Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-02-16

Glad to see you in London, Lang
ton," he said, cordially. l introduced
him to Crewe. and we passed the
usual platitudes concerning the
weather and Englands value as holi-
day resort. His conversation certainly
seemed rational enough. 1t was not
until we spoke of machinery that
Shay's alteration became manifest.
What brings you to London, Lang
ton?" he asked. "Holiday-making?
"A little matter of business" l an
swered evasivc:y And you?'
Shays manner changed His face
became coHtortet,, his excitement was
intense.
40 gain the recognition that I am
denied Ey jealous competitors in
America" he cried. 'Langton, have
made the greatest discovery of the
century-perpetual motion. have in
vented a machine that will harness
the suns heat and provide the earth
with substitute for coal, that will
suppl unlimited power and abolish
half tie electrical mechanism of the
day. And why will no one listen to
ne, either here or in my own coun-
Try? Because the interests are ar.sd
in dastardly plot to crush me-" he
shouted. because they prefer their
present wealth TO benefiting the hui
man race. Half the water companies
would go bankrupt, Langton, for can
tI,.N, hrir q
fire. out of the earth-I can work mir
acles with my machine"
How is it made?" asked Crewe.
Shay's face became instantly COM
posed. He looked at him in cunning
manner.
/ Tn not so easy as that" he said
with jcer. But l will tell you the
principle OF the secret. 1t is combi-
nation Of centrifugal and centripetal
power. I am per1e2tirg few investi-
! cations" he went on. smiling inscruta-
bly,. which will bring the mechanism
to its highest point of utility. And
then, il the world scorns me, l will
) give some practical demonstrations
: that will never be forgotten"
SHAY" interposed, Il have a mes
! sage for you from your brother which
he asked me to deliver if I should
come across you. You sent him no
! address. lie wants you to try and get
! Lack next month to take a contract
| for equipping his factory. He says
that your presence would be neces
| sary-'
shay squared his shoulders, threw
hanl- H:r head and hurst into a. roar of
malignant laughter.
$50 they s. Mt you after me, Lang
ton," he guffawed. "You must think
me easy. You want to get me back"
! he continued, catching me by the coat
lapel, ito put me in a lunatic asylum.
! That is the last move of the interests,
; and my brother, my poor brother,
| whom they have corrupted with their
! filthy gold. Langton, you cannot extra
| dite a man for lunacy. If I were as
raving as you you couldn't touch me
when the British flag protects NE.
| Get OUT" lie concluded, with singular
violence I'll have no more to say to
| you"
MY dear Mr.. Shay" I protested,
feeling uncommonly foolish.
Get outl" he reared. "You and
your friend. If set eyes on either of
| you again I'll fix you. I'll mash you
small, I'll break every bone in your
| bodies and I'll deposit them in the
! middle of the Earl's Court road of the
consistency of a plum pudding"
"Well, Langton, the next move is
up to you," said Crewe, laughing, as
we strolled away. Hes an uncom-
monty intelligent mailman, and the
i prospect is that he'll land in some
British asylum instead of running into
the net you so patiently exposed for
him."
The chances of fulfilling my mis-
sion did look small to me. I went to
bed very detected and awoke still
more so. Opening my morning paper
l saw three-column headline in black
than in America.
The story gave the details Of muir
der. The body of an elderly man had
been found, every bone broken to
pieces. Even a fall from a roof top
| could not have effected that terrific
| destruction, said the account, for the
head was driven right into the ground.
The only possible explanation was
rl,+ G,1 oil
thousand feet from balloon.
But what horriied me .as Uhis
The body had been found five hun
dred yards from Earl's Court Exhibit
/ ton, and in the middle of the Earl's
rushed into my mind. l hurried round
to Crewe.
81 think the balloon explanation the
only possible one" he said, when |
had unfolded my fears. you are over
wrought, Langton. Put Shay out of
your mind; his words were the raw
ings of a mailman
But the next day another similar
death was chronicled. The body of
man had been found wedged into the
wall of an empty house in Bromley
street, about the same distance from
Earls Court grounds, but in an oppo-
site directionu. 1t had been flung
with such terrific violence that it had
passed through six inches of bricks
and mortar and lodged in the front of
the house. The human form was bare
ly recognizable.