The Key West Citizen Newspaper, January 7, 1953, Page 10

Page 10 FLASH GORDON THE KEY WEST CITIZEN Wednesday, January 7, 1953 Att 1S ‘READY! T SEND A \ ORB... WATCH HAPPENS? MASKED MAN + ITS THE PHANTOM*+AND- HE'S HERE+~ WHATEVER SHE IS--THE NATIVES ARE} SCARED OUT OF THEIR WITS-- Whoa: END OF THE ROAD. ¢ Falk and Phil Davis DEAD. QUESTION 1S, HOW 001 GET, DOWN THERE ? HERE HE COMES NOW TRYING TO SNEAK IN=/'LL LET HIM iT STARTS GNING ME A PHONY EXCUSE-— JOTHE PARKING Lor.” GEE/~ STOP THEM -- “a areas OZARKS AGN Key Books by A. de T. Gingras (CITY by Clifford D. Simak, sci- ence fiction, published by Gnome Press, New York City, 224 pages.) The preface explains the tales in this book by saying they are the stories the Dogs tell when the fires burn high and the wind is from the north. The time is about 10,000 years from now and the canine species has taken over the world. Scholars with such names as Bounce and Rover have gotten together these ancient story manuscripts about a creature called man. The stories are connected by the thread of the Webster family which includes the men, the robots and the dogs. And ' while the dogs are sure the dogs and the robots have always ex- isted, there are only a few who believe that man ever existed. The first story called “City” is about the time when man is at the point of dissolving his cities, as helicopters make it easy for him to commute from a fifty acre estate. And farms have disappear- ed because it is simpler to pro- duce food by means of hydropon- ies. A couple of vicious officials in the dying city, and a forward looking Chamber of Commerce sec- retary, are the protagonists. And an amazing lawnmower which operates cheerfully and complete- ly along, and when it is finished, sprinkles the lawn as well, is a gadget which almost steals the story. In the second tale, ‘Huddling Place,” robots wait on man, and the son of the family goes to Mars as sons now go to Europe for a year of so of culture. The elderly hero seldoms goes anywhere, be- cause everything is in his home: “, , .by simply twirling a dial one could talk face to face with anyone wished, could go, by sense, if not in body, anywhere one wish- ed. Could attend the theater or hear a concert or browse in a library halfway around the world. Could transact any business one might need to transact without rising from one’s chair. . .” He is afflicted with agorophobia, from the Greek meaning fear of open spaces and of the market places. His father, and perhaps his grandfather before him have been afflicted with it. What his affliction with the strange disease does to the future of the world is the cli- max of the story. The third story called “The Census” begins to be really in- teresting to the dogs of 10,000 years from now. In this section their species is first taught how to speak, and experiments are being made to find a way to teach them to read. From that era on, the stories Progress through the dogs taking over the earth, and man’s disap- pearance, The ideas in the book are fas- cinating, andthe author bristles with novelty @nd imagination. But they lack thé molding force of an Aldous Huxléy' or H. G, Wells. Per- haps if Mr. Simak let his ideas simmer longer in the deep well of his creative mine, he might come up with a real classic in this line. But perhaps he has a frigidaire to pay for, or a swimming pool, and he can’t wait that long. JUNIOR SELECTION (THE LITTLE FOX by Frances Frost, pictures by Maryan Dennis, published by Whittlesey House, New York City; 112 pages.) The book begins with Little Black Fox helping his father dig through the snow to find spring. Then he goes to fox kindergarten and rolls in the grass outside the burrow where the fox family live. He experiences dandelion blossoms and playing ball with pine cones. He becomes a smarty-paws and { tangles with the prickly juniper bushes, and after that makes the acquaintance of a puppy and a human boy. One June night Little Black Fox accompanies his father when he goes out to steal a chicken from the nearby henhouse. The dog chases him and he gets away. Then while he is sitting in a clump | of buttercups near a blueberry; thicket laughing at a trick he has | played on his brother and sisters, | jthe boy Nicky sees him. In trying | jto get away from the human boy, | | Little Black Fox falls over a wood- chuck hole and breaks his leg. Nicky takes him home, and what happens after that is the rest of the story. Miss Frost writes with a poet's understanding of the beauty of jwords. Her story is gently, good- natured and well constructed. oomns out, he could see men agonized in strangely twisted masses on the ground. A growl of savage satisfaction rumbled in his throat—and died as he stared un- believingly at the raging pyre of ihe ee eng nol pace to e great cent gaped open and he could see a stumbling figure, staggering through the smoke, striving to gain the sanc- tuary of the open air. It was Morgan! Gross, great- bodied, moving forward with the sure inevitability of fate, forcing himself onward toward the dvor- way and toward safety. Teeth bared in a snarl, he found himself j on his feet, running blindly to- ward the open doorway, his fin- gers half,clenched into angry claws. He saw Morgan’s head jerk up in startled recognition and in the same instant his shoul- der crashed into the great bole of Morgan’s_ chest and his half- clenched hands were at Morgan’s throat. Morgan’s hands were groping for his eyes, the thumbs probing for his oroule There was no strength left in Clay, no reser- voirs that had not been drained. Supine, with the threat of death before his eyes, Clay lashed out his heels in one last blow, and felt his boots crash into Morgan's knees. He heard Morgan’s sudden scream of pain, and threw him- self to one side as the bloated body crashed down beside him. Clay realized that Morgan’s leg was broken and his adversary was helpless—chained by his own weight and weakness to the torch that blazed about him. “Farrar!” Morgan’s voice was shrill with terror now, the bull bass lost in the extremity of fear. “Get me out of here! For God’s sake, get me out!” But there was no mercy left in Clay for this mass of cruelty and evil and corruption, nothing ex- cept the blind rage that had pos- sessed him when he first glimpsed Morgan through the doorway. rn t you nowhere, Mor- !” There was the cold finality of hatred and disgust in his voice. “You're whining now like a whipped dog, but it's too late to “© for nity, New Staffers Report For Blimp Duty Lieutenant Commander Thomas A. Johnston USNR and _ Lieutenant Commander Richard L. McComb USNR have recently reported to Airship Development Squadron Eleven for duty. Ledr. Johnston was recalled to active duty November 1952 and re- ceived Airship Pilot Refresher training at NAF Weeksville, N. C. He graduated East Texas Teach- ers College, Commerce, Texas in June 1941. After entering the Naval Service in February 1942, John-|~ ston was commissioned Ensign US NR and received his Naval Avia- tor (Airship) designation in Octo- ber 1942. He was attached to ZP-12, ZP-23 and ZP-24 during the war and released to inactive duty in January 1946. While in Key West Ledr. John- ston will reside at 1401 Duval St. with his wife Gwynn, and two chil- dren, Thomas and Charles. Lieutenant Commander McComb has reported from NAS Norfolk, | Va. where he was under instruc- tion at Fawtulant. He was recalled to duty on Oct. 1, 1952 and his present duties in ZX-11 will be in the Operations Department. McComb attended Indiana Uni- | versity. He was commissioned En- | sign USNR in April 1943. He | served in ZP-15 and ZP-41 operat- | ing out of Brazil during Worid War | IL. | After his release from active | duty in October 1945 he was asso- | ciated with O’Brien Corporation, | South Bend, Ind. | He and Mrs. McComb are pres- ently residing at 721 Seminole! Ave. Key West. | | ADM. JOY TO HAVE | | MAJOR OPERATION ANNAPOLIS, Md. wm — The su- | perintendent of the Naval Acad- emy, Vice Adm. C. Turner Joy, | was to undergo a major operation | today at the Bethesda Hospital for the removal spleen gland Naval of his } Thunderstorms are most common in the tropics, | It was too late. The fire that had been licking at the walls erupted in a solid sheet of flame as a gust of wind swept down the hallway. In an instant Morgan’s| i ae = on v9 les ation an ache! wees and despair. He'd ceehny sou. So Island, tend Nait the blotted out, hidden be- Ss the | blaze that roared about him. Gasping, Clay staggered toward the doorway and ‘oliapsed upon the ground outside. And then he heard it— the thunder of hoofs like the deep note of an organ that swells into a thunderous Gig ony were comin; 3 now, the men e regiment, taut-nerved, savage with the years of wrongs that rode, invisible, upon their shoul- ders. He could see. the firelight glitter upon their sabers as they passed. It was a rout, a slaughter drenched in blood, as they rode down the screaming, helpless forces of the Regulators as wolves might run down rabbits. There ‘was no mercy, for there had been No mercy given in the Clay managed to lift himself to his feet and stumble forward. He lifted his voice in what should have been a shout, but was scarcely more than a harsh mock- ery of a whisper. “Farrar!” he gasped. “Farrar— this is Farrar.” He saw the nearest troopers wheel in their saddles in sharp amazement, heard Web’s shout of mingled rage and disbelief. “Good job!” he croaked. “Good job. Well done.” He watched stupidly as the earth and sky and the mounted men revolved suddenly around him in a dizzying circle. Dimly he was aware of Web on foot, run- ning toward him, shouting. . peed on the And then he colla ground. T WAS slow business waiting for_a steamer to take him to New Orleans, even here on Gal- veston Island, where the bar- rooms were the most sumptuous business houses in town, and the Tremont House offered accommo- dations that could scarcely have been surpassed in New Orleans or Memphis. i Oh, it was fine enough. Finer than a clearing outside Mar- Schooner Sinks Off Nova Scotia YARMOUTH, N. S..u — The once-proud schooner City of New York Monday toppled into 30 feet of whitecapped water from the jagged ledge that claimed her last week. Only the tops of her three masts poked above the spitting seas near this western Nova Scotia port. The 391-ton schooner sailed to fame as the flagship of Admiral Richard E. Byrd during his Ant- arctic explorations. Launched in Norway 68 years ago, her 40-inch bottom and 34 inch topsides made her the strong est wooden sailing vessel ever pass 50. In what way 53. Not profes- igue 56. Italian river 57. Singing voice 58. Swiss canton a 8 “I SHOT GYPSY JOE. BUT THERE WERE NO WITNESSES.’ apes et as he was in the regimen’ slow! healed vot the Behan: and Saravan had infieted upon knew with an erehde Sarazan had He'd mended slowly, and long days and nights incre: tainty that there could ace or rest or im until he returned to Ws —and to Sally. She was image before his eyes, neither time nor distance nor other woman could obscure, He moved a little farther ag eyo for oo long creep caus ad wai or so i inshore: the Coh i ifn i Orleans there'd to take him to St. Louis and then on up the Missouri to the levee at Westport Landing. : “Great God Almighty!” Clay was leaning . as tense as a greyhound, his eyes riveted upon the 3 had sre ous the trip down ani ank, :: nepigt The roar hes his voice sent the sea spi awi in frighten 8 SsSaliyt What in the name of are you ong & Texas?” “Clay! Oh, Clay, my dar! “But—Texas, 1 You Xas— rinses eas ov Sereep back into 'd follow hee couldn’ wee I nye eg Lf no mai were! Ser oad trouble in Bt, Louis “S ol can come and be: with, me forever!” “Forever!” Tas Exp W. Berlin Border Heavily Guarded BERLIN #—The Western. Allies have set up special military police (der with the Russian zone against Soviet viown.., up Walther Schreiber said. | So“=siber, who conferred with the American, British and French \~....asgants Monday, told a news conference the Allied teams would continuously prowl the city's 68-mile border. The Allied-German conferences on the border situation were prompted by the Christmas Morn ing killing of a German policeman by Soviet tommygunners. \ £ DIE CREMP TT ») » Alte] Dt IRIE ICT E AIR MmNIE Vie SG ey, g ie BB SEE S ABIB KEN RESEBE: s