S FERRY. March 26.--At 10: 23 A.M. today, the village of
Bankerville, about thirty miles north of this place, was totally
destroyed by an explosion of such terrific violence that
seismographs all over the world recorded the shock, and that
windows were shattered even in this city. A thick pall of dust and
smoke was observed in the sky and parties set out immediately. They
found, instead of the little mountain village, nothing except an
immense, crater-like hole in the ground, some two miles in diameter
and variously estimated at from two to three thousand feet deep. No
survivors have been found, no bodies have been recovered. The
entire village, with its two hundred inhabitants, has been wiped
out of existence. Not so much as a splinter of wood or a fragment
of brick from any of the houses can be found. Scientists are unable
to account for the terrific force of the explosion, which far
exceeded that of the most violent explosive known.

"Hm ... m. That sounds reasonable, doesn't it?" asked DuQuesne,
sarcastically, as he finished reading.

"It sure does," replied Scott, grinning. "What'd'you suppose it was?
Think the reporter heard a tire blow out on Pennsylvania Avenue?"

"Perhaps. Nothing to it, anyway," as he turned back to his work.

As soon as the visitor had gone a sneering smile spread over DuQuesne's
face and he picked up his telephone.

"The fool did it. That will cure him of sucking eggs!" he muttered.
"Operator? DuQuesne speaking. I am expecting a call this afternoon.
Please ask him to call me at my house.... Thank you."

"Fred," he called to his helper, "if anyone wants me, tell them that I
have gone home."

He left the building and stepped into his car. In less than half an hour
he arrived at his house on Park Road, overlooking beautiful Rock Creek
Park. Here he lived alone save for an old colored couple who were his
servants.

In the busiest part of the afternoon Chambers rushed unannounced into
Brookings' private office. His face was white as chalk.

"Read that, Mr. Brookings!" he gasped, thrusting the _Clarion_ extra
into his hand.

Brookings read the news of the explosion, then looked at his chief
chemist, his face turning gray.

"Yes, sir, that was our laboratory," said Chambers, dully.

"The fool! Didn't you tell him to work with small quantities?"

"I did. He said not to worry, that he was taking no chances, that he