Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-06-08
Experiment.
@ Wireless.
-=@=-

a. o YOU have come to see that let
~ teri Well, sit down." said the
~ Professor, when the red-headed re-
porter for the New York Evening Clar-
Ion explained why be was there. "Since
you promise not to mention my name, I
will give you the details as briefly as
I can"
Professor Lofain handed q well-filled
cigar case, and as the reporter leaned
back and puffed away, he began;
You must know that three years ago
I was Professor Of Astronomy at
/ was within a short run Of New York.
One evening" forget the exact date
but 10 matter-1 got q telegram from
my young friend Tom Ridgrave saying
that he wa5nnten0ns to run up to see
me for a dy, and, sure enough, the
9 O'clock train brought him.
You will remember that Ridgrave
was operator for wireless on the big
ocean liner Smeltic running between
New York and Liverpool. He was an
exceedingly bright young electrician
amounting almost to a genius. His
only fault seemed to be a passion for
gambling.
That evening among other things, we
talked of q new attachment he had in
vented which be called an "Electro-foc-
us-agitator," the nature Of which l am
not electrician enough to be able to
describe, but as lear as I can remem-
Der he calculated that by means Of it
q wireless message could be sent in
any direction to any distance without
any possibility OF interference with
messages tn transit. He claimed that
It furnished electrical currents Of q
compounded rapidity far exceeding that
Of light.
How far, Tom" I asked him, do
you suppose you could send a wireless
message with this attachment Of yours
u the conditions were right?"
'sHow farY You wouldn't believe me
Il ! told Sou."
Eyes, I'll try to-" I replied, for I had
great faith In Toms genius.
"Well, then" came his answer. "as
far as any Of the other planets"
you don't mean thatl"
Certainly I do. Tell you what, Pro-
lessor. Just look up your astronomical
calendars and tell me when the planet
Mars will be very plainly visible ut
sea-"
ION the 21st Of July Mars should be
plainly visible" I replied, Just about
the time the Smeltic will be leaving
Queenstown on your way to Liver
pool"
by Jove, Professor, that ought to
suit us very we'll. Couldn't you come
and see the experiment."
Lets see," I answered, that will be
some weeks hence"
"Yes," he said, 1--WE have a round
trip to make in between SC you have
lots Of time to make your arrange
ments."
Finally, I promised to go; we fin
ished a game Of crib, and toddled off
b. bed
: Next morning, as he stood at my
gate ready to catch his train. Tom sud-
denly looked up at me, smiling. Don't
forget to bring a big telescope with you,
Professor. But please do not mention
It in the meantime, as I don't want 1t
In the papers until the experiment Is
over. ae ! must protect my patents"
promised, Of course, and after Tom
bad eone, put the matter on n side,
being busy with my many duties.
When / stepped on board the Smell
tic for the appointed trip. l found that
there were, on the usual large passen-
ger list, the names Of two OF New
FORKS young multi-millionaireA John
8. Whimple and Sol Stifenheimer,
both Of whom had made their millions
IN steel. Besides these was a Slr Ar
thur Bentham, q young English baro-
net, with heaps Of inherited money. I
metely mention these three as later
they come somewhat prominently into
the story.
But the finest stateroom in the ship
had been taken by a strikingly hand
rome young lady, o Miss Galena Win
STONE, who appeared to be travelling
alone with her maid, and whose beauty
0u0 ESlfUC1tJ Viz" ~ atlChtioAA,
especially when 1t became known that
she was a great heiress In her own
right from some place in California.
You may be sure It was not very long
before she had all three young million
aires l have mentioned literally and
metaphorically at her feet.
Enjoyable weather, pleasant COM
pany and a brisk little wireless paper
published daily made things pass pleas
antly. I saw little Of my friend, Tom
RIdgrave, as he was perpetua1ly busy,
while I remained most OF the time on
deck getting the benefit Of the fresh
air and making some observations with
my large telescope In the evenings.
There was one little incident, how
sver. that slightly impressed me at the
time, aud 90 may be worth mentioning.
~ ~ wsse a~pnreAchlng Qaseustewa.