“In his experiments,” said the young man, “Jark discovered that by lengthening the bowl of the projector, he could considerably increase the range of the ray. Roughly, a bowl projector, one foot in depth could cast rays only one foot from its mouth. But by increasing the bowl to a two-foot depth, it would gain a range of eight feet; while a three-foot bowl would send the ray twenty-seven feet.”
“I understand,” nodded The Shadow. “The ratio of the range increase would be the cube of the bowl depth. A geometrical progression.”
“That is right,” stated Bruce. “With a projector thirty feet in length, the professor knew that he could drive his ray twenty-seven thousand feet — approximately five miles.”
“But he must also have learned,” remarked The Shadow, “that the power of the ray would diminish in proportion to the increasing length of the projector.”
“Right again,” announced Bruce. “I believe that his experiments showed a one-half loss of intensity for each added foot of the projector. That meant that the power of the ray would be quite feeble in a thirty-foot projector.”
“How did the ray act with the one-foot projector?”
“Powerfully, I am sure, although the professor was very loath to make admissions. I am positive, though, that his original projector — one foot in depth — was capable of disintegrating substances less than one foot away. Professor Jark must have experienced that much success. Otherwise he would not have proceeded with further experiments.”
The Shadow nodded in acknowledgment of Bruce’s logical statement.
“IT was Jark’s hope,” resumed Bruce, “to produce what he termed an atomic gun. He believed that if he could construct a thirty-foot projector, it would be possible to insert coils all along the tube. He would thus have thirty units combined in one; with this stepped-up power, the atomic gun would gain the strength of the original disintegrator.”
“And that,” inserted The Shadow, “would mean that his gun would destroy any object that came within a five-mile range.”
“So Professor Jark believed,” said Bruce, wearily. “He needed capital for his experiments. He gained it through a promoter named Basil Tellert. It was Tellert who introduced the professor to Lowberry and other wealthy men.”
Another pause while Bruce took a second drink of water. Eyes fully opened, Bruce was surveying his calm-faced visitor more clearly. A bit of enthusiasm showed in Bruce’s voice as he proceeded with his story.
“I handled the correspondence between Jark and Tellert,” stated Bruce “The Professor had his apparatus in the house at 18 Delavar Street. I was living there; and there was also a servant named Harkins. Jark was always eccentric and close-mouthed about his experiments. The only reason I learned as much as I did was because I kept my ears open and made no comment.
“A few weeks ago, Jark wrote to Tellert in reply to a letter from the promoter. In his letter, the professor stated that his atomic gun would surely be a success; but that because of its amazing power, he had decided to offer it to the government. He added that when he did this, he would insist that the original investors be reimbursed dollar for dollar.”
“And Tellert’s reaction—”
“Was one of indignation. He wrote a letter stating that he doubted Jark’s sincerity. He intimated that Jark was a swindler, his disintegrating ray a fake. He told Jark that unless he came clean, within a reasonable period, he could expect prosecution for fraud.”
“What did the professor do about it?”
“That brings me to the strangest part of my story,” declared Bruce, emphatically. “The professor wrote a letter to Tellert stating that he was overworked and needed a rest. He told Tellert that he intended to go on a vacation. That did not surprise me, for I had already overheard Professor Jark making a telephone conversation to a specialist named Doctor Nordis Baird. Apparently, Baird intended to take a trip somewhere in the West, and wanted Jark to go with him for treatment.”
“Had Jark already been undergoing treatment from Doctor Baird?”
“Yes, and his life really depended upon Baird’s treatment. I never learned the exact nature of Jark’s ailment; but I did know that it required certain changes in medicine at irregular intervals. Baird alone could diagnose Professor Jark’s varying condition. If Baird went away from New York, Jark would have to accompany him.”
“Proceed.”
“Tellert must have accepted Jark’s statement. Like myself, others who knew Jark understood the importance of his treatments. I wondered, when Jark sent the letter, whether or not he was trying to deceive Tellert. A few days later came a most remarkable proof that some hidden game was under way.”
Bruce paused to rest. He was coming to the crux of his story, gathering his latent strength in order to be accurate with the facts which he had in mind.
“PROFESSOR JARK left the house one afternoon,” declared Bruce, “stating to me that he had an appointment with Doctor Baird. The next day Jark remained indoors. That evening two men came to call. One was tall and dark-complected. He said that his name was Theblaw. His companion was short and sandy-haired. The name that he gave was Wight.
“They looked like bad customers. With them was another pair, who had the appearance of mobsters. Theblaw and Wight told me that Tellert had sent them; that they wanted they see Professor Jark. Their introduction sounded like a false one; but the whole crew looked so dangerous that I was forced to announce them to the professor.
“They went into an upstairs study, leaving the two toughs on guard downstairs. I realized that the thugs were watching me, so I went about my business in matter-of-fact fashion. The rowdies watched me when I went upstairs, but offered no objections.”
The Shadow raised his hand for a pause, partly because Bruce was tiring and partly because he had a question. He waited for a few moments; then put his interrogation in an easy tone.
“Was this long after the arrival of Theblaw and Wight?” asked the Shadow.
“About a half an hour after they came in,” replied Bruce. “I was wondering if the professor had encountered trouble. That was why I thought it imperative to go upstairs. It happened that the door of the study was ajar; it had never latched properly. I could hear the conversation that was going on within.
“To my astonishment, I overheard Professor Jark talking in a most crafty tone. He was chuckling, almost gloating, enthusiastic as he talked of success. I heard Wight address Theblaw as ‘Matt’; while Theblaw called Wight ‘Digger.’ From their remarks I gathered that Matt Theblaw had important gang connections while Digger Wight was obviously an experienced safe-cracker.
“Then came a buzzing sound. I knew that the professor must have brought in his original disintegrating apparatus, to give a demonstration. After the buzzing ended I heard Jark say that it would require only a few weeks to properly adjust the machine; that if it gave trouble, he could always repair it.
“Theblaw and Wight seemed satisfied. Then I caught some anxious remarks from the professor. He was referring to Doctor Baird. I heard Theblaw assure Jark that he and Digger would see that Baird was at the new place. By that I inferred that Jark intended to change his residence. At that point, I considered it wise to return downstairs.”
Another pause. Bruce had a faraway look, as though reviewing tense days that he had experienced. His next statements came in short, terse sentences.
“MATT THEBLAW and Digger Wight remained,” declared Bruce. “So did their henchmen. Harkins was dismissed. Jark retained me. I knew too much. I knew I was under observation — both from Jark and these men who were always with me. More henchmen arrived at the house.”
A few moments of rest; then Bruce added: