The Sign at Six

Stewart Edward White

Jan 1912 · IndyPublish.com

About this ebook

Excerpt: ... stand to buy an afternoon paper, glanced at the head-lines and a portion of the text, and smiled sweetly to himself. Then he betook himself by means of a bus to the Warford residence. Helen was at home, and in the library. With her was Professor Eldridge. The men greeted each other formally. After a moment of general conversation Darrow produced the newspaper. "I see you have your theories in print," he drawled. "Very interesting. I didn't know you'd undertaken grammar-school physics instruction." "I know I'm going to be grateful for any sort of instruction-from anybody," interposed Helen. "I'm all in the dark." "Like the Atlas Building," Darrow smiled at her. "Well, here's a very good exposition in words of one syllable. I'll leave you the paper. Professor, what have you concluded as to the causes?" "They are yet to be determined." "Pardon me," drawled Darrow, "they have been determined-or at least their controlling power." "In what way, may I ask?" inquired Professor Eldridge formally. "Very simply. By the exercise of a little reason. I am going to tell you, because I want you to start fairly with me; and because you'll know all about it in the morning, anyway." "Your idea-the one you told us yesterday-is to be published?" cried Helen, leaning forward with interest. "The basis of it will be," replied Darrow. "Now"-he turned to Eldridge-"listen carefully; I'm not going to indulge in many explanations. Malachi McCarthy, political boss of this city, has made a personal enemy of a half-crazed or at least unbalanced man, who has in some way gained a limited power over etheric and other vibrations. This power Monsieur X, as I call him-the Unknown-has employed in fantastic manifestations designed solely for the purpose of frightening his enemy into leaving this country." Eldridge was listening with the keenest attention, his cold gray eyes glittering frostily behind their toric lenses. "You support your major hypothesis, I suppose?" he...

About the author

Author Stewart Edward White was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on March 12, 1873. He received a degree in Philosophy from the University of Michigan in 1895 and a M. A. from Columbia University in 1903. He wrote numerous books, articles, and short stories about his experiences in mining and lumber camps and on exploration trips. Some of his best known novels include The Claim Jumpers, The Blazed Trail, Gold, The Gray Dawn, and The Rose Dawn. He died in San Francisco, California on September 18, 1946.