Air Wonder Stories, August 1929 — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

162 AIR WONDER STORIES alert, straining his ears to detect any sound that would betray the presence of a third patty, But only the usual sounds of city life could be heard. The humming of planes as they passed his window, the never-ceas- ing tread of feet in the corridor beyond his office, the faint sound of the changing plates of the stock market announcer on the wall, but no suspicious sounds could he hear. What had the detective heard? Was there really someone spying on him? Wallace paled a bit as he thought of it. “Tt is twelve o'clock,” Riel was saying. “Suppose we take a short walk.” An Unseen Shadow 2 ate ait line official made. no reply, but, rising, reached for his hat. He realized that there was something wrong, for he had seen the warning look in the other man’s eyes, and he decided that the best policy was to remain quiet for the present. “Sub level three,” Riel informed the elevator attend- ant as they stepped onto the car; and a few moments later they were walking along the lowest street level. Tt was the noon-hour and the towering buildings of New York’s downtown area were pouring their streams of humanity onto the three street levels—crowding them to the limit. Especially the lower street, ‘which was built for pedestrians only. Here, the wonderful window displays, the bright lights of the theatres, the stores, and dining-rooms added their brilliancy to the countless electrical lights of all colors and patterns, and attracted the-crowds from-all parts of the great city. It was the White Way of the mighty metropolis. The. heavy: traffic assigned to the second level, could scarcely be heard from-below, due to the excellent sound and. vibration-proof construction of the streets. The present street system was a great improvement over the old style of having everything on one level. For now merchandise was’ delivered to the buildings by a sub-surface freight salina, that connected all of the main buildings, and. provided them with: an efficient method of receiving and shipping the constant streams of material. The aerial landings on the roofs of. the buildings also provided speedy means of obtaining sérv- ice for both passengers and freight, There was little said as the two men made their way. through the crowd for about two blocks, and entered a dining room. Wallace noticed his companion steal another look at the wrist watch as they approached a corner-table furthest from the entrance. He wondered what ctirious: contraption that innocent-looking wrist watch could be, and how it could inform the wearer of the presence ofa spy. “We can sit here and talk,”-Riel remarked removing his hat, “but keep off the robbery subject, for we-are not only being watched: but overheard as well,” The official gazed uneasily around him at the occu- pied tables, but no one seemed fo be paying the least bit of attention to them. He almost decided that his friend was taking the:precautions simply as a measure of safety, and that he had no proof of any one shadow- ing them, But, then, that mysterious wrist watch must be serving some purpose; and he tried to puzzle out how a wrist watch could be fixed up ‘to tell of the presence of a person who is close enough to overhear em, aoe makes you think we are being- watched?” he asked. + “T don’t think: so I know it, see this on my wrist?” the detective exhibited the watch for inspection. “It’s a-wrist watch, yes, but the second hand is not a second hand, it’s a small compass needle. Inside the case, be- sides the works that drive the hour and minute hands, T have a coil of fine wire, located so that when it is energized it: will swing the needle to a position pointing to the figures. six and twelve on the face, and freeze it in that position. When no energy is passing through the coil the compass needle will swing free—controlled faintly by the. magnetic lines of the earth, Now I'll he something that I have not told you before, the Riel’s serious expression quickly changed to a smile, and Wallace again saw the warning look in his eyes. So for the next’ few. minutes they talked idly, remain- ing off the subject of interest. Wallace was not slow in catching on, he knew that in some way the watch indicated the presence of a foe. But who or where the spy was he had no idea. The detective’s arm was resting on the table, the watch almost concealed by his cuff, but not enough to hide the compass needle from view. The needle was pointing straight at the stem of the watch, or the figure twelve, with its north pole. But another look from the sleuth caused Wallace to take his glance away from the needle. He noticed that his friend looked at it out of the corner of his eye, while he carried on the conversation. Suddenly the needle was released, and swung freely around as it sought to align itself with the magnetic north and south poles of the earth. “T must give you credit,” Riel smiled across the table, “you were not slow in catching on,” “Suppose you let me know what the mystery is,” was the reply, “before that confounded thing swings around again.” “Well, they’re using a vision ray on us, and this de- tects the ray,” Wallace’s face paled. “Good God, man, you don't mean that they have been watching every move I’ve made for months back?” “And listening too, for the ray picks up sound waves. Now before we go any further put this-on.” The detective drew a second watch from his pocket and passed it over the table. “And when you see the needle freeze, remember that you are being watched as closely. as I am watching you. And be careful how you look at your indicator, because while they're watch- ing’ you, they may notice you looking at it, and it’s one thing we don’t want them to find out if we can elp it,” “T understand,” replied the other, strapping on the watch, “and you can depend on my using every precaution.” The Air-Line Station 6s] T is of no use trying to discuss the case here,” Riel continued, “for we are being watched too closely with the ray. There’s only one place where we can talk in secrecy, and: that is at my home in London.” Now, you return to your office and make necessary preparations for a few days’ stay abroad, and meet me at the air-line station at six A, M. tomorrow. We'll take your morning ship across.” “The first doesn’t leave until ten o'clock, for we’ve cut down to four trips a day, Business has become completely dead since the public became’ frightened.” “Sh—!”" A hiss from Riel, and he knew thatthe tay was on them again. A cautious glance at the watch verified it. “Then order a special for six A. M.,” the detective