Air Wonder Stories, July 1929 — page 36: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

34 intimated I do not propose a blanket control. I shall tap this energy only in spots for the benefit of my—that is—our islands.” The Professor’s Fear 2 gee professor’s face glowed with enthusiasm as he looked at me. I saw that he was looking to me for funds to further his experiment. As the goddess of fortune had blessed me with more than my share of riches and I loved the eccentric profes- sor I listened sympathetically. I may say that my interest was somewhat heightened by my friendship for Greta, who was a skillful air pilot and who had given me many pleasurable rides in her plane which embodied many of the professor’s radical ideas of airplane construction. “What do you want me to dor” I encouraged. “Well, Walnut Ridge is a good place to start.” “Walnut Ridge—why that is away out in the wilderness.” “Of course, but that is where we want to start— away from everybody. You see I have not been idle since coming to America. While you were away on business I was out looking the ridge over. I would buy and fence a section of the west end of the ridge perhaps a half mile in length by a quarter of a mile in width. There would be machinery to install, you understand, and an island to manu- facture—perhaps many of them.” Again I stared at my friend, and he smiled back in his inscrutable, confident way. “And the islands—what will you do with them?” “T shall place them in the sky and anchor them.” This was too much for my sense of humor and I laughed in spite of myself. Manufacturing islands and anchoring them in the sky was such a ridi- culous proposition that I treated it as a big joke. But now the professor was frowning and a cold light flamed in his eyes. “You think me joking,” he said with quiet dignity, “but I am not. Already I have proved my theory.” “Forgive me,” I said contritely. “But my God, man,” I added, “your proposition fairly stuns me. It will revolutionize aviation, astronomy—every- thing pertaining to the heaven above us. Have you worked it out alone and does no one know your secret?” A shadow came over Professor Stiener’s fair face. For a long minute he looked down at the floor, then raised his head with a jerk. “TI believe that no one has stumbled onto this thing but me. However, there is Van Beck. You know something about that confounded Dutchman, how that while I have worked with him and dis- covered much for the benefit of our fellowmen, he also has pestered me, often garnering the fruits of my toil. You know how he has disputed my claims on several occasions while posing as my friend. The devil take him. I wish I was sure.” Professor Van Beck, a small, wiry man with a bristling black beard, was Professor Stiener’s clos- est rival in the realms of science. The men, differing widely, still had much in common and had been closely associated in Europe before Van Beck took up his residence in the United States. But always Van Beck had managed to gather most of the rewards to himself. And now that I had invited Professor Stiener and his sister to make me a long visit, the irony of fate had guided him to the faculty Ain WONDER STORIES of the university where the great Dutchman labored. “You haven't said anything about this to Van Beck?” “Not a word. But he is always trying to worm something out of me. You know what a persistent way he has—his strange personality—you like him and yet you hate him. And last week while I was conducting my experiments out on the ridge I spied a fellow far across the valley looking in my di- rection through a field glass.” I certainly sympathized with Professor Stiener’s efforts to stop his rival. The little Dutch scientist seemed to exercise some sort of an influence over Greta. She was often seen in his company and al- ways took his part whenever he was held up to scorn by her celebrated brother. “Your words imply that there is much still to be done; that you have proved only that the theory is feasible.” “That is just it, my boy—perfectly feasible.” And then drawing his chair still nearer the professor told in low tones many of the details of his marvelous plans, but as he talked on his voice Tose on a wave of enthusiasm and more than once I had to caution him for fear some servant might overhear. The night was far advanced when at last he finished and rose to retire. His face shone with ardent hope as he bade me good night and ascended the stairs. I stared after him until he passed from view, and then too much upset by his astounding revelations to sleep I went out to take a turn or two about the lawn in an effort. to get the thing thoroughly analyzed before committing myself to sponsor a scheme that seemed to be the most im- possible thing ever conceived by the mind of man. As I went down the porch steps I fancied I heard a slight scraping noise from the direction of my study window. I looked that way and for a moment thought I saw a vague shadowy form emerge from the deeper shadows and disappear over the porch railing. But as the sky was overcast and the gloom deep in that particular quarter I dismissed the notion. For more than an hour I paced up and down the drives and across the lawn thinking over the professor’s words, The result of it all was that I finally concluded to back him financially. CHAPTER II The Secret of Walnut Ridge E HAD no difficulty purchasing the de- W sired tract on Walnut Ridge. We. en- closed it with a high, woven wire fence topped by five strands of barbed wire. Our workmen were selected- carefully, housed to keep their mouths shut. As secretly as pos- sible the material of divers sorts was collected on the ridge and the actual work of construction began. The few reporters and other curious humans that found their way out through the wilderness to the plant were sent on the wrong trail by the report that we were about to test out special iron mining machinery and make borings for other minerals, While our electricians under the able direction of a little red-headed Scotchman named McCann were familiar with all the workings of the intricate machinery, motors, transformers and so on, no one comnliclooolks.com