The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-10-03
present from some admiring constit-

PCoSHt iohi oohio uuhhih6 WHISKY
uent"
He threw back his head and laughed.
but McCarthy's ready anger rose.
Where did the stuff come from?"
"Out of the fresh air." replied the
operator From most anywhere in
side the zone Of communication"
Couldn't you tell who sent it?"
mo way. 1t wasn't signed. Come
from quite a distance. though"
How can you tell that?"
You can tell by the way 1t sounds.
Say, they ought to be law about
these amatoors cluttering up the air
this way. Sometimes got to pick my
own dope out of dozen or fifteen
messages all ticking away in my head.
piece at once"
II know the crazy slob what sent
EN-, all right, all right" growled Nc.
Carthy. Hes nutty for fair"
We'll, IL he's nutty, l wish you'd
hurry his little trip to Matteawan."
complained the operator, turning away.
The boss went to his office, where
he established himself behind his
Quoted a leisurely business of mysteri-
Gus import sitting where the cool
autumn breeze from the river brought
its refreshment.
There were two other, inner, Offices
to McCarthy's establishment, in which
sat a private secretary and an office
boy. Occasionally Mccarthy. with
1 aI VII 20 ~
these for a more confidential CONVEX
sation. The secretary seemed always
very busy the Office boy was often in
the street. At noon Mccarthy took
lunch at small round table in the
cafe below. When he reappeared at
the elevator shaft, the elevator starter
again verified his watch. Malachi Nc
Carthy had but the one virtue Of &C.
curacy, and that had to do with mat.
tiers Of time. At five minutes Of six
he reached for his hat; at three min
utes Of six he boarded the elevator.
Runs all right today, SAM" he re-
marked genially to the boy whom he
had half throttled the evening before.
He stood for a moment in the en-.
trance OF the building. enjoying the
sight of the crowds hurrying to their
cars, the elevated, the subway, and
the ferries. The clang and roar of
the city pleased his senses, as a ves-
sci vibrates to its master tone. Nc.
earthly was feeling largely paternal
as he stepped toward the corner. for
to great extent the destinies of
these people were in his hands.
Easy marks" was his philan-
thropic expression of this sentiment.
At the corner he stopped for car.
He glanced up at the clock at the
Metropolitan tower. The bronze hand
pointed to the stroke of six. AS he
looked, the first note of the quarter
chimes rang out. The car swung the
corner and headed down the street.
Mccarthy stepped forward. The
sweet chimes ceased their fourfold
phrasing, and the great bell began
its spaced and solemn booming.
One!-Two!-Thre e!-Four!-F
Six. Mccarthy counted. At the recol-
lection of a crazy message from the
Unknown, he smiled. He stepped for
ward to hold up his hand Mt the car.
Somewhat to his surprise the car had
already stopped some twenty feet
away.
Mccarthy picked his way to the
car.
Wonder you wouldn't stop at
crossing" ne growled.
Juice give out" explained the mo-
torman.
Mccarthy clambered aboard and sat
down in a comfortably filled car. Up
and down the perspective of the street
could be seen other cars, also stalled.
Ten minutes slipped by; then Mala-
chi Mccarthy grew impatient. With
a muttered growl he rose, elbowed his
way through the strap-hangers, and
stepped to the street A row of idle
taXicabs stood in front of the Atlas
Building. Into the first of these
bounced Mccarthy, throwing his adj
dress to the expectant chauffeur.
The man hoped down from his box.
threw on the coil switch and ran to
the front. He turned the engine over
the compression, but no explosion fol-
lowed. He repeated the effort dozen
times. Then, grasping the starting
handle with a firmer grip, he "whirled"
the engine-without result.
Whats the matter? Can't you make
her go?" demanded Mccarthy. thrust
ing his head from the door.
will you please listen. sir. and see