The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1914-01-08
CHAPTER XVIII.
Confusion Worse confOunded.

/
hypothesis Immediately threw public
confidence into n profound reaction.
Certainty gave place to complete dis
trust. Rumor gained ground. The
exodus increased. Where formerly only
those who could do so without great
sacrifice or Inconvenience had left
town. now people were beginning to
cut loose.at any cost. Men resigned
their positions in order to get their
families away; others began to ar
range their affairs as best they might.
as though for long vacation. AS vet
panic had not appeared openly in the
light OF day, but she lurked in the
shadows of mems hearts.
The railroads and steamboats, were
crowded beyond their capacity. Extra
trains followed one another as close
together as the block signals would
allow them to run. Humanity packed
the cars. 1t was like a continual series
OF football days. In three OF them il
was estimated that two hundred thou
sand people had left Manhattan. 1t
would have been physically impossible
for the transportation lines to have
carried thousand more. They had
reached their capacity; the spigot was
wide open.
Percy Darrow showed Jack the head
lines to this effect.
cheerful thought" he suggested.
suppose the whole four million should
want TO get out at the same time!'
Eldrldge had come back TO the wire
less Office thoroughly bewildered. II
is well-known fact that the exact
scientist is the hardest man to fool
but the most fooled IL fooled at all
/ Witness the extent to which noted sci
entists have been taken in by taking
spiritualist mediums. So with FL
drldge. His hypothesis had been so
carefully worked out that the failure
or its logic threw his mind into con.
fusion. Until he could discover the
weak link in his chain of reasoning.
that confusion must continue.
An hour and half after the bulletin
announcing the failure of the search
had been posted, Eldridge rushed into
the wireless office. The plague OF
darkness had lifted after fifteen min.
utes' duration.
Call Monsieur X" he gasped to the
day operator. In fifteen minutes. by
rapid substitutions of batteries to
weaken or strengthen the sending cur
rent, he had redetermined his previ-
Gus data. Apparently, without the
shadow Of n doubt, Monsieur X was
within the circle.
He may be at sea-" suggested the
operator.
But Eldridge shook his head. The
circle of the sea had been well pa
trolled, and for days.
Begin all over again." drawled
barrow. 81 told you that you were
on the wrong track"
Eldridge glanced at him.
Il can't say that you've done muchl"
said he tartly.
No!" queried barrow, with one of
his slow and exasperating smiles.
Perhaps not. But you'd better get
to thinking. You won't be able always
10 take things easy. You may have to
hustle before long"
There has been, l admit" said Ell
bridge stifiy, repeating in substance
the interview he had already given
out, some flaw in our chain of rea-
soning. This it will be necessary to
review with the object Of revision.
Every physical manifestation must
have some physical and definite cause;
and this can be found if time enough
Is bestowed on 1t. Often the process
OF elimination is the only method by
which the truth can be determined"
Darrow chuckled.
Look out the process of elimina.
ton doesn't overtake you" he re
marked.
Eldridge detailed the same reason.
Ing, at greater length, to the men who
had employed him. These were very
impatient. Business was being not
merely impeded. but destroyed. Their
customers had no time for them: their
employees were in many cases leaving
their jobs. They called in all the
help they could to assist Eldridge's
speculations, but in the end they had
TO fall back on the scientist as the
best on the market. The case was not
LETT In his hands alone, however. After
meeting they offered reward to any
one discovering and putting to an end
the dlsconcerting phenomena.
Here's where we make money.
Jack, big money" observed barrow
when he read this offer. 9TH be big
ger before we get through. You and
can have the little expedition to Vol.
cano Island"
Nothing suits me better" said
Jack. Are you sure well get it?"
Sure said barrow.
Monsieur X had of course honored
the waiting world with a message. 1t
followed the fifteen minutes of dark
ness:
ITO the People: I have been patient
and have stayed my hand I'm order that
you may learn the vanity OF your en-
deavor Who are We that ye shall strive
TO take me? Vanity and foolishness Is
your portion. Now We know my power
and We will listen unto my words as 10
the words Of the master. We must hunt
down this man Mccarthy and deliver him
| over unto me. If every one of you gives
himself to the task. lol It Is quickly done.
Bestir yourselves against the wrath to
come"
These events occupied the three
days Of the ordered exodus. The time
was further filed with rumor that ever
grew more dire. Gradually business
WAS pugpppded auffroIy frbcco H.