The Washington herald., 1913-06-22

| shadows of mems hearts.
The railroads and steamboats, were
crowded beyond their capacity. Extra
trains followed one another as close
together as the block signals would
allow them to run. Humanity packed
the cars. l. was like a continual series
of football days. In three of them 1t
was estimated that two hundred thou
f, sand people had left Manhattan. II
would have been physically impossible
for the transportation lines 20 have
carried a thousand more. They had
reached their capacity; the spigot was
wide open.
Percy Darrow showed Jack the head
lines to this effect.
Cheerful thought he suggested
Suppose the whole four million should
want to get out at the same timep
Eldridge had come back to the wire
less Office thoroughly bewildered. 1t
is a we'll known fact that the exact
scientist is the hardest man to fool, but
the most fooled if fooled at all. Wit
tness the extent to which noted scien-
fists have been taken in by taking
spiritualist mediums. So with Eldridge.
His hypothesis had been so carefully
worked out that the failure of its logic
threw his mind into confusion. Until
he could discover the weak link in his
chain of reasoning, that confusion must
continue.
An hour and a half after the bulletin
announcing the failure of the search
had been posted. Eldridge rushed into
the wireless Office. The plague of
darkness had lifted after fifteen min
utes' duration.
Call Monsieur Y" he gasped to the
! day operator. In fifteen minutes, by
rapid substitutions of batteries to
weaken or strengthen the sending cur
rent, he had predetermined his previous
data. Apparently, without the shadow
of a doubt, Monsieur y was within
the circle.
HE may be at sea-" suggested the
operator
But Eldridge shook his head The
circle of the sea had been well pa
trolled. and for days
Begin over again." drawled barrow.
Il told you that you were on the
wrong track"
Eldridge glanced at him.
Il can't say that you've done muchf
said he tartly.
Nor" queried barrow, with one of
his slow and exasperating smiles. Per
haps not. But you'd better get to
thinking. You won't be able always
10 take things easy. You may have
to hustle before long
There has been, ! admit" said e.
bridge stiffly, repeating in substance the
interview he had already given out,
some flaw in our chain of reasoning.
This it will be necessary to review
with the object of revision. Every
physical manifestation must have some
physical and definite cause; and this
can be found if time enough is be-
slowed on it. Often the process of
elimination is the only method by
which the truth can be determined
barrow chuckled.
Look out the process of elimination
doesn't overtake you" he remarked.
Eldridge detailed the same reason
ing, at greater length, to the men who
had employed him. These were very
impatient. Business was being not
merely impeded, but destroyed. Their
customers. had no time for them; their
employees were in many cases leaving
their jobs. They called in all the help
they could TO assist Eldridge's specu-
back on the scientist as the best on the
market. The case was not left in his
hands alone. however After a meet
ing they offered a reward to any one
discovering and putting to an end the
disconcerting phenomena.
Here's where we make money. Jack,
big money" observed barrow when he
read this offer It'll be bigger before
we get through. You and | can have
the little expedition to Volcano Island
Nothing suits me better said
Jack Are you sure we'll get ii"
Sure" said Darrow.
Monsieur Y had of course honored
the waiting world with a message. 1t
followed the fifteen minutes of dark
ness:
ITO the People: have been patient
and have stayed my hand in order that
you may learn the vanity of your en-
deavor. Who are We that We shall
strive to take ME? Vanity and foolish
ness is your portion. Now We know
my power and We will listen unto my
words as to the word of the Master.
Ye must hunt down this man Mccarthy
and deliver him over unto me. III
every one of you gives himself to the
task, 1ol it is quickly done. Bestir
yourselves against the wrath to come"
These events occupied the three days
of the ordered exodus. The time was
further filled with rumor that ever
grew more dire. Gradually business
was suspended entirely. Those who
could not or would not go away stood
about talking matters over, and, as is
always the case, matters did not i'm
prove in the telling. The only activity
in the city was that bent on seeking
out the abiding place of Monsieur X.
3 Eldridge had now come to the con-
clusion that he had perhaps been mis- ,
taken in combining his efforts to so
small an area. In fact, further expert |
ments rendered hay the arbitrary out |
lines formerly determined for the zone !
of danger. At times Monsieur X an
swered we'll within the forty-hve-mile |
mark; at times somewhat beyond the |
end of the fifty-mile radius Eldridge !
undertook series of more |
delicate experiments by means of indi-
Gators especially designed by him for |
the occasion. Once. more the little |
wireless Office became the focus of
reportorial attention.
Our major premises we find still to /
be correct" announced Eldridge in the |
coldly didactic manner characteristic |
of the man. This unknown operator |!
is at a distance; and probably at a |