, 1912-05-16

WIN 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 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
~syntonized instrument. duly numbered,
which responded only to a limited set
Of waves. which might be compared
with b characteristic spectral lines
of a chemical substance, no confusion
being possible. At need any receiver
can be thrown open to take u%ndirected
and unsyntonized messages.
Accordingly Mr.. Grayman, although
greatly surprised that any Of his con-
fdential correspondents should sum-
mon him thus. replied in the manner
Indicated:
Hello! What do you want7''
civilian Grayman?" came the re-
Spouse. interrogatively infected.
Yes"
"Himself-in person2"
"Yes."
VERY good. In the air"
This last phrase may also need a
word Of explanation. 1t is used to in
dictate that the interlocutor is afioat
and that he either does not know or
does not take the trouble to designate
his position in the atmosphere by ref
erence to some known point on the
earth's surface.
"Who is itT" demanded Mr.. Gray
man.
Captain Alfonso Payton."
"Whof don't know such a person.
Who are you? I can't bother
81 am afraid. Mr.. Grayman." inter
rupted the voice. "that you confne
your attention a little too exclusively
to the financial columns of the news
papers If you don't recognize my name.
Yet ! might well figure in them also
My transactions are frequently large
enough. as You are going to find out.
Most people know me as the sky pi.
rate"
what nonsense is this?' exclaimed
Mr.. Grayman impatiently. How have
you dared
"No nonsense at all. Mr.. Graymap."
the voice again interrupted. land as
for daring. listen. I took your daugh
ter Helen from your house last night.
and she. with her maid Susan. are here
on my aero. the Chameleon"
Grayman's heart nearly stopped beat
ing.
What? What is that" he exclaimed
81 have your daughter in my Gus.
tody." the voice responded with dis.
tinct deliberation. "She is in no dan.
ger of any kind and will be in none
provided that you accede promptly to
the terms which I am going to give
you. If you do not you will never see
her again"
There was a cold. self confident, con.
vincing tone to the voice that sent a
shiver through the billionaire's nerves
he wiped the cold sweat from his
brow with one hand. while with the
other he chung to the receiver and
pressed it to his ear. The strange voice
went on. for he was incapable for the
moment Of interruption or reply:
eff you my demand she will
be restored to you without publicity
and without injury. You are the rich
est man in the world. they say. You
best know how you have acquired
your riches. but that is no affair Of
mine. l have. however, pressing need
of a part of your plumber My terms
are S10.OOO.OOOr'
what Internal trick are you trying
on mer' exclaimed Mr.. Grayman, los
ing his temper and at the same time
recovering his nerve and the incre-
dulity natural to a man in such circum-
stances. who are you anyway I'll
hear no more of this!
ut must be that some crank has
found mi my number" said the bill
lionaire to himself. II must see the
company about this"
He was about to drop the receiver
when the voice began again:
eff you want to see your daughter
again, Mr.. Grayman. you'll not try to
cut of this conversation. II you still
don't know me ask any newspaper
man or almost any man in the street
who Alfonso Payton is and what be
does when he makes a good capture
and gets no response to a fair ofer.
l repeat that l have your daughter.
1 took her from the window Of her
room with my aero last night. l will
release her for the sum that ! have