Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19

| tne QeaQ man NIP pocket. hent TOOK IL,
and dropped to his knees again. The deaf
ening rattle of firearms filled the air. Cough
| ing a little from the smoke, the scientist
clawed at the shattered woodwork
There's the wire' he said in tone of
quiet satisfaction.
He rose, perfectly self possessed. Come,
he said, 1--WE saved two Shots"
"F-F-For what?' stammered the Assistant
District Attorney
"For Overflow if he should force me to it.
He'll send no more messages
"Overton! Were the death messages his?"
cried Chalmers in wild amazement. what
secret has he found that can blast the life
out of three men at word?'
Il will show YOU, said Kent.
He raped sharply at Overton's door.
There was no response.
"Mr. Overflow he called, "a man has been
shot! Have you any brandy there:?"
Silence from within.
well have to break the door, said Kent.
Standing back, he sent the heel of his boot
smashing against the lock. The door gave.
A shoulder thrust did the rest. Revolver in
hand, Kent entered the room, followed by
Chalmers 1t was a superbly furnished
library, in which the only discordant note
was large steamer trunk, against the side
wall near the door. A heavily wound wire
ran from the trunk to the electric chandelier.
One glance at this satisfied Kent. He turned
to closed door at the farther end of the
room, leading to Overtons sleeping apart
ments in the rear of the building and stood
facing it with his revolver at the ready.
"Open the trunk, Chalmers!7 he said.
TheAssistant District Attorney did so. The
lifted lid disclosed mass of coils and wires.
what is it," asked the lawyer
"A transformer of course " was the reDV
"Now move the trunk from the wall, and see
if you find a small wire.
ayes, here it is. 1t runs through small
opening in the wall
"Where it connects with the telephone
wire passing up to the receiver in the booth.
Perfectly simple for a practical electrician,
such as Overton used to be. With his trans
former he could throw all the current of the
electric light wire, powerful enough to kill a
man in few seconds, into the telephone
connection. AS the receiver is wound with
metal, and as one has to lift the metal
bound transmitter to talk comfortably the
circuit was an excellent one. SO there you
have the death message
"But the messages themselves? What
were they?"
"Merely decoys. Anything to get the men
to this telephone. You will notice that both
Staley's and Halls calls-and undoubtedly
MAYORS will prove the same-came from
telephones in sight of the rear of the club. y
"Then Overton had only to signal from
his windows that the victim was on this
floor of the club, and the call followed?'
Exactly. If he could get them to this
phonetic movement of finger, and it
was done
"But the other messages and warnings?'
"All ingeniously devised to support the
theory of death through shock from the
final message. Our friend Overton is muir
derer with fine sense of detail"
THE rear door opened and Overton ap-
peared. The muzzle of Kent's revolver
instantly pointed at his stomach.
mo need" said the financier with a
flourish, standing and smiling at ease. al
merely stepped in to confirm your theory
Had known when met you that you were
Professor Chester Kent, | should have post
poned my demonstration.
you're my prisoner, Overton!" said Chal-
mers harshly.
Hardly that, if you will pardon the con-
tradiction,' returned the other. He was
ashy pale; but he spoke with full-voiced
courtesy. knowing electricity as l do,
have no taste for the chair. Therefore, |
beg you to excuse me.
The door closed SharD1v Chalmers SDrano