Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-09
THE SILVER BOX
Continued from page 10

silver bOX-a vanity bOX-On Miss VIM
throps desk, beside the telephone, then took
almost pleasantly upon the prevailing meteoro-
logical conditions. Grayson merely stared;
Miss Winthrop continued her reading.
Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen, dis
tinguished scientist, and Hutchinson Hatch,
newspaper reporter, were poking round among
the chimney pots and other distractions on
the roof Of a skyscraper. Far below them the
slumbrr enshrouded city was spread out like
a panorama, streets dotted brilliantly with arc
lights, and roofs hazily visible through the
msts of night. Above, the infinite blackness
hung like a veil, with star points breaking
through here and there.
Here are the wires Hatch said at last,
and he stopped
The Thinking Machine knelt on the roof be-
side him, and for several minutes they re-
manned thus in the darkness, with only the
glow of an electric flash to indicate their pres
ence. Finally The Thinking Machine rose.
That's the wire you want Mr.. Hatch" he
said. III leave the rest of it to you"
Are you surel" asked the reporter.
81 am always sure" was the tart response.
Hatch opened small hand satchel and re-
moved several queerly wrought tools. These
ing again, began his work. For half an hour
or so he labored in the gloom, with only the
electric fash to aid him, and then he rose.
Its all right" he said.
that had been done, grunted his satisfaction,
and together they went to the. skyllght,
leaving thin insulated wire behind them,
stringing along to mark their path: They
passed down through the roof, and into the
darkness of the hall of the upper story. Here
the light was extinguished. From far below
came the faint echo of mans footsteps as
the Waterman passed through the silent de-
serted building.
BE CAREFUL" warned The Thinking Ma
chine
Along the hall to room in the rear they
went, and still the wire trailed behind At the
last door they stopped. The Thinking Machine
| fumbed with some keys, then opened the way.
Here an electric light was going: The room
was bare of furniture, the only sign of recent
occupancy being a telephone instrument on
the wall
Here The Thinking Machine stopped and
| stared at the spool of wire which he had per-
mitted to wind off as he walked, and his thin
face expressed doubt.
/" 1t wouldn't be SAFE he said at last to
leave the wire exposed we have left it. True,
this floor is not occupied; but some one might
pass up this way and disturb it. You take
as you go, then swing the spool down to me
over the side SO | can bring it in the window.
That will be best. l will catch it 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 financier over the tele-
phone. Grayson was in his private Office, Miss
Winthrop at 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 telephone!"
Grayson glanced round Involuntary to
where the girl sat idly turning over the leaves
of her book. Yes, he answered; "for seven
months. gave it last Christmas"
"Ahi" exclaimed the scientist. "That SIM
plifies matters. Where did YOU buy it :"
Grayson mentioned the name of well known
jeweler.
Good by" came the voice of the scientist,
and the connection was broken.
Considerably later in the day The Thinking
Machine called Grayson to the telephone again.
What make of typewriter does she user
came the querulous voice over the wire.
Grayson named it.
Good by"
While Grayson sat with deeply perplexed
lines in his face, the diminutive scientist called
upon Hutchinson Hatch at his office The re-
porter was just starting out
Do you use typewriter" demanded The
Thinking Machine.
Yes"
what kind?'
ooh, four or five kinds-we have half
dozen varieties in the Office. l can use any of
them"