Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-06

Now they had reached the upper deck
and were greeted by a sound like the rip
ping Of strong silk. Helderman seized
tho knob OF certain stateroom door and
opened It. As no did so the sharp. Insist
ent noise rushed out I'm trebled volume,
1t was the room in which the wireless
apparatus carried on its marvellous con-
versations with the invisible world across
the moon-laved sea.
Rutherford stopped in frank disgust at
this commonplace ending to the adven-
ture lie was turning away silently when
Helderman again reached out lean hn-
ger. "Wait!' he commanded, Come ini'
| Craig entered the room after his guide.
The operator. a ruddy checked boy not
out Of his teens, rose UP and saluted
the visitors effusively.
"A friend OF mine" said Helderman,
twtching his chin in Cralg's direction;
"a gentleman who, like myself, never
sleeps OF nights, and who wants to know
what's going on i'm the world"
The operator bowed and smiled elab-
orately, evidently schooled to admiring
the feeble jests OF wealthy visitors. Ruth
orford read in his servle attitude toward
the financler that he was victim of
HeldSrman's money.
BE seated, gentlemen" he said turn
ing again to the instrument, which was
calling him stridently.
Craig sat down and held his cap be-
tween the leaping flame and his eyes.
Himself In the shadow. he watched atteu-
lively the powerful subtle face of his
companion and the boyish, rosy face Of
tho operator IL was a scene worthy OF
Mephlsto. and probably quite as true to
| the temptcr's role.
The wireless ripped and ratified. as IL
It hated the message It was bringing
"Ah-h!" Helderman breathed. His ewes
were fixed unblnkingly on the white FIRE
-. go
his monocle and deliberately winked at
Craig
"Tt Is the wltchinE hour when the
secret messages come in," he said signih-
cantly,
YOU mean the secret service mes
sages?"
Craig purposely spoke in louder and
commonplace tones. He was not going
to allow himself TO he hoodwinked into
any more pseudo-mysterle And he was
beginning to grow weary of this constant
striving after the theatrical.
"Yes-secret service messages. and Sc
| cret messages; messages that are not in
tended for the general ear, and which
often carry many pretty story"
Then he turned and addressed the
operator in the crisp tones of an en-
| ployer to an employe:
Come loosen up! Tell us what you
got just now out of the wilderness of
space"
The operator opened his lips as IL to
! obey the gruff authority back of the
words-then smiled and shook his head.
This message is confidential, Mr.. Held
erman."
The lnancier drew from his pocket one
of his superlative fine cigars.
Perhaps we can smoke out the Sc
cret," he said jocularly.
Nothing doing" the young fellow re-
torted
Helderman silently thrust the cigar
back into his pocket and then brought to
light n generous roll of bank notes. with
out seeming aware of any insult in the
action, he took off the top bill, twenty
dollar note, and laid it before the opera.
tor.
"Wll that start a fre?" he asked. ~
The operator, busy with n message held
up his hand for time. Rutherford's throat
swelled painfully. His first impulse was
to protest-to help the inexperienced boy
resent such an affront. But the operator
-once more at leisure-long since cal
loused, showed no sign of resentment,
Instead, he grinned broadly and answered
suggestlvely:
Nothing doIng-yet-AIr. Helderman."
rutherford sank back into his seat
That one word yet" had effectually killed
all his sympathy for the bankers victim
He settled back to watch contest be-
| tween two knaves.
l
desk within easy reach of the operator
The operator regarded them complacently.
You want to take message, do you?'
he inquired
Just that" said Helderman
wait minute" said the operator,
He spent some seconds in transmitting.
| Then he picked up the yellow-backs
IAN right" he said. still more COM
placently, you can fire ahead"
| lie reinqushed the receivers and Held
erman adjusted them The boy turned 10
Craig.
Hes made OF money" he observed.
Craig did not answer. He didn't want
to answer The flashes ripped and tore
upon the coil. Helderman, with the re-
ceivers at his ears, started and bent
! closer. The boy winked at Craig.
Jimmy" he exclaimed but he must
| know how to read-I didn't think II OF
| him. He takes that message like one OF
the old guard Watch him. Will you, now .
| Craig watched Helderman. Helderman's
| face was intent-the message seemed 10
be of terrific interest. Suddenly how
| ever, as by some effort, he lounged back
| in his chair and his countenance took on
an expression Of merely langud interest.
Finally he laid the apparatus down. The
flashes had ceased.
VERY pleasing pastime-that" he said.
The boy Erinned. You're quite an ex-
pert Mr.. Helderman."
HeIdermsn nodded. "I am expert-at
everything" he admitted. He tapped
Craig on the shoulder. "Come. my friend.
he exclaimed, "let us depart"
much obliged, Mr. Helderman," said
the operator. He didn't seem to know
what TO make OF IL all. His baffled
ashamed eyes worried Craig, who wished
himself out in the cool night air.
Helderman drew Craig out upon the
deck. The door swung 20 behind him.
That was a beastly shame" said Craig.
Helderman. puposely or not, mlscon-
strued his meaning.
"You are right. Another idol shattered.
Every man has his price, II seems. But
he has been useful to me-thst young
chap And he may be useful in the fu-
ture-he is worth the price. No man
makes mistakes when he buys up men,
my friend"
Rutherford might have explained the
true state OF his mind. But Helderman
hurst suddenly into one OF his obnoxious
fits Of laughter.
"It was worth slO-that." he said.
What" aueried Craig. 1.-THE messsge?'
Helderman laughed almost uproariously
"EIe never suspected-he doesn't know
now-what happened. Listen. Did you
notice him when ] asked leave 10 take a
messa Re-When L handed him his price2