Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-05-27

In sending?" Eldridge asked Simmons.
Its extreme IL about 200 miles"
Then we. can safely assume that =
circle drawn with . 200 hundred mile
radius would contain this man you call
Monsieur X"--the newspapers had
adopted Darrow's nickname for the
Unknown--"since you have succeeded
in communicating with him."
Marvellous said Darrow to Jack
but under his breath.
"As the sending Of Monsieur X Is
faint, 1t follows that he 10 somewhere
near the periphery OF this circle. or
that he Is possessed OF q primitive or
weak instrument. BY tho doctrine OF
probabilities We should be justified IN
concluding against the latter SUPPOSE
ton"
"How's that. professor" asked the
Morning Register man. 1T doesn't
get to me-"
He 10 evidently a man not only Of
scientific attainments, but OF I'm
n,ense scientific possessions-as Is
evidenced by these phenomenal re-
suits he IL able to accomplish. But
we are not justified in reasoning &C
cording to the doctrine of probabih.
ties. Therefore, We shall proceed
methodically. have already made my
preparations" ,'1
Eldridge looked about him with an
air Of triumph.
81 am fortunate enough to have, IN
the present crisis, unlimited financial
backing" he said "Therefore, am
I'M a position to carry out the most
exhaustive of experiments"
He stretched his hand out for q
long roll, which he laid nat upon the
table, pinning down the corners.
Here is map Of the eastern states"
said he. II have drawn circle on It
with q, 200 mile radius. At this mo
ment a private instrument with q full
crew to string sending and receiving
wires il 200 miles from here on the
New York Central railroad. It has for
its transportation private train, and
twill be given . clear right Of way"
He turned to Simmons. Have you
found yourself able to communicate
with this Monsieur X at any timer
Communicates" echoed Simmons
why, he's easier to talk to than q
girl who wants an Ice cream soda"
+ Then send this: Your messages
have been communicated to the peo-
pie. Be patient
Simmons touched the key. The
spark leaped crashing. s~
What do you get?" asked Edridge,
after moment.
"Oh, lot of the same sort of dope, I"
answered Simmons YEARLY. DO you
want IT,"
mo. it is not necessary" replied
Eldridge. But listen for another mes
sage from about the same distance
when he has finished"
Silence fell on the room. At the
end of ten minutes Simmons raised his
head. esrs~. $50 ~ }.t. -
~ get o X O. over and over" said
he. want that?"
That" replied Eldridge with salts
faction, Indicates that my crew on
the special train in the Adirondacks
1.-TWO hundred miles away has heard
your message to Monster X" He
glanced at his watch. Nov. II you
would be- 60 good % 10 afford mo q
moments assistance" he requested
fSimmons, Il wish, TO- dtsconnect from
lyour battery one Of your powerful Icy.
den Jars, and to substitute for It one
OF weaker voltage.
I ventured to instruct, my delivery
man to leave few in the outer hall. :"
That will weaken tho sending pow
err of my instrument" objected Sim
mons.
Exactly what I wish to do replied
Eldridge. .t
Hes clever all right, Darrow
murmured admiringly to Jack. See
what he's up to-" s,N. i
mot yet" muttered Jack.
The substitution completed, Eldridge
again glanced at his watch.
NOW" he instructed Simmons,
send the letters @ q d. and continue
to do so until you again hear the let
ters % X o..
Simmons set himself to the task.
It was a long one. At last he report
ed his answer.
"He sends o X O. ten," he said.
,Eldridge turned to the reporters.
THAT means that the substitution Of
the smaller Leyden jar for one OF the
large reduced the sending power OF
this instrument Just ten miles," said
he. my crew has quite simply moved
forward until 1t caught our sending
here
Next" he instructed Simmons. see
II you can communicate with Monsieur
X"
The operator speedily reported his
success at that. Eldridge removed his
glasses and polished their lenses.
Thus, gentleman" said he, from
our circle of two hundred mile radius
we have eliminated strip ten miles
wide. Naturally II this weakened send.
ing reaches only one hundred and
ninety miles, and our antagonist re
ceives our messages. he must be near
er than one hundred and ninety miles
We. will now further reduce the
strength Of our sending and try again.
The younger men present broke out
into shout
Good work." somebody cried. They
crowded about, keenly interested IN
this new method of man-hunting. On
ly5 barrow, tipped back in his chair
against the wall, seemed unexcited.
To Jacks whispered question he
shook his head.
"Jt,s Ingenious" he acknowledged