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"What is it?" he demanded as he paid his money

"Dunno!" the boy replied, breathlessly--"'Xpect everybody's dead down California way!"

Gwent unfolded the journal and stared at the great headlines, printed in fat black letters, still s Earthquake In California!--Mountain Upheaval!--Towns Wiped Out!--Plaza Hotel Engulfed!--Frightful Loss of Life!

His eyes grew dily at the blue sky, the tall "sky-scraper" houses, the sweep of human and vehicular traffic around him; and to his excited fancy the beautiful face of Manella came, like a phantom, between him and all else that was presented to his vision--that face war oman's tenderness--the splendid dark eyes aflathened her adoration and he see in his ears-"Annihilation! A holocaust of microbes! I would--and could--wipe them off the face of the earth in twenty-four hours!" He could--and would!

"And by Heaven," said Gwent, within himself--"He's done it!"