The Washington herald., 1913-06-22
CHAPTER XVI.



Throughout all this excitement Perez
barrow did absolutely nothing. HI
spent all his time. save that required
for meals and the shortest necessary
sleep, in a round-armed wooden chail
in the wireless station of the Alta!
Building. Jack Warford sat with him
barrow rarely opened his mouth FOL
speech. but smoked slowly few cigar
cites, and rolled many more, whlcf
he held unlighted in the corner OF hi:
mouth until they dropped to pieces
He watched quietly all that went on
glanced through such messages as CANT
in from Monsieur Y, read the papers
and dozed. To reporters he was alta
bic enough in his drawing slow lash
ion. but had nothing to say.
"Eldridge is doing this he said Il
them
I'm only in the position of an in
terested spectator.
Eledridge had taken hold in thor
oughly competent way. Back Of th'
cold precision of his undoubted sci
entifc attachments lurked. unexpected
BY most. a strong ambition and les:
admirable hankering for the limelISht
His opportunity to crafty all these
appetites-science, advancement, anc
fame-was too good not to cause hin
the deepest satisfaction.
Il have determined" he told the re-
porterS. that this particular instru-
ment alone receives the messages from
the unknown perpetrator. Our inves-
LEGATIONS must be initiated, therefore
in this apartment.
How do you explain it," asked one
of the reporters. g.
Il cannot explain it scientifically
admitted Eldridge. but | can surnise
that the fact either purposely or ACCT
dentally has TO do either with this in
strument's location or with some slight
and undetermined popularity of its
tuning
You could easily tell which by
moving the instrument to another sta
ton where they aren't getting the
messages now" suggested Darrow
lazily.
Certainly" snapped Eldridge, ANY
child could deduce that. But | fail to
see the use or necessity for the deter
mination at all-unless in a spirit OF
frivolous play Our task is not TO dis
cover where the messages can be re-
ceived, but whence they are sent
He gazed frostily at the man who
had interrupted him. Darrow smiled
softly back
How far will your instrument
carry in sending?" Eldridge asked
Simmons.
Its extreme is about 200 miles"
Then we can safely assume that a
circle drawn with a ooo-mile radius
would contain this man you call Mon
sieur X"-the newspapers had adopted
Darrow's nickname for the Unknown
since you have succeeded in COM
municating with him
Marvellous" said Darrow to Jack
but under his breath.
As the sending of Monsieur X is
faint. it follows that he is somewhere
near the periphery of this circle, or
that he is possessed OF primitive or
weak instrument. BY the doctrine of
probabilities we should be justified in
concluding against the latter SUPPOSE
ton"
"How's that. professor" asked the
Morning Register man. at doesn't
get to me"
HE is evidently man not only of
scientific attainfnents, but of immense
scientific possessions-as is evidenced
by these phenomenal results he is able
to accomplish. But we are not justi-
fed in reasoning according TO the doc
trine of probabilities. Therefore, We
shall proceed methodically. | have al
ready made my preparations"
Eldridge looked about him with an
air of triumph.
Il am fortunate enough to have, in
the present crisis, unlimited financial
backing" he said. Therefore, l am
in position to carry out the most ex-
haustive of experiments"
He stretched his hand out for
long roll, which he laid fiat upon the
table. pinning down the corners.
Here is a map of the Eastern
States" said he. q have drawn
circle on it with a ooo-ni1es radius.
At this moment a private instrument
with full crew to string sending and
receiving wires is 200 miles from here
on the New York Central Railroad.
1t has for its transportation a private
u dlil, dllu II VIII Dt given d ClCdl IlSnl
of way He turned to Simmons.
Have you found yourself able to
with this Monsieur X at
any times"
Communicated" echoed Simmons.
why, he's easier to talk to than a
girl who wants an ice cream sodaw
Then send this: Your messages
have been communicated to fhe peo-
pie. Be patient
Simmons touched the key. The
spark leaped crashing.
What do you get:" asked Eldridge,
after a moment.
"Oh, a lot of the same sort of
iope," answered Simmons YEARLY.
DO YOU want it,"
mo. it is not necessary" replied
Eldridge. But listen for another
Message from about the same distance
when he has finished"
Silence fell on the room. At the
md of ten minutes Simmons raised
lis head.
81 get o K O over and over" said
lie. want that"
That replied Eldridge with salts
action. indicates that my crew on
he special train in the Adirondacks
90 miles away has heard your mes