The Moon Colony

y Calls

feet the three stood gazing at each other in silence for se

ing, "I don't like this. If the weather continues l

ed the hatch down. The atmos

"This part of the airship is not connected with

around them was space, and they were traveling at a speed that took their breath. When they s

get into the other part of t

n me for letting you and y

sed the hat

u will look but again you will see Toplinsky standing with his head out

hatch down softly a

roposed. "We will tie you up, then go below an

nsky will give me a beating for gettin

now getting terribly cold, and for the first

nd do it quick," Billy asser

xtended his hand to hel

ng a box up put them in a position where they could get a breath of air through the hole. It was only a breath but he had reasoned that Toplinsky would not put his sister where she would die for want of atmosphere

ompartment from the storeroom. Curiously she got up and pushed back the panel. In f

ut," Billy choked. "We a

inite relief. "I thought you had

d air hole and caught Epworth. He was just

can all get a breath of that air. This compartment is shut off from

evived, and pulled boxes up

lives," Billy grumbled. "My l

d call some one,"

," Joan repli

and Herman Topli

y. "Indeed a wonderful trip is ahead of us. We leave the earth at a speed of six hundred miles

Epworth and Billy at the panel, but when she replied her voice

my name is a good name and I am not ashamed

on that you will be pleased to hear me call you Joan. This is our initial trip-the first out-and I could not forego myself the pleasu

hat caused the girl to grow cold and hot by t

t that agreem

at the panel. Epworth was gazing at him wit

o the moon you will be frozen into an Eskimo pie. It suits me well. I think that I shall move this young lady into another apartment, and seal this one. We can get along very well this trip without

ingenuity of the

let these men die in there

thly white as she a

e world, and got caught in their own trap. Why should I trouble myself about them? If they die I assure you that decomposition will not commence during the trip to the moon. The frig

almly. "I do not understand your actions concerning Joan. You

er. "The man who says that Herman Toplinsky is not a man o

sister is he

the moon. I did not tell you that I would cut her off my visiting list. On the contrary I have seen to it that she was treated lik

is teeth ag

nd you are going to agree that we can go along to see that you keep your word. With me is my chum, Billy Sand, and the guard you put over us. Thes

cramp." Toplinsky spoke politely. "I cannot put such an agreemen

vident that he meant what he said, "but as sure as fate if you do not put that agree

frightened. Quite the contr

ll be lost in space. It is hardly necessary to inform you that the moon does not stand still. It is moving now in three ways. First it is rotating once every sixteen hours on its axis; second it is moving around the world once every twenty-eight days; third it is traveling through space in a giant c

y, seeing a look of dismay a

sand miles an hour around the sun, we have a decided mathematical calculation in navigation-especially as our little ship is at present only making six hundred miles an hour. Perhaps, a

upset, and his hand tr

can do to keep from ki

to be just a little slangy, you will draw in your

his companions in there without air

nd the supply is limited. In making my preparations to visit the moon I did not anticipate the presence of guests in a compartment where no air is needed. Our air is

xpansively, and showed his

d-a

you are,"

lowered

endanger the lives of all th

ad been very close to death, and he re

" Joan moaned. "I shall no

obey me, and you are going to stay right in this room du

keep your eyes

smiled c