The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1913-12-04

and pencil, wrote in II few words,
and handed II to the dazed and un-
certain boss.
| IL was right" barrow had scrawled.
This proves 1t. It's by no means the
end. Better be good"
McCarthy's bulldog courage had re-
covered from its first daze. He began
| TO see that this visitation was not en-
tirely personal. but extended also to
his two companions. This relieved
his mind, for he had suspected some
strange new apoplexy.
Ibid you expect thisf'' he wrote.
Darrow nodded.
Together the three ghosts left the
phantom office, and glided down the
phantom halls. Other ghosts in vari-
Gus stages OF alarm were already max
ing their way down the stairs. Some
OF them spoke, but no sound came.
One woman, her eyes frightened,
reached out furtively to touch her
neighbor, apparently to assure herself
OF his reality. Urged by an uncon-
trollable impulse, man thrust his
hand through the ground glass Of an
office door. The glass shivered, and
crashed to the tile floor. The pieces
broke-silently 1t was as though the
man had been the figure in n cinemato-
graph illusion. He stared at his cut
and bleeding hand. The woman who
had touched the man suddenly threw
/ back her head and screamed. They
could see her eyes roll back, her face
change color, could discern the strain
ing of her throat No sound came.
At this a panic seized them. They
rushed down the stairs, clambering
over one another, pushing, scrambling,
falling. A mob OF a hundred men
fought for precedence. Blows were
struck. No faintest murmur OF tumult
came from their futile heat. 1t might
have been the riot of a wax-works In
a vacuum.
! They fell into the lower hallway,
and fought their way to the street,
and stood there dazed and staring. q
/ strange. wild-eyed. white-faced, bloody
crew. The hurrying avenue stopped to
gaze on them curiously. gathering COM
pact mob that blocked all traffic.
Policemen pushed their way in and
began roughly to question-and to
! question in real audible words
But for the space Of full minute
these people stood there. staring up
ward drinking In the blessed sound
that poured in on them lavIshly from
! the life OF the street; drinking deep
gulps Of air, as though air had lacked.
barrow, and with him Jack War
ford, had descended more lelsurely.
Before leaving the building barrow
placed the fiat Of his hands over his
ears, and motioned Jack to do the
same. Thus they missed the stunning
effect OF receiving the world of noise
! all at once; as man goes to bright
! light from a dark room. Furthermore,
Darrow returned several times from
( the sound to the silence, trying to de-
! termine where the line OF demarca-
tlon was drawn. Then. motioning to
: Jack, he began methodically to mako
his way through the crowd.
This proved to be by no means an
easy task. Rumors Of all sorts we're
afoot Some bold spirits were testing
a new sensation by venturing into the
corridor of the building. The police
were undecided as to what should be
done. One or two reporters were al
ready at hand. investigating. Nc
Carthy his assurance returned, was
conversing earnestly with q police
captain.
Percy barrow, closely followed by
Jack, managed to worm his way
through the crowd. and finally de-
bouched on Broadway.
What was it? What struck us?"
demanded Jack. do you know"
Il can guess; in essence" said Per
cy. 81 was pretty sure after last eve
ning's trouble; but this underscores
It, proves 1t. Also. It opens the way"
What do you mean?"
Along the lines OF these phenomena
there are two more things possible.
Possible. ] say. They might be called
certain, were we dealing only with
theory; but there is still some doubt
how the practical side Of it may work
out"
Il suppose you know what you're
talking about" said Jack reslgnedly.
81 don't"
you don't need to, yet. But here's
what / mean. II my theory is correct,
we are likely to be surprised still fur
Their"
Jack rumlnated; then his engaging
young face lighted up with a smile.
"All right" said he; I'm enlisted
for the war What have you got to
do with it?'
I'll explain this much" said Oar
row; more I'll not tell at present,
even to you If one breath should get
out that any one suspeeted-well, this
Is a man-hunt"
Who's the MANI"
AN enemy OF Mccarthy"
Whom you are going TO find for
hlm?"
Perhaps"
And you we're putting up that Job
for me as part OF your pay"
Percy barrow smiled slowly.
AS all OF my pay-from Mccarthy"
said he. 81 vas Just beEevlling him"
Jack Warford started 10 say some.
thing but the scientist crf him short.
This is bigger than Mccarthy" he
said decisiYeiy. we are the only peo-
pie In this city who suspect a human
origin OF these phenomena. Other
men are yet working. and will con
tinue to work, on the supposition that
they are the results OF some unbaI.