Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-04-17
CHAPTER Kill
Darrow's Challenge.

With final warning to Simmons as
to the dissemination of any informa-
ton without consulting him, Darrow
left the room. Hallowell listened to
this advice with unmixed satisfaction;
the afternoon papers would not be able
to get at his source of information
Tho reporter felt slight wonder as
to how Darrow had managed his as
tendency over the operator. An in
Quiry as to that met with a shake OF
the head.
81 may have to ask your help in that
later" was his only reply.
At the corner. after pushing through
curious crowd, the men separated.
Hallowell started for the wharf; Jack
Warford for home-at Darrow's re-
quest The scientist returned to his
own apartments. were he locked him
self in and sat for five hours cross
legged on a divan, staring straight
ahead of him. doing nothing. At the
end of that time he cautiously stretch
ed his legs. sighed. rose. and looked
into the mirror.
Il guess you're hungry" he remark
ed to the image therein.
1t was now near mid-afternoon.
Percy Darrow wandered out, ate
leisurely meal at the nearest restau-
rant, and sauntered up the avenue. He
paused at a news stand to buy an
afternoon paper. glanced at the head
lines and portion of the text. and
smiled sweetly to himself. Then he
betook himself by means OF bus to
the Warford residence.
Helen was at home. and in the IL
brary. With her was Professor FL
bridge. The men greeted each other
formally. After q moment OF gem
eral conversation Darrow produced
the newspaper.
81 see you have your theories in
print" he drawled. Very interesting.
/ didn't know you'd undertaken gram
mer-school physics instruction"
Il know I'm going to be grateful for
any sort of instruction-from any
body" interposed Helen. I'm all in
the dark"
Like the Atlas Building" Darrow
smiled at her. well, here's a very
good exposition in words of one syl-
fessor, what have you concluded as to
the causes?"
"They are yet to be determined"
Pardon me-" drawled Darrow, they
have been determined-or at least
their controlling power.
"In what way, may / ask?" inquired
Professor Eldridge formally.
Very simply. BY the exercise OF
little reason. am going to tell you.
because want you to start fairly with
me: and because you'll know all about
1t in the morning. anyway"
Your idea-the one you told US yes
terday-is to be published?" cried
Helen. leaning forward with interest.
"The basis of 1t will be-" replied
Darrow. Now he turned to e.
dridge-'listen carefully; I'm not 60
ing to indulge in many explanations.
Malachi Mccarthy. political boss of
this city. has made a personal enemy
of a half-crazed or at least unbalanced
man. who has in some way gained
limited power over etheric and other
vibrations. This power Monsieur X.
as ! call him-the Unknown-has en-
pIoyed in fantastic manifestations de-
signed solely for the purpose of fright
ening his enemy into leaving the coun-
try"
Eldridge was listening with the
keenest attention. his cold gray eyes
glittering frostily behind their lenses.
you support your major hypothe-
sis. l suppose?" he demanded calmly.
by wireless messages sent from
Monsieur X to Mccarthy. in which he
predicts or appoints in advance the
exact hour at which these manifesto
tions take place"
IN advance. l understand you to
say?"
Precisely"
THE proof is as conclusive for mere
ly prophetic ability as for power over
the phenomena"
in formal logic. not in common
sense.
Eldridge reflected a moment further.
removing his glasses, with the edge
of which he tapped methodically the
palm of his left hand. Helen had
sunk back into the depths OF her arm
chair. and was watching with immo-
bile countenance but vividly interested
eyes the progress of the duel
Granting for the moment your ma
jor hypothesis" Eldridge stated at
last. Il follow your other essential
statements. The man is unbalanced
because he chooses such a method OF
accomplishing simple end"
Quite So"
His power is limited because 1t has
been applied to but one manifestation
Of etheric vibration at time; and each
manifestation has had a defined dura-
ton"
original think-tank," he quoted Hal
lowell's earlier remark