Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-09

from the reporter, and his ear was within a few
inches of the machine. For half a minute he
sat there listening, then shook his head.
Strike your voweS, he commanded;
" first slowly, then rapidly"
Again Hatch obeyed, while the scientist
listened. And again he shook his head. Then
in turn every make of machine in the Office
was tested the same way. At the end The
Thinking Machine rose and went his way.
There was an expression nearly approaching
complete bewilderment on his face, as he went
out.
For hour after hour that night The Thinking
Machlne malt lay IN huge chair in his labora-
tory, with eyes turned uncompromisingly up-
ward, and an expression of complete concen-
trat1on on his face. There was no change
either IN his position or his gaze as minute sue
ceeded minute; the brow was deeply wrinkled
now and the thin line of the lips was drawn
taut The tiny clock in the reception room
struck ten eleven, twelve, and finally one At
just half-past one The Thinking Machine rose
suddenly
Positively I am getting stupid" he grum-
bled half aloud. of course! Of counsel Why
couldn't l have thought of that in the first
placer"
So it came about that Grayson did not 90 to
his office on the following morning at the usual
time. Instead he called again upon The
Thinking Machine in eager, expectant response
to note which had reached him at his home
just before he started to his office.
Nothing yet" said The Thinking Machine
as the fnancier entered. But here is some
thing you must do to-day, What time does
the Stock Exchange closee":
Three o'clock" was the reply
Well, at one o'clock" the scientist went on
you must issue orders for gigantic deal of
some sort; and you must issue them precisely
as you have issued them in the past; there
must be no variation Dictate the letters as
you have always done to Miss Winthrop but
don't send them. When they come to you,
keep them until you see me-"
You mean that the deal must be purely
imagnative?" inquired the fnancier.
Precisely" was the reply. But make your
instructions circumstantial: give them enough
detail to make them absolutely convincing"
And hold the letters?"
Hold the letters" the other repeated
The leak comes before you receive them.
don't want to know or have an idea of what
mythical deal it is to be-; but issue your orders
at one o'clock"
Grayson asked dozen questions, answer to
which was curtly denied, then went to his
Office. The Thinking Machine again called
Hatch to the telephone.
I've got it,, he announced briefly. 81
want the best telegraph operator you know.
Bring him along and meet me in the room on
the top floor where the telephone is at precisely
fifteen minutes of one o'clock to-day"
Telegraph OPERATOR" Hatch repeated.
THAT'S what l said-telegraph operator"
replied the scientist irritably. Good by"
Hatch smiled whimsically at the other end
smiled because he knew the eccentric ways of
this singular man, whose mind so accurately
Illuminated every problem to which it was di-
rected. Then he went out to the telegraph
room and borrowed the principal operator.
They were in the little room on the top floor
at precisely fifteen minutes of one.
The operator glanced about in astonish-
ment. The room was still unfinished, save
for the telephone box on the wall.
What do dor" he asked.
"I'll tell you when the time comes" re-
sponded the scientist, as he glanced at his
watch.
At three minutes of one o'clock he handed a
sheet of blank paper to the operator, and gave
his final instructions Hold the telephone
receiver to your ear and write on this what You
hear" he drec+ed 1T may be several min
utes before yol. hear anything When you do
tell me So
There was ludicrous mystifcation on the
operators face; but he obeyed orders, grinnng
cheerfully at Hatch as he tilted his cigar up to
keep the smoke out of his eyes. The Thinking
Machine stood impatiently looking on, watch
in hand. Hatch didn't know what was hap
pening; but he was tremendously interested.
And at last the operator heard something
His face became suddenly alert. He continued
to listen for moment, and then came a smile
of recognition as he turned to the scientist
Its good old Morse, all right" he an
nounced; but it's the queerest sort of sounder
/ ever read"