Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-03-13
CHAPTER u.
Tho Shadow of Mystery.

DhTTOW WAIKIKI up luc OAo hiSht VI
steps to the story above. He found
his acquaintance in. and at once
preached the subject of his errand.
Doctor Knox promised the matter his
attention. The two men then en-
barked on a long discussion of Profes-
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 srowled.
"Oh, yes" said he, as he caught sight
of the instrument. Without awaiting
the requested permission. he jerked
the receiver from It's hook and placed
it to his ear.
"Deader than a smelt!" 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 languidly.
iii see you again." he told Knox.
AT present I'm going to follow the
human cyclone. It takes more than
mere telephones to 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. I'll
tan somebody's hide. Down." he bel
lowed at a shadow on the glass.
Have a cigarette" proffered Percy
barrow. Calm down. To the scien-
tific eye you're out Of condition for
such emotions. You thicknecks are
subject to apoplexy."
"Oh. shut up." 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 I can't get a
messenger to answer a call; and that
ring tailed, star-spangled ornament OF
janitor won't answer his private bell.
I'll get him bounced so high the black
birds will build nests in his ear before
he comes down again"
After trying vainly to stop a car on
its way up or down, Mccarthy stump
ed down flight of stairs. followed
more leisurely by the calmly unhur-
ried 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 its runners. Nc
Carthy seized the astonished operator
by the collar.
Come out of that. you scum of the
earth" he roared. Come out of that
and tell me why you don't stop for
signals"
Il amt seen no signals!" gasped the
elevator boy.
Some one punched the button. but
the little, round. annunciator disk in
the car failed to illuminate.
Il wonder II there's anything in
order in this miserable holei" snarled
Mccarthy.
The lights is gone out" volunteer
ed the boy; and indeed for the first
time the men now crowding the car
noticed that the incandescents 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 janitor. Under that func-
tionary's guidance he examined the
points of entrance for the different
wires used for lighting and communl-
cation; looked over the private-bell In
stallations, and assembled again to the
corridor. abstractedly busting his fin
gers. There he found a group of the
buildings tenants. among whom he dis
tinguished Doctor Knox.
Same complaint. suppose-no
phones. no lights. no bells" he re-
marked.
Seems to be-" replied Knox. Gen
eral condition. Acts as though the
main arteries had been cut outside"
Inside bells? House phones?" sug-
gested barrow.
The repair men came in double
quick time and great confidence. They
went to work in an assured manSer,
which soon slackened to a slower be-
wilderment. Some one disappeared. to
return with n box of new batteries.
The head repair man connected a
group of these with a small bell in the
executive office. The instrument, how
ever, failed to respond.
TRY you ammeter," suggested Oar