Page:Amazing Stories Volume 01 Number 09.djvu/39

shall appear in their former sequence and intensities. If you strike a church bell and repeat the blow ten years later, you reproduce the tone of that bell perfectly, although you do not get the original sound wave.

"The second problem,—that of correlating the present position of this earth with the exact position in space which it occupied at the instant the event actually happened,—is more complex, involving as it does intricate problems in geometry, gravitational force, relativity, the earth's movement through space and other factors too complicated for the lay mind."

Errell waited a moment, to give his hearers time to grasp the significance of this last statement, then resumed:

"These problems, General, have been solved in the machine before you, as I shall now proceed to demonstrate. Where were you on Sunday morning at 9 o'clock?"

"I was out for a morning canter in Rock Creek Park, Washington," replied General Humiston, impressed in spite of himself.

"Watch the screen in front of you," commanded Errell, meanwhile adjusting the dials of the cabinet.

A subdued buzzing noise, and then before the astonished gaze of the General and his daughter there unrolled a panorama of the City of Magnificent Distances, converging presently on the bridle path in Rock Creek park. A moment later the figure of General Humiston, mounted on his big grey charger, came galloping into view.

"My God!" exclaimed that doughty soldier, springing to his feet. "Do you realize, boy, what this invention would mean to your government? Why, the most secret plans of an enemy would be an open book to us."

"It was for just that reason that I have brought you here," replied the young man, gravely. "Before we go further into that, however, is there anything of special interest to your department right now that you would like to know?"

"You couldn't teil me, could you," asked the General, stepping nearer in his excitement, "just who were present at a secret conference at Fontainebleau last Tuesday at 10 a.m.?"

"Just a moment," cautioned Errell, as he readjusted the dials and made the proper allowance for time and distance. "Now watch the screen."

Again a faint buzzing noise, then the light flashed on and first came the Eiffel tower into view, with its flaring automobile advertisement, and then Fontainebleau. Even as they watched, a closed car drove up and the French Minister of Commerce alighted and disappeared within the building. Then came the English Secretary of Commerce and Italy's representative, followed a moment later by the Russian Commissioner. Promptly on the hour the German Minister of Trade and Industries drove up and joined the others.

Errell glanced at the General, who was trembling with eagerness, exultation and almost with fear.

"Yes," he muttered audibly, "they are all there; I know every one of them." He was silent a moment.

"I presume you have an inkling of what this conference means, Errell. The idea is for each government here represented to control some commodity that is absolutely essential to American industry and then to boost the price to a figure so prohibitive as to provoke reprisals. These will then be seized upon as a pretext for the breaking of treaties; the next step is a world war against the United States—our tremendous store of gold the main objective."

"But it takes money to finance a war these days," objected Errell.

"Precisely, and therein is our strongest defense," was the answer. "With fore-knowledge of what is contemplated, our bankers can shut down on further loans abroad and curtail European credits. This machine will enable us to prepare for any contingency; by revealing every plan of the enemy, we can make this country practically impregnable."

"That is just it," replied Errell.

"The first thing," broke in the General, "is to safeguard your discovery. Should but a whisper of what you have accomplished get abroad, your life would not be worth a candle."

"I have thought of that," said the younger man, "and for greater secrecy I think the machine should be kept here, rather than in Washington where inevitably there would be a leak sooner or later. You could run down here for frequent visits."

"Yes, but I would have to have a very plausible reason for those visits," interposed the General.

"Well,"—and here Errell paused and glanced at Jerry, who nodded brightly,—"why not spend your week-ends here with Jerry and your new son-in-law? We expect to be married in June."

"What? What's that?" shouted the old General, "Jerry your wife! How do you get that way, young man?" and he tried to look very stern. "In my day," he added virtuously, "it was customary for the young lady's parents to be consulted."

"Um-m," mused Errell. "Would you mind telling me in what year you were married?"

"I know!" cried Jerry, delightedly. "They were married in Greenwich, Connecticut, just 22 years ago today, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon."

"Hey! Wait a minute," exclaimed her father, in evident confusion, as Errell stepped to the little cabinet, but he was too late. Already the machine had given its preliminary buzz and the next moment they beheld a little two-seated Ford, 1904 model, bumping and swaying along the Boston Post road just west of the state line. Perhaps half a mile behind them came a horse and buggy, the irate driver lashing his foam-flecked steed in a vain attempt to overtake the fleeing couple in the car.

Errell glanced at Jerry, then at her father, and back to the picture. There could be no mistake! The girl in the little Ford might have been Jerry herself, save for the difference in dress, while the handsome young chap at her side, his eyes glued to the road, bore a resemblance to her father so striking as to dispel any doubt of his identity.

"You win!" laughed the General, wiping his eyes. "Take her, my boy, and may you be as happy as we were."