The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-12-24
CHAPTER u.
The Shadow Of Mystery.

The Shadow Of Mystery.
barrow walked up the one fight OF
steps 10 the story above, Ia found
| his acquaintance In, and at once
preached the subject OF his errand,
Doctor Knox promised the matter his
attention. Tho two men then EN-.
| barked on q long discussion OF PROBES.
sor schermerhorn's discovery OF super
radium, and the strange series OF
events that had encompassed his
death Into the midst Of the discus
sion burst Mccarthy. his face red with
suppressed anger
Can use your phone?" he growled.
ooh, yes" said he, as he caught sight
OF the instrument Without awaiting
the requested permission. he jerked
the receiver from its hook and placed
1t TO his ear
"Deader than smeltl" he burst out
This Is a nice way to run a public
business! Thanks" he nodded to Doc.
tor Knox. and stormed out.
barrow rose languldly
IN see you again." he told Knox
"At present I'm going TO follow the
/
mere telephones 10 wake Mccarthy
up like that"
He found the boss In the hall. his
finger against the down" button.
That's three cars has passed me"
he snarled. trying to peer through
the ground glass that, in the Atlas
building, surrounded the shaft. "In
tan somebody's hide. Downl" he bel
lowed at a shadow on the glass
Have cigarette" preferred Percy
barrow Calm down. To the scien.
tito eye you're out Of condition for
such emotions You thickneeks are
subject TO apoplexy"
oh, shut upl" growled Mccarthy
There isn't a phone IN order in this
building two floors either way. I've
tried 'em- and there hasn't been for
twenty minutes And | can't get a
messenger to answer call; and that
ring.talled. starspangled ornament OF
a ianitor won't answer his private bell.
IN get him bounced 30 high the black
birds Will build nests In his ear before
he comes down again"
After trying yainly to stop a car on
It's way up or down, Mccarthy stump.
ed down a flight of stairs. followed
more leisurely by the calmly unhur,
rled barrow. Here the same per.
Torrance was repeated A half dozen
men by now had Joined them. So they
progressed from story TO story until
an elevator boy. attracted by their
frantic shouts. stopped to see what
was the matter, Immediately the door
was slid back on It's runners. Nc.
Carthy seized the astonished operator
by the collar.
Come out OF that. you scum OF tho
EARTH" he reared, Come out OF that
and tell me why you don't stop for
signalsl'
4 Amt seen no signalsl" gasped the
elevator boy.
Some one punched the button. but
the little. round. annunclator disk in
the car failed to illuminate.
Il wonder II there's anything in
order in this miserable holel" snarlod
Mccarthy.
THE lights Is gone out" volunteer.
ed the boy; and indeed for the frst
time the men now crowding the ear
noticed that the lneandescents were
dead.
While Mccarthy stormed out to
spread abroad impartial threats
against two public utility concerns for
interfering with his business. Percy
barrow, his curiosity aroused. inter.
viewed the Ianitor, Under that tunc.
tlonary's guidance he examined the
points OF entrance for the different
wires used for lighting aud communi.
cation. looked over the private-be in,
stallatiOns, and assembled again TO the
corridor abstraetedly busting his fin.
gers There he found a group OF the
buildings tenants among whom be dis.
tinguiahed Doctor Knox.
Same complaint, suppose-no
phones, no lights. no bells" he re-
marked
seems to be-" replied Knox. Gen.
eral condition. Aeta as though the
main arteries had been cut outside"
Inside bellsg House phoness' suK.
gented barrow.
| The repair men came In double
quick time and great confidence. They
went to work in an assured manner.
which soon slackened to a slower be-
| wllderment. Some one disappeared, to
return with a box Of new batteries,
The head repair man connected a
group Of these with q small bell in the
executive once. The instrument, how.
ever. failed to respond.
} TRY you ammeter." suggested Oar,
D row, who had followed.