Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-05-01

communicating with him."
Marvellous" said Darrow to Jack
but under his breath.
"As the sending of Monsieur x is
faint, 1t follows that he is somewhere
near the periphery of this circle, or
that he is possessed of primitive or
weak instrument. By the doctrine of
probabilities we would be justified in
concluding against the latter suppo-
sition."
"How's that, Professor" asked the
Morning Register man. "It doesn't
get to me-"
"He is evidently a man not only OF
scientific attainments. but of immense
scientific possessions-as is evidenced
by these phenomenal results he is able
to accomplish. But we are not justi-
fled in reasoning according to the doc
trine of probabilities. Therefore. we
shall proceed methodically. / have
already made my preparations"
Eldridge looked about him with an
air of triumph.
Il am fortunate enough to have, in
the present crisis, unlimited financial
backing" he said. Therefore. I am
in position to carry out the most ex-
haustive of experiments"
He stretched his hand out for a long
roll, which he laid fat upon the table.
pinning down the corners.
Here is a map of the Eastern
States" said he. II have drawn a cir
Gle on it with a two-hundred-miles
radius. At this moment a private In
strument with a full crew to string
sending and receiving wires is two
hundred miles from here on q railroad.
It has for its transportation private
train. and it will be given a clear right
of way" He turned to Simmons.
Have you found yourself able to COM
municate with this Monsieur X at any
timer"
Communicate" echoed Simmons.
why, he's easier to talk to than girl
who wants an ice-cream soda!"
Then send this: Your messages
have been communicated to the people.
BE patient:"
What do you get?" asked Eldridge.
after a moment.
"Oh. lot OF the same sort of dope"
answered Simmons wearily., DO you
want it?"
No, 1t is not necessary" replied FL
dridge. But listen for another mes
sage from about the same distance
when he has finished"
Silence fell on the room. At the
end of ten minutes Simmons raised
his head.
81 get % X O. over and over" said
he. Want that?"
THAT" replied Eldridge with salts
faction. Indicates that my crew on
the special train in the Adirondacks
two hundred miles away has heard
your message to Monsieur Y" He
glanced at his watch. Now. II you
would be so good as to afford me a
moments assistance" he requested
Simmons, IL wish to disconnect from
your battery one of your powerful Ley
den jars, and to substitute for it one
of weaker voltage. ventured to in
struc; my delivery man to leave few
in the outer hall"
THAT will weaken the sending
power of my instrument" objected
Simmons.
Exactly what wish to do replied
Eldridge.
Hes clever all right" Darrov .ur-
INJURED admiringly to Jack. See mat
he's up to?"
Not yet" mutterer -sct.
The substitution >ompleted, e.
dridge again glanced at his watch.
Now" he instructed Simmons.
send the letters @ E D. and continue
to do so until you again hear the let
tiers % K O."
cat birpcalf In tho tnSk II
was long one. At last he reported
his answer.
He sends o X Q ten,'" he said.
Eldridge turned to the reporters.
That means that the substitution
of the smaller Leyden jar for one OF
the larger reduced the sending power
of this instrument just ten miles," said
he. MY crew has quite simply moved
slowly forward until 1t caught our
sending here
Next" he instructed Simmons. see
if you can communicate with Monsieur
X"
The operator speedily reported his
success at that. Eldridge removed his
glasses and polished their lenses.
Thus, gentlemen" said he. from
our circle of two-hundred-mile radius
we have eliminated strip ten miles
wide. Naturally If this weakened send
ing reaches only one hundred and
ninety miles, and our antagonist re-
ceives our message, he must be nearer
than one hundred and ninety miles.
We will now further reduce the
strength of our sending and try again"
The younger men present broke into
a shout.
Good work." somebody cried. They
crowded about, keenly interested in
this new method of man-hunting. Only
Darrow, tipped back in his chair
against the wall. seemed unexcited.