The New Death-Dealing "Diabolic Rays" Page 151

searching for that heart of any gasoline motor, the magneto. As the ray touched this, the roar of the exhaust died quickly into complete silence. The stopping force was promptly removed so as not to destroy the magneto windings. Again and again this experiment was repeated. Everyone was not only allowed, but urged, to go over the motor carefully to make sure that there were no wires or other attachments from the floor or from the ceiling that could aid in its control. All were satisfied that some unseen force had stopped the firing of the engine.

Next, a bit of black gunpowder was placed in a metal container at the other end of the room, and the ray was brought to bear upon it. In no time a sharp flash registered the explosion of the powder, showing the great heat which can be generated by the power used. That this may later be employed to blow up powder magazines, battleships and other ammunition depots was suggested but it is problematical, for reasons that will be discussed further on.

A plain electric-light bulb of the usual house-lighting size was then held by two men standing well apart. The bulb was attached to two wires, one held by each of the men. There was no other connection with the rest of the laboratory or with the earth. When the ray was brought to bear upon the bulb it glowed brilliantly.

Then, as a final proof of the efficacy of the force behind this energy transmitter, a mouse was placed in a cage at the other end of the laboratory. This time, in order to make a quick and direct hit, thus avoiding unnecessary suffering, the ray was made visible as a beam of lavender or purple light. As this beam of light crept up and finally struck full upon the little animal, he reacted exactly as he would have done to the shock of a