The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-10-20

SECRET
ton Of his discrimination, and the
housekeeper solemnlyl accepted his
statement
Mr.. Grayman rode to his office and
Immediately summoned Police Com.
missioner Braman by telephone. That
official did not think 1t beneath his
dignity instantly to answer a call to
the Office of William Grayman. a call
that came from the billionaire himself.
When the commissioner arrived
Grayman took him into his innermost
sanctum and Immediately astonished
him beyond measure.
Commissioner, he said. my daugh.
ter disappeared last night from my
house. and want you to find out what
has become of her."
The commissioner caught his breath.
"Your daughter! Disappeared~ he
gasped.
stop a momentw said Grayman.
Understand that this is a profound
secret and must remain so. / will
make it worth your while to shut the
mouth Of every detective that you en-
ploy. No questions must be asked of
the servants that could possibly lead
them to suspect that an inquiry is on
foot. They think that my daughter
has gone away on a visit. You can
draw on me for any amount at any
time until the girl is found. Now,
listen"
And Grayman proceeded to tell the
story Of the morning. When he had
finished he asked in his blunt auto
cratic way:
Nov, tell me what you will do.
What is your planY
The commissioner begged for little
time to think it over.
IT can have no plan yet" he said,
''but I'll find one. With your permits
sion I'll send confidential man to
your house and get basis for further
action"
every WELL" said Grayman; '1et 1t be
done. But remember my restriction.
Not word must escape anywhere
not a single word or hint"
The chief promised the most abso-
lutte secrecy and, with great perturba-
ton Of mind, returned in all haste to
headquarters.
When Mr.. Grayman was left alone
his self command relaxed. His daugh,
ter was dearer to him than his for
tune. He could not drive the agoniz-
ing thought of her strange disappear
ance from his mind. 1t unnamed
him. He refused all callers, pretend
ing to be too busy to see any one. 1t
was the most uncomfortable morning
he had ever spent.
Toward noon the wireless telephone
bell in his sanctum rang sharply. Only
his exclusive intimates ever called him
up here. The apparatus was reserv-
ed for the secrets of high finance-se-
crets that could be intrusted only to
soundless ether. He put the receiver
to bis ear. 49,.
"Hellop came a voice that he did
not recognize. "Reply undlrected-"
This meant that Grayman should re-
spond with "hello" sent out by I'M
waves, radiating on all sides,
so that they would reach the original
speaker whatever his location might
be. This, as those who are familiar
with the early history of wireless teleg'
raphy know, was at first the only way
in which messages could be sent. and
many years were spent in fruitless eff
forts to direct them to definite places
and thus prevent them from being
picked up by Tom, Dick or Harry at
all points of the compass. Fortunately
all that, even at the time Of which
am writing. had been completely mas
tered, although the original method
was still occasionally employed for
special purposes. as in the present
case. SO complete. indeed. was the
solution of the problem shat wireless
telegraph and telephone messages had
already become as exclusive as by the
ancient telegraph system. Each sub
scriber, as at the present day, had bis
syntonized instrument, duly numbered.
which responded only to a limited set
of waves, which might be compared