The Washington times., 1913-09-27
Now Read On
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CHAPTER VII.-(ContinuedD

7 SAY the principle of the thing came
quickly o me; but it took many
months - patient labor to develop a
cerice that would carry out that prin-
ciple. And then, when believed / had
solved the question, it took a lew more
months to learn enough about operat-
ing an aeroplane to enable me to make
my own tests.
/ went to Washington satisfied that
! had something which no military ma
tlon could fail to seize upon. 1t meant
II my compass worked-and l had
seen II work with my own eyes-that
all the air-scouting squadrons of Eu-
rope would be inferior to the new
planes We possessed, because ours
could navigate unerringly in fog, dark
neess. Or over an unmarked sea, while
theirs were helpless and as good as
lost once they got beyond their land
marks.
But / found that many another in
ventor had discovered before me-that
the Government is slow cautious al
ways skeptical. The army and navy
people were interested the Govern
ment might eventually buy. But there
was much red tape and delay, much
rigmarole of which l became impa-
tient
And. meantime. met Jeanette
Courtship, for the time, triumphed over
compass. Jeanette occupied more of
my thoughts than the Government as
q prospective customer. The slowness
with which my business proceeded
through official channels was an invi-
tation to neglect IL, and / did.
So this was the explanation OF Vim
ton, OF Mary. of Purvis and Lazare-
my aero compass,
/ sat staring at the brief letter much
in the same dazed frame of mind as a
Certain people wanted my compass.
Well, why hadn't they come to me
about II? 1 had no contract with the
Government l could sell anywhere l
chose. Naturally. being an merican, l
preferred selling at home.
Who wanted it? Government? /
supposed so. The latter spoke of La
zare's clients" That might mean a
government or il might not, but l could
think of no interest that would be so
deeply concerned in a matter OF this
kind as government with big mill
tary arm. why all this underhand, mys-
tefous bushes of doing things by the
indirect route?
ting like a statue, wondering over this
revelation, l have not least ldea;
but | was suddenly brought out of my
reflective mood bv a noise downstairs.
II sounded like the cautious opening OF
q door.
/ bounded out of my chair, thrust
Puryis' letter into my pocket and
sprang toward the hall in such haste
that | knocked over the stand which
carried the debating phonograph, so that
that instrument fell to the floor with a
crash. As / reached the hall ] heard
The noise again. and this time as II
door had been quickly closed.
Half way down the stairs | paused
and listened. but now the house was as
still as death again. The front door
was closed.
/ completed the descent, and ran into
the library. Not a thing there had been
d isturbed. The big doors that led into
the apartment beyond were still closed
and locked: so MAS the door which en-
tered il from the hall. Yet ! was abso-
lutely positive that | had heard a door
open and close on the floor.
] ran to the front door and opened 1t.
The vestibule was empty. Throwing
open one of the outer doors, ! looked
into the street, which was as silent and
deserted as when / viewed it before.
Returning inside, l slipped one OF the
bolts on the outer door, and then chain
ed the inner one, as well as latching It
As / stood there in the hall. listening
again. my sensations were anything but
pleasant. / am not timid- but ] object
10 things which / cannot understand
Once more / made a tour OF the
library and tried the doors that led 10
the rear room, without results. At first
considered attempting TO force one of
them. Then / decided to wait a little
longer and give this noise. whatever il
was. a chance TO repeat itself.
] went slowly back up stairs and re-
sumed my seat in the office. after pick
ing up the DhonoSraph and setting it to
rights as best 7 could. IT was now
nearly l:30 o'clock. l GIFTED a cigarette
and waited.