The citizen., 1913-11-28

| gTapn Illusion. he stared at MS ca
and bleeding hand. The woman who
had touched the man suddenly threw
back her head and screamed. They
could see her eyes roll back. her face
change color. could discern the strain
ing of her throat, No sound came.
At this panic seized them. They
rushed down the stairs, clambering
over one another, pushing, scrambling
! falling. A mob of a hundred men
| fought for precedence Blows were
struck. No faintest murmur of tumult
came from their futile heat 1t might
have been the riot OF a wax-works in
vacuum.
They fell into the lower hallway,
and fought their way to the street,
and stood there dazed and staring. a
strange, wild-eyed white-faced, bloody
crew. The hurrying avenue stopped to
gaze on them curiously, gathering com
pact a mob that blocked all traffic.
Policemen pushed their way in and
began roughly to Question-and to
question in real audible words.
But for the space of full minute
these people stood there staring up
ward, drinking in the blessed sound
that poured in on them lavishly from
the life of the street; drinking deep
gulps of air, as though air had lacked.
Darrow, and with him Jack War
ford, had descended more leisurely.
Before leaving the building Darrow
placed the fiat of his hands over his
ears, and motioned Jack to do the
same. Thus they missed the stunning
effect of receiving the world of noise
all at once: as a man goes to bright
light from a dark room Furthermore,
Darrow returned several times from
the sound to the silence, trying to de-
termine where the line of demarca-
tion was drawn. Then, motioning to
Jack, he began methodically to make
his way through the crowd
This proved to be by no means an
easy task Rumors of all sorts were
afoot Some bold spirits were testing
new sensation by venturing into the
corridor of the building. The police
were undecided as to what should be
done One or two reporters were al
ready at hand investigating. Nc
Carthy his assurance returned, was
conversing earnestly with a police
captain.
Percy Darrow, closely followed by
Jack, managed to worm his way
through the crowd. and finally de-
bouched on Broadway.
What was it? What struck u.s."
demanded Jack. do you know?"
Il can guess; in essence" said Per
cy 81 was pretty sure after last eve
nings trouble; but this underscores
it, proves it. Also, it opens the way"
What do you mean?'
Along the lines of these phenomena
there are two more things possible.
Possible, l say They might be called
certain, were we dealing only with
theory; but there is still some doubt
how the practical side of it may work
out"
Il suppose you know what you're
talking about" said Jack resignedly.
q don't"
You don't need to, yet. But here's
what | mean. If my theory is correct.
we are likely to be surprised still fur
ther."
Jack ruminated; then his engaging
young face lighted up with a smile.
"All right" said he; I'm enlisted
for the war What have you got to
do with it?"
"1'll explain this much" said Oar
row: more I'll not tell at present,
even to you. If one breath should get
out that any one suspected-well, this
is a man-hunt."
Who's the man."
AN enemy of Mccarthy"
Whom you are going to find for
him?"
Perhaps
And you were putting up that jo5
for me as part of your pay'
Percy Darrow smiled slowly.
"As all of my pay-from Mccarthy
said he 81 was just bedeviling him."
Jack Warford started to say some
thing. but the scientist cut him short.
This is bigger than Mccarthy" he
said decisively. I'VE are the only peo-
pie in this city who suspect human
origin of these phenomena Other
men are yet working, and will con
tinue to work, on the supposition that
they are the results of some unbal-
anced natural conditions. The phe-
nomena are, as yet. harmless. 1t will
not greatly injure the city, once 1t is
prepared to be without electricity or
without sound for limited periods.
doubt very much whether the Tn
known can continue these phenomena
for longer than limited periods. But
concevably this man may become
peril. He has, if | reason correctly
four arrows in his CULVER; the fourth
is dangerous. 1t is our duty to find
him before he uses the fourth arrow
If indeed he has discovered the
method of doing so. That is always in
doubt"
Jacks eyes were shining
Bully" he cried.
(TO BE CONTINUED)