Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-06-05

ments for overhearing anything that
is said
II don't think they care what we
say" observed Darrow. They are
merely OBTAINING me on some ex-
cuse or another that l haven't even
taken the trouble to inquire about"
THAT must astonish them some, "
said Jack
"And if they do oyerhear, I don't
much care
Now" said he, turning to Helen,
I'VE have three strange happenings
comprising two phenomena-the cut
ting off of the electricity, first in the
Atlas Building, second in the city
at large; and the cutting off of sound
in the Atlas. Although we are, OF
course, not justified in generalizing
from one instance, what would you
think by analogy would be the next
thing to expect?"
THAT sound would be cut off in the
city," said Helen "but Jack has
already delivered me your warning
or advice, she added.
Precisely. Now as to theories of
the ultimate cause. Naturally this
must have been brought about either
by nature or by man. If by nature, it
is exceedingly localized, not to say
directed. If by man, he must have
in some way. acquired unprecedented
powers over the phenomena Of cleo
tricity and sound. These he can evil
IDENTIFY, at will, either focus, as on
the Atlas Building or diffuse, as
over the city For the moment we
will adopt the latter hypothesis"
THAT 1t is man in possession of
extraordinary powers, said Helen,
leaning forward in her interest. go
on"
I'VE have, completed, only the phe-
nomena of electricity" continued OAR
row; 1.-The phenomena of sound re
to that al he. folded back his
forefinger-'the Atlas manifestation
lasted about nine and a half hours;
and (b)"-he folded his middle finger
the city manifestation was little
less than two hours"
YES" cried Jack, but then this
second"
zone minute" interrupted Darrow;
''let me finish. Now, let us place our
selves in the position of a man pos
sessed of a new toy, or new power
which he has never tried out! What
would he do?"
TRY it out" said Jack.
Certainly; try 1t out to the limit;
to see just what it could do in diff
ferent circumstances. Now, take the
lapses of time I have mentioned
and assume, for the sake of argu-
ment, that these powers are limited
Just how do you mean-limited?
asked Helen.
II mean exhaustible, like a water
ing-pot. You can water just SC
and fill up again. In that case we
can suppose this mans stream will
last nine hours and a half when he
dribbles it down on one spot, like
the Atlas building; but it will empty
itself in about two hours when he
turns her upside down over a whole
city. There remains only the length
of time necessary to refill the water
pot to round out our hypothesis.
That is something more than nine
hours and something less than fif-
teen"
How do you get those figures?"
demanded Jack.
THE Unknown is anxious, after
the Atlas success, to try out the dis
covery on the larger scale. He will
naturally do so at the first oppor-
tunity after his waterproof is refilled
But he wishes to do so at the first
effective opportunity. What is the
most effective moment? The rush
hours. What are the rush hours?
From eight to ten, and at six. Since
he did not pull off his show in the
morning, we are fairly justified
in concluding, tentatively, that the
waterproof was not full by then, and,
as the Atlas phenomena subsidized at
8 of the morning before, the infer
ence is obvious"
But isn't the most effective time
at night, anyway, on account of the
lights?" asked Jack.
Good boyi" approved Darrow. "He
might have waited for that. But the
city-wide phenomena ceased at the
hight DelOIt, dllu lilG AlldS SOQuu
phenomena did not occur until 10 the
next morning-fourteen hours. Now
the most effective way to scare Nc
Carthy was any time after 8. Nc
Carthy arrives as the clock strikes.
Jack shook his head.
"Oh, it's not proof, it's idle hypo-
thesis" admitted barrow. 1--WE shall
have to test it. But let's go on with
it anyway and see how it, works
out"
Whats Mccarthy got to do with
it?' demanded Helen.
That's so, you aren't in touch
there" barrow sketched briefly the
situation as it affected the boss
Helen's eyes were shining with in
terest
Now" continued barrow, Having
tried out his new power to the limit,
our friend would begin to use it only
as he needed it. There is now no
reason to empty the waterproof en-
tirely. All he wanted to do this
morning was to scare Mccarthy and
impress the public. He did that in
thirty-eight minutes. On the basis
of fourteen hours to fill the water