The Washington times., 1907-12-22
copyright, 1907. By the Frank A. Nunsey Co.
CHAPTER II (contiuued).
A Streak Of White.

NO; It's not Just about the time
We begin to feel positive that all is
Sell. something usually happens"
Grafton turned to him with an Cx-
preston Of mock hopolessness.
Jim. I'm afraid that something's
wrong with you-you ssem to have q
sort Of c-oaking fl on this evening"
Not At ALL but"
And the best way 70 dispeI Il will
be TO como along now and see the
trimnest suite OF offices in the whole
establishment-ny own. Just switch
on the current. Parker. will you? TIL
take Mr. ElBford up in the elevator.
The watchman travelling noiselessi,
In his felt-soled shoes, moved away t.,
the rear Of the lower corridor. 4
switch snapped down, and he called
All right. sir"
"All right. Parker.
Grafton stepped into the elevator
and pointed silently to the quietly
decorated sides.
Ever see anything neater. Jim?"
Never. I'll own UP 10 IT."
He shifted the controller, and the
little car glided noiselessly up the long
shaft.
There was not jar, not hitch. II
all things in the Grafton building
worked rs perfectly as the lifts. her
owner had just cause for pride.
Second" he announced playfully.
"Out sir3"
THANK you. no." ia shed Elsford.
i IN going up TO see tiie proprietor OF
the building
Ninth floor then. And-loob
here!' Grafton broke IN enthusiastic
ally Just suppose. for the fun Of
the thing, that all the hoisting ma
cldnery should give way at once"
Thank you, In not particularly
anxious TO-"
Oh. you won't be killed-that's
what I want TO demonstrate. Now.
here we are between the second and
third floors. By throwing of this
clutch, L can release, practically,
everything that holds us up. See?
And having done that, this ciner-
sncy brake steps right I'm automatic
lily and stops the descent within three
feet ct the outside. Hold your breath.
lin
The car, starting upward gently,
suddenly dropped. Elsford gasped
aloud. and then shut his teeth togeth-
er quito abruptly.
With a loud snap the car had
stopped hardly yard below its orig
inal position.
There" laughed Grafton. as the
echo OF the sound died away through
the empty building. THAT IS the only
case IN which these cars make a
sound. Come here and see how if
works"
Elsford bent over with him. and for
a minute or two Grafton pointed out
this or that bit of mechanism and ex-
plained its manner OF working When
he straightehed up again the car
moved slowly toward the ninth story
once mere.
The Streak Of White.
Gently as ever it rose. past the third
and the fourth and the NTH floors.
Ever see anything to beat II for
mechanism Grafton half turned to
the other as the sixth fcor ap-
preached.
Never It's john
The car, arrested by Grafton's sud
den push. came TO an abrupt standstill.
Elsford, fTowning slightly. looked at
the owner Of the building. and the
owner OF the building returned his
puzzIed gaze.
well. Jim?'
''well-what are we stopping forY''
For the same reason, imagine,
that caused your sudden exclamation
A minute or so ago."
Then you saw it. too2'
Grafton had turned to a survey OF
the wall before him. across the cor
ridor Of the sixth floor. He was
studying it with some interest.
We'll, I did fancy that something
caught my eye. jim"
And so did I-something mighty
Indefinite. What the dickens was st,
anyway
Grafton scratched his head
My only impression is that OF a
streak OF something white, lingering
Tor an instant On that wall and' then
disappearing as rapidly as It came"
Correct. It was there for Just the
smallest fraction OF a second and then
it vanished"
Yes, it was certainly a mighty short
visitation. JIM" muttered Grafton.
1T was-pshawi suppose II was i'm
dgination."
"On both your part and mine. and
at the same instant? That's hardly
likely. That streak Of white must
have been a reflection from some OF
the plated work IN the car here"
Then why diGn't one or the other
Of Us see ii on one Of the lower floors.
and where has it gone now?0
Grafton lVuShed with some annoy
anee. Elsford shrugged his shoulders.
Il give 1t mp. John You'd better
DADA Eou~