Ole Doc Methuselah Read Online Free PDF Page A

its damning certainty. It said that
the Procyon-Sirius Spaceways would not use this planet. Then, striking a match
to light a cigar, he touched it to the document and idly watched it burn. The
last flaming fragment was suddenly hurled at the Martian.
    â€œGet
over there instantly,” said Blanchard, “and find out what you can. If Miss
Elston comes away from that ship unattended, see that she never goes back to
it. And make very certain, my honest friend, that the Soldier on that ship
doesn’t find out anything.”
    But
before Dart had more than beaten out the fire on the skirt of his coat, a
youthful, pleasant voice addressed them. Blanchard hastily smoothed out his
hands, veiled his eyes, and with a smile which he supposed to be winning faced
the speaker.
    Ole
Doc, having given them his “good morning,” continued guilelessly as though he
had not heard a thing.
    â€œMy,
what a beautiful prospect you have here. If I could only find the man who sells
the lots—”
    Blanchard
stood up instantly and grasped Ole Doc Methuselah by the hand, which he pumped
with enormous enthusiasm. “Well, you’ve come to the right place, stranger. I am
Captain Blanchard and very pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr—”
    â€œOh,
Captain Blanchard, I have heard a great deal about you,” said Ole Doc, his
blue eyes very innocent. “It is a wonderful thing you are doing here. Making
all these people rich and happy.”
    â€œOh,
not my doing, I assure you,” said Captain Blanchard. “This project was started
by a Mr. Elston of New York City, Earth. I am but his agent trying in my small
way to carry out his orders.” He freed his hand and swept it to take in the
dreary, dusty and being-cluttered prospect. “Happy, happy people,” he said.
“Oh, you don’t know what pleasure it gives me to see little homes being created
and small families being placed in the way of great riches. You don’t know.”
Very affectedly he gazed down at the dirt as though to let his tears of
happiness splash into it undetected. However, no tears splashed.
    After
a little he recovered himself enough to say, “We have only two lots left and
they are a thousand dollars apiece.”
    Ole
Doc promptly dragged two bills from his breast pocket and handed them over. If
he was surprised at this swift method of doing business, Captain Blanchard
managed to again master his emotion. He quickly escorted Ole Doc to the
clapboard shack which served as the city hall so that the deeds could be
properly recorded.
    As
they entered the flimsy structure a tall, prepossessing individual stopped
Blanchard and held him in momentary converse concerning a program to put
schools into effect. Ole Doc, eyeing the man, estimated him as idealistic but
stupid. He was not particularly surprised when Blanchard introduced him as Mr.
Zoran, the mayor of Junction City.
    Here,
thought Ole Doc, is the fall guy when Blanchard clears out.
    â€œI’m
very glad to make your acquaintance Mr. . . .” said Mayor Zoran.
    â€œAnd
I yours,” said Ole Doc. “It must be quite an honor to have ten thousand people
so completely dependent upon your judgment.”
    Mayor
Zoran swelled slightly. “I find it a heavy but honorable trust, sir. There is
nothing I would not do for our good citizens. You may talk of empire builders,
sir, but in the future you cannot omit mention of these fine beings who make up
our population in Junction City. We have kept the riffraff to a minimum, sir.
We are families, husbands, wives, small children. We are determined, sir, to
make this an Eden.” He nodded at this happy thought, smiled. “To make this an
Eden wherein we all may prosper, for with the revenue of the Spaceways flooding
through our town, and with our own work in the fields to raise its supplies,
and with the payroll of the atomic plant which Captain Blanchard assures us
will begin to be built within a