and hurried in. Seated by one of the windows were Alice 212B 423 and
her father. Both turned as he entered, and the girl rose to her feet
and with a charming gesture held out both hands.
"We just _had_ to come," she said prettily, and in perfect English.
"You didn't give us an opportunity to thank you yesterday, and anyhow,
we felt that telephot thanks were not nearly so nice. That is, father
thought we really ought to come in person--of course, I did, too. I
wanted to see you ever so much"--she broke off, and then, realizing
the implication of her words, went on hastily with reddened cheeks and
downcast eyes, "I mean, to--to thank you, you know."
"It was wonderful of you," he declared still holding her two hands, and
utterly unmindful of the fact that she was gently trying to disengage
them. Indeed, he was not conscious of anyone or anything but her, until
the voice of her father brought him to the realization that there was
someone else in the room.
"We need no introduction I think," said the gentleman, "but I am
James 212B 422 and I must ask you to pardon our intrusion upon a
busy scientist's time, but I felt that we should come personally to
thank you for the great service you have done us both. She is my one
daughter, sir, and I love her dearly--dearly--"
"I can quite understand that," said Ralph with an unconscious ardor
that caused Alice, who had completely recovered from her momentary
confusion, to dimple and blush delightfully.
"I'm afraid, father dear," she said, "that we are keeping a busy man
too long. Your man," she added, turning to Ralph, "said you were
engaged in a wonderful experiment, and could not be disturbed."
"Busy? Not at all," said Ralph gracelessly. "You should not have been
kept waiting one moment, and I am very indignant with Peter for not
breaking down the door. He should have known, when he saw you, that you
were not to wait."
"Oh, please, don't scold him because of me," said Alice, not, however,
at all displeased with the implied compliment.
"I didn't know yesterday that you spoke English," he said, "so I
used the language-rectifier, but I see that you speak it perfectly.
That is a great relief to me, I assure you, for I speak French very
indifferently. But tell me," he continued, "how did you get here so
soon? The afternoon transatlantic aeroliner is not due yet, and it can
hardly be twenty-four hours since you left Switzerland."
"We had the honor of being the first passengers to arrive by means of
the new _Subatlantic Tube_," said James 212B 422. "As you are doubtless
aware, the regular passenger service opens next week, but being one of
the consulting engineers of the new electromagnetic tube, my daughter
and I were permitted to make the first trip westward. We made it in
perfect safety, although it was a little risky, as some small portions
of the tube are not entirely completed."
"And we were so anxious to get here as quickly as possible," broke in
Alice with a glance at Ralph.
"But you shouldn't have risked your lives, in an untested tube," he
exclaimed. And then, the scientist in him to the front: "Tell me all
about this new tube. Busy with my own work I have not followed its
progress closely enough to know all its details."
"It has been most interesting work," said James 212B 422, "and we
regard it as quite an achievement in electrical engineering. The new
tube runs in a straight line between New York and Brest, France. If the
tube were to run straight along the bottom of the ocean the distance
between the two points would be from 3600 to 3700 miles due to the
curvature of the earth. For this reason the tube was pushed _straight
through the earth_, thereby making the distance only 3470 miles.
"You will understand it better by examining this chart," and unfolding
a plan, he proceeded to elaborate on the finer points of the tube
construction. "The greatest trouble," he went on, "our engineers
experienced near the middle of the tube; this point is 450 miles
nearer the center of the earth and the heat became very marked. It was
necessary to install large liquid-air plants at several points in the
tube to reduce the heat, and now as you ride through no heat is noticed.
"We boarded the spacious steel car, which resembles a thick cigar, at
Brest last night at midnight, and arrived at the New York terminal
at noon today. There was only one stop, a few hundred miles out from
Brest, because of several short-circuited electromagnets.
"There are no wheels to the tube car and it is propelled by magnetism
only. At each three hundred feet is stationed a powerful tubular
electromagnet, about thirty feet long, through which the tube car
passes. Each electromagnet exerts a tremendous pull upon the car
three hundred feet away, this being the only steel object, and the
car rushes toward the electromagnet with a tremendous speed. When the
car is only two feet away from this electromagnet, the current is cut
off automatically by the car itself, the latter plunging through the
open space of the magnet coil, only to be influenced now by the next
electromagnet, three hundred feet distant.
[Illustration]
"The momentum acquired by the pull of the former electromagnet propels
the car with ever-increasing speed, and by the time it has passed
through twenty-five electromagnets it has reached the speed of three
hundred miles an hour. It then continues at a steady pace till the end
of the journey.
"As the car is held suspended entirely by magnetism, there is
practically no friction whatever, as there are no wheels or rails. The
only friction is from the air, and in order that this may not heat the
car it is equipped with a double wall, the space between the inner and
outer walls being a vacuum. Consequently the temperature inside is
comfortable at all times. Once inside the car, we retired and slept
as soundly as in our swinging beds at home. There were no shocks, no
noise, no rocking--all in all the trip was so delightful, that I must
say the new tube is a decided success!"
"Fine, fine," said Ralph enthusiastically. "This new tube is going to
revolutionize intercontinental travel. I suppose it won't be long now
before we will regard our tedious twenty-four hour journeys as things
of the past. Tell me," turning to Alice who had been an interested
listener, "how did the trip impress you?"
"Oh," she exclaimed eagerly, "it was delightful! So smooth and fast! I
was so excited. Really, it was over too soon."
As she spoke Ralph watched her with keen interest. Here was a girl who
attracted him. Beneath the vivacity that so fascinated him he sensed
the strength of her character, and the depth of her mind.
"I am so glad to be in New York," she was saying. "Do you know, this
is my first visit here for ages. Why, the last time I can just barely
remember, I was such a little girl. Father has been promising me a trip
for years," with a laughingly reproachful glance at him, "but it took
an avalanche to get us started."
"I'm afraid I've been a neglectful father of late years," said her
father, "but my work has kept me tied pretty close to home. I, too,
am pleased to be here once more, and my visit promises to be doubly
interesting, for I understand that your great dog experiment will be
completed today. I am looking forward to receiving the earliest reports
of it at the hotel."
"But I can't permit you to spend your days here in a hotel," protested
Ralph. "Of course you must both be my guests. Yes, yes," as they seemed
about to demur, "I won't take no for an answer. I am counting on
showing you New York, and, as for my experiment, it will give me great
pleasure to have you both present in my laboratory this afternoon at
four."
He pressed a button. "Peter will show you to your rooms, and I will
send some one for your luggage."
"You are more than kind," said James. "This is quite unexpected,
but none the less delightful. As to attending the meeting in your
laboratory this afternoon, it is an honor, sir, that I appreciate
deeply."
At this moment Peter stepped from the elevator and Ralph, after giving
him instructions to show his guests to their apartment, and directions
as to their bags, escorted them to the car and returned to the
laboratory.
* * * * *
Promptly at four, Ralph greeted a notable group of fellow scientists,
who had come from all corners of the planet to witness the completion
of the famous "Dead-Alive Dog" experiment. A host of reporters lined
the walls. Alice and her father were seated near Ralph.
A number of the twenty scientists who had witnessed the beginning of
the experiment three years before were dubiously contemplating the
glass box, and one or two of the reporters, unawed by the personages
in the laboratory, seven of whom were "Plus" men, seemed to find much
covert amusement in the whole affair.
Finally, when all of the preparations were completed, and Ralph's two
assistants had stationed themselves beside the glass box containing the
body, the young scientist addressed the gathering.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "you have come here to witness the
final phase of my dog experiment. The preliminary phases you observed
three years ago this day in this room. The seals you put in place are
intact, and you may see them for yourselves, untouched as you left them.
"As I explained three years ago I formulated the theory that a well
preserved animal, though dead to all intents and purposes, could be
revived, or new life given to it, provided the body had not undergone
decomposition; and also provided that none of the organs had suffered
in the least.
"I found that the rare gas Permagatol would conserve animal tissue and
animal organs indefinitely; when it is used in conjunction with a weak
solution of Radium-K bromide, mixed with antiseptic salts, no part of
an animal body would undergo any change for many years.
"I also found that the body would have to be kept at a fixed
temperature and this was possible by the use of Radium-K alloy. I am
now ready to prove my theory."
He signaled to his assistants, and with their aid, the seals were
broken and the glass cover of the case removed.
A profound silence prevailed. Every eye was focussed on the dog and
many of those present found it difficult to remain seated.
Ralph coolly and deliberately freed the dog of his bandages and
attachments and placed him on an operating table in plain view of
everyone.
From then on he and his aides moved rapidly. First the dead dog's
artery was opened and the Radium-K bromide solution drained off. A
young goat was brought in and strapped on the table, and in a very few
seconds one of its arteries had been opened and connected to the dead
dog's main artery. In less than a minute the dog's body was full of
fresh warm blood and immediately efforts were made to bring the dog
back to life.
Oxygen was freely administered and the heart was artificially pulsated
by means of an electrical vibratory apparatus.
At the same time one of the assistants had trained a vacuum tube on the
dog's head and its cathode shot the powerful F-9-Rays into the animal's
brain. No sooner had these rays, which are among the most powerful
brain stimulants, been trained on the dog than he began to show weak
signs of life. One of the hind legs was drawn up with a jerk as if in a
fit. Then came a faint heave of the chest, followed by a weak attempt
to breathe.
A few minutes later the body seemed to contract and a shiver ran
through it from head to tail. A deep respiration followed, and the
animal opened its eyes as if awakening from a long sleep.
In a few minutes more the dog was lying on its paws and licking up milk
when Ralph turned to the group and said:
"Gentlemen, the experiment is concluded and I believe the condition of
the animal at this moment establishes sufficient proof of my theory."
As the reporters eagerly dashed from the laboratory to get to the
nearest Telephot in order to communicate the news to the waiting
world the scientists gathered around Ralph and one of them, a white
haired old man considered to be the dean of the "Plus" men, voiced the
sentiment of the entire group.
"Ralph, this is one of the greatest gifts that science has brought to
humanity. For what you have done with a dog, you can do with a human
being. I only regret for myself that you had not lived and conducted
this experiment when I was a young man, that I might have, from time to
time, lived in suspended animation from century to century, and from
generation to generation as it will now be possible for human beings to
do."
The vista opened up by the results of this experiment in the minds
of the other scientists had dazed them and it was with the most
perfunctory good-byes that they left the scene of the experiment,
enveloped with their thoughts of the future.
Tired and exhausted by the nervous strain of the afternoon Ralph, a
few minutes later, lay down on his bed for a few hours' rest. But as
he closed his eyes there came to him a vivid picture of a pair of warm
dark eyes, radiating admiration, trust and something more that aroused
an emotion he had never before experienced.
4
FERNAND
On the following morning, Ralph, breakfasting alone, sent Peter to the
apartments of his guests to ascertain at what hour they would be ready
to do a little sight-seeing with him as guide.
He himself, in the habit of rising at an early hour, had not expected
to see either Alice or her father much before noon, and it was a
decided surprise to him, to see the latter enter the room a moment
after Peter had gone on his errand.
"I see that you, too, like to get up with the birds," said the
scientist after they had exchanged morning greetings.
"And Alice also, when she is at home; but the journey, and our exciting
day following it have tired her. I shall just have a bite to eat
with you, if you will permit me, and then I must be off to keep an
appointment with one of the chief engineers of the Tube."
"Then you will be unable to accompany us on our tour of the city?"
"Yes, but don't let that interfere with your plans. I know that Alice
will be safe with you," smiled her father, "and I daresay you young
people can get along very well without me."
"I'm sorry," replied Ralph, but in his heart he could not but rejoice
that he was to spend the day alone with her who, in a few short hours
had so captivated him. Perhaps something of this showed in his face,
for James 212B 422 smiled to himself.
Peter returned and presently Ralph and James were seated together at
the table. They conversed in a more or less desultory manner until just
before the end of the meal when Alice's father, laying down his napkin,
said:
"Before I leave you I have a request to make, a strange one, you may
think." He hesitated. "A short time ago I said that I felt that Alice
would be safe in your care. I had a special reason for making the
remark. The fact is, I am a little worried about her. A young man,
by name Fernand 60O 10, has been making rather a nuisance of himself
lately. He has asked her to marry him, a number of times, and she has
refused, and he has begun to force his attentions on her in a manner
which savors something of persecution.
"In fact, he went so far, four days ago, as to threaten her. Exactly
what passed between them I don't know, but I do know that, although
she treated the matter lightly at the time, she is frightened. I
have an impression that he may try to kidnap her if she does not
accept him, and though, in these enlightened days such a thing seems
ridiculous--well, the affair makes me a little nervous myself. When
we left Switzerland I understood that he was there, but he may have
followed Alice here. If he has and renews his unpleasant surveillance I
shall know that my fears have some grounds."
"What does this Fernand look like?" asked Ralph.
"Oh, a nice looking fellow--at least, the women think so. Personally,
I don't care for him. He is tall and dark, and has the sort of
temperament that seems to delight in opposition. His eyes have a
sullen expression, and his mouth is somewhat weak. She has, by the
way, another admirer, a thoroughly harmless chap, who is here on a
visit at present. He is the Martian Llysanorh' CK 1618, and he is
really hopelessly infatuated, but being, as I say, a very decent
chap who respects the law against marriage between the Martians and
Terrestrials, he has never annoyed her in any way. On the other hand
they are very good friends, and I doubt very much whether she even
suspects that he has any other feeling for her than that of a devoted
friend."
As he was speaking, a picture leapt to Ralph's mind. He saw again
two faces, each in the center of a Telephot, who, among the crowds
of applauding admirers regarded him with such intentness. If these
were the two men who cared for Alice, each in his own way, it was not
surprising that they had displayed more than a passing interest in the
man who had rescued her from what seemed to be certain death, and who
was a possible rival.
He recounted the incident to James, who agreed with him that in all
likelihood his suspicions were correct, and the two men parted for the
day, the older bearing with him the comforting reassurance that Ralph
would take care of his daughter as he would himself.
It was nearing eleven when Alice appeared, bright-eyed after her long
rest. She laughingly apologized for being so late, and they set out at
once.
"You know," he said before they started, "we New Yorkers are strange
birds. We only like our city when we are far away from it, or when we
can take some stranger about to show him or her the marvels of the
town. As a matter of fact the real, dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker hates
the town and only stays in it because it has cast a spell over him
which he cannot escape."
By this time they had arrived at the street level of the building and
Ralph bade Alice sit down on a chair in the vestibule. He pressed a
nearby button twice and a servant brought two pairs of what appeared to
be roller-skates.
In reality they were _Tele-motor-coasters_. They were made of
alomagnesium and each weighed only about one and one-half pounds. Each
had three small, rubber-covered wheels, one in front and two in the
rear. Between the wheels was a small electric motor--about the size of
a lemon; this motor could only be operated by high frequency currents
and, despite its small size, could deliver about one-quarter horsepower.
Ralph explained the coasters and their use to his companion; and after
they had put them on by means of an ingenious clutch, whereby the
coaster could be snapped onto the shoe in less than five seconds, they
both went out into the street. From each coaster a thin insulated wire
led up the wearer's back to the hat or cap. Here it was attached to the
_collector_, which was a stiff pin about eight inches long, projecting
half-way out from the hat or cap. This pin sucked up, as it were, the
high frequency electricity and carried it to the small motors, which
latter propelled the coaster. To control the speed of the motor, one
simply lifted up the front part of the coaster; this not only cut off
the current, but automatically braked the two rear wheels.
When the two rolled out in the street, Alice at once remarked upon the
splendid condition of the roads.
"You see," the scientist explained, "for centuries the city had to
content itself with temporary pavements, until about fifty years ago it
woke up and covered every street with steelonium.
"You will notice that there are no cracks or fissures. Steelonium won't
rust and is ten times as strong as steel. We now make our streets by
putting down large slabs of the metal, six inches thick. After they are
in place we weld them together electrically and the result is a perfect
street composed of a uniform sheet of metal without cracks or breaks;
no dirt or germs can collect. The sidewalks are made in the same manner.
"As a matter of fact, the Tele-motor-coasters would not be possible
were it not for the metallic streets. The flat spring which trails on
the street between the two rear wheels must make continuous contact
with the metallic 'ground,' else the current cannot flow."
"But where does the current come from?" asked the girl.
"You have perhaps noticed already the white slender posts at the edge
of the sidewalk, and on their tops umbrella-like insulators which carry
a thick spiked wire. This wire, as you see, is about fifteen feet above
the curb and carries the high frequency current which not only supplies
our coasters with power, by way of our needle collectors, but also
propels all the vehicles which you see gliding so noiselessly."
They were well under way and rolled along at a speed of about twenty
miles an hour. They passed thousands of citizens, all coasting at
high speed. There was no noise but the peculiar hum produced by the
thousands of motors, a sound which was in nowise annoying.
Each sidewalk was divided in two parts. On the outside only people
going in one direction, on the inside only people going in the opposite
direction could coast. Collisions, therefore, were impossible. If a
person rolling on the outside wished to enter a store, it was necessary
to go to the end of the block, and then turn to the left, which brought
him on the inside of the sidewalk where he could roll up to his
destination. Of course, this was only necessary when the sidewalk was
crowded, nothing preventing one's crossing it if but few people were on
the block.
The trolley car had long since become obsolete as well as the
gasoline-driven automobile. Only electromobiles carrying either
passengers or freight were to be seen. Each vehicle was equipped with
a short collector mast by means of which the electrical energy was
conveyed to the motors. The wheels of all vehicles were rubber-covered.
This accomplished two purposes: one to insulate the vehicle from the
metallic street, the other to minimize the noise to the greatest extent.
Although Alice had had a good scientific training, some of the wonders
of New York amazed her and she, as strangers had done for centuries,
asked questions continuously, while her companion eagerly explained
everything with a pleasure peculiar to the New Yorker, loving his town.
"What are those strange spiral wire affairs hanging high over all
street crossings?" was one of her first questions.
"Those illuminate our streets at night," was the answer. "They are
iridium wire spirals, about ten meters in diameter, hanging forty
meters up in the air, at the intersection of all our streets. This
evening you will see how the entire spiral will glow in a pure white
light which is absolutely cold. The wire throws out the light, and
after sundown you will find that the streets will be almost as light as
they are now. Each spiral furnishes over one-half million candlepower,
consequently one is needed only where streets intersect, except on very
long blocks, when a smaller spiral is hung in the middle."
Presently, while crossing a large square they passed Meteoro-Tower No.
26, of the seventh district, and Ralph at once launched off into praise
of it.
"While you of other countries have a good weather service, we in
New York boast of having the finest climate of any town on the face
of the globe. As you may imagine, our weather-engineers always have
difficult work, owing to the peculiar shape of the city, geographically
as well as physically. The tall spires and buildings make the work
exceptionally hard, as the air currents are extremely erratic over the
city and very hard to control. We now have sixty-eight Meteoro-Towers,
all of various power, in Consolidated New York. These are scattered
over a radius of ninety miles from the _City Governor's Building_,
and control the weather as well as the temperature of New York's two
hundred million inhabitants.
"You may look at a thermometer any time during the year and you will
find it invariably pointing at fifty units.[2] There is never an excess
of humidity in our air and life is made enjoyable for the hard-working
city dwellers, thanks to our well-trained weather engineer corps.
"During the daytime rain or snow is unheard of. There is continuous
sunshine during the three hundred and sixty-five days of the year.
Between two and three each morning it rains for exactly one hour. This
is done to freshen the air and to carry the dust away. It is the only
rain New York ever gets and it seems to be sufficient for all purposes."