The Glenwood post., 1913-11-29
CHAPTER XVII.
0eANjN0 the Net.

sosV WV VvVS
The zone of danger" as the Bulle-
tin named 1t. was Immediately the
scene of swarming activities. Besides
the expedition Immediately despatched
by the interests backing the investi-
cation, several enterprising newspa-
pers saw fine chance for big scoop,
and sent out much-heralded parties of
their own. The activities of these
were well reported, you may be sure
Public interest was at once focused
reassuringly on the chances Of finding
the annoying malefactor today or to-
morrow; there no longer existed q
doubt that he would be found. The
weight of dread was lifted. and in the
reaction people made light Of the in
conveniences and fun of the menacfnx
messages that now came In by the
dozen.
1t was necessary to take extraordi-
nary prect ions against thieves and
fire; the people took them. II was
needfa1 to slacken business in order
that the congestion of the rush hour
might not again prove tragic; business
was slackened. People were willing
to undergo many things, because. after
all. they were but temporary. The
madman of the Catskills would sooner
or later be found: his pernicious activ-
tiles brought to q conclusion. The
country to be searched was tremen-
dous, Of course, but the search was
thorough
= The public delivered itself joyously
to = debauch of rumors and of Eek
tfas. The insistent alarms of danger,
trickling in slowly from the outside
world. dried up in the warmth of
optimism. Only the more thoughtful,
to . few Of whom these warnings
came, coupled them with Monsieur Ks
repeated threats. and walked uncer-
tain and in humility.
Percy Darrow did not interest him
self in the search, nor did he desert
his post in the wireless office. There
he did nothing whatever. Jack War
ford stayed with him, but immensely
bored, 1t must be confessed. Once he
suggested that if Darrow had nothing
for him to do that afternoon, he
though he would like to go out for a
little exercise.
Darrow shook his head.
"You may go, if you want to, Jack"
said he, but if you do I'll have to
get some one else. This isn't much of
a job, but l may need you any mo
ment.'
"All right" agreed Jack cheerfully.
Only l wish you'd let fellow know
what to expect"
Darrow shook his head. The two
now practically lived in the office. Nei-
ther had taken his clothes off for sew
eral days. They slept in their chairs
or on the lounge. Darrow read the
various messages from the Unknown,
glanced over the newspapers, and
dosed.
Thus there passed two days of the
search. On the third day the intermit-
tent phenomena and the messages sud
denly ceased. This fact was hailed
jubilantly by all the papers as indi-
eating that at last the quarry had
become alarmed by the near-coming
search. From the contracted district
still remaining to be combed over, no
body was permitted to depart: and SO
closely was the Gordon drawn by 30
large 4 posse that 1t was physically
impossible for any living being to slip
by the line.
Thus even II Monsieur X, convinced
that at last his discovery was immi-
nent, should destroy his apparatus or
attempt to move 1t and himself to a
place Of safety, he would find his es-
cape cut OF. Thousands of men were
employed. and thousands more drafted
in - volunteers to render this out
come assured.
Continued next week.)