Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 266, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1911 — THE MARTIAN INVADER [ARTICLE]

THE MARTIAN INVADER

7 rfim f)|A intpHhr (KtAnnAtl 4 I he carried the end of a tube attached to the tank. . The town policeman, officious as always, stepped up to the invader and grasped him somewhat roughly by the arm. f ‘ ’ “Here, what’re you doing here, ’ bo?” the policeman asked. / < For answer the invader pointed the- muzzle of the hose at the official. From the nozzle issued a thick, heavy, black vapor, As the policeman inhaled this he toppled over, writhing in a mm. „ Fear' seized on the townspeople and they turned to run. The bloodshot eyes of the being swept the ranks of the multitude before the people ran and fastened themselves on the fair face of Bertha Dunbar. The look which the invader gave Bertha sent a cold shiver up her lover’s back. “Come,” cried Harry, somewhat gruffly, “let’s get away, from here.” As he urged Bertha onward,, the girl, as though fascinated against her will, cast, many backward glances at the Mart lap. Not . until Harry had seen Bertha safely in her home did he,breathe freely again. Then he left her hurriedly to see what the town authorities intended to do about ridding the municipality of this dire-invader. He had not been gone from Bertha over 15 minutes when a fearstricken citizen ran up to him. “Your girl has been kidnaped by the Martian,” this citizen cried.

Harry, with a few quick, stern questions, learned that the Martian had followed him to Bertha’s home and, after Harry left, had grabbed Bertha and "made off with her for the ball-shaped object. Harry rushed into a nearby shop, grabbed a revolver and tore through the tpwn for the commons. On the commons he saw a little ring of people gathered around the invader’s ball and v he also saw the Martian roughly throw the girl into the Interior ol the ball and then turn to face the' people. * •' “Bertha!" Harry cries in frenzy, as he dashed up. A weak cry< from his sweetheart spurred him onward. Harry jorked his revolver from his pocket and fired it time and ggain at the Mirtian. The shots had no effect. Then Harry sprang for the invader. The latter directed the fatal black vapor at Harry. Harry staggered backward, tackling the Martian about the legs in football stylo. Back and forth, the t.wo struggled. Finally, with a quick movement, Harry threw the Martian, nearly overcome, then again rushed. In. Quick as lightning Harry grabbed the nozzle of the hose and directed the vapor At the invader until the latter, with a final struggle died. With a- little, thankful- cry of relief, Bertha weakly clambered from the ball and fainted in Harry's arms while the crowd cheered mightily. .