Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-27
CHAPTER XIII
THE GREAT EXPERIMENT

THE idea that there might possibly be
i others OF their kind in far-dlstant parts
OF the earth worked strongly on the mind
of the girl, Next day she broached the
subject again to her companion.
Suppose" theorlzed she, there might
be few score OF others, maybe few
hundred, scattered here and there7 They
might awaken one by one. only to die II
less favorably situated than we happen
to be. Perhaps thousands may have slept,
like us, only to wake up to starvation
There's no telling, of course" he an
swered seriously Undoubtedly that may
be very possible. Some may have escaped
the great death. on high altitudes-on the
Eiffel Tower. for instance, or on certain
mountains or lofty plateaus. The most we
can do for the moment Is just TO guess
at probabilities And"
But II there are people elsewhere" she
interrupted eagerly, her eyes glowing with
hope. Isn't there any way to get in touch
with them? Why should we expect them
TO seek us out? Why don't we hunt2
Suppose only one or two in each country
should have survived; IL We could get
them all together again In n single colony
don't you see?'
you mean the different languages and
arts and all the rest might still be pre-
served? The colony might grow and -four
ish, and mankind again take possession of
the earth and conquer It in n few decades?
shouldn't be anybody else. there's no cause
for despair. or that, however, we won't
speak now"
But why don't we try to find out about
it?" she persisted III there were only the
remotest chance"
by Jove. will try it" exclaimed the
engineer. fired with new thought, a fresh
ambition. How? / don't know Just yet.
but I'll see. There'll be a way, right enough,
II can only think It outv'
Broadway. past the copper shop. to the re-
mains OF the telegraph office opposite the
Flatiron.
Into II he penetrated with some difficulty.
mournful sight II was. this one-time busy
ganglion Of the nations nerve system.
Benches and counters were quite gone. in
struments corroded past recognition, every
thing In hideous disorder,
But in rear room Stern found a large
quantity OF copper wire. The wooden drums
on which II had been wound were gone the
insulation had vanished, but the coils OF
wire stll remained.
Fine I" said tho explorer. gathering to-
gether several coils Nov when I get this
over TO the Metropolitan, I think the first
step toward success will have been taken"
BY nlghtfall he had accumulated enough
wire for his tentative experiments. Next
day he and the girl explored the remains
of the old wireless station on the roof OF
the building. overlooking Madison avenue.
They reached the roof by climbing out OF
a window on the east side OF the tower and
descending a ffteen-foot ladder that Stern
had built for the purpose out OF rough
branches.
"You see it's fairly intact as yet" re-
marked the engineer, gesturins at the broad
expanse. "Only, falling stones have made
holes here and there See how they yawn
down into the rooms below Well, come
on, follow me. I'll tap with the az, and II
Thus after little while, they found a
secure path to the little station.
This dlminutive building, fortunately con-
structed Of concrete, still stood almost un-
harmed Into Il they penetrated through
the crumbling door. The winds Of heaven
had centuries ago swept away all trace OF
the ashes OF the operator,
But there still stood the apparatus, rusted
and sagging and disordered, yet 10 Stern's
practiced eye showing signs OF promise An
hours careful oyerhauling convinced the en-
Elnear that something might yet be accom-
And thus they set 10 work in earnest
First, with the girls help. he strung his
copper wire antennae from the tiled plat
form OF the tower to the roof OF the wireless
station. Rough work this WAS but answer
lng the purpose as well as though OF the
utmost hnish-
ne connected Up the repaired apparatus
With these antennae, and made sure All Was
yell Then he dropped the wires over the
slae 81 the building e conuect With ons q
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