Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-06

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him. 1t would have appeared to his
mind too absurd to be entertained
still. he felt that he needed the aid
of the police, as the butler had suggest
ed, but it must be secret aid. 1t must
never be known-least of all TO bis
servants. He, of course, had the means
of securing secrecy. at least as far as
secrecy is humanity possible, for money
can shut as well as open all mouths.
A million dollars would be bagatelle
to William Grayman If it guarded his
family from scandal.
His mind was made up as to the ac~
ton that be should take. In his ordi-
nary manner. ut his usual hour, he
summoned his wits. Before leaving
the house he called for the house
| keeper.
Il was a little rude in my excite
ment this morning" he said to her,
| "and 1t was all so absurd II was due
TO my forgetfulness. inspired by intense
application to business. My daughter
may be absent some time. She went
away quietly with Susan last night to
stay with some friends out OF town.
but her absences are so infrequent and
! I am so accustomed to seeing her at
the breakfast table that the fact really
| slipped my mind IN the midst Of so
many cares, and I made a useless
scene. which 1 regret"
Grayman was almost a match for
/ Captain Alfonso Payton in the perfec-
/ ton of his discrimination. and the
/ housekeeper solemnly accepted his
/ statement
| Mr.. Grayman rode to his Office and
/ Immediately summoned Police Com
/ missioner Braman by telephone. That
| official did not think it beneath his
/ dignity instantly TO answer a call to
1 the office of william Grayman. call
! that came from the Millionaire himself
When the commissioner arrived
Grayman took him into his innermost
sanctum and Immediately aStonished
him beyond measure
commissioner" he said. my daugn-
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 mOmentr' said Grayman.
Understand that this is q profound
secret and must remain so. | will
make 1t 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:
Now. tell me what you will do.
What is your planT''
The commissioner begged for little
time to think it over.
Il can have no plan yet" he said.
''but I'll find one With your permits
sion I'll send a confidential man to
your house and get a basis for further
action"
VERY we'll" said Grayman; ''let it be
done. But remember my restriction.
Not a 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.
aDce 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 tinance-se-
crets that could be intrUsted only TO
soundless ether. He put the receiver
to his ear.
"HelloF' came a voice that be did
not recognize. Reply undirected."
This meant that Grayman should re-
spond with a hello" sent out by IN
directed waves. rsdiating on all sides,
SO that they would reach the original
speaker whatever MS lOCdIOI AAAS HI
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 10 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 that 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 his
syptonized instrument, duly numbered,
which responded only to limited set