Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-06-13

I'm f1E zone OF ddHsS' a. INV
Bulletin named it, was imme-
\ diately the scene of swarming
activities. Besides the expedition inn
mediately despatched by the inter-
ests backing the investigation, sew
eral enterprising newspapers saw a
fine chance for a big scoop, and sent
out much-heralded parties of their
own. The activities of these were
we'll reported, you may be sure
Public interest was at once focused
reassuringly on the chances of
finding the annoying malefactor to-
day or tomorrow; there no longer
existed a doubt that he would be
found. The weight of dread was lifted.
and in the reaction people made light
of the inconvenience and fun of the
menacing messages that now came in
bv the dozen.
1t was necessary to take extraordi-
nary precautions against thieves and
fire: the people took them. 1t was
needful to slacken business in order
that the congestion of the rush hour
might not again prove tragic; bust
ness was slackened People We're
willing to undergo many things, be-
cause, after all, they were but tenn
porary The mailman Of the CatslSills
would sooner or later be found; his
pernicious activities brought to a
conclusion The country 20 be
searched was tremendous, of course,
but the search was thorough.
The public delivered itself joyously
to debauch of rumors and of "ex-
tras. The insistent alarms of dan
ger, trickling in slowly from the
outside world, dried up in the warmth
of optimism. Only the more thought
full, to a few of whom these warn
ings came, coupled them with Mon
sieur KS repeated threats, and
walked uncertain and in humility.
Percy Darrow did not interest him
self in the search, nor did he desert
his post in the wireless office. There
he did nothing whatever. Jack War
ford stayed with him, but immensely
bored, it must be confessed. Once he
suggested that if Darrow had MOTH
ing for him to do that afternoon he
thought he would like to go out for
a little exercise.
barrow shook his head
You may go, if you want to,
Jack" said he, but if you do I'll have
to get some one else. This isn't much
of job, but 1 need you any mo-
ment."
''All right" agreed Jack cheerfully.
"Only l wish you'd let a fellow know
what to expect"
Darrow shook his head. The two
now practically lived in the office.
Neither had taken his clothes off for
several days. They slept in their
chairs or on the lounge. Darrow
read the various messages from the
Unknown, glanced over the newspa-
pers, and dozed.
Thus had passed two days of the
search. On the third day the inter-
mittent phenomena and the messages
suddenly ceased This fact was
hailed jubilantly by all the papers as
indicating that at last the quarry had
become alarmed by the near-coming
search. From the contracted dis
trict still remaining to be combed
over, nobody was permitted to de-
part; and so closely was the Gordon
drawn by SO large a posse that 1t
was physically impossible for any liv-
ing being to slip by the line.
Thus even if Monsieur X, con-
WINGED that at last his discovery was
imminent, should destroy his APP
paratus or attempt to move 1T and
himself to place of safety, he would
find his escape cut off. Thousands of
men were employed, and thousands
more drafted in as volunteers to rem
der this outcome assured.
1t was an army deployed in an ir-
regular circle, and moving inward
toward its centre. Men of the high
est executive ability commanded 1t,
saw to its necessary elaboration,
eliminated all possibility of confu-
sion through which any man could
slip. The occasion was serious, and
it was taken seriously.
OF the outcome no one in touch
with the situation had a moments
doubt The messages and the phe-
nomena had continued to come from
the danger zone. 1t was, of course,
evident that they could not have
been sent from any portion of the
zone actually searched and occupied
by the searchers. The remaining
portion of the zone, from which they
were still coming. had been complete
~ surrounded. After that the mani
festations had ceased. Therefore
Monsieur X must be within the be-
leaguered circle. To add to the prob
abilities. as Eldridge pointed out, the
remaining district comprised the
highest hills in the zone-a fact on all
tours with his hypothesis
On the appointed morning the
army moved toward the centre. Men
beat the ground carefully. so close to
one another that they could touch
hands. AS they closed in the ranks
became thicker. Animals of many
kinds, confused as the ranks closed
in on them, tried to break through
the Gordon, and were killed. Captains
held order in the front row, that the
army might not become a crowd