New-York tribune., 1907-06-09
THE SILVER BOX
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silver 1.N-u vanity h'N-ou Mis- VIM
thr.ps desk, beside the telephone. then took
ID -e.t beside Grav-.u and began o. dis. g.ur-e
almost pleasantly upon the prevailing Inetcoro-
logical conditions Gray-nn merely stared;
Mis- Winthrop continued her reading
Professor Augustus =. f. y Van Du-eu. dis
rrGulehyd scientist. and Hutchinson Hatch,
paper reporter. were p3slug round among
the chimney pots and other oustruotltus ON
the roof Of 4 -ky-.r1per Far below them the
-Iumber cn-hr'udcd city Wa spread out like
o. panorama. streets dotted brilliantly with are
lights. and roofs LIZIE visible through the
ui-t- of night. Above the infinite bIa,kuv=S
hung Ike veil, with star points brcakng
through here and there.
Here are the wircs," Hatch said at last,
and he stopped.
The Thlnbing Machine kuclt on the roof be-
side him. and Tor several minutes they IT.
manned thus in the darkness, with only the
glow of an electric flash 90 Indicate their pres
cucc Finally The Thinking Machine rose
That the wire YOU want. Mr.. Hatch" he
sand. I'm leave the rest OF 1t to YOU.
Are You sure;' asked the reporter.
3" am always sure" was the tart response.
Hatch opened a small hand satchel and re-
moved several quccrly wrought tools. These
he spread on the roof beside him: then, knccl-
ing again, began his work, For half an hour
or SO he laborcd in the gloom, with only the
electric flash to aid him, and then he rose.
Its all right" he said.
The Thinking Machine examined the work
that had been done. gruuted ms satisfaction,
and together they went To the skyhght
leaving a thin, insulated wire behind thcm
stringng along TO mark their path. They
passed down through the roof, and into the
darkncss OF the hall of the upper story. Here
the light was cxtIngujshtd. From far below
came the faint echo of a mans footsteps As
= h.. .-rl.sr
| serted building
BE ,aretuil" warned The Thinking Ma
chine
! Along the hall to a room in the rear they
went; and stllI the wire traiIed behind. NJ the
! last door they stopped The Thinking Machine
! tumblcd with some KEYS, then opened the way
! Here electric light w,l~ going. The room
was bare of furniture, the only sign OF recent
| occupancy being telephone instrument on
| the wall
Here The Thinking Machine stopped and
| stared at the spool OF wire which he had per-
united To wind of as he walked and his thin
| face expressed doubt.
Is 1t wouldn't be safe ne said at last, TO
| leave the wire exposed as We have left II. True,
this floor IS not occupied: but some one might
| pass up this way and disturb it. You take
the spool, 60 back to the roof, winding the wire
aS You 20, then swing the spool down to me
| over the side SO | can bring it in the window.
| That will bc best | Will catch 1t here and
thus there will be nothing to Indicate any
| Connection
Hatch went out quietly and closed the door.
Twice the following day The Thinking
| Machine spoke to the tinancier over the tele-
! phone. Grayson was in his private office, Miss
| Winthrop ut her desk, when the first call came.
| BE careful in answering my questions -
| warned The Thinking Machine when Grayson
| answered. ." Do YOU know how long Miss
! Winthrop has owned the little silver box which
| Is now on her desk, near the tclephone,'
| Grayson glanced round involuntariy to
where the girl sat idly turning over the leaves
of her book. Yes" he answered for seven
months. gave it last Christmas"
| "Ahl' exclaimed the scientist. THAT sim
plities matters Where did YOU buy it
Graysou mentioned the name of a well known
| jcweler
| Good by" came the Voice of the scientist,
and the connection was broken.
| Considerably later in the day The Thinking
Machine called Graysou TO the telephone again.
What make Of typewriter does she use" "
came the querulouS voice over the wire.
Grayson named II.
| Good by"
While Grayson sat with deeply perpeXed
lines IN his face, the diminutive scientist called
upon Hutchinson Hatch at his office. The re-
porter was Just starting out.
Do You a typewriter demanded The