protected by the hide +of an ape. He remembered, as he +stumbled and fell forward, that the +Japanese were wizards with their +hands. That’s why Naka Machi could +knock him down, render him helpless, +yet leave his brain as clearly active +as before. Perhaps clearer, even, +for now his brain did not act on his +legs and arms, which were helpless.</p> +<p>Bentley felt as he imagined a patient +on the operating table might +feel when not given sufficient anesthetic, +yet given enough to make him +incapable of speech or movement. +Such a patient would hear the soft +discussions of the surgeons, see them +prepare their instruments, yet be unable +to tell them that he wasn’t entirely +unconscious.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Barter</span> stooped over Bentley +and rolled back the lids of his +eyes.</p> +<p>“Good. Naka Machi!” he said. “He +won’t be in any position to do us an +injury. Remain powerless, Lee Bentley, +but retain your knowledge.”</p> +<p>Barter, then, was familiar with the +strange hypnosis which the blow of +Naka Machi’s hand had put upon +Bentley. Barter had taken advantage +of it to add to it a sort of mental +paralysis, so that the condition would +continue.</p> +<p>“You are in my hands, Lee,” he +said in paternal fashion, “but you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_257' name='page_257'></a>257</span> +can do me no harm. Since you were +associated with me in the first of my +great experiments you know much +about me. I have never ceased to hope +that you would one day understand +and appreciate what I am doing for +humanity and be brought to aid me. +Perhaps if I force you to watch my +efforts you will understand them and +sympathize with my ambitions.”</p> +<p>Bentley could say nothing. Barter’s +eyes seemed to leap at him +growing large and glaring, just as +the eyes of caricatured animals leap +at the camera in trick motion pictures. +Physically he was powerless. +Only his brain was active.</p> +<p>“Remove this covering from him, +Naka Machi,” went on Barter. “Remove +his bonds. You are about his +size. Garb him in some of your own +clothing.”</p> +<p>Bentley had the odd feeling that +he didn’t need to turn his head to see +things around him. His head felt +huge, almost to bursting, and his +eyes felt huge, too, so that he could +see in all directions, as though his +eyeballs had been fish-eye lenses.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">He</span> studied Naka Machi. A nasty +opponent in a fight, he decided. +He hadn’t figured on any opponent +other than Barter. This man was +almost as great. The skill of his +fingers as he quickly removed the ape +skin from Bentley, using scalpels +taken from Barter’s table, amazed +Bentley with their miraculous dexterity. +He cleaned Bentley’s body +with some solution in a sponge and +clothed him in some of his own clothing +which fitted fairly well.</p> +<p>Then he lifted Bentley from the +floor and stood him against the wall.</p> +<p>Bentley was unbound. He tried to +lift his hands but they refused to +move. His feet, too, seemed anchored +to the floor. His knees were stiff and +straight. He might as well have been +a wooden image for all his ability to +get about.</p> +<p>Now Barter spoke.</p> +<p>“Come here, Lee,” he said.</p> +<p>Bentley was amazed at the kindliness +in Barter’s attitude. He dealt +with Bentley as though he had been +his son. He felt that Barter genuinely +liked him. It was rather amazing. +Barter liked him but would remove +him without compunction if he +thought it necessary.</p> +<p>Bentley found he could move his +feet, or rather they seemed to move +of their own volition, as he crossed +the room to stand before Barter.</p> +<p>“I’m rather proud of what I have +been able to do, Lee,” went on Barter, +“and I am now entirely safe from +the police. I’ve issued another manifesto +telling the public that for each +attempt made against me, one of the +eighteen men captured by me to-day +will die. Manhattan is the abode +of terror. Here, see for yourself.”</p> +<p>He extended to Bentley what +seemed to be a pair of binoculars, but +with the ear-hooks common to ordinary +spectacles. He set them over +Bentley’s eyes and set them in place.</p> +<p>“Now you can survey New York +as you wish.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Bentley</span> looked for a moment +or two. Sixth Avenue was a +deserted highway, on which red and +green lights blinked off and on in the +usual routine, signaling to drivers +who were non-existent. There were +vistas of deserted streets and avenues. +There were some few living +things––policemen in uniform, standing +in pairs and larger groups, all +concentrated in an area covering no +more than twenty acres, which twenty +acres included the hideout of +Caleb Barter. Bentley knew that the +hideout was under Millegan Place. +He had recognized it coming in. A +secret panel in a brick wall had +opened to show a door where none +was apparent. Then a circular stairway +leading down into darkness to +the room which Barter had gouged +out of the earth and turned into a +laboratory of hell. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_258' name='page_258'></a>258</span></p> +<p>“See the police?” asked Barter. +“They know now where I am, but +they are helpless because of my +hostages. I shall now begin the operations +I believe to be necessary. +Then I shall issue another manifesto, +telling the public that I am safeguarded +by great apes whose ability +will prove the correctness of my +theory about the possibility of creating +a race of supermen. My manifesto +shall say that my apes must not +be slain. It shall say that for every +ape slain by the police one of my +eighteen hostages will die.”</p> +<p>Bentley would have gasped with +horror, but he could not. Now he saw +Thomas Tyler, his face a white mask +of despair, in the midst of his helpless +men.</p> +<p>“I’ll give you a hand, somehow, +Tommy,” Bentley whispered deep +down inside him.</p> +<p>“Now you shall see what I do, +Lee,” said Caleb Barter. “Naka +Machi, bring the ape skin you took +from my friend. Bentley, you will +follow us.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Barter</span> removed the strange +glasses from Bentley’s eyes, +blotting out the deserted streets and +avenues of Manhattan. Naka Machi +followed behind Bentley, carrying +the ape skin in which Bentley had +penetrated the stronghold of Caleb +Barter.</p> +<p>The chrome-steel door swung +silently back and the three entered +another room filled with blaring +light. Without being able to look +back Bentley knew that Ellen, white +of face and staring, followed at their +heels.</p> +<p>There was a long white operating +table in this room, and a smaller +chrome-steel door set some four feet +above the floor in one wall.</p> +<p>“Naka Machi, the incineration +tube,” said Barter brusquely.</p> +<p>Naka Machi stepped to the operating +table and dug into one of the +drawers. He brought out a white +tube, closed at one end, about an inch +in diameter, eight inches in length, +and snowy white.</p> +<p>“Concentrated fire, Bentley,” said +Barter. “Watch!”</p> +<p>Barter had Naka Machi cast the +ape skin through the small steel door, +beyond which Bentley could see a +boxlike space large enough to accommodate +two or three grown men, +lying side by side at full length. It +seemed to be indirectly lighted. The +ape skin dropped on the floor of this +compartment. Barter took the “incineration +tube” and directed it on +the skin. Bentley heard the clicking +of a button.</p> +<p>The ape skin charred quickly, +folded up, drew into itself, disappeared––and +a fine gray ash settled +on the floor of the compartment, like +rain from the roof of the ghastly little +space.</p> +<p>“Now you understand that I have +solved the problem of disposing of +the cumbersome useless bodies of my +hostages, Lee,” said Baxter, rubbing +his hands together as though he +washed them.</p> +<p>Bentley’s heart leaped as Naka +Machi placed the incineration tube +on the operating table. It was close +enough that Bentley could have +reached it, had he not been utterly +powerless to move.</p> +<p>“Naka Machi,” said Barter. “Bring +me ape D-4 and Frank Keller, the +diplomat. Ellen, clear the operating +table. Quickly, now! Bentley, stand +against the wall and do not move––but +miss nothing I do.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIV_THE_STRAINING_PRISON' id='CHAPTER_XIV_THE_STRAINING_PRISON'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3><i>The Straining Prison</i></h3> +</div> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Then</span> began a grim series of activities +which combined to form +a nightmare Bentley was never to +forget, even as he prayed within him +that no slightest memory of it would +remain in the brain of Ellen Estabrook.</p> +<p>Naka Machi went back to the room +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_259' name='page_259'></a>259</span> +which Bentley had first entered and +returned almost at once with a tall +thin man, immaculately garbed in +gray, wearing a spade beard. His +eyes were flashing fires of anger and +of pride.</p> +<p>He stared at Barter.</p> +<p>“What is all this quackery?” he +demanded. “Who is responsible for +this unspeakable rigmarole?”</p> +<p>“Your words are harsh, Mr. Keller,” +said Barter suavely, “and you +shall learn in good time what I intend. +Had you followed my manifestoes +in the news columns you +would have known what I intend. I +shall create a race of super––”</p> +<p>“You will at once release myself +and the others with me,” interrupted +Keller.</p> +<p>But at that moment Naka Machi +returned, leading a great ape which +seemed as docile as though it had +been drugged. Naka Machi raised his +right hand quickly, so quickly Bentley +could scarce follow the movement, +and with the edge of his palm +struck the tall gray man in back of +the head. Keller’s knees buckled. As +he started to fall Naka Machi stepped +close to him, gathered him in his +arms and bore him to the table.</p> +<p>At Barter’s swift instructions +Ellen Estabrook, all unknowing, +placed a cone indicated by Barter +over the mouth and nose of Keller. +Naka Machi struck the ape as he had +struck the man, but he waited until +he had persuaded the brute to take +his place on the table near Keller’s +head.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">The</span> ape sprawled. Naka Machi +quickly twisted both Keller +and the ape around so that their +heads were toward each other, their +feet pointing in opposite directions.</p> +<p>“Is that close enough my master?” +came the soft voice of Naka Machi.</p> +<p>“Quite,” said Barter, whose face +was now a mask of concentration. +“Cleve and Stanley and Morton?”</p> +<p>“They have been locked in their +cages, my master,” said Naka Machi. +“Are you sure this man who came in +the guise of an ape is safe?”</p> +<p>“I shall make sure. But do you remain +close where you can render +him harmless in case I have misjudged +him.”</p> +<p>Naka Machi turned baleful eyes on +Bentley. The latter could see the +hatred in them and for a moment was +<a name='TC_11'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Was 'at loss'">at a loss</ins> to understand it.</p> +<p>“I shall destroy him before he can +put his hands upon you, my master,” +said Naka Machi.</p> +<p>“I do not wish him destroyed, Naka +Machi,” replied Barter. “That is +enough of the anesthetic, Miss Estabrook. +Naka Machi, my instruments, +quickly.”</p> +<p>Before he proceeded with his +labors Barter stood in front of Bentley +and stared at him for a moment. +Bentley felt the strength flow out of +him under the gaze of this man––a +gaze he could not avoid. Barter +smiled slightly.</p> +<p>“You will eventually join me of +your own free will, Lee,” he said +softly.</p> +<p>“I would rather die a thousand +deaths!” screamed Bentley, but the +sound of his scream echoed and reechoed +through his soul without +coming out so that Barter could hear +it.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Barter’s</span> confidence in his ability +to convert Bentley was assuredly +a mark of his twisted mind, +for he must surely have realized that +Bentley would be the most injured +by his schemes. But he seemed to associate +him with the days of Manape, +when Barter had proved to himself, +to Bentley and Ellen Estabrook, that +the operation he now planned in +wholesale proportions was possible. +Bentley could understand why Barter +regarded him as a friend and colleague, +and his animosity temporary––because +as a subject of his first +great experiment Bentley was a symbol +of Barter’s success. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_260' name='page_260'></a>260</span></p> +<p>Strange how easy it was to find +logic in the reasoning of madmen, +and to understand that logic!</p> +<p>Barter sprang back to his task.</p> +<p>“Naka Machi,” he said, “take heed +that you serve me well. Do you like +this woman?”</p> +<p>“Yes, my master.”</p> +<p>“If you continue in your loyalty to +me, I shall give her to you.”</p> +<p>Bentley’s mind recoiled with horror. +The shock of this cold statement +was like another blow on the head. +He wanted to leap forward and set +strangling fingers about the neck of +Naka Machi. Ordinarily Naka Machi +could handle him with ease, but now +that Bentley had heard the plan of +Barter, he could have handled the +Japanese with superhuman strength. +But he could not move. He strained +against the bodily lethargy which +held him prisoner. If only he could +move forward and grasp the incineration +tube, he would turn it on Naka +Machi and Barter....</p> +<p>But he could not move, could not +fight off the lethargy which was like +invincible prison walls around him.</p> +<p>He could move the tips of his +fingers, he discovered ... but no more +than that. The shock of Barter’s calm +statement had cast off that much of +his semi-hypnotic lethargy. A minute +before he hadn’t been able even to +move his fingers.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Give</span> him time, he told himself, +while inwardly he bled as he +struggled desperately to throw off +the grim hypnosis, and he would yet +manage to save the lives of at least +some of the eighteen, see that Ellen +won free, and destroy this hell-hole +under Millegan Place.</p> +<p>Now incredibly slender instruments +were busy near the heads of +the two on the operating table––the +ape and Keller, the doomed man. As +the knives and scalpels leaped to +their work with startling dexterity +and amazing speed, Bentley strained +again against his horrid invisible +prison. If only he could save this +man Keller from this horror ... but +it was useless.</p> +<p>The fingers of Barter worked +swiftly over the skull of the ape, +first. Naka Machi stood on one side +of the long table, Ellen on the other, +near Barter. Bentley studied her face +as the skull of the ape fell open under +the hands of Barter, and he knew +she was unaware of what she was doing. +Bentley had expected a crimson +horror, but nothing of the kind developed. +Could Barter read his +thoughts?</p> +<p>“I am an adept at bloodless surgery, +Bentley,” he said, while his +fingers never ceased their swift +manipulations.</p> +<p>Now Naka Machi held the skull-pan +of the ape, from which he had +removed the reddish substance which +was the ape’s brain. This Naka +Machi had tossed into the aperture +where the ape skin had been destroyed.</p> +<p>The empty skull-pan of the ape +awaited the brain of Keller.</p> +<p>Bentley could feel the sweat burst +forth on him in every pore as he tried +to throw off his awful inertia, to go +to the aid of Keller. If Barter should +see the perspiration on his cheeks....</p> +<p>Bentley thought of Samson in the +midst of his enemies, blind and +beaten, of how he had prayed to be +given strength to pull down the pillars +of the temple....</p> +<p>“Oh God,” said Bentley to himself, +“only this once give me strength to +throw off these chains. Grant that I +do something to save the man from +this horror.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">But</span> he could still move only the +tips of his fingers when Barter +had finally closed the sutures in the +skull-pan of the ape, renewing again +the ape’s skull, with the brain of +Keller inside. Keller was finished. He +had not moved on the table. Even his +chest stood still, stark and lifeless. +Barter had not troubled to restore +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_261' name='page_261'></a>261</span> +Keller’s skull-pan. What was the +need?</p> +<p>Naka Machi gathered up the carcass +of Keller and bore it swiftly to +the boxlike hole in the wall of the +ghastly room....</p> +<p>He thrust it in. He stepped back +and caught up the incineration tube +of concentrated fire ... and Bentley +saw the body of the murdered man +shrivel up so quickly it seemed as +though it had dissolved before his +eyes. Down from the ceiling of the +hell-hole dropped the fine gray ash, +all that remained––save the imprisoned +brain––of Frank Keller, the +diplomat.</p> +<p>Now Bentley was cognizant of +something else. With Barter’s concentrated +work on Keller, something +of the power went out of him. Ever +so slightly Bentley could feel that +Barter was lacking in strength. Some +of his will, some of the essential +essence of his brain, of his soul, had +been expended in the operation––and +by so much was Bentley enabled to +move. For now he could move two +full fingers on each hand. But how +carefully he kept watch to see that +neither Naka Machi nor Barter +noticed that he was bursting from his +invisible prison.</p> +<p>If he could get that incineration +tube. He’d do the necessary things +first ... then direct the ray of it +against the softer portions of the +hideout of Barter. The flame would +eat through. Somewhere it would +finally reach wood; that was inflammable.</p> +<p>There would be smoke, and fire ... +and in the end people would come. +Tyler would be watching for a sign, +anyway. Barter had said that the +police knew approximately where he, +Barter, was located.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">“Now,</span> Bentley,” said Barter, +“I’ll explain what I intend +doing while I rest a moment before +the next ordeal. The whole world is +against me now because it regards +my experiments as horrible, but if I +prove to the world that I am right, +and that the men of my creation are +supermen, in the end the world will +be on my side. I can force it to obey +me, in time, but I prefer the world to +serve me willingly, because it realizes +that what I do for civilization +should really be done.”</p> +<p>Bentley said nothing, because he +could not speak.</p> +<p>“I’ll send Keller to his office under +my instructions,” said Barter. “Of +course I’ll issue a manifesto, first, so +that the city will know that it is not +a wild ape that has escaped. When +the new Keller, with the strong brain +of Keller and the mighty body of an +ape, appears at his office and proves +to his people that he has been vastly +improved by my experiment....”</p> +<p>Bentley tried to shut his mind to +the horrible picture Barter’s words +drew before his eyes. Barter broke +off short, while Bentley’s mind +seemed to rock with the shock of +Barter’s last statement. He saw a picture +... a great office filled with +many desks occupied by white-faced +men and women ... an ornate desk +where a “manape” sat.... It was +ghastly beyond comprehension. It +must never come to pass.</p> +<p>Barter spoke again to Naka Machi.</p> +<p>“Bring me David Fator and ape +S-19.”</p> +<p>“Yes, my master,” replied Naka +Machi.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Again</span> Bentley went through +the horror from beginning to +end. He could now move his toes. If +only he could fall forward, grasp +that incineration tube, turn it on +Barter! With Barter unable to control +him he would regain his senses +in time, he hoped, to stave off the certain +charge of Naka Machi, whose +hatred for himself he now understood +too well.</p> +<p>He hoped, if he were able to accomplish +what he planned, that horror +upon awakening would cause Ellen +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_262' name='page_262'></a>262</span> +to faint. While she was out he could +destroy the horror with the cleansing +flame ... and tell her she hadn’t +seen it, after all.</p> +<p>Bentley could feel the strength +pour back into him. Barter was becoming +moment by moment more intent +on his labors. He was becoming +careless with Bentley, not because he +underestimated him but because he +was intensely absorbed in his work.</p> +<p>By the time two more men had +gone bodily into the incinerator and +mentally into a pair of apes, the first +ape, carelessly dumped on the floor, +came out from under the effects of +the drug.</p> +<p>“Stand over there in the corner, +Keller,” Barter said to the hybrid +carelessly, “and remember that no +matter how you may wish to escape +you can only do so if I will. Remain +quiet there and consider whether you +will oppose me or obey me. Oppose +me and your only escape is self-destruction. +Obey me and possess the +world!”</p> +<p>Bentley could imagine the horror +and despair of “Keller,” for he himself +had known that horror and despair.</p> +<p>Now he could swing his wrists +slightly. Naka Machi turned once +with a sudden movement and almost +caught him at it, and perspiration +broke out on Bentley’s face again. +Thank God, Ellen realized none of +what she was experiencing.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">Two</span> other men gave their lives +at Barter’s hands ... yet Bentley +had only regained sufficient possession +of himself to fall forward +on his face if he tried to walk, but +even that was something.</p> +<p>Five men were gone now. Could +he possibly regain muscular control +in time to save the lives of some of +the eighteen? As he watched the five +go into the furnace, one by one, he +began to despair of saving any of the +eighteen, but with each operation +Barter lost mental strength. If he +lost in arithmetical progression as he +had during the last five, Bentley estimated +that he, Bentley, would be +able to move his arms enough to +grasp the incineration tube by the +time Barter had finished his eighth +transplantation.</p> +<p>So, the horror growing until +nausea ate at Bentley’s stomach like +voracious maggots, he watched Barter +destroy three more men and create +godless monsters in their places. +As each manape regained consciousness +Barter told him what he had +told Keller––and Naka Machi took +them out, one by one, and placed +them in their allotted cages.</p> +<p>Naka Machi placed the eighth man +in the furnace, returned the incineration +tube to the table.</p> +<p>“Now, oh God the Father!” +moaned Bentley.</p> +<p>He leaned forward, striving with +all his will to force his hands to go +truly to their target as he fell. He +had little or no control of his legs or +knees. But let him once hold that +tube in his hands....</p> +<p>He fell soundlessly, his hands +clutching for the tube. His fingers +touched it as he crashed to the floor, +and it fell near him. His fingers +fumbled for the tube and now +gripped it tightly.</p> +<p>From under the table, writhing +and twisting, striving to break his +mental bondage, Bentley saw the legs +of Caleb Barter. He snapped the button +on the tube and turned its open +end toward those legs.</p> +<p>“I must not look into his eyes as +he falls,” thought Bentley, “or all is +lost.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">A terrible</span> scream rang +through the operating room. +Barter was falling, crumpling as he +fell, and as his body slid downward +past the table edge, Bentley held the +end of the tube toward it. As the +bodies of the eight had shriveled, so +shriveled the body of Caleb Barter.</p> +<p>Ellen Estabrook screamed horribly, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_263' name='page_263'></a>263</span> +and sprawled on the floor within +a foot or two of Bentley. Nature +had mercifully sent her into momentary +oblivion when the will of +Barter, holding her in thrall, had +snapped to show her the horror of +what she did.</p> +<p>Naka Machi was screaming. Bentley +was Bentley again, crawling +forth from under the table. Naka +Machi met him in a rush and dissolved +before the deadly ray as +though he had never existed. Its effect +must have been a silent explosion, +for a fine gray ash came down +from the ceiling as the residue which +falls when a soaring rocket has exploded +and expended its power. The +gray ash was Naka Machi, forever +rendered harmless to Ellen.</p> +<p>Bentley walked over and stood +looking at the manapes in their +cages. What could be done with +them? There was no hope, no possible +way by which they could resume +their normal lives, for of their human +bodies there remained but heaps of +fine powdery ashes.</p> +<p>Suddenly the manape Keller swept +his great hairy arm out between the +bars and snatched the tube from +Bentley’s hand. With a cry of mortal +anguish Bentley recoiled from the +cage. God! Now all was lost if the +manape clicked on the deadly ray +and swept it over the room.</p> +<p>Before he could formulate a plan +of action, the manape pressed the +fatal button. With a cry Bentley +threw himself across the room to +where Ellen lay unconscious, his +only thought to somehow protect +her from the tube.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="caps">But</span> the manape, Keller, swung +the ray upon the other apes +with the human minds, and they dissolved +into ashy nothingness with +bewildering rapidity. The keen mind +of Keller was doing what he knew +must be done for the good of everyone +concerned.</p> +<p>Numbed with horror, Bentley saw +the ray directed on Morton and +Stanley. They fell silently and without +protest....</p> +<p>Keller clicked off the button and +looked over at Bentley. He alone remained +of Barter’s frightful experiment. +He alone remained and it +seemed that he was trying to tell +Bentley something ... asking him +to now take the tube and turn it full +on the body which housed his human +brain.</p> +<p>While Bentley hesitated, the manape +bent down and placed the tube +on the floor of the cage, the muzzle +pointing inward. With a clumsy motion +of a long hairy arm he reached +out and snicked on the button, then +placed himself within its deadly +range. Keller vanished and the ray +bit into the wall back of the cage; +began to eat through.</p> +<p>Bentley leaped to his feet and tore +across the floor. He plunged his +trembling hand through the bars of +the cage, switched off the button and +lifted the tube.</p> +<p>There were the remaining normal +apes. They could have been saved for +transportation to the zoo, but horror +was on Bentley and he used the tube +again, and yet again....</p> +<p>And there were the keys. He pulled +them from their slots in the porcelain +slab, in case there should be other +“Stanley-Morton-Cleves” abroad of +whom he knew nothing....</p> +<p>He turned the tube against the red +lights and the green lights.</p> +<p>Then he turned the tube upward +and held it steadily. He watched the +charred hole grow bigger and deeper +in the high ceiling....</p> +<p>When at last he heard the approaching +clang of the fire engine +bells and the screaming triumph of +police sirens, he carefully snicked off +the button of the tube and returned +to lift the form of Ellen in arms that +were strong to hold her.</p> +<table style='margin: auto' summary=''><tr><td> +<p class='cg'> +(<i>The end.</i>)</p> +</td></tr></table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class="trnote"> +<h4>Transcriber’s Changes:</h4> +<p><a href='#TC_1'>Page 30</a>: Added closing double-quote (Ellen. “I haven’t looked at an American paper for ever so <span style='font-weight:bold'>long.”</span>)</p> +<p><a href='#TC_2'>Page 32</a>: Was ‘that’ (Bentley suddenly knew <span style='font-weight:bold'>what</span> the man was trying to say. The half-uttered)</p> +<p><a href='#TC_3'>Page 32</a>: Was ‘interne’ (Five minutes later the ambulance <span style='font-weight:bold'>intern</span> hastily scribbled in his record the entry, “Dead on Arrival.”)</p> +<p><a href='#TC_4'>Page 41</a>: Added closing double-quote (chauffeur to go faster than twenty miles an <span style='font-weight:bold'>hour.”</span>)</p> +<p><a href='#TC_5'>Page 44</a>: Was ‘scarely’ (The words had <span style='font-weight:bold'>scarcely</span> left his mouth when a blind man, tapping)</p> +<p><a href='#TC_6'>Page 45</a>: Was ‘multilated’ (Bentley, in his mind’s eye, saw the two dead, <span style='font-weight:bold'>mutilated</span> drivers, and the passengers with them, he saw)</p> +<p><a href='#TC_rel'>Page 45</a>: Was ‘relinquished’ (“When will he give up––and what will his driver do when Barter <span style='font-weight:bold'>relinquishes</span> control?”)</p> +<p><a href='#TC_7'>Page 45</a>: Changed ‘,’ to ‘.’ (effective. The fleeing car was trapped. Barter must know <span style='font-weight:bold'>that.</span> If he did know, it proved that he)</p> +<p><a href='#TC_8'>Page 46</a>: Was ‘plainclothes’ (reached her. She had been immediately picked up by <span style='font-weight:bold'>plain-clothes</span> men and had thought herself captured)</p> +<p><a href='#TC_9'>Page 46</a>: Was ‘persuuaded’ (she told Bentley, and it had taken her some little time to be <span style='font-weight:bold'>persuaded</span> that she was in the hands)</p> +<p><a href='#TC_10'>Page 242</a>: Was ‘monolog’ (“You will almost suffocate,” he said, keeping up a running <span style='font-weight:bold'>monologue</span> as his inspired hands worked with)</p> +<p><a href='#TC_11'>Page 257</a>: Was ‘at loss’ (hatred in them and for a moment was <span style='font-weight:bold'>at a loss</span> to understand it.)</p> +</div> + +<!-- generated by ppg.rb version: ppg0619 --> +<!-- timestamp: Sun Jun 28 10:47:40 +0800 2009 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mind Master, by Arthur J. 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