New-York tribune., 1906-11-11

: :
manded.
Certainly saw itl" blurted the reporter
6 not only saw it. | smelled it. lust TO con-
vince myself that it was real tossed my cane
in front of the thing, and it smashed 1t to
toothpcks."
Perhaps. then. if everything is as YOU say.
the auto actually has wings" remarked the
scientist.
You mean." Hatch inquired eagerly. that
the phantom may be auto-aeroplane affair.
and that it actually does flys"
Its not at all impossible"
"I had an idea of something like that my
self" Hatch explained, and questioned every
person within a mile or so; but | didn't get
anything"
The perfect stretch Of road there might be
the very place for some daring experimenter
to get up sufficient speed to soar a short dis
tance in a light machine" continued the SCI
enlist.
Light machinel" Hatch repeated. did
] tell YOU that this car had four people in it"
-Four peopel" exclaimed the scientist.
Dear mel Dear mel That makes it very
different: OF course, four people would be too
great a lift for"
webby lines appeared in his dome like brow.
Then he queried, q" | suppose what YOU really
want to learn is If the car IS IA material one,
and to whom it belongs?"
That it," agreed the reporter.
do YOU happen to know fast, long dis
tance bicycle rider?" demanded the scientist
abruptly. "If you can arrange with fast
rider who can go distance of thirty, forty,
or fifty miles, We may end this little affair
without difficulty"
Under these circumstances Professor Van
Dusen met the famous Jimmie Thalhauer, the
worlds champion long distance bicyclist. He
held every record from five miles up to and
including SIX hours, had twice won the six
day race, and was altogether master in his
field.
You ride the bicyce?" inquired the SCI
enlist.
Well, some." confessed the champion mod
estly.
Can You keep up with an automobile for
distance of say thirty or forty miles?"
Il can keep up with anything that amt got
wings" was the response.
The Thinking Machine examined the cham
pion as a curiosity. In the seclusion of his
laboratory he had never had an opportunity
of meeting just such worldly Young person.
How fast can you ride, Mr.. Thalhauerl"
he asked at last.
I'm ashamed to tell you," confded the
champion in hushed voice Il can ride SO
fast that | scare myself He paused mo-
ment. But it seems to me-" he said, If
there's thirty or forty miles to do. l ought to
do 1t on a motor cycle"
Now that just the point" explained The
Thinking Machine. "A motor cycle makes
noise, and if anything of that sort could have
been used we should have hired a fast auto
you to ride without lights behind an auto
mobile which may also without lights.
and find out where 1t goes. No occupant of
the car must suspect that it is followed
Without hghtS?" repeated the champion.
" Gee! Rubber shoe. Ell?
The Thinking Machine looked his bewilder-
-Ge:.t
leS that's it." Hatch answered for him.
50 arrangements We're concluded, and then
and there The Thinking Machine gave definite
and conclusive instructions TO the champion
While these apparently bore broadly on the
problem III hand, thev conveyed absolutely
no mixing of his plan tc he reporter. At the
end the champion rose go.
on re most extraordinary Young man,
Mr.. Thalhauer," commented TL- Thinking
Machine, not without admiration for the
sturdy, powerful figure
Night Utter blackness, relieved only by
white, ribbon like road which winds away
r..lstily under a StarleSs sky. Shadowv hedges
line either side, and occasionally a tree thru,ts
itself upward out of the somberneSS. The
nurmur of human voices in the shadows, then
the cracking chug of an engine. and an auto
mobile moves slowly, without lights, into the
road. There is the sudden clatter of an engine
at high speed, and the car ruShes away
From the hedge comes the faint rustic of
leaves as OF wind stirring, then figure moves
impalpably. n moment and it becomes a sep