The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1913-08-17

operator. From most anywhere I'm
side The zone of communication"
Couldn't you tell who sent it?"
No way. II wasn't signed. Come
from quite distance. though"
How can you tell that?"
You can tell by the way it sounds.
Say, they ought TO be law about
these amatoors cmttering up the air
this way. Sometimes | got to pick my
own dope out Of a dozen or fifteen
messages all ticking away in my head.
piece at once"
Il know the crazy slob what sent
EN-. all right. all right" growled Nc
Carthy. He's nutty for fair"
Well. II he's nutty, wish you'd
hurry his little trip to Matteawan."
complained the operator. turning away.
The boss went to his office. where
be established himself behind hts
tabletop desk There all day he CON-
Quoted leisurely business OF mysteri-
Gus import. sitting where the cool
autumn breeze from the river brought
its refreshment
I There were two other, inner. Offices
to McCarthys establishment. in which
sat private secretary and an ofice
boy. Occasionally Mccarthy. with
some especial visitor, retired to one OF
these for more confidential CONVEX
sation The secretary seemed always
very busy; the Office boy WAS often in
the street. AT noon Mccarthy took
lunch ut q 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 ac-
curacy, and that had to do with mat
ters 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 gsnially to the boy whom he
had half throttled the evening before.
| He stood for 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 q yes
sci vihratee to It's master tone Me
Carthy was feeling largely paternal
as he stepped toward the corner, for
to great extent the destinies Of
those 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 he 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
It's spaced and solemn booming
One! Two! Three! -Four Five!
Six! Mccarthy counted. AT the recol-
lection of 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 a
crossing" he growled. swinging
aboard
Juice give out" explained the mo
| torman
| Mccarthy clambered aboard and sat
down I'm q comfortably filed car. Up
and down the perspective of the street
could be seen other cars, also stalled.
Ten minutes slipped by; then Maia-
chi Mccarthy grew impatient. With
a muttered growl he rose eibowed his
way through the strap-hangers. and
stepped to the street. 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 boz,
threw on the coll 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 firmer grip, he ''whlrled'
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
II you hear a buzz when | turn her
over?" requested the chauffeur.
Il don't hear nothing" was the YER
diet.
I'm sorry. but you'll have to take
another cab" then said the man. My
coils gone back on me"
Mccarthy impatiently descended,
entered the next taxi In line, and re-
peated the same experience. BY now
the other chauffeurs, noticing the
predicament of their brethren, were
anxiousiy and perspiringly at work
Not an engine answered the call of the
road! A passing truck driver, grin
ming from ear to ear, drove slowly
down the line. dealing out the ancient
tests rescued for the occasion from
an oblivion to which the perfection OF
the automobile had consigned them
i Mccarthy added his mite: he was
beginning to feel himself the victim