The Delta independent., 1906-03-09

I Ssso@esS
pending danger as did Montrus. the m
| ortunate commander-inchief OF tn
small military forces.
Commander in Despair.
He had been dean of the Departmen
Of electricity in the national univez
sity. when transferred to the mtlitar1
service, having. prior to this been q
instructor in one of the national mill
tary schools. In appearance he wa
scholastic, his figure spare and beuf
his hair and eyes gray, and his lac
-Iin-jowled.
He was alone in his ONCE, LOOKING
out of the window across the Potoma'
the only inactive figure in the wa
Department-wheno one of his aides On
.ered the room.
"Curtis had been located" said tha
aide. -He is at Kiel. We got his sig
nal followed by some code which y
being transcribed"
Another aide came in.
Curtis says he is effectually hidden,
and can send electrigraphs II We can
AXE them"
'Where is he?" asked Montrus eager.
~.
Scouting the Upper Air.
''He says he Is out of the path OF
their scouts. and thinks he II safely
posted. He must be above them"
"Can you reach him?"
"we have. but he warns US not TO
Try often. 1 suppose his position Il
precarious at best"
Tell him to send what he can" an
swered Montrus. IN go into tie
tower to take It."
A hundred yards farther us the Po-
'omac. stood gigantic tower, the exact
longitude and latitude of which was
burned in the memory OF every opera
tive in the secret service. To this,
Montus and his aides hastened, being
carried directly to the summit BY q lift
While the aides adjusted the films
and reflector of the electro-photogyar
pher. Montrus stood at the railing look
ing out over the peaceful river Dcene
and drumming his fingers on the wood
en- bars.
81 think it is coming" said one Of
Of the aides finally; and the general
stepped over to adjust about his head
the hood which shut all light from
the eyes looking at the reflector.
Locking Across the Ocean.
At drst this remained in black and
luky hucSS. ucu Cx1uc AttlC Wav0
Of dim light which rippled across tts
surface. These ripples became strong
er; indistinct shapes, unrecognizAble
and mystic. seemed to rise out Of its
depths. They cleared away. and there
grew up in their place the forms Of .
city,s roofs and towers. which stood
revealed in distinct outlines for mo-
ment and then seemed to drop further
and further down into the reflector.
White, feecy clouds came between
the eye and the city's roofs. the lat
ter growing less and less distinct
There was a sweep Of a dark object
athwart the clouds. 1t crossed the en-
tire reflector, blotting II out In black
ness again. but light followed almost
instantly. Again nothing but the white
clouds. but finally q far-o6 flock Of
specks, which came nearer and nearer
until they stood out each distinctly and
separately, clear-cut In outline and
identity. There they stood.
Aerial Torpedo Beats.
Moutrus almost held his breath rs he
ran his eyes over them. For ten min
utes he studied. Then he drew the
hood from his head. and looked out
over the river scene again
"A hundred. should say" he re-
marked at last, quietly. but in great
twenty-four hours from the time those
those hundred torpedo ships viii be
here. Tell Curtis we've seen enough.
With that he went back to his ofilce.
and in moodiness took his post by the
window again. Nothing he could plan
could avert the calamity he had SEN
in readiness Presently one Of the
aides came In again.
"a government electrician Is out
side" he announced. "and insists on
seeing you. We have done everything
to get rid Of him but throw him off the
grounds"
The man stepped and waited expect
antly.
Tell him" said Montrus angrily
but stopped. Let him in," he con
cluded. sullenly.
Young Inventor to the Rescue.
The aide went out and came bach
with the shock-headed electrician who
had spent the night before by the bule,
tin-boArd. His embarrassment was
great, but his earnestness equalled 1t
The former showed In his awkward
posture and twitching fingers; the lat
ter, In the direct look VIA ra.Ia a..
sought the generals eyes.
"Well," exclaimed Muntrds, sharply.
Al have a concentfator-I want you
to look at It'll thought" he began
excitedly. but ended hrokenly in the
face Of 4 cold stare from Montrus.
"Here It H." he concluded, unfolding
the prints.
MontrUs east one careless and a
second Interested glance at the plans.
We drew. up chair and studied them.
the mooalAess giving away 10 keen mp
probation. TheA he pushed them
sYou seem "a have something" he
said, "soFas ether time u there's