Page:Amazing Stories Volume 01 Number 06.djvu/52

most intimate friend in the Cabinet, to be also present.

He had already ascertained that it was still impossible to get any reply from Station X.

Too early for the appointment, he strolled in St. Jame's Park, and soon he found his spirits rising in response to the beauty of the morning. Great is the man whose judgment is not at all affected by his physical surroundings. Mr. Mansfield was clever, but not great. He was a strict guardian of his personal dignity, and keenly susceptible to ridicule. He looked at the cheerful sky, at the green of the park, the waterfowl, the chattering sparrows. He asked himself, if, after all, the fears that had oppressed him during the night were not chimerical. The more they looked so to him, the more ill at ease he became, the more distasteful seemed the coming interview.

He tried to convince himself that the sole business in hand was the silence of Station X, and the report from Hughes that had preceded it.

But wriggle as he might he could not deceive himself as to his duty. He must give Professor Rudge's version of the present position at the station, and his opinion of the awful consequences that might follow. And—here was the difficult part—he must admit that he was himself to some extent troubled about it. It was an unpleasant thing to do before a man like Admiral Benson.

Suddenly an idea occurred to him, and he looked at his watch. There would be time. He made for the Mall, and hailed a taxi.

He looked on it as an inspiration that he should have just remembered that Professor McFaden of Edinburgh was now in London. McFaden rivalled Rudge's eminence in the scientific world. Each had his special set of admirers, but practically all regarded them as the two greatest men in their particular sphere. Rudge led in discovery; McFaden was his equal in knowledge, and the more orthodox. There was not supposed to be overmuch love lost between them.

Professor McFaden was surprised to receive so important a visitor just as he was finishing breakfast.

"I hope," said Mansfield, "an old friend will excuse this lack of ceremony; but I want you to come back with me to the Admiralty. Can you manage it?"

"Certainly," said McFaden; "but what's it all about?"

"You know that Rudge discovered a new method of radio of so powerful a nature that it made radio telephony over world-wide distances possible?"

"I am not denying that the thing stands to his credit," said McFaden, speaking with a decided Scotch accent.

"You were one of the very few to whom this method was communicated," said Mansfield. "I myself am ignorant of the method, but that does not matter. It exists, and we hope and believe is not known to any foreign Power. For naval purposes a very powerful installation, far surpassing all others, exists in the Pacific, and Rudge is now there."

"Rudge there!" said McFaden, greatly surprised. "I knew he was away, but man, why on earth is he wandering the Pacific?"

Mansfield hesitated. "I cannot answer that question now," he said. "I shall have to leave it for the meeting."

"Why do you want me there?" asked McFaden.

"Well," said Mansfield, "the reason is this. We have received a report from Rudge that is astounding beyond all precedent. It requires scientific knowledge to examine it. I want your support. I picture myself speaking of it before Admiral Benson, to whom the reasoning will be simply unintelligible. I am not saying that Rudge is not mistaken. If, when you have heard the report, you say he is, you relieve me of a world of responsibility. What I want to secure is that Rudge shall not be set aside by mere ignorance."

"Well, it's mysterious enough, I'll grant," said McFaden, with a smile, as they walked out into the hall and he picked up his hat and stick. "Let us be off."

Arrived at the Admiralty, they went to Mr. Mansfield's room. Although it still wanted a few minutes to the appointed hour, the other two men were there.

Mr. Mansfield introduced Professor McFaden, and explained that in consequence of the nature of the communication he had to make, he considered that some one with ability to judge of its scientific value should be present.

"We are here, I believe," said Admiral Benson, "because we have lost touch with Station X, and to decide without further delay"—he glared at Mr. Mansfield and Sir John Sarkby—"what is to be done about it."

"Exactly," began Mr. Mansfield, "and——"

"As it is perfectly obvious," broke in the Admiral, "that the one thing to do is to send and find out what's the matter, our decision should be soon arrived at."

"No doubt," resumed Mr. Mansfield, "and I anticipate that your view will not be disputed. This affair, is, however, complicated with another matter which cannot be so promptly disposed of."

There was a pronounced snort from the Admiral, who looked at his watch. Mr. Mansfield was palpably ill at ease.

"I am afraid," he said, with quiet dignity, "I shall have to claim a certain amount of your time. I have here a report from Professor Rudge as given me by radio from Station X, where he now is."

"And never ought to have been," growled the Admiral. "What business has a schoolman at a naval station?"

The contemptuous tone annoyed Professor McFaden.

"Man," said he, nowise impressed by the Admiral's manner, "do you not know that but for the schoolman, as you call him, the naval station would never have existed?"

Admiral Benson merely growled.

The Home Secretary was beginning to enjoy himself. He liked being amused.

Mr. Mansfield then proceeded to tell the story from the beginning.

An hour had elapsed before he concluded. Ad-