The Elbert County tribune., 1914-05-15
CHAPTER VII.
Percy Darrow's Theory.

I
Percy Darrow In the police station,
where he had been assigned an unused
office instead OF a cell, amused him.
self reading the newspapers OF which
he caused to be brought in a full sup
ply. Theories had begun to claim
their share of the space which, up to
now. the fact stories had completely
monopolized. Darrow, his feet up,
cigarette depending from one corner
of his mouth. read them through to
the end. Then he indulged the white
walls of his little apartment with one
OF his slow smiles. The simplest OF
| the theories had to do with comets.
The most elaborate traced out an an
alogy between the blind spot" in VI
sion and point of rest" in phyical
manifestations-thls point OF rest"
had just now happened to drift to a
crowded center, and SO became mani
fest.
Ingenious but fantastic YOUTH was
Percy Darrow's tribute to the author.
Professor Eldridge of the university.
The "human-interest" stories of both
the evening before ard those In the
extras describing the latest freak In
the Atlas Building, Darrow passed
over with barely glance. But certain
figures he copied carefully into his
notebook. When he had found all of
these, and had transcribed them. they
appeared about as follows
AtIas-Wednesday. b:25. 800 (abouD: .
| hr. IS min.
Generai-Thursday, 500. 7:5s Cexacp: 1
| hr. 60 min.
Atlas-Friday 1910 1o:4s iexaco: IS
| min.
On the basis of these latter figures
he made some calculations which,
when finished, he looked on with doub-
full satisfaction.
Need more statistics" said he to
prophet. Just now I'm merely
guesser."
By now 1t was afternoon. An official
came to announce visitors, and mo-
ment later Helen and her brother came
in. AS Percys case was merely one
OF detention, or for some other OBJ
scurer reason. known only to those
who took their orders from Mccarthy,
the three were left alone to their own
devices
After the first greetings and excla-
nations, Helen demanded to know
particulars and prospects.
"AlI right. III tell you." agreed Oar
row. I'm thought out; and want to
hear it myself
Jack looked about him uneasily.
rs 1t wise to talk here?" he asked.
! II don't doubt they have arrangements
for overhearing anything that is said"
II don't think they care what we
-hc no
merely OBTAINING me on some excuse
or other that haven't even taken the
trouble to inquire about"
THAT must astonish them some,"
said Jack.
And II they do overhear. l don't
much care. Now" said he. turning to
Helen. I'VE have here three strange
happenings comprising two phenome-
na-the cutting on of the electricity
first in the Atlas Building. second in
the city at large; and the cutting of
of sound in the Atlas. Although we
are, of course, not justified in general
izing from one instance. what would
you think by analogy would be the
next thing to expect?"
THAT sound would be cut off in the
CITY," said Helen, but Jack has al
ready delivered me your warning or
advice" she added.
Precisely. Now as to theories of
the ultimate cause. Naturally this
must have been brought about either
by nature or by man. II by nature, 1t
is exceedingly localized, not to say d.
rected. If by man, he must have in
some way acquired unprecedented
powers over the phenomena Of cleo
tricity and sound. These he can EVIL
IDENTIFY. at will. either focus, as on the
Atlas Building. or diffuse, as over the
city. For the moment we will adopt
the latter hypothesis"
THAT 1t is a man in possession OF
extraordinary powers" said Helen.
leaning forward in her interest 60
on
I'VE have. completed, only the phe-
nomena of electricity" continued Oar
row; the phenomena OF sound remain
to be completed. We observe as to
that (a)"-he folded back his fore
nnger-''the Atlas manifestation last.
ed about nine and half hours; and
(b)"-he folded his middle finger
the city manifestation was little
less than two bours.'
YES" cried Jack. but then this
second"
, "One minute" interrupted Darrow
! ''let me finish. Now. let us place our
selves In the position of man pos
sessed OF new toy. or a new power