Boys of 2036

Hagan, Carl

Boys of 2036

Item

Title of Story: Boys of 2036
Attributed Author: Hagan, Carl
Year For Sorting: 1936
Future Year Set: 2036
Story Summary: Boy wakes up in the future on a high speed road and a boy in a personal flying car helps him dodge a fast car being pursued by robot-like henchmen. Soon, Frank is caught up in a fight against a dictator politician who will do anything to obtain power. Thanks to his friend's father who developed a ray to defeat the evil politician, along with the help of a blind secret agent, Frank survives and is able to return to his own time.
Critical Introduction: This is very much a children's story so I have written some of the information for this story with children in mind.

While there isn’t a biography entry for the author, and no other stories by Carl Hagen have so far been made available through Trove, it is likely that this is Carl von Hagen, who like a few of his contemporaries, moved to writing utopian-style science fiction after a career in politics. Carl von Hagen was a member of the Political Labor League in 1914 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/238796155 and spoke at the N.S.W. Social democratic league in 1919 with some newspapers later confusing Carl with Conrad: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/190751631
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/156835709
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/85963713

Boys of 2036, published in 1936, is a socialist utopian future which reflects several of von Hagen’s statements in the linked articles 24-17 years earlier. I have not been able to find further information on von Hagen at this time, however, Boys of 2036 features two 16-year-old boys, one of which speaks clear 1930s teen vocabulary, suggesting that it is written by a father of a teenager, which would fit well if von Hagen left politics in 1920 to start a family. (I have not been able to find any further political statements by Von Hagen later than 1919.)

However, the fact that this story is predominantly set in a futuristic London, gives cause for pause, as I would have thought that someone living most of their life in Australia would have set their story in Australia. Even so, the fact that only one newspaper serialised the story in the children’s section, (a less likely place for international sales of stories), and that it was only in a Brisbane newspaper, (as far as I know) also points the other way, considering von Hagen’s statements were also predominantly printed in Brisbane newspapers. For this reason I believe this is a story written in Australia by an Australian.

The end of the story is a bit rushed, with a single sentence covering a night long aerial pursuit and aerial dogfight, ending in the death of the villain. This is quickly followed by the sudden return of Frank to 1936. Perhaps this is another story rushed to completion before Christmas!

Fun Fact. The calendar days and dates for 1936 are the same as the calendar for 2026 as I type this. Boys of 2036 was published every Sunday between 13 September and 20 December so you could imagine you're back in 1936 and read the story in the paper on Trove on those dates!
Science: Aeronautics; electromagnetic radiation; aerodynamics; transportation engineering
Inventions: Time travel device using electricity; High speed electric bullet cars [rockets]; Dedicated autoways; Children's electric air drone cars; Turret bullet cars (weapons turret); Cylindrical buildings with circular apertures. No glass or screens.; Tower structures touching the clouds that control the weather [euphemistically called a weather vane]; Meat and vegetables in pellets for dinner; No kitchen sink. Everything installed in the dinner table along with controls for drinks; Chemically prepared tips of cigarettes that light up automatically when puffed; Automatic flight control paths for autogiros (personal aircars); A single pedestrian road for those who wish to walk for exercise.; An aerogen ray to prevent the deathly rays used by the villian; Installed home tutoring service with built in lessons. Just press a button and a video of the next lesson in the chosen subject plays. Stored, not streamed. The system is upgraded every year for each child's learning progress.; Video phone; High speed autogiros that travel at 300 miles an hour.; Hidden wall compartments for a myriad of devices including fold out beds; Ray guns; Automatic cleaning systems
Science Communication Example: The family — Professor and Mrs. Fraser, Pat and his sister Nancy — sat round an oval, metal table in which, before each diner, were indented a number of hollows, like basins, each spotlessly clean. In the centre of the table was a large dish divided up into several partitions, each contain, lng piles of . pellet-shaped objects, some as large as walnuts, others no bigger than a threepenny bit. Frank sat down, looked round him and gulped hard. "Now, Frank, what would you like?" said Professor Fraser. "Beef, mutton, pork, chicken, duck, Penang goose? I can particularly recommend this goose," and he pointed to a number, of small brown-colourcd objects, about the size ot acid drops, in one of the partitions. "Th— thanks. I should like some of that," stammered Fgank. , He was passed on a small metal plate, six of these little pellets. "You'll have some vegetables, won't you?" smiled Mrs. Fraser. Frank accepted some more pellets— the whole lunch could be put into a tablespoon. "Our friend is very much of a stranger in these parts," said Professor Fraser. "I expect that even our ordinary lunch may seem rather queer to him." JUST A BUTTON. From the taps In front Frank noted that he could obtain iced beverages of various kinds, while the purpose of the basin In front of him also became clear — it did away with, all washing up. He saw that Pat pressed a small button by his side at the end of the meal; he did the same, and immediately automatic india-rubber cleaners got to work and washed, dried and polished the whole space in' front of him. Mrs. Fraser, at the conclusion of lunch, touched an ebony knob and the central part of the table containing the various foodstuffs disappeared to the depths below.
Science Extrapolations: Helicopters would become smaller, lighter and no longer need blades, and be used by children; Food would be reduced to pellets like vitamin tablets enabling fast meal times.
The Other: Ini this case the other is the villain, his excessive technological devices, his unusual henchmen and represents the opposite political view
Science Fiction Subgenres: Invention Opera; SpyFi; Time Travel; Utopian
Related Newspaper Fiction: Looking Backward 2000-1887. The Great Reorganisation Novel.; The Robot Age of the Future: A Glimpse of Hobart in 3,000 A. D.
Historical Context: The world was in the grip of the Great Depression but those in country areas, or those that had made money from politics, were less affected. Ray guns had become popular in the late 1920s due to American cinema and appeared regularly in stories of the time likely due to this influence.
Mentioned Elsewhere: NA
Additional Information: Truth (Brisbane, Qld. : 1900 - 1954), Sunday 6 September 1936, page 35
Thrilling New Serial Next Week
TO-DAY, our gripping serial, "The Monsier of the Loch," comes to an end. Next week, Adventurers are in'for even bigger thrills and more excitement, in the new story to take its place, "Boys of 2036.". - Just think of it! This thrilling yarn Is all about the boys who
will be living a hundred years Hence— and surety tnat is enougn to arouse the Interest of any young boy and girl! What will the world of 2036- be like? Who will live then, and . how will they live? What sort of machines and houses and car-riages and clothes will they have? ' . . ' Well, see for yourself as you follow the breathless adventure of Frank Goodmayes and Fat Fraser in the amazing world of 2036. Don't forget "Adventure's" amazing and stupendous serial, "Boys of 2036" (by Carl Hagen), commences next week.. Get your parents to ensure your copy of "Adventure" by ordering from the newsagent now. You can't afford to miss a single thrilling line of the most wonderful story ever.
Relation: NA
Other Works by the Author Listed in the Newspaper: NA
How this Story was Identified: Reviewing the results of a classifier experiment.
KeyClouds: NA
Date Details Added to IA: 09/2024
Nationality: NA - likely Australian
Biographical and Other Sources: NA
Single or Serialised: Serialised
First Published Date of Last Installment: 1936-12-20
Date Range: 1936-09-13-1936-12-20
Number of Installments: 15 Sundays with multiple sections with titles but no chapters.
Complete or Supplemented: Complete
Estimated Word Count: 17,000
Length: Novellette
Book Release Details: NA
Links in To Be Continued: NA
Newspaper Publisher Citation: The Truth
Newspaper Name Location Years: The Truth, Brisbane, Qld, 1900-1954
Location Town City: Brisbane
Location State Territory: Queensland
Provincial or Metro: Metro
Also Published in: NA
General Subjects: Children's Fiction; Children's Science Fiction; Coming of Age; Future World
Language: English
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Content Advisory: These items are historical texts digitised from their original publication, and reflects the social attitudes, cultural values, and language of the time in which they were created. Some content may include depictions or references that are racist, sexist, ableist, colonialist, or otherwise offensive by contemporary standards. This material is presented uncensored for scholarly, archival, and educational purposes. It serves as a record of past cultural attitudes and is preserved here to support critical engagement, historical reflection, and the advancement of inclusive scholarship. Reader discretion is advised.
OCR from TBC and Trove: Boys of 2036 by Carl Hagan

Truth (Brisbane, Qld. : 1900 - 1954), Sunday 13 September 1936, page 31

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CHAPTER J.
TpRANK Goodinayes sat up with a A Jerk and blinked his eyes. Where was he? What had happened? He felt exactly as if he had lust woken
up from a dream, only Instead of finding himself hi bed he was sitting - on tile side of an immense white road that stretched away Into Infinity. The surface of, the road was like dull, frosted glass; it was at least 100ft. wide; along the edges, inlaid in tire road surface, was a strip of whitish metal that, even in daylight seemed to emit a dull, greenish glow. High banks, covered with neatly-cut turf, bordered each side of the strange thoroughfare. "Rum I" muttered Frank, looking about him with astonished eyes.' "Very rum I Must, be some sort of vast racing track. But how did I get here? How— how— how?" He shut ills eyes and tried to "think back." It was like trying to recollect a dream. Yes, dimly, as though re-: membcrlng an incident in the vanished age, he recalled something— a gravel path, a clump of geraniums and a half-opened door. But what " had these trivial things to do with it? Somehow, at the thought of that door with the words, "Strictly Private" written on it, he felt vaguely .apprehensive. He knew that he hnd done wrong in passing through that door— yes. he did go through it, for he remembered how the hinges had creaked as he . stepped from the garden into a dim-iy-llghted room. But what had that to do with it? THE CAR LIKE A SHELL A far-off screaming sounc. made Frank quickly open nls ears. The noise came' from behind him. He turned his head only to leap with surprising agility on to the sloping grass bank, For, coming towards him at Incredible speed was a low, gleaming mass of metal, which shot past him like a bullet and disappeared witli the velocity of a shell along the great white road. "Phew I" cried Frank. He was too astonished to express his thoughts In words. Suppose he herin't iumued
quick enough? Suppose— and then, as the word "car" flashed through his brain, he realised that the object that had hurtled past him was not a car at all. At least, it was not like any car he had ever seen before. It was more like a gigantic shell. That was it— a shell! Or rather- two shells welded into one. He had noticed that both the nose and tail of the strange machine were conical in shape, but the strangest thing about this whole strange vehicle was its wheels. Or rather, the absence of them. The thing had slid along the road ns though it had been attached to It. SHOCK UPON SHOCK. Frank looked down at the road for wheel tracks. There were none. Not - a mark showed on Its glassy surface. And then, as he tried in vnln to recall what had happened immediately he had passed through that door, he became aware of a faint humming sound no louder than .a swarm of bees. It came from above him, and ' at the same instant a chcerjt voice shouted, "Hey! What are you doing there — asking for trouble?" Frank looked up. There, hovering barely a couple of feel above his ficad was what at first sight seemed to be a helicopter. A laughing, hclmeted face gazed down at him from the cockuit.
It whs that of a boy about his own age with a pair of blue eyes that puckered up as he repeated the question. "Why, what's wrong?" replied Frank. "Is this a private road or something?" The boy laughed. "Road? That's a queer expression If you like! I must tell Manton Three about that! But where on earth do you come from not to know pedestrians are not allowed on autoways?" "Autoways?" "Yes, they're for the exclusive use of rockets." "Rockets?" Frank passed a hand over his brow. The thing was getting beyond him. There came that merry, infectious laugh again. "Yes, rockets. What part of the world do you come from and— my hat! You -look as though you had stepped out of a history book. What's your name?" Frank looked down at Ills grey bags and tweed coat. There seemed nothing unusual about them. "My name's Frank — Frank Goodinayes. he said, "and I live in London— my father's Professor Goodinayes, the famous scientist." "A professor? Well, I — " He broke off and inclined bis head sharply. "Look out — here comes another rocket. You'd better jump in quick I" Afar off came that high, screaming sound again. Frank glanced up at
the helicopter. Throughout their conversation It had remained absolutely stationary Just above his head. Now It came swiftly and silently lower on a level with Frank's waist. . "You want me to get in— that?" Frank, who had never been in an aeroplane of any description in his life, hesitated as he looked at the frail machine humming softly away at his side.
They were fast overhauling it, and even as Frank watched, a gleaming ray of light leapt from the turret of the pursuing machine ...
"It's either that or you' may not / J be so lucky as you were the' last tlm a rocket passed." . " "But— but— but will it hold two ; There doesn't seem to be much room. I. Before the -young- pilot - could an swer the ' high . screaming: soum '' swelled to a perfect shriek, and th : autoway beneath "Frank's feet secme ' ! to shake and 'shudder. . jv £ "Quick! In you get!" shouted thfcv J boy. There was a silver gleam at the',- - 5 end of the autoway. The sight' of It 1 . drove away Frank's hesitation.' 'He " i ! scrambled In by the side of the --stranger and' immediately the ma- ! '' chine shot up vertically at incredible " I speed. Within ten seconds it had attained a height of 500ft. and Frank " 'ui hmie1Khnnnrf)Usly cown' SBW another |f bullet-shaped moss of metal streak ; 1 I® a ',Lsb of lightning along tho l -strange highway beneath them. !' . The young pilot uttered an excla- '. nintlon, and pointed excitedly to what ' appeared to be a steel turret protrud-lag from the middle of the rocket "Autoway guardsl" he cried. 'Thev must be after the chap that nearly you. We'U fofiow and see the - i" 1 .n'onipr!' ago Frank would have d '' at the mere Idea of anything ' L keeping pace with the strange ma- ;l chine he had seen flashing alomr tim i s white highway, but now he wVre- 1 ? pared for anything. Something tmd i : happened to him He didn't know i; what it was and he felt as though he didn t care. He was enjoying It and as the helicopter flew smoothly above the racing shell he kept an eager look-out for the one which had I given him such a fright. J Suddenly he saw It far ahead and 1 I touched his new friend's arm and " pointed. "There she is!" he cried They were fast overhauling it and' . ' even as Frank watched, a gleaming ray of light leapt from the turret of ' the pursuing machine and fell full upon the one In front. And then the most amazing, incredible thing of that astonishing morning happened. , The tail of the fleeing rocket lost >>! . shape, melted, and finally utterly dis- ; appeared in the beam of blinding i', . light. The whole structure shud-dercd, swayed, swung sideways and '' < i came to rest with Its nose half mounting the green bank which bor- - i dercd the autoway. f y-i (Do not miss next Sunday ilr thrilling Instalment.)

mJ£3rOM the cockpit ot the hell-itsES. copter Frank and his new-found EgSRentl saw the pursuing rocket come kmbCsu standstill within a hundred feat
E>Jgf. spite of the terrific pace It had . beeb travelling. A small door In Hie V side of the machine swung open, and ' from It three strange goggled figures appeared. As far as c'runk could sec tlicy were dressed In a single grey'sh garment which, clinging tightly to the skin, gave tlicm the nppcarance ot robots rather than men. Each of them held a' small cylindrical object in his hands, and Frank was. wonder- , ing whether these were a new type of revolver when the sun suddenly appeared .'rom behind a cloud. It shone brightly on the determined figures below, and Frank was amazed to see that their ga' -cuts (lashed back Its ravs. Tho.v were dressed in metal; it was not chain-mail; It .vns plain, gleaming metal, so line as tu
> ' III addition In llicsi- pecullai buildings, Frank caught a sight of some/fipd. tmvcr-likt- structure rearing Itself into the clouds some little distance aduy.
mould Itself to the figure ar.d yet, as he learned afterwards, so strong as to be absolutely Unpenetrable. . FRANK GETS A S-DCK. "I don't think we'd better stay." The boy at the controls spoke abruptly. "They're not auto-guards, and if we sec anything we're not supposed to see It might mean trouble for us afterwards." : "Not auto-guards?" Unconsciously Frank adopted the stfange word for the guardians of the great white highway. "Then who are they? A.to what happened to the first rocket? What are rockets, anyway Who arc you?" K The boy beside him glanced at mm curiously. "You're a lunn. chap aren'uyou?" ho said. "Want to kiw. everything at oiice." ' Frank flushed. "Sorry,' lu said . "but l can't understand all this Something's happened to uic and I - don't quite know what it Is 1 think I've lost my memory or something." "There's something 1- can't under- . stand about you," replied the other. Your clothes, for instance. And yoiu peculiar name. Anyone would think you were- living a hundred . 'cars ago Instead of in 2038." Frank sat bolt upright "20281'' lie . gasped -You're loklng.'- -
The astonished .ook oil tils friend's lace contradicted him. "Do you rcully mean to suy," hi> said ul last, "that the dale Is really 2038?" "Of course. Don't look so reared You look as It you'd seen u ghost." "You'd look scared." Frank told htm,' "If you suddenly woke jp to llnd that it hundred years had passed like a flash or lightning, The last thing I remember before meeting vnu is walking down a gravel path on March 30. 1030." The smile left Uic boy's luce and he locked at Frank ,ucerly. "I'm not Joking," he added. "It's the solemn truth. You cull ask me Any question, you Ukct and I'll try and convince yon." -THE .WEATHER. VANE. Surprise and uewildcriiiem struggled lor supremacy on his. companion's face. Then he grinned. "I believe you." lie said, "but how— why —oh, I give It up. You'd belter, come along Willi uic und tell vour story to my father. He's a professor and he ' might be ublc to explain it all." .. Relieved to know that a - solution might soon be found to Ills amazing adventures,' Frank gave himself up to a study of the countryside us the . helicopter sped along The strange rockets und their occupants had ong since been left behind, although Lliu rood which the boy had called an -autoway still stretched like a shining white ribbon below them. . Other autotvays could be seen cutr ting ucross the countryside In nil directions. They were all dead straielit and along (hem .Frank could see those queer cars, or riockets, streaking along . at a speed which could no. be less than two hundred miles an hour Above eaclv crossing hovered a ,oll-tnry helicopter. w Of walkers or any kind of piues-t _j
trian he saiynot a truce while us fer tile familiar.- roofs und clilinheys 'of farmsteads or houses < they- were conspicuous byi'tlieir absence. Instead, here and there, '.'and sometimes in such clusters, as '-to. form a. considerable colony were cylindrical, buildings of pure while, studded with circular apertures which, iso far' as Frank ' could judge, contained no' glass or screen of any description! In additfcfii. to these' poculiur buildings Frank caught n glimpse of some vast, tower-like structure rearing Itself Into the clouds some little distance away. It looked very similar to an ordinary .gusometer— or rather, ' about , ten of them .standing oh top of one another, and as lie caught the flickering gleam of metal in the sunlight, Frank realised that; 111 spite of Its titanic proportions,' ..lie thing was revolving with the speed ot light Ho touched Ids companion's arm. "What's that thing over there?" ho asked; "And, by the way, what's vour , name? It's a bit awkward not knowing It.. . The boy pilot Inughcd. "Mj name's-Pat Fraser," lie said, . "and that 'thing' over there, as Jou call it, Is a weatlier-vune." ... "Weather-vane?" Frank 'linljJed his brows and tried in vain vo see some resemblance: between the huge tower und the perky -ntul cockerel on the church spire nt home. . "Yes, I. expect it'll give you a start when I tell you there 'are ten of them In various parts of the country -nd by means of them the weather , Is made to order!" Frank gusped.! '.'Do you mean 10 say that you otui make the wcumer . line nnd sunny, wet and wind i i cold and snowy when you please?" "Of course. They're quite useiul gadgets really.' " '.'But what luippcns It soinc pconle want It . line— holldayinakcrs, pic- >. nickers and sunballiers nnd other people— farmers, for Instance fiord rain, for their crops?" "Oil, it's quite easy. It's all llxed each year by, the'. Weather- Bourd so . that people can make tlielr arrangements accordingly. A. weather program Is published ,iit the beginning of each year giving the stretches ol'tlne weather and wet and -so in.". '' For the umpteenth time llml inorn-Ing Frank pinched hltnsell to make sure that he was not . experiencing some wild drejnn. No, It wns real enough, and then he tried to remem-ber what had happened after he had poised through that door. But l.-e could recollect nothing and once again lie said lo lilmscll, :"I give it up." (Another cxcltfnff1 Ihstulmetil next ' ; ' Sunday J

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AS the helicopter raced through the clear air, Frank noticed in the far distance what seemed to be a vnst exDanse of glass — enormous
structures, like giant greenhouses, with flat roofs.. , , . , "What place is that?" he asked his companion; , , "The capital, of course," replied Fat, "Surely you've heard of London? We live a few miles out— down Surrey way. Father couldn't stand the din-—he likes a quiet life. He collects old things. Ha,- hai— he'll be jolly interested to meet you." Frank frowned. "Im not so old, he protested. "I was sixteen last birthday, and — "But according to what you say. you are just one hundred and sixteen years old ! " laughed Pat. "However, don't worry, old chap— we shall get it all straightened out soon .... Hullo, we're getting near our house —there It Is— that' green building among the .trees .... ' Floating down as lightly as a leal the helicopter alighted on a large circular roof. Pat Jumped out, held out a hand to Frank and cried, "Come on — we shall just be In time for lunch. I'm Jolly hungry." FRANK MEETS THE FAMILY. Standing in a lift they moved swiftly and silently to the Interior of the house. Frank found himself In a lofty room which seemed to be made entirely of metal and frosted glass. It was light and bright and airy, and from some hidden quarter came the strains of soft delicious music. It was different in every way from any room he had seen before "Father, here he Is— the boy I found this morning on the Main South Autoway." Frank wheeled round and saw, standing- before him, an elderly, kindly-faced man wearing the same curious one-piece dress as his son At the sight of the boy a look ot consternation passed over the old man face. Then he blinked several times and ran his hands through his hair. "Of course, Pat, this Is a Joke-one of your school friends masquerading as a late Georgian." Then he turned to Frank and laughed. "A very good make-up, my boy. Where did you get' those clothes? Some museum ? "
Pat intervened, "The funny thing, . father, is that he's, quite genuine — or at least he thinks he is. I've never seen him before in my life." Professor Fraser stared incredulously at the strange youth before him. He felt the texture of his tweed coat and flannel trousers, closely Inspected his soft collar and tie. "Have you anything in your pockets that might prove anything ? Frank felt in one of his side pockets and produced some letters and postcards. Professor Fraser whistled . as he noted the dates of the various postmarks: "Wimbledon, January 5, 193G." "Bournemouth, December 24.
"Now, Frank, hat would you said I'rofcsstr Fraser. -Ileef, mutton...?" and ho pointed to a number of small, brown-colored objects about the size of acid drops.
1935." "Have you any other things in your pockets — coins or anything like that?"" , Frank held out a shilling, a sixpence and some pennies. The old man examined them with trembling fingers. "Look, Pat, perfectly new, perfectly preserved coins of n century ago! Amazing! Amazing! And I suppose you'll tell me next that you have a box of matches ? " "I think I have— I usually carry them," said Frank.- As luck would have it, he had a box in his trouser pocket. And this time it was Pat who whistled. He turrned the. box over and over, opened it and closely examined the matches within. "And did everybody of those times carry these boxes about with them?" he asked. Was this the way they obtained Are?""Of "Of course they do," -said Frank, rather shortly. "I can't see anything funny about a box of matches." "Of course — of course there isn't," said Professor Fraser, slowly and thoughtfully. "Well, now, boys, I have a suggestion to make. I am completely bewildered — never more . bewildered In my life— but let's forget all about It for the moment and have lunch. I'm sure Frank here can eat although he is Incredibly old. Can you, Frank? " STRANGE FOOD. "Oh, rather, sir— I've had nothing since— since— but I really can't remember." If Frank Goodmayes expected an ordinary lunch such as he usually enjoyed at home, he had a shock. In the first place, the whole layout
of the dining-room, the very mode of eating, was different from anything he had ever known.-The family — Professor and Mrs. Fraser, Pat and his sister Nancy — sat round an oval, metal table in which, before each diner, were indented a number of hollows, like basins, each spotlessly clean. In the centre of the table was a large dish divided up into several partitions, each contain, lng piles of . pellet-shaped objects, some as large as walnuts, others no bigger than a threepenny bit. Frank sat down, looked round him and gulped hard. "Now, Frank, what would you like?" said Professor Fraser. "Beef, mutton, pork, chicken, duck, Penang goose? I can particularly recommend this goose," and he pointed to a number, of small brown-colourcd objects, about the size ot acid drops, in one of the partitions. "Th— thanks. I should like some of that," stammered Fgank. , He was passed on a small metal plate, six of these little pellets. "You'll have some vegetables, won't you?" smiled Mrs. Fraser. Frank accepted some more pellets— the whole lunch could be put into a tablespoon. "Our friend is very much of a stranger in these parts," said Professor Fraser. "I expect that even our ordinary lunch may seem rather queer to him." JUST A BUTTON. From the taps In front Frank noted that he could obtain iced beverages of various kinds, while the purpose of the basin In front of him also became clear — it did away with, all washing up. He saw that Pat pressed a small button by his side at the end of the meal; he did the same, and immediately automatic india-rubber cleaners got to work and washed, dried and polished the whole space in' front of him. Mrs. Fraser, at the conclusion of lunch, touched an ebony knob and the central part of the table containing the various foodstuffs disappeared to the depths below. "Well, Frank," said Nancy, "how did you like it ? " Frank smiled. "It was much better than I expected," he confessed, "but I must say I prefer the meals we have at home. I think half the pleasure of a meal is seeing roast Joints on the table." -No doubt," put in Mrs. Fraser. "but you must own that such a meal gives a very large amount of work. Nowadays. we don't have such a thing as washing up, as I believe they used to call It. You snw for yourself how-everything was cleaned and polished and put away. Don't you agree that that's a far better way of going about things?" (Do not miss next week's splendid Instalment.)
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"1 THINK the best thing to do now. . said Professor Fraser, "Is to try to account for your extraordinary appearance here. Frank. Tell us about yourself, your family, your home and
all tnat you can remember up to the moment of finding yourself on the autoway. Take your time and tell us In your own words." The professor pressed a button in the wall as he spoke and a panel slid back, disclosing a cavity filled, with cigarettes. He look one, and Frank fumbled in his pockets for a box of matches. Before he could find it the professor took a couple of sharp puffs and the next moment was blowing a couple of smoke rings Into the air. He laughed at Frank's expression. "No. It's not magic." he chuckled. "The chemically prepared tip of the elgarette does away witli the necessity of matches. But come along— let's have your story." Frank seated himself gingerly on a metal chair that looked as if it might collapse at any moment, collected his thoughts and began. He told them oi his mother and father, his sister Mollie, his home in Kent and of every incident that led up to the moment when he walked up the gravel path to his father's laboratory and opened the door. "And from that moment until I found myself on the autoway," he concluded, "I haven't the faintest Idea what happened." PROFESSOR FRASER IS PUZZLED For a moment Professor Fraser sat wrapped In thought. "It's uncanny." he said at last. "If we were living in the Middle Ages you would certainly be burned as a wizard!" Frank laughed. "You would, sir!" he said, "lighting cigarettes without matches, travelling at 200 miles an hour and making the weather wet or fine to please you!" "That's nothing." put in Pal. "You've got a whole lot of shocks coming yet. Can I take him out and show him a few tilings, father? "A splendid idea. But don't go loo fur afield. Be back before tea."
At the mention of the word "tea" Frank could not help licking his lips. Then . lie thought of those - tabloid foods. As he climbed into the auto-giro ho sincerely hoped that the delicious liquid would not turn out to be In solid form. But soon all thoughts of food were driven from Ills mind. As before, the uuloglro rose vertically to a height of about 500ft. mid then cut through the uir at incredible speed. Lines of aircraft were making their Way at a
similar rate in all directions, and Frank noticed that they were keeping in perfectly straight lines and that cacn line of machines flew at a different height from the others. RAILWAYS OF TIIE AIR. ' The largest planes of all were flying at the greatest height and Fat explained that these were freight machines carrying parcels, malls, luggage and goods; below these were passenger-carrying planes from all parts of the world. "Tliey correspond to your railway trains of 1936," said Fat with n chuckle. Next came tho family flying machines, four-seaters in which the tired business man of 2036 was taking his wife and family out for a spin, and last of all came the small helicopters— solo machines really but with just sufficient room for a passenger. "What on earth happens when a plane gets out of control?" wondered Frank. Pat looked at him in surprise. "Gets out of control?" he repeated. "That's an Impossibility— It simply can't happen." "Do you mean co tell me," said Frank, "that you never have aeroplane crashes?""I "I do." replied Pat. "Why, there
hasn't been one for over 50 years or more. Aeroplanes never crash nowadays." "Well, then, how about those rackets ns you call them? Surely they can't always tear along and never have a smnsh." For answer, Pat pointed to one ol the stationary nutoglros above an autoway crossing. "They don't, and that's the reason why." he said. "The rocket obtains Its power from the autoway itself, r.nd that power enn be automatically neutralised by means of a ray thrown upon the autoway from the autoglro. The Warden of the Ways, wntcifing from Ills control point above each crossing, applies the ray when and where It is needed, and, „s nearly everyone prefers to fly nowadays instead of keeping to the ground, his task Is comparatively simple." "Everyone seems to have taken to the air all right," said Frank. "I haven't seen a single pedestrian since —since I found myself here." Pat laughed. "People only walk for pleasure or exercise," he explained. "Nobody has to walk unless tlicy want to." "But where can they wnlk if tlicy want to? You don't seem to have any streets or pavements here— only autownys, and you enn hardly call those safe for pedestrians." Pnt didn't reply, but at the next autoway crossing lie bnnked the machine and turned Into the stream of air traffic travelling to the right. Then, after having flown for a ftw minutes In silence, lie touched Frank's arm. "Tho pedestrian's paradise," lie said with a smile. "Watch 'cm walk!". Frank looked earthwards and saw a vast track of land cut and split in nil directions by paths and slindy walks. Over these strolled black little figures like ants or walking energetically along like bottles. In an enclosure by the side of this great park, hundreds upon hundreds of autoglros, family planes, passenger planes and rockets were parked while their owners romped, played, walked or rested among the cool, green surroundings. "Public Park -and Pedestrian Centre No. 1," explained Pat. "There are dozens of 'cm all over the country. but this one's the oldest. In the olden days— I suppose that would be about your time— It was known as Hyde Park." iTo be continued.) A
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^ CAirju I r--IHU©iEN,« 1
Start Reading This Great Serial To-day
HtA'Ms ready bj the time they reKturned' and Frank was greatly antes*!— and surprised— to find that -15 really was tea not concentrated ^extract In pellet Torm.
A steaming pot stood on the. central table surrounded by tea-cups, and the cheery rattle of the china brought 8 gleam of expectation to the eyes ol the boy of 103S Professor Fraser noticed It and smiled. 'That's about the only thing that hasn't changed in a 100 years eh Frank?' he said. 'Woman' won't be done out of her cup of tea whatever happens!' ?;' Over the tea-cups. Pat mentioned the incident of the autoway and the pursuit of the rocket and his fathei Immediately became grave. 'You are perfectly certain they weren't autoguards?' he asked. 'Positive. They carried- hand-raya —those are miniature editions of the ray thrown from the rocket,' Pat explained to Frank. Professor Fraser stroked, his chin thoughtfully. 'Zara's agents again evidently,' he decided. 'That'b the third time this month they've been caught. How they allow the man himself to remain at large is. more than I can understand.' Pat tried to look wise. 'Perlmpt they haven't sufficient evidence against him,' he suggested. ' 'Oh, they've got evidence all rightenough to satisfy their minds that he Is the cause of all the trouble, but perhaps it's not sufficient to Justify his arrest at the moment. 'No doubt all this sounds like double Dutch to you, Frank,' went on Professor Fraser. 'In simple language, Zara is the leader of a party which has for its aim a dictatorship of England. Away with Government Crown and Constitution! Thats his policy. On the surface he conducts his campaign In a gentlemanly fashion, but Beneath he has his spies and agents and agitators who arc secretly Instilling poisonous propaganda among the people.
-The trouble Is that so far, it has been Impossible to connect Itlm with any of these underhand activities The Government are satisfied In their own mind that he has been responsible for many outrages and acts of terrorism, but as they have ho proof Zara remains free.' Mrs Fraser gave a shudder. , '1 shall be far happier when that dieadful man' Is safe under lock and key,' sho declared 'I shall always believe that he was at the bottom of that aerogen ray business ' The professor pursed his lips 'That certainly is tha official view he agreed. 'You must know, Frank, that for somo months past I have been working on the perfection of a ray which will render the ray you saw thrown from the rocket Impotent. I have named it the aerogen ray and tests which I have made with It recently, proved that I have succeeded beyond all hopes. 'In some manner — a chance word, porhaps— this secret has become known, and a few days ago I received a visit from two men who made me an offer for my secret When I refused— I need hardly say that I intend to place It at the disposal of the Government— their soft words turned to menaces and when I requested jhem to leave they e\cn went so fai as to offer violence Fortunately, Pat nns at hand, and the rascals took themselves oft promising that I would repent of my refusal 'It may have been coincidence, but the following morning when I; wot
about to step into my rocket, an autogiro swooped down so close that if I liad not thrown myself on my face I should have been killed ? 'A week ago I had occasion to work rather late In my laboratory, which is situated underneath the building At three in the morning an explosion shook the house I hurried up to my room It was completely wrecked by high explosive. Yesterday morning I received this note ?? * He passed it across to Frank. It was wK!! Eg SnePsaP5 °n WhU* 'You have been twice lucky,' u ran. We will jiw Sou one more chance. Place Hie papers relating lo the ray in a box on the roof before midnight toFrank read It again and then hand?SFsniisr noddedi - ???*??? 'What are you going to do?' . 'Need I . say? There will be ne- -papers in any box- on any roof before . midnight— or any other time!' -Frank glanced at Mrs. Fraser andNancy. Professor Fraser followed hia look and sighed. 'I have asked them to go away for a time.' he said, 'but jou know .what ? ' 'If you think for a moment that we'd leave you at a time .like this. Henry,' said Mrs. Fraser, ' 'you're greatly mistaken. There Is no reason however, why Frank should stay here exposed to any danger that may ? — ?*? Frank broke In- in his turn . 'I should like to stay here for a little while, . Mrs. Fraser,' he said. 'I haven't anywhere else to go, you know. Do you think you can put up, with me for the time being?' Pat let out a whoop. 'Splendid fellowl' he cried, 'That's the stuffl Let old - Zara come, dad. We'll be ready for himl' . . The professor smiled wryly. 'Zara won't come himself,' he said. 'He's too clever for that. No, we must ex- ? pect some other visitor, still, before lie— or they— arrive, I insist that you nil remain In my laboratory. It's the safest place in the house. Still, weVs plenty of time.. The time limit hasn't expired yet,- you know.' , v . ' ? Frank glanced down at his watch. Tlie time was exactly half-past fivi. ? Six and a half hours to go. . . , _ (To be continue'i.) '?'. £± ? ' . ? ?????. '?.«'.???.'? ? ? '??

wm&B*
Thrilling Serial By Carl Hagen '*,
PROFESSOE Fraser rose from his chair with an air or determlnn tion. 'We can't hang about like this until midnight,' he said. 'I'm going to my laboratory. Mother, you'd better go and rest; you go with her, Nancy; Perhaps Frank would like to see how you do your lessons Fat He left the room, followed- by Mrs. Fraser and Nancy, while Pat pressed
& Dution in me wan. iwo panels , slid back, revealing a fine silken screen, on either side of which were a number of little buttons. Each one was 'worded, and Frank, imagining that they controlled the working of a television set, went up and read them., ' His astonishment was great when he saw that one button was marked 'Arithmetic,' another Geograph\ and another 'History. The other* were 'Chemistry,' 'Phjsics English Grammar,' 'French,' 'Algebra, 'Geometry,' and 'Economics Pat watched his face with a smile. 'Every home a classroom,' he' said. 'Just watch.' Re pressed the button marked 'His-tory,' and imediately the .' &e\)itjj-1^ ? a man appeared on the screens-Tie was dressed similarly to i^Jfofessor
Fraser, except that he wore a red band on his arm ? was the state of affairs that a meeting of the League of Nations was held at Geneva boomed this in dividual. 'It was during the.- first session that a sensation was Fat pressed the button again and the speaker vanished. Then he pressed the button marked 'French, and a thin little man sprang on to the screen. . .' ? vleux marin-decrivit comment 11 a\ait plonge dans le Paciflque pour decouvrir des perles quand le monstre, dont les yeux — -' The French lesson gave place to one on geometry, and this in its turn nas succeeded by geography and' algebra.. Then Pat pressed the button in the wall and 'the panels slid to again. 'How's that?' he asked. 'Marvellous! Incredible I Does every schoolboy take lessons like that?'
'Every single one. Of course, boys starting school have a different ap paratus. and as they gradually improve more advanced ones are fitted Frank drew a breath as he thought of the Upper Fourth at St. Mark's sitting iii line in their desks listening .to a capped and gowned master 'What wouldnt the chaps give to learn their lessons like this.' he thought, and then the entrance of Professoi Fraser reminded him of the - peril hanglng^pvct the house He-glanced at his watch Surely it ^witsnt time The professor noticed the movement and shook his head. 'Plenty of time yet, Frank,',' he said. 'I'm just going. to speak to Profes
sor Haldanc a brother scientist^ a| think its right that if tyytKH should happen he should! khgWTiipoM Frank glanced round thasjKnaH^Ba pecting to see sonie Mod HHM^^M phone or telephone4';apsrptusVJgHB^flj professor pressed a? DntasMU|j^BH wall just as Pat had doftf -*^HH| slid aside and there was, ft£«cHBM similar in texture to the schoWME one but larger in size 'JV J. '38 Professor Fraser pressed a =»U3B5 bered button and there wasa'bu*MgB sound for a few seconds. ?Thra t$M9K was a click and the figure. to! a Ml surrounded by numerous bott)05-,jMf' torts and test tubes was thropn, jfiBJE the screen ...„- jcSB 'Disturbing you, HaldaneeWSMH quired Professor Fraser \ ?- '*^Kk. Professor Haldane smiled..- '^??k bit, Fraser,' he replied. WhatfcJMP trouble' Ray not fcoing so WliHM Its perfect thanks but K'fjKi to cause some trouble all the wn He proceeded to tell of the.threafejBB had recehed and of his copvM^E that-Zara was the movlng'.snixflfflBJR hind them. ?:,.--' rWHJK' Its more likely to be- J-ufe&Hb anyone else,' said Professor3SjHj'Mi after he had finished 'But flgM8 say you believe an attack 4Bt9Hf-
made to night why doirt -«SFBr? for protection? A warderi^Wtt \«-f placed above the house and iyoUineccrJear nothing -? ' It is because I am sure .of that that I do not want protection.' II they came- along and saw the place guarded they would go away and the attack would come at a time we least expect it I thought I would let jou know in case. I— I ? Professor Haldane nodded gravely. 'I understand. Be assured I will not rest if what you fear comes to pass. Good-night. Fat's father pressed the button, the image faded from the screen and the panels slid to once more Then he turned and faced the boys Lett go up on the roof,' he said. - ''Mrs Fraser and Nancy are safe below. We have plenty of - time before Zara'sjnen arrive. The roof was flooded with light as were others in the neighborhood but Professor Fraser pressed a switch . and blackness ? rushed? ' in ? around them No sense in making things easier for them he remarked Comt and stand here with me Frank and tell me something about .life a hundred years. ago.' Nothing loth to forget for a- time the menace hanging over them, Frank obeyed, and for hours the professor and his son listened while he' told them of his family life, his school, friends, his little enthusiasms and hopes., and then Pat suddenly held up his hand with a gesture. Frank stopped in the middle of n recitation of a game of F.ugby. Falntlj out of the darkness came a humming. Professor Fraser sprang to his feet Quick I Its them! he shouted, and dashed across the roof. At the same time a blinding beam of light flashed. out from above. For about three seconds it held the running figures, and then It vanished as swiftly as it )iad come Tinhumming came nearer and then a purple, ray stole down upon the rooi and began to move ' towards them. Curls of acrid smoke wreathed up wherever the ray touch and Frrnk could see the steel roof twisting and writhing: in its path 'Quick !'., gasped Professor Fraser. He stopped,, pushed Frank and. Pat as they, passed him and brought up the rear. Pat was making for a small hatchway on the opposite side of the roof, and Frank, glancing behind as the ray crept closer and closer, felt his heart jump madly a; hesaw how far away it was. They would never reach it in time. All three of them' ran as they had never run before, and then Pat was halfway down the shaft with a hand out to help Frank. Frank- stumbled inside more dead than alive, and then it was ths professor's turn. He had one foot over the:threshold, and then the ray, leaving smoke and Ore in its wake, caught him. (Another thrilling instalment next 1 week.)'

[?]
Thrilling Serial By Carl Hagen
T .bpSINQ s '-'backy- Prank saw the J-1 professor's' metal foot-covering melt; and .run as the purple ray touched f it; His, scream of agony brought :Pat .back out of the hatch . and,- with his help, Frank was able to ? '? drag; the . half-fainting man under y- cover.-i'.-;,';''-'.'-.-'.':;-'-. ??'.'??'? Above -; them. ', the air-machine
peared' from'- view, ' but a sudden crackling, above: them told Pat and - FrarifcCthat the dangeif was by no ; means over. The ray was demolishing tha steel turret covering the hatch. Suddenly the professor, who had been; supported by the two boys, ? wilted in their, arms. He had fainted. Pat hoisted an arm round his shoulder and motioned Frank to do the same,':T--:-' ?. ..?....,.;„ ?.. .... ? ?'To^the right!!' Jhe»dir'ebted. : :; ?'?' ' ?: A ??? ~SAFE;r_F.Oli5^^Mt-jVlENX'' -'?. ?'?' ?'' s5 Th^bsi^flJwi^t.'.dgwn .'a'- steel' -'miderr Knd:,;«i-«? riot?;;'iri-a sort of -..'vestibule. j-MAScorridprV ran, straight ? .4 ahead and.'others'to the right- and Ueft.lFraakr/turned down here wlt:i the\-crasb.,-aiiid rattle of falling stone in his earj.-arid the acrid smell of twisted, tortured^ metal rasplng-hls nose and throat. ^- ? ? ?, . .-'?,' : , Professor 'Fraser was a' heavy ?man:' and Frank was wondering how much ' longer he would be able to keep..it -up when i Pat stopped, pressed '. a; button In the wall and stepped into a lift.-: Down they sped, stopped, and:, stepped out. Mrs. Fraser and Nancy, who.had: .'heard something of the -, commotion, above, were anxiously waiting there, and when, she saw her husband's limp form, Mrs. Fraser darted r forward with a cry. '' ' 'It's' all right, mother,' Pat reassured her. 'There's nothing to worry about. His foot's a trifle burned— that's all. He'llbe OJC. In a moment.!' Even as he spoke, Professor Fraser opened his eyes. 'Silly of me,' he murmured. 'Be all ri ? .'His head dropped . rforward and r he fainted ....again. ?-' ?..?.;?.??.?.?.:?...'???. ?;.?:?;::- ..'.?? '.-' VIn'a moment' Nancy disappeared in ?: search of oil and bandages, ? while ? -:?. Mrs. Fraser knelt down and stripped :off the remains of the foot-covering. :; , TnE terror retuiins -'?.;!;' 'Pat nudged Frank's arm. ; 'Those ,?'?; blighters seem to have cleared off,' he said., 'Coming up to have a look?' ?Frank listened intently. Nothing ? »eemed to be moving above. 'I'm . game,' he agreed. ???-.,.? ; Together they slipped out of the room and were abouVto step' into the lift again when Pat stopped and inspected Prank's torn and dusty suit. rVou'd better come along and slip on ' »ome' things of mine,' he said. 'I 'expect they'll fit you— we're, both ';?? *bout the same size.'
Frank accompanied Pat to his room and there donned a metal suit similar to the one his friend, was wearing. It was certainly more comfortable than his old Japket and grey bags Together they slipped up to the roof once more. It was tricky going, getting through the r,ulns of the hatchway, but they managed it with nothing worse . than a bruised: -elbow apiece. All was very still and quiet. It was a, perfect summer's night, and 'yet there was the broad furrow; 'stretch-Ing right across the roof 'where, the lay had torn up stone and metal as though they v had been bread And cheese, telling of the sudden 'terror nnd destruction that had come out -of the night 'Pretty- mess; isn't it?' murmured Fat after a pause: 'Messris the word,' agreed. Frank. 'Thank heavens they didn't catch- us properly I What's your father going to do about this,, by the way?' Pat shrugged his - shoulders. 'Hiiven't the faintest Idea,' he said. 'What can ho do? We know they were Zara's men, but how can we prove it? Until we get proof we can do nothing —we are absolutely at his mercy.' 'I 'can't think what made them clear off,' he continued. 'They could have ground this place to powder if
they had wanted to.' 'Oh, there's some reason for it,' said Frank lightly, though he woS.far from feeling easy, 'anyway ; they've .gone and they won't come back— not to-night, anyway.' ?.-^ '???..'. .-..?? : The words were hardly tout of his mouth when therecame that ominous Chumming noise again and; for :? the second time that night' the blinding ray of light flashed down upon them. Pat ; caught . Frank's arm and, they -??, both started to run. Then the..beam was suddenly extinguished, leaving ;them dazzled and blinded. ' ' ''- They stumbled forward, sick with '; terror, and then Frank heard the humming deeper and louder as the machine came lower and lower .and then, although his feet moved faster than ever he made no further pro-, gress on the ground. .;?? :.. He felt himself ? caught up and .whirled into the air. There was a . constricted, feeling at his waist and a dizzy sensation of- being suspended -in the air. and then the smashed roof of the Fra'ser's house was dropping rapidly below and behind him. He glanced up Above him, the machine containing Zarn's agents raced on through the clouds. He himself, followed, about .twenty feet below,-: suspended by the steel cord which',; .flung skilfully over his shoulders;' .had snatched him up and whirled him off into the sky. At home, Frankhad often watched trapeze artists swing llght-henrtedly .to and fro high tibove the heads of the audience' in the circus tent, and he had often wondered what it felt like to be suspended in mid-air. A PERILOUS POSITION Now he knew and the sensation bf leaving his inside behind him' was not at all pleasant. _ Houses, trees, fields and auto-ways flashed beneath him at dizzy speed and then he felt the' steel cord around his waist tighten and knew that he was being drawn up into the machine that had captured him. ' He set his teeth, tightly, as the top or his head neared the. fuselage, and then strong arms were round him . and he was lifted into the .machine and deposited on the floor. There were. three men there.'clothed in the skin-tight steel mesh garment that was fast becoming familiar to his eyes. One was controlling the machine while the other two, loosened
the cord round Frank's, waist and began to bind his hands and' feet. At once he lashed out with arms and ,legs and' sent the fellows spinning towards the tall of the machine. Then he picked himself up from the floor and awaited the .onrush that he knew would follow. '?iria flash they recovered thelrbalnnce and sprang upon him. Frank raised his flits i and attempted some sort of self-defence, but his captors were masters of the art of Jiu-jitsu ' and he was- aware, of an excruciating pain through his arm and leg, They flung him to the- floor, and this time he was unable ; to move a muscle without an agonising stab of , pain, shooting through his body. One held-him down while the other scientlcally trussed. him up. 1 Vrtien they had finished, they' loft him there and sat next. to. the pilot : of the machine, who had not moved his head throughout the preceding struggle. ; Even in-the 'plane Itself ithere; was only a faint humming from the engine, and Frank decided to try to find out what was going to happen to him... , ' - - ; (Do not miss next week's thrilling ;''; » Instalment.)

Biis^oK
Thrilling Serial By Carl Hagen
'xrrHERE are you taking me? ' he W asked 'YouOl find out soon enough,' one ?or theriv replied without moving his head That wasn't n \ery promising start, but Prank persevered 'Whats the Idea ol kidnapping me?' he demanded. No answer. 'You'll get a shock when .you find
out who I am,' he promised them. 'We know, right enough;' came the Prank wrinkled his eyebrows That didn't seem the. right answer. 'Are you sure?' he: asked; ' One of the men turned round with a threatening gesture. 'Stop asking questions,' he growled. 'You'll find out all you want to know'before long, and It won't make pleasant hearing, I can promise you'
At these ominous words the bov oi 1936 'tried in vain to flnd a solution to the events of the last few minutes. .In ? the end he gave it up, but he did not ask any more questions 'Z 1 ' . From where he lay on the floor Frank could see the stars twinkling through the windows, while the wind hissed and tore at the machine as- it sped through space at over 300 miles 'an hour. He wondered what v,as happening In the professors household, and whether they would be able- to track his captors down and release him . He was shaken out of his thoughts by , the : 'plane -suddenly . dipping towards a great circle of light Down they went the landing wheels touched the ground, and after the briefett space of time the machine stopped and the three men got out. They lifted Prank from the 'plane, and carried him across a circular, flat roof similar to the professors There they removed his bonds and forced him through a hatchway and along several corridors. Finally they stopped at a door marked Z 1 One of Frank's captors knocked.
'You blundering fools!' he raved. 'You chuckle-headed ninnies! Who is this you have brought to me, I say? who is he' Where is Professor Frastr's son?'
There was a soft ' Come in I' In reply, find the; door- 'swung open, and Prank and his captors marched Inside SHOCK UPON SHOCK. A single metal table at which, a huge, .bull-necked, spade-bearded fellow was sitting,' and a couple, of chairs were all that- the room contained, but the walls were studded with switches arid: buttons which betrayed the 'presence' of. cabinets, screens, cavities and similar concealed recesses
But it was to the occupant of this singular room that Frank directed his gaze That great grim figure fascinated him, and- then the. colour mounted swiftly In his cheeks as he saw that the mans eyes were fixed on him with a1 look of slowly mountIng wrathYet Yet when he spoke his voice was strangely soft and sweet 'Who Is this you have brought me? ' he asked In mild and mellow tones There was no reply None of Franks captors could open their mouths for astonishment, and the man drummed rapidly with his fingers on the table 'Come, come!' he said sharply, 'there Is surely some explanation for the extraordinary appearance of thisyoung stranger. Why have you brought him to me? Frank started to say something, but the man at the table raised his hand. 'I did not speak to you he said. 'Can none of you others flnd their tongues? I am waiting ' The guards at Frank's side looked at each other in growing wonder The pilot of the machine opened his mouth to speak but before' he could utter a word a hoarse bull's bellow cut him short It was the man at the table and now his voice was soft and mellow no longer It was a roaring raging storm, and it fell upon and around them like thunder from the heavens. It lashed them with its Invective it swamped them with vituperation,
and while it echoed through the vast room the guards bent their heads to It as though they were menaced by blows 'You blundering fools!' he raved. 'You chuckle-headed -ninnies! ? Who Is this you have brought to me, I say? Who is he? Where is Professor Fraser's son? Why have you not brought him here?.. Answer mel Answer me, I say!' But the three' men who stood cringing . and shaking before him were unable to find their tongues. It remained for Frank to reveal himself to the thundering fury on the other side of the table. 'My name's Frank Goodmayes,' he said. 'And if you try and keep quiet for a few minutes my good man Instead of behaving like a foghorn these timid little fellows here might to able to tell you all about It. If his words amazed his hearers, they astounded Frank himself no less. Immediately' they had left his lips he could hardly realise that he had had the temerity to address the formidable, bull-necked man in such a fashion. The man turned to the unfortunate men who had so miserably failed In their. mission, and pressed a button on the table. The doors slid back. 'You will report to P.15,' he said. 'That Is all' 'I 'AM ZARA' He dismissed them with a Jerk of his head. 'Now,' he said to Frank, 'If you will excuse me a moment I have one or two Instructions to give.' He pressed another button and spoke Into a small microphone. 'Walters, Martin and Somers,' he said. 'Within the next half-hour. Yes, the usual.' He turned to Prank. 'I expect you're 'wondering what all this is about and why you are here,' he said in the soft, silky tones he had used when Frank had first entered the 'room. Frank took-a deep breath. 'Oh, no Im not, he replied You re Zara, a dangerous political agitator, and you're after the ray Professor Fraser has Invented. You kidnapped me in mistake for his son, and let me tell you I'm jolly glad you did, because r don't know anything about the ray —and even if I did I wouldn't tell.' The man on the opposite side of the table smiled and stroked his chin. 'Yes,' he said quietly,. 'I am Zara.' , ITo be continned.)

[?]
Thrilling Serial By Carl Hagen
'T AM, Zara,' he 'repeated, 'and It Is ;. J- rather unfortunate for you, 1 young man, that you have guessed the fact. I do not allow strangers to return to their homes after they have seenime here.'1 ? ' ''' . ! Frank felt a cold shiver run down his spine as he heard these ominous -words, but he made no sign that they had affected him. . .''That's a pity,' he said with an air of . indifference. 'I hate prolonged Vjslts.'. ...':.
Zara pressed one of those numerous buttons in the table and panels slid back in each of the four walls and Frank could see grim, steel-clad figures framed in the openings.
Zara. smiled. 'Oh, it won't neces-' sarily mean that you will stay here,'-he said quietly. 'You may. neither go — nor may you remain. You may just vanish.' Frank gazed at him to horror. 'What have I done to you that you ?should treat me so?' he demanded. 'It is not what you have done, but ? what Professor Fraser may refuse to do.'. ' '? 'If it's anything rotten I hope he won't.' ? i SHOWS HIS HAND. Zara leaned forward over the table. 'I think you realise that you were mistaken for the professor's son. Do you know exactly why he was to have been brought here?' ? Frank nodded. 'I can guess.' 'Permit me to confirm your thoughts. I want the secret of the terogen ray! With Professor Fraser's son in my power the father could hardly refuse to accede to my demands. Unfortunately my plans have miscarried, but I am entitled to as. sume that. you, being found on! the roof of the Frasers' house at midnight, are an Intimate friend of theirs. .
'jrernapti.it is .as we' tiraii juu uiiu not young Fraser are here. The professor might well have sacrificed his own son for the sake of the security of his invention. With you It will be different. It will be a point of honor for him to ? obtain your- releasethough I hardly need add that It will ' be a 'disappointment ~to him, to -find you are unable to speak or write of anything you have seen here . . . after he has handed over the papers ? relating to the ray.' ' :. Frank bit his lip In an effort to control himself. 'What exactly do you mean to do?' he asked. ? ?
'I intend to send a message to Professor Fraser telling him that you are — er— detained here and . asking for the secret of the aerogen ray. as the price of your freedom As soon as he completes his part of the bargain, I shall complete mine— with -certain reservations, of course ' 'And what if he refuses?'! nsked Frank. MAN WHO WAS BLIND. ? 'In the event1 of ? that . unhappy, occurrence,' said Zara smoothly, 'I am afraid that, as I suggested a few moments ago, you will unfortunately —vanish. I shall be deeply grieved, I assure you. Oh, no, my friend, J shouldn't attempt any violence I shouldn't, really' Frank had clenched his fists arid itaken a step forward, but Zara pressed one of those numerous buttons in the table and. panels, .slid back in. each of the four walls and Frank could see grim, steel-clad figures framed in the openings He gave a short laugh.. 'You're brave enough with a dozen or so thugs to protect you,' he said '1 bet you. wouldn't dare start anything without them in call ' Zara .shook his head gravely. 'Oh, no, you don't,' he replied. 'I admit that I lost my temper earlier this' evening— or, rather, this morning — but you won't make me do It' again. Dear me, I see It is past three. o'clock. No doubt you are feeling a little fatigued and as I have to address a meeting in Manchester, this afternoon I think it will be as well if we both retire.' ? He motioned to one of the silent watchers as he spoke, bowed ironically to Frank and went out. The man' into whose charge he had placed Frank came forward and laid a hand on the boy's arm For a moment Frank contemplated a straight left and a quick dash, but as he realised the futility of resistance at the. moment, he meekly allowed himself to be led away. Outside the room he was. halted while his eyes were bandaged, and thereafter he was led along corridors, down passages and finally into a small room totally devoid of any windows. The bandage was taken off his eyes
and Frank saw that the room was lit by concealed lighting and that there was simply no trace of a door He realised that the room was' entered through sliding panels. There ? were but two : chairs in- the apartment, and one of them was occupied. In it sat a thin man .with grey hair. He looked at Frank as the boy came in with a long, penetrating stare. Piqued at what he considered to be a rude gaze, Frank, ? convinced that this was another of Zaia's henchmen, returned the stare. 'You'll know me again when you see me, I hope?' he said sharply. The grey-haired man smiled sadly. 'I am sure I shall,' he replied softly. 'But by your volce-r-nbt your looks. And yet perhaps . I.\ might hazard a guess. A: youngster, . nreri't you? Age about sixteen, I should say Height roughly 5ft 6in, blue eyes and— yes, I'm sure of It — you're hlnshinpi'
-And, indeed, before half the man's -words were out, Frank had realised the truth i and a dull flush spread slowly over his cheeks. . 'You're-^-you're blind?'., he whispered..? 'I'm1 ' sorry.; I ???,? didn't think. I-ii— ' ?. '? 'That's all right,' broke in the other.- 'It's not so. terrible, you know. Only, at first— one gets used to It after a while and sometimes It's really an advantage.' 'How? Being able to tell a person's appearance without seeing them? ' How did you do It, by: the way?' There was a chuckle from the man who could not see: 'Good gracious me, no,' he said. 'That's not an advantage, though it sometimes, mystifies people.' Your height was easy enough. I heard your voice and worked your height out from the distance from the floor. It also gave me your age.' 'But the eyes?' 'I admit that was a long shot, but for a' youngster of your age you are easily angered, and blue.eyes go with a fiery nature, you know!' They both: laughed at that. 'The advantage in being blind,' continued the man, 'Is that one develops a sixth sense and brings the others to an extraordinary . degree of efficiency. Were you blindfolded while you were being brought here?' Without thinking, Frank nodded his head, but the blind man seemed to sense it, and went on. 'They didn't - trouble to cover my eyes. Could you : find -your wp.y from here to. Zara's ? loom and out on to the roof?' 'Gosh no. I couldn't see a thing with that bandage over my eyes ' .The blind man laughed again. 'I could. .Were those panels open' . I could walk straight out and find my way there without hesitation. (To be continued.)

mBBSSm3€S6
. Tihrilling Serial By Carl Hagen
'VES. I am. My name Is Richards, ' I, and Lam officially; known as '? 'R4.' ..__ ?„??: V ?...'.? , .;. ?? .?-. .-?? VThe'offlclal cypher. I- am a Gov eminent agent.' ?.?'?..,.. ?
?Prank's eyes sparkled. 'A oecret Service man?' he cried. - ?Richards^ nodded. I dont see there's any harm in' you knowing he : ;said.:!'Zara 'certainly knows— thats ' W-Bu?iiowreo'n earth did it happen ? , ? ? . —you being caught, I mean? The blind man smiled ruefully A chance word overheard by some ol hlg spies, that's aU,' he said simply. ? 'But it was enough. I was gathered In,' as the saying goes, and brought :, here1.' That was three days ago' '?And what are they going to do with you?'., 'The Secret Service man had open ed -hls mouth. to reply, when there ?came a most singular interruption Fronvsomewhere above them come a . high-pitched,. ': long drawn-out cry so full of horror and agony that Frank's hair bristled on his head and be;caugtit at a chair to steady him self. ' ' * The 'blind man slanted his ear to ? the celling of the apartment. His face was' grim and drawn and, glancing at Frank, he seemed to sense the boy's eyes on -him in. inquiry and bent his head again.- .'??-? 'What-;what ??%' was:'- .-that?' asked ^ i Ptank Inf'a .whisper. 'ii;yj. * ]{???.'£ THE CRIES IN .THE NIGHT. [-i^The.wofd? .were hardly out ot his''
i mouth; when -again came inax,awim ?'Jeqbbing'iccrewn.and yet;; again until ^ ; the. air seemed to tingle, and vibrate 'What was It?' repeated1' Frank thankful that his companion could not see his ashen face. 'I rather think,' said Richards slowly, 'that our friend, Zara, Is ; blacker than he is painted. Tell me, ' why are you here? Who are you? Tell / me everything.. Perhaps those cries may not be unconnected with your .???? presence here.' Without mentioning his strange appearance in the world of 2036; Frank told him of his friendship with the Frasers, the professor s ray, the attack by night and his own abduction. He described his interview with Zara; and Richards clapped his hands, softly when he told of the Instructions spoken into the micro phone on: Zara's desk. -; , 'That's It, you may be sure,' he said. 'What were their names? Mar ? . tin, Walters and Somers? Those were the gentlemen who mistook you for young Fraser, and I expect they could tell us a lot about those cries— ^11 they were able to speak!.' ,. -'You think ? ' . ' '?? '-.? ??'?'? The blind man nodded. 'It has ? . been said that Zara never forgives a mistake,' he said. ? 'And whoever said It was quite ?: '.?'.-'!?' right, my friends.' . ' EICHABDS'S PLAN. :
Richards and Frank swung round. Framed In the doorway was Zara, a peculiar smile upon his bearded lips. 'I was hoping the recent— er— dis-turbance had not reached your ears,' he said. 'It appears I was mistaken. 8tilli.no doubt, the experience has done you good. The recollection of it may bring you to a reasonable frame of mind — when the time comes. Good sight, gentlemen. I am sure you have, much to talk about.' He bowed, the
smile- still hovering on his ?UrisTJatitt',' ; went, out,' the panels sliding wTlehuiajv '?''? Frank looked : at , RicOianJfgf^i-^ ?think 111 have a rest,- if-'yOUiannt,;:,1 i mind,', he said. 'I feel a :bltft.t}red..:v -Haven't had a wink since yesterday^.' ?? The blind man nodded ?understand-;;-' x. ingly. 'Of course,' he said. 'NbVyouv , : won't have to sleep In' a chair.- -liook ??-. '? here.'' He walked unerringly to the wall, pressed a switch and, to Frank*-. astonishment, a portion of the wall ? felldown on hinges, and disclosed & cosy-looking bunk inside, complete with blankets and pillow. . Js ???'-.? ; . ? The boy. crawled gratefully into: ' this,- and stretched his weary body.;,. Then Richards pressed another, v switch and disappeared into . a slmKii i lar wall-bed. ' :'V''j "See you to-morrow— or rather, later on this morning," he called. "'Sleep well !" But Frank, his brain in a whirl from the exhausting events of the previous night, tossed and tumbled to and fro in mental agony. He sat up with a jerk. Richards was shaking his shoulder. 'Wake up;;; old son,' whispered the blind man. .;v 'we're going to have. some fun soqn\'- ; 'Wassa. time?' yawned Frank. -,t .'?:.
'Three o'clock. You've been dead to,;, ; the' wide for about ten hours. Some-one came in with food this mornlhBs';: but I didn't disturb you. They're due^T' again very- shortly. I heard Zara.' leave in his 'plane for Manchester;:^ 'i few minutes ago. Now's our chance. When the ' food comes I'm going;. to Jam the panel as the man leaves. ' We can force them N back, nip into Zara's room and collect something .Toy-' people need very badly, snaffle' a 'plane and skeedoodle. Are . .yot\.; I game?' _,
Frank's eyes shone. 'You bet I ami' he cried. 'But what is it you want in Zara's room?' _ . voh.a book. Just a book. That doeshff.Eound very exciting, does It? SOBSK-'my people can get hold of it, ' tiKWttfnt!' fVio mil nf 7.ara. nnd his
teftta? 1V&. the book where he keeps 'aUSwe*e#oids'6f.hls.Bcts ot.vlolence, titMSHiftes' from iphich. be spreads his ip^lsohbus^prbp'aga^dsv. the;^ iia*ines-;t-f Jn^coof^erafc6Sb=^.is)3£rt£all/tbJQ svj* S ^fWneltiwas'ljrought here they led t fe~ before 'him, and he calmly ln aBKJaiWne that he was, at that mo *Be2E-»ngdged to entering up his !®S*.«ctiylties. He read out to me a iftW&pl'cal-extracts that would make 'AfflKhUSod run cold could you but nsifettieiD..He boasted of them and 'B*Bsifc.B6me of his future plans. He SaSSSnre he held me safely that he tSSwfSne with the vile deeds he sHflipiccomplish. I have been walt
MtSBnce tnen lor my eyes 10 cumc, 8»Spi#here now. You are my eyes. aaalwMle I'cnn lead you out of this Spmii must find that book for SfcTtiSrtn- not ? ' ipfiMf^as a sudden click, and the «iQ£&lthe far end of the room SIHSBSEiA man entered bearing two «jBWK*''These he set. down in 'the SSfllejoLthe room, and turned and ?iflSSdiback without a word. .'ipSfi&and silent as a shadow, the SBBHIpvice man glided after him, vBfleMank held his breath, waiting :t.diEjU\e^man to turn and discover his -j^SJ.he,'riever so much as glanced ': bofiia,' and stalked on through the «£eI4 JtrilL- turned to the left. Frank : ttHttCF&- c'lck and then the Dllnd , ilatt dftpt forward and with uncanny accuracy, thrust a knife between the Moeing panels i' ' j- ,-- { (To be continued )
Swift and silent as » shadow the Secret Service man glided after bun,

K®^^^O36
Tfiriljing Serial By Carl Hagen
RICHARDS listened intently as the guard's footsteps padded silently ?way down the corridor outside, and i then motioned swiftly to Prank. 'Give me a hand with this!' he cried. ?Quick!' . *'ranlc hurried across and bent
down. Together they managed to force the panels sufficiently apart to allow the blind man's lingers to pass through, This was hall the -battle. Slowly the panels v.ere pressed back Mid then both of them were outside Behind them the panels slid silently to again. They were committed now. They could not get back if they, wanted to. Placing a linger on tits lips, the blind man confidently led the Vay.. On tip-toe they mo\ed (illently along the corridor, and Frank was amazed at the ease and swlftnes with which Richards pressed forward, ?-?.????:A1oj»B, :A1oj»B, he could never have Jountf his way through that maze of corridors an4 passages. With the blind man leading the way it was smooth, easy work. Once they heard omeone coming along a passage at right angles to that which they uere traversing. Frank grpbbed Richards and pressed him into a recess In the wall They stood there holding their breaths while the fellow passed by, so closely that Frank.. could have touched him, When they renewed their journey, Frank's brow was wet and he noticed that even Richards': Iron nerve had been shaken. FRANK TAKES A CHAr.CE At last they were' opposite 'the panels marked 'Z.I.,'. and now the. real problem aro e How were thev to get inside?- There-was no way of forcing these panels 'Are there any switches on -the wall?' whispered the ^Secret 'Service man. . 'Three,' answered Frank, in the same tone. 'Well, take a chance and press one; it's the only way, Frank hesitated. So far things had gone swimmingly Was a single pre -sure on (t button going to ruin their chances? He took a deep breath and grossed, the centre knob. Nothing appened, 'Is it open?' asked Richards. 'No— nothing's happened at all. it can't be the right button.' 'The button must control some- ? thing, .Take a look round.' Frank looked right and left All was quiet.. -Not an opening appeared as far as. he could see He looked over his shoulder Immediately behind him was a gap in the wall Thank goodness there was nobody in that apartment! His gaze travelled round the room, swept the celling came down to the floor All of a sud. den he felt sick and dizzy and held on to- the wall, to steady himself. The room was occupied, but the occupants lay quiet- and still on the floor INSIDE ZL Ha ? recognised them Martin. Walters' and Somers. And they were dot pretty to look at Richards fl guess -..had' been correct Trank fumbled for, the switch and depressed It, He told' Richards what he had teen, 'Try another button ' urged the blind man. 'We haven t got any time to low,' Frank obeyed and, wonder of wonders, the panels in front of them rolled back. Zara's room was open to them. Instinctively Richards knew tho way was open He darted Inside dragging Frank with him. 'Now,' he i breathed. 'Now It's your turn.
Close the panels and find that book.. Hurry. Press every button you can find.'.-, - - . --. ? .'. '?? . ? ' - Frank glanced round the room. There was the . table, studded ? with -buttons and switches and the walls .similarly adorned. .. It was not going : to be an easy task. - ??'? ?' ? Suddenly the room was filled with , cllckings. Richards, Impatient of any delay, had flung himself at the table and was pressing every, button and switch his quivering fingers could find. Panel after panel went dldlng back, revealing paper-filled cavities in the walls. Some also revealed the corridor outside which Frank remem- bered as once being filled with guards. ? ? -.?-He pulled Richards away, explained what . was . happening and somehow, managed to close the entries to. Zara's. room. 'Leave it to me,' he said,- .'111 find it sootier or later.' 'Make it sooner,' urged the Government ? agent. 'Every . secondcounts.' Methodically 'Frank pressed button after button,- searching the cavities thus revealed but without result. Once, after pressing a red switch, a volume of sweet music filled the air. Richards, guessing what had happened, grinned in spite of his anxiety. ''Most really double-dyed villains have a musical streak In them somewhere,' he said. 'Our friend Is evidently no exception to the general rule.' As his search went on, Frank be^ gan to feel more and more hopeless, of success. He told Richards as much, but the blind man refused to be discouraged. 'It's here somewhere,' he. urged. 'We must find it.' At last there were but two buttons left which: Frank had not touched. He pressed one and Instantly a beam of light shone on a section of- the wall opposite. The next Instant the figure, of a man leapt into view. Frank realised that he had unwittingly communicated with one of Zara's agents In the same wa- in which Professor Fraser had communicated with his colleague, HsIdane. The man's mouth opened In amazement as he gazed at the scene ol chaos in Zara's room.' Instantly Frank depressed the button and the vision faded from his gaze.
Quickly he explained the situation to Richards 'Heril send the alarm In a few beconds,' he said, 'and then well be done for. There's one more button left. Stand by ready to make a bolt for.lt ' . ' ' He pressed. the knob as. he spoke and a small cavity appeared in the table itself. Inside lay a 'small, redbound book. Frank pounced upon- it, turned a few pages and uttered. a cry of triumph. 'Got it!', he. shouted ?. pressing the .button and opened the panels that would allow them to leave the room. ?? ?-? ??. Richards seized the volume, nnd started for; the opening. They were at tho threshold when a loud boomr ing sound filled the entire building It was-thealarmslgnal. . . -.' .- ;:-/'--' DISCOVERY.. -.-:,; : ; Simultaneously ' figures beuan. to ?emerge . riuht and left along the corridors, .Richards heard the soft pad of their feet and bolted along the corridor' that led straight ahead. Frank hard on hta heels. ; All the time the plant gonR was roaring Its alarm until Frank began to think that no person within a radlous of ten miles could escape its tell-tale note. There was an army of grim, steel-clad figures after them by this time, and unless. they soon found an exit their daring bid for freedom would end ln- Ignominious capture. ^ Shouts came from behind them Panels slid open and two figures stepped out in their path. Richards, warned by Frank's cry, lowered his head and butted, one in .the stomach. The man, collapsed with a gurgling cry and then tho. others arms were round Rlchards'a waist Frank, crashing alone behind hit the fellow with all his force on the base of the neck. The man wont, limp and Richards, freed from his grasp, went stumbling on. . The corridor was stoning uoward now and a stream of liijht indicated the entrance to the roof Richard came out Into the open air, his task lor the moment finished. It was Frank's turn again. ( 'A plane!', muttered. Richards gripoing Frank's arm. 'Is. there one on the roof?' Frank glared wlldh round and n his eyes lit on a small machine standing on the opposite lde of the roof, the first of the pursuers came blundering out of the passage f towards them.(To (To be continued.)
Frank, crashing alone behind, hit the fellow with all his font en the base of the neck.
[?]
I Thrilling Serial By I Carl Hagen
_ A; STEEL-HOOPED barrel stood by 'Jrx. the side of the entrance to the roof. Frank leapt forward, exerted all his strength, and ploked.it up. Then, with his muscles cracking under the strain he heaved it right in the face of the foremost pursuer. The man fell like a. log, and the
? barrel, burstlngon the concrete roof, ? , emitted a greenlsli-colored fluid and 1 - thick, acrid plumes of smoke. , The liquid flowed sluggishly down . the sloping passage, and Immediately i i Prank heard howls of fear arid pain as the oncoming guards ran into the l, choking fumes and the searing fluid. I burnt and shrivelled their legs. ' THE GETAWAY.' ',- 'Come ohl' yelled Frank, catching , Richards', arm and dashing -across the roof. The stuff was getting into i his eyes ana throat, too. Already.he i could hardly- see, but somehow, t stumbling and choking, he managed f\ to reach the 'plane.-- * Instinctively the blind man found ; £ his way to the controls of the tf machine; : 'I can handle her,' he 5 I1 shouted, ''is it all clear to take off' ' J.J- 'Fire away!' roared back Frank fl Somehow, be did not feel afraid. He ' t was keyed up with excitement. An ,[ electric thrill seemed to quiver all *r over him. The thought that he and ! I a blind man had outwitted a snore of ! murderous cutthroats filled him with r joy and a ridiculous desire to sing at ' the top of his voice; ' Under the sensitive hands of the i blind Secret Service man, the engine i quivered, sprang . to life,' and ' the next moment they were speeding across i the roof, past the passage where the fumes still rolled and swirled, and off Into the blue ? .'... Richards sent the machine Into a steep climb, banked and shot off at top speed. 'Don't know where I'm golngV.' he shouted to Frank, who sat just: behind him, 'but anywhere'll do , ? to get away from JSara's place. Give me a yell if we look like bumping into ,i anythingl,' THE PURSUIT. Frank twisted round and looked back. A. thin wisp. of smoke was rising from the roof— and. so was something else. A great 'red 'plane, which had evidently just 'landed, was taking off again; and even as he watched it left the roof and came climbing, after -. ttomat a speed which was at least twice as tast as theirs. . v He leant forward and tapped Richards on. the shoulder. 'We're for it,' 1 hevrsaid shortly. 'Red 'plane Just t, taken off after us.' » The blind man pursed his lips ' 'Red, eh?' he repeated, ?? 'that s Zara's private machine, as I happen to know— probably fastest in the t 1 country.' ; 'I thought he'd gone to Mani Chester?' objected Frank. Jj 'He's had plenty of time to go1 t there, make a speech and return,' ? I replied Richards. 'For all we -know ', Manchester may be only a few i , miles away.' Again Frank turned round. The.' I red machine ' was alarmingly ? near now There was a kind, of turret ' mounted on the fuselage between i the wings. From a silt In this the I short, ugly-looking muzzle of some i gun appeared; t\ Liko some giant dragon-fly the ' r great scarlet 'plane shot above them U and banked round, the turret revolvfcf v Ing to face its prey. For a ghastly - momont Frank' had a vision ol Rich,f ards and himself falling and twisting li to earth while their 'plane vanished.
In the burning ray which, he felt sure, would flash upon them at any second now. - ''.'.' But no deadly beam sprang from the gun. Instead, he heard a faint crackle and saw some sparks playing round the. muzzle; -then the faint hum of the engine changed to a whine and ceased altogether. Richards gave a grim chuckle. - 'Seems we're tod useful to smash up,' he said. ; 'They've cut out our engine and all they've got to do is to hang around while we glide to earth. You'd/better take control— I can't see where I'm going.' ? He slipped out of the seat and , Frank took his place, not daring to, tell him that it was the first time he had ever handled -any kind of 'plane whatsover. With his heart In his mouth he turned the wheel as he had seen Richards and.' Fat .turn it and, obedient to his movements, the machine banked round and round in everwidening circles and nearing the ground at every turn. There was a large field Immediately ' beneath them and down- to this fluttered the 'plane like some wounded bird, while Zara's great red ' machine hovered about them. As the landing wheels touched ground, ' Frank ?
straightened the wheel.and with two or three shuddering bumps, they came to a standstill. ? . ? -.. Almost immediately the blind man was but on the grass and running like a hunted deer. At the same ? moment Zara's machine touched ground and three or four men were after him. Frank himself had hardly time to clamber out of the damaged 'plane before he was seized and held in a grip of iron. He watched Richards and his pursuers dart over the field and then the' blind man tripped and fell on his face.
The barrel, bursting on the concrete roof, emitted a greenish-colored fluid and thick, acrid plumes of smoke.
To Frank's horror the man appeared 'to be having a fit He rolled and twisted and writhed on the ground, beating his hands and kicking his legs until Zara's men dropped on him and held him still They dragged him up and It was with relief that Frank saw that the fit had passed and that Richards was himself again As he came up Frank pressed forward 'All right, sir?' he asked anxiously.
A SHOCK FOR ZARA. The blind man turned hlsiface towards him, and a peculiar thrill shot through the boy as he saw that one of the sightless eyes had deliberately open and closed Richards had winked at him but before he was, able to reply the guards hustled them both forward and they stood before Zara, who was lounging by the side of his red machine. ? He surveyed them In sorrow 'Really, gentlemen, really,' he said, 'what could you be doing to think of leaving, mo so -soon? I am hurt, deeply hurt, to think you regard my hospitality so lightly that you should desire to return to your homes ' 'Cut that out,' put in Richards 'and- let us: know what's going, to happen now.' Zara raised a protesting hand. 'My dear Mr Richards you are so precipitate So— so crude No delicacy at all However, if you wish it and it will relieve your, minds at all, I may say what I- most particularly want is that, little redrbook you removed from my room not so very long ago.' ? ' ?;;,' '.' Richards gave a hard laugh.' Instantly Zara dropped: his bantering manner and thrust his face forward. 'The book! Where is it?' he muttered. 'Come, hand it 'over!' Richards laughed again. 'Really, that's too funny,' he said. 'I had no idea that it was of any importance- 1 dropped it overboard when you began chasing us.' (To be continued.)
Ilii5^i2©36
Thrilling Serial By Carl Hagen
'?you threw it awns? Zaras eye ?*? bulged until Frank na alraid they would diop out of their socket The blind man nodded It tnnt really much good to me— I can t see he said.
In iddition to that unfortunate nffliaion jou will soon be unable to tilk1 Za a mouth clo ed like a teel tiap Search theriil he commanded. They failed to discover the book Trank who knew very well that it wa in Richard posse ion could not for the life of him imagine how I e blind man hid managed to conceal it He had evidentlj done so Iicttj effectively and Zara baffled ind' raging,'1, ordered them; on board hlis machine 'I will consider what to do.; with you later,', he promised them as he ?followed them inside, and Frank shivered as he thought of those still forms he had seen in Zara's stronghold _Half Half an hour later, the great flnmliig-red 'plane settled down upon the roof of the .building which Richards and Prank had so recently left They were taken at once to their former room, and here, while Frank sat patiently down Richard strode' to and fro in on atony of impatience, V'tWe rnu t get wqrd somehow' he'1 fluttered 'Think ot it— the evidence, tKot will sendj-Zara Where h&beToqga ? jnpKStfT,. , i , i, a -i ? i VJFrttnls ga -ped. 'A, robbli*bwrow! '.i ^'Ye , my fainting ' flt was well Btaged; dont you think? My foot caught in the wretched thing, and a I came down I thought it would be an Ideal hiding-place for the precious book. I rolled about and managed to thrust it well down. If only wb- could get out. again and you could find the field, or if we could even send a me; -sago out of .this place, my work would be done. 'Thank you', my friend!' Prank and Richards wheeled round. There was Zara with a genial smile on his lip 'I thought I should hear where that little book was if I listened patiently,' he: continued; 'You will, I' am sure, be pleased to know that it will soon be safe and sound in my hands once' more;' Zara made the mistake of bowing Ironically as he spoke. Before, he could straighten up, Frank- had I sprung and the two of them went rolling to the ground The blind man heard the sound of the struggle and daxted forward. Once In his lean, steel-liko arms; Zara,. big as he was, was no match for the Secret Service . man. Richards held liim down while Prank whipped a small, pistol-like object from the. ogltitor belt 'Nowl' he' said. 'One shout '.or. movement from you and you won't get off. so lightly as Professor Praser did! Keep your arms right up!1 Pale with mortification, Zara bit his lip \to keep control of him elf ' What dp 'jou propose 'to do with, me?; ho.oskcfl hoarsely , *r yiar*vljadnl..though|;^of that It ' fwMiiiisfr 'Bain Tinteed.thflt- had made; /Mn--Bovior thte fellov.any now that' ? ys.,i..v,.»'(^^ . *?-*-,., r
he had the whip hand he was rather at a loss -Ben ing hi , he itation Richard took command \. Keep him covered Frank,'; hewnrh'cji, 'and we'll be'out of this in two Jiffle Go on out to the roof. ; and .if you, make a suspicious movement 'of %,'any kind or attempt to call for assistance, you're a dead man1 s Zara bowed to the Inevitable and walked lowly out Frank covering him with the ray-pistol, followed two . paces behind, while.'.the blind man. brought up the rear. In the corridor 'outside -stood three guards/ They moved forward as the odd trio came out; but Zara obedient to the pressure :ofi the rayrpistol in his back, waved 'them away. V Out in the open air Zara turned with a disarming smile You would like a plane of course? he asked. 'May I place one of my small fastx machines at your, disposal?' Richards smiled grimly, and shook his dead. 'Not-this time, Zara,' he said. 'Your; own, red machine. Nothing less will satisfy us Zara' bit his lip and bowed again; Taking Richards's arm, Frank ; led him. over to the 'plane, taking care ; to keep Zara covered. The blind man climbed in and felt his way to the controls. Frank stood 'outside, 'wait-
ing The engine bur t into life Ready! yelled Richards. Frank stepped swiftly inside. The machine quivered, shook and moved 'slowly.' forward. Zara made a plunge for a gun-ray onthe other side of the roof. Frank lowered a window, took careful aim,
Frank Ifrptrei or window,' took .csrUnJtBtnr and toe concrete under Zara's Very-TBoVUptlt and^MSAfi^^file! leapt tadFanff gnarled wltU rage.
and the concrete under Zara very foot, split ond cracked. He, leapt back and narled with rage Then the machine ft a away lifting ir*to the air Which way? called Richards. Fiank looked round Straight ahead he called He rccognl ed the ground below and saw that the machine was heading toward the field in which lay the precious little red book ' ' Within ten minutes they . were circling over it and Frank aw on the ground below- them, two small machines, while three 'or four little black specks showed him that their passengers had alighted and .were moving1 swiftly towards ene another. In obedience to Frank's directions Richard dropped the machine down and Frank saw, with a queer little thrill, that one of the 'planes was strangely familiar. Surely he had seen it before. The figures on the '? ground were clearer now. One of them looked up as Zara's- great machine swooped down upon them, and even as Frank recognised him, ? one of the other figures sprang forward, and the. two were at it hammer and tongs Tat!' gasped 'Frank. 'Bring her down, sir! Zara's men have: got hold of some friends of mine! Lower and. lower .-- fluttered the 'plane. Frank, craning eagerly out of a window, saw a slim figure streaking across the grass with two others in pursuit. It was Nancy, Pat's sister. How she came to be -there, was a mystery to Frank. All that mattered now was that before he could land, those beasts would Have their vile hands on her. He drew the ray-pistol from his belt, steadied it on his. outstretched arm, glanced along the sights and slowly squeezed the trigger. (Another fine instalment next week.)

fei^^s^ ^^y
Thrilling Serial By '? \ Carl tiagen
-ifcibR one wild moment he thought !;': he had hit the girl, -for she 'Stumbled and almost fell. Then her pursuers were in full flight across the ? .field with the ray-pistol spitting fire .Ati their heels.. ;
? i As Richards brought the 'plane to -fi standstill, Frank Jumped out and ..rah to/ Pat's 'assistance. He laid '.Zara's man out with the butt of the i pistol, and then Nancy and Pat were 'clinging to his. arms, babbling quesitlons and pinching him to make sure :'he;wasreal and not a ghost. '-': Frank . hurriedly introduced ?Richards, and .briefly told them his .story. '.'But what on earth are you ^doing here?' he asked. ...... ;,( 'Perfectly ' simple,' explained- Pat. '?'Nan and I were out for a flip when 'the batteries started to give trouble. ~I came down to fix them and had *Just :. : finished the Job when : these 'chaps' came down and set: about us. *THey must have thought we were 'after '.that book you were telling us I jbout.' . ? .: ? j, ,;... THE .PROFESSOR; MOVES. ... . T'The book! Prank turned to .Richards. 'Where's the' rabblt7hole?' he asked. 'Can you find it?' 5 . For answer Richards held iup iils hand. There, In his fingers was. -the,-? precious volume. 'First thing .liiatrji tended to,' he grtaned.sj.'Put'rhy foqt^ In the hole as^Tistepped out-of thei . 'plane. Now, ho^'about it? We've got' to get to London, as fast' as we can.' .'. ? ;: Frank turned to - Pat. 'Where .are -? We?' he asked. V'.r. ;---''1 -?/'?'' ?;; ''-.-.; : '^Two. hundred and thirty miles ' from London; we can make it in ? - about threequarters of an hour. Nan ; -Mid I .will lead-yoli baok.' - 'Rightl' Richards turned to . Zara's' great red machine while Pat, slid Nancy boarded their little autogiro. Two minutes later they were speeding across the sky at top speed. ? Professor Fraser, his injured foot bound and bandaged, and Mrs. Fraser were resting on the roof when the autoglro and Zara's red 'plane dropped down through the dusk. - The professor's relief at Frank's safe . return was Intense, but there was little or no time for talking. Frank outlined bis adventures, and the prolessor,; realising the need for swift actipn, --took the blind man inside to communicate with members, of the ' ... Government. . . ???.:,'??;,?;'.?''.-;'-...?. ' V.ZARA'S LAST THHOW.^:V-: ': ? 7 Mrs.. Fraser urged Frank to' : take tome rest, but the boy of 1936 reMused to think of such a thing..'rm ? going ?to see this through,' he de-?'? clared, and waited anxiously for the V nexti move In the game. : It came within ten minutes when the . first of the machines bearing members of the Government alighted : on the roof. A white-haired man stepped out. Fat nudged Frank's arnu 'Sir ? Charles Klngswood, the Prime Minister,' he whispered, and thereafter Identified the occupants of the following 'planes. Five minutes after the conference had 'opened, Professor Fraser reappeared on the roof,. and beckoned Frank. 'Sir Charles wants, you,' he :- s^ldr'' * . ? ' ? ' . -Frank followed him ko' .the room
where lie. had i seen -Professor Hal1 dune's image on a screen. Round the central table sat the rulers of the , country-with Sir Charles, at the head and the blind man- occupying the place on his right hand. ? :--.-; The Prime Minister rose as Frank ! entered.'. After a'few. wordsof welcome Sir! Charles, questioned him closely; ? his colleagues followingFrank's, answers with the greatest attention. ??''--. '.-.' ? . 'Well, er— Mr. Goodmayes,' he said at last, 'you - have done, us a great service-^-a very great service. ; On behalf of the Government I thank you and— .'The lights suddenly went . out, and from afar off came a dull '?? booming sound. '-'? : -'-,,- ? There was silence for a moment, and then it broke out .'again- in , greater intensity. The council broke up, aj«i with Professor Fraser at their head they hurried to the roof. A great glare met their eyes:as they . came out Into the air. Far away a : i fierce fire was raging furiously; .and i even as they, watched there came another booming sound, and a great flash leapt towards.the sky. v In his excitement Frank clutched . the Prime Minister's arm. 'It's Zaral' he cried. 'Now we have all the evidence about him, he's -going to make one last desperate bid — ' His' words were drowned in a crash that seemed to come from under their very feet.' A rush of; flame leapt up against, the side of the house and licked at the faces of the watchers. With one Impulse they rushed be
Evsn as they, watched there came another booming sound, and a great' \\'~.~;^:[' ? ;y' flash leapt towards the skj
low, and the Prime Minister turned o white face towards Professor Fraser. 'Vour ray!' he gasped. 'It's the one thing that can ave u ? Professor S'raser hoDDled from the room. Pat dashed after huh. Two minutes later they were Back, Pat carrying in Ms arms a large, squareshaped black box, and tne professor homing a long flexible metal pipe witn a funnel at the end. Sir Charles Immediately took command. 'To the roof!' he directed. To the roof amid the crash of explosives and roar of flames tney made their way. There the professor connected the .tubing- to the box and pressed a ? button in the box insianuy a long, thin violet ray shot into tne ssy. Jt'amtly outlined in tne glare of tne coiuiufaiauou me torn or a 'plane could oe seen; .Professor J'raser directed the ray on to it. Inere wa a qulcK orangL Hash and the machine had -vanished. There was a cnucsie from the. profes or That the tuff to give em! ?lie said, ;arid i focused -the -ray/, on .to . another, machine. Five times did he wipe an 'aeroplane out of existence, and then ruddy glares far awa warned the Prune Minister that ail ? was far lrom over. 'Mount the raj in a 'plane,' he ordered, and Pat, with his father and Frank, swooped into the night air bearing death to Zara and his men and destruction and ruin to all his hopes. They returned as the day wa breaking, grimy, dirty, and wild-eyed, and as they landed on the roof the Prime Minister, who had waited all night, pointed silently over the side to where, stiff-limbed, a huge powerful man lay, his black spade beard jutting to the sky. 'Zara,' he said slmpl; (To be concluded.)

iiii!*i2©36
Conclusion Of Thrilling Serial, By Carl Hagen
THE dawn was coming up with a rich glow when Sir Charles and his colleagues prepared to step into their waiting 'planes to attend an emergency meeting of the Cabinet. The professor had .told them the full story of Prank's 'sudden appearance in their world and they gazed curiously at him as he stood there chattinE with' Pat, waiting for the
Ministers to take their leave. Sir Charles crossed the roof and held out his hand. 'We are much indebted to you, Mr. Goodmayes,' he said, staring from under his',shaggy. brows, 'and I promise you that the Government will not forget what you have done,' ' ': . : ' 'Oh, forget it, ;Slr,'; said Frank awkwardly, 'Richards did all the work— I just happened to be there at the time, that's all.' ?sV'You are a very modest young man,' were. Sir Charles's final words, 'X- shall see you again very shortly, I hope.' '?: He entered his machine and, one by one,' the members/.of the Cabinet took off, circled round in. a final - salute, and sped ofTinto the' dawn. ..?As; they disappeared from view, Professor Fraser took' Frank's arm and together they strolled into the house. Fat, Nancy : and Mrs. Fraser at their heels: :: ' FRANK GOES TO BED— 'Well, Frank,' chuckled the professor as he threw himself into a chair. 'How does life in 2036 compare with that in 1936? A little more exciting eh?' %_,Frank echoed his laugh. 'A little, Sir,' he replied. 'It would certainly give my pals a shock if they could see me now.' 'How about your future, Frank?!' put in v Mrs. . Fraser. 'It looks as though you are here for good. What's -to-be done about it, Harry?' ~- Her'vhusband looked thoughtful. 'Htai that's a bit of a poser,' he -agreed; 'Still, there's no hurry for a -bit.:I think the best thing we can do is-to geta bit of sleep. We can talk it over later in the day. Feel like toed|:Frank?'- . The' boy of 1936 nodded. 'You bet I do, sir,' he replied. 'I shall probably snooze for hours.' , 'Right! Off you go, everybody — Pat;' take Frank to 'your room. Seo you later, my boy.' . In Fat's room Frank found the beds similar to thqse in Zara's stronghold. He slipped into one of the couches let Into, the wall and with Pat's cheery 'See you later, old boy!' in his ears, fell asleep. But the Fraser family- were destined never again to see the boy of 1936. In the middle of a sound, health-giving sleep, Frank suddenly sensed a vivid flash of light in front of his eyes There was a dull drumming noise in his ears, a sensation of being whirled through space at breathless speed and then the night breeze was playing on his temples and a spatter of rain was falling on his upturned face. AND WAKES UP IN 1936! Dimly he became aware of excited voices In the distance and then a dull Blow some yards off. brought him to bis feet. He had been lying in a field. It was strangely familiar; to the
right was a little cluster of thatchedroof cottages, to the left, a halftimbered house that brought the blood to his face and a catch at his heart. His home! He began to run and then he saw the meaning of that dull red glow. His father's laboratory, standing at the end of the garden, was on fire. Flames were ' shooting' through the roof and a dozen fiery trails of sparks. were whirling and tossing in the sky Black-figures, outlined against the blaze, were dashing here and there, vainly emptying bucket. after bucket of water on the flames, and then, just as Frank reached the little band, the vigorous clanging of a bell announced the arrival of the fire- brigade. Almost the fir^t figure Frank recognised was that' of his father. With hair awry and face blackened by smoke, Professor Goodmayes stared at his son as though he were looking at a ghost. 'Frank!' he cried. 'Frank!1' The boy ran forward with a sob. 'Dad!' he called. 'We— we thought we'd never see you again, my boy.' Frank gulped 'You know what happened?' he asked His father . nodded. .There was .little he could do now that the brigade was on the scene, and the two could talk undisturbed. 'The instant 'you walked into the laboratory and took up those two plugs, I realised ', what would occur,' he said. 'I shouted, but I was too late — you had gone.' 'But how on earth did it happen?' cried Frank. 'Can you explain?' Professor Goodmayes pursed his lips. 'Yes and no,' he said slowly. 'I had been experimenting for months —years— seeking to conquer , Time. On a dozen occasions I thought I had succeeded, and on that afternoon you
walked into the lab— in stiict defiance of my orders, by the way1— I knew that I had done so Time was annihilated I could move backwards into the past or forwards into the future, whichever I chose It only remained for me to prove the success of my invention , , 'I set the machine to one hundred years from now and was walking to the other end of the laboratory to pass the current through my body when you came in and took the plugs up-iyou always were an inquisitive creature!' Frank smiled wryly. 'I'm cured of that all light,' he said, and there, with the reflections of the flames chasing across his face and the crash of falling timber and the shouts of the villagers who had been attracted by the blaze, he told his father of his meeting with the Frasers, the attack on the autoway. the night raid by Zara's agents the kidnapping of the blind Secret Service man, their flight with the book, the pursuit and capture, their second escape, and of blazing London and Zara's death: And' as the professor heard the almost incredible, story, Trank himself seemed to see again those boarded sneering lips, heard the crash and roar of the burning citv. and lived once more those few thrilling hours in 2036. His father seemed to sense what was in his mind 'Never again, Frank,' he said 'There lies the invention that conquered Time'— he flung an arm to the twisted, torturned skeleton of the laboratory. 'Its secret is with me, and I shall never use if again: ' Its destruction has brought good, for the fusing of the wires that set the machine on fire made it possible to bring you back after I had tried a thousand times in vain Thank goodness the machine functioned' long enough to accomplish its work. Together they turned and looked at the conflagration. The fire was dying down now, and among the blackened supports could be seen the writhing, twisted coils of wire and shattered apparatus that had sent Frank Goodmayes spinning into the world of 2036. (The End.)

Item sets: Vintage Science Fiction from Australian Newspapers 1901-1939 (Australian)