Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-05-15
THE STRANGEST MYSTERY ROMANCE
OF PRESENT-MINUIE NEW YORK
THE SIGNAL y SIX
STEWART EDWARD WHITE
~vg71oa 1fBBLAzED TRAN. The s41T PLACER
Y he BosAs1sssm Cssps.rs


like that"
He found the boss in the. hail, his
finger against the down button.
That's three cars has passed me-
he snarled, trying to peer through the
grounded glass that, In the Atlas
building, surrounded the shaft. I'll
tan somebody's hide. Down. he bel
lowed at shadow on the glass.
Have cigarette" proffered Percy
barrow. Calm down. To the scientific
eye you're out Of condition for such
emotions. You thick-necks are subject
to apoplexy." ...... -.
ooh, shut up" growled Mccarthy.
There isn't phone in order in this
building two floors either way. I've
tried 'em-and there hasn't been for
twenty minutes. And can't get
messenger to answer q call; and that
ring-tailed, star-spangled ornament OF
a janitor won't answer his private bell.
I'll get him bounced so high the black
birds will build nests in his ear before
he comes down again."
After trying vainly to stop car on
it's way up or down. Mccarthy
stumped down a flight Of stairs, fol-
lowed more leisurely by the calmly
unhurried Darrow. Here the same per-
Torrance was repeated A half dozen
men by now had joined them. So they
progressed from story to story until
an elevator boy, attracted by their
frantic shouts. stopped to see what
was the matter. Immediately the door
was slid back on It's runners, Mccarthy
seized the astonished operator by the
collar. e.N.. ... ,
Come out of that, you scum Of the
earth!" he roared Come out Of that
and tell me why you don't stop for
your signals!"
81 amt seen no signals" gasped
the elevator boy.
Some one punched the button. but
the little round annunciator disk In the
car failed to illuminate.
II wonder II there's anything in
order in this miserable hole!' snarled
Mccarthy. r""t. -.
"The lights is gone out" volunteered
the boy: and indeed for the first time
the men now crowding into the car
noticed that the incandes cents were
dead.
While Mccarthy stormed out to
spread abroad impartial threats
against two public utility concerns for
interfering with his business. Percy
barrow. his curiosity aroused, inter
Viewed the janitor. Under that func-
tionary's guidance he examined the
points OF entrance for the different
wires used for lighting and communi-
cation; looked over the private bell
installations, and assembled again to
the corridor, abstractedly busting his
fingers. There he found a group Of the
buildings tenants, among whom he
distinguished Doctor Knox.
Same complaint. suppose no
phones. no lights, no BELLS he re-
marked. - =
Seems to be-" replied Knox: Cen
eral condition. Acts as though the
main arteries had been cut outside
Inside bells? House phones?" sug-
gested barrow.
The repair men came in double
quick time and great confidence. They
went to work In an assured manner,
which soon slackened to slower be-
wilderment. Some one disappeared, to
return with box of new batteries.
The head repair man connected a
group of these with a small bell In the
executive OlllC0. 1 no iuoIi uAACAI, hO"S
ever. failed to respond. .
"Try your ammeter," suggested
barrow who had followed.
The delicate needle OF the instru.
ment did not culver.
BATTERIES dead" said the repair
man Jim, what the hotel-bill do you
mean by getting dead batteries? Go
back and bring new lot, and test
EN-"
In due time Jim returned.
These test to fifteen said he.
GO to it," =,
"Test-nothing!" roared the repair
man after a moment. These are dead.
too" .-a
Percy barrow left the ensuing argu-
ment to its own warmth. 1t was grow
ing late. In the corridor few hastily
bought lamps cast dim light. Percy
collided against Doctor Knox entering
the building.
"Not fixed YETI" asked the latter in
evident disappointment. whats the
NATTER"
81 don't know" said barrow slowly;
ut puzzles me. It's more than an ordi-
nary break of connections or short
circuiting through apparatus. II one
could imagine big building like this
polarized in some way-anyhow, the
electricity is dead. Look here" He
pulled an electric flash light from his
pocket. Bought this fresh on my
way here. Tested it, Of course. Now,
there's nothing wonderful about these
toys going back on man; but'-he
pressed the button and peered down
the lens-"this is funny coincidence"
He turned the lens toward his friend.
The filament was dark.
CHAPTER III.
The Moving Finger Writes.
The condition of affairs in the Atlas
building lasted long enough to carry
the matter up to the experts in the
employ Of the companies; that is to
say until o'clock the following morn
ing. Then, without reason. and all at
once, the whole building from top to
bottom was blaze of incandescent
light. ....-
One Of the men, stepping to the
nearest telephone, unlocked the re-
ceiver. To his ear came the low busy
hmm Of q live wire. Somebody touched