The Greeley tribune., 1906-03-08
Commander in Dcso...r.

t' naiA anu SyeS gray, ana MS lact
Aln-iowled.
| He was alono in his Office, looking
OUT oil the window across the Potomac
tho only inactive figure in the Wal
Department-when one of his aides en-
cred the room.
Curtis had been located" said the
alde. He is at kiel. We got his sig
nal followed by some code which il
being transcribed"
Another aide came in.
Curtis says he is effectually hidden,
ana can send electriGraphs il we can
AXE them"
"Where is hc?" asked Montrus eager
~.
Scouting the Upper Air.
He says he is out of the path of
| their scouts, and thinks he is safely
posted. He must be above them"
Can you reach him?'
I'VE have. but he warns us not to
try often. | suppose his position is
precarious at best"
Tell him to send what he can," an
swered Montrus. I'm go into the
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 fastened, being
carried directly to the summit by a lift
While the aides adjusted the films
and reflector of the electro -photogra-
pher, Montrus stood at the railing look
ing out over the peaceful river scene
and drumming his fingers on the wood.
en- bars.
Il 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.
Looking Across the Ocean.
AT first this remained in black and
inky darkness. Then came little waves
Of dim light which rippled across its
surface. These ripplCs 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 a
citys roofs and towers, which stood
| revealed in distinct outlines for a mo-
| ment and then seemed to drop further
and further down into the reflector.
White, fleeCy clouds came between
the eye and the city's roofs, the lat
| ter growing less and less distinct.
| There was a sweep of Il dark object
athwart the clouds. 1t crossed the en-
tire reflector. blotting it out in black
| ness again, but light followed almost
instantly. Again nothing but the white
| clouds, but finally q far-off 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 Boats.
| Montrus almost held his breath as 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, l should say he re
marked at last, quietly, but in great
bitterness. Every one ready. IN
twenty four hours from the time those
awful fools in Congress declare war,
those hundred torpedo ships VIII be
here. Tell Curtis we've seen enough.
With that he went back to his office
and in moodineSS took his post by the
| window again. Nothing he could plan
could avert the calamity he had seen
| 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 stopped and waited expect
antly.
"Tell him" said Montrus ansrily'
| Int stoned. Let him in," he con
cluded, sullenly.
Young Inventor to the Rescue.
The aide went out and came back
with the shock headed electrician VINO
had spent the night before by the bulle-
tin-board. His embarrassment was
great, but his earnestness equalied II;
The former showed in his awkward
nosture and twitchinG fingers; the lat
fer in the direct look with which ne
sought the generals eyes.
well" exclaimed Montrus, Sharply
81 have a concentrator-I want you
tn lool, at it-I thought" he began
eycitedly, but ended brokenly in tue
face of cold stare from Moptrus;.
Here it is" he concluded, unfolding
the prints. ,5 .
Montrus cast one careless ana
second interested glance at the pishS'
Hs drew up a chair and studied tneA'
the moodiness giving away to Keen ap-
preciation. Then he pushed tneAh
away. Il,
"You seem to have somethins' ne
cold "Some other time, if there's
opvtbin- left of this country, some
other time I'll look at them. But not
now. l can't now
Death to Distant Fleet.
"nut Won don't understand" ex-
claimed Atsins. quickly and vehement,
1v "Now's the time. don't you seeE
That will direct a million volts-tWo
million volts-accurately. to any dls-
tapce at any object. Man, If II WORKS.