he United States. As to the person who had placed it

people, busy, anxious, or curious, passing before our door. It is true, however, that even then, the bearer of the letter might easily have sl

it. Perhaps one would naturally imagine that the first comment of the public would be, "This is the work of so

ould have maintained that the document should not be taken seriously, an immense majority would have responded. "This letter has not

r had hidden himself for a time, only in order to reappear more startlingly in some new light. Instead of having perished in an accident, he had concealed himself in some retreat where the police were unable to discover him. Then to assert positively his attitude toward all governm

ome noise in two worlds, he certainly figured rightly. That day, the millions of good folk who re

ss have distinguished in the lines traces of a violent temperament, of a character stern and unsocial. Suddenly, a cry escaped me a cry that fortunat

initials with which my letter had been signed, did

triple machine commanded by the mysterious captain. The initials in my letter were his own sig

ompared it with the facsimile in the newspapers. There was no d

o well justified! I asked myself if our search could not now be prosecuted under less vague conditions. Could we not now start our men upon a trail which would lead definitely to success? In short, wha

nquiring if Mr. Ward was within and receiving an affirmative reply, I hastened toward his door, and rapped

the papers, not a facsimile, but the original itself whi

you had importan

;" and I drew from my pocket

nced at its face, and

only with initial

re was i

on, in Nort

d you re

, the thirte

you think

been writte

now S

l think, Mr. Ward, aft

n and read it carefully. "It is si

ls belong to the words, 'Master

original," responded M

urged, "that the two lett

seem

re made against me, to

you have had this letter for a month. W

it. Today, after the letter from the

important. I even hope it may prove the m

t I also hop

ossibly exist between the '

know. I canno

continued Mr. Ward, "though it is al

tha

pot selected by the inventor, w

is material in there? And how get his machine out? After w

ss, S

what?" I

the World has also wings, which permit

apable also of rivaling the vultures and the eagles, I could not restrain an expressive

er a microscope, especially the signatures, and established their perf

play an important part in this strange affair or rather in these two affairs. What thread attaches them, I cannot yet see; but I am s

ard. You know how

ly repeat my former order; hold yourself in read

icult to do anything. Where could one find this Master of the World? And even if he were discovered, how could he be captured? He had at his disposal not only the powers he had displayed, but apparently still greater res

or and his invention were not to be bought. And in what haughty and menacing terms he had couched his refusal! So be it! He must be treated as an enemy of society, against whom all means became justified

, the government issued t

machine constitutes a public menace, against which it is impossible to guard, the said commander of the 'Terror' is hereby placed beyond t

nst this "Master of the World" who thought to thre

anyone who revealed the hiding place of this dangerous inventor, to anyon

en and signaled, and when the chance came he would be arrested. This could not be accomplished when he was in his automobile on land or in his bo

New clues were constantly being announced. But all this was mere idle talk. Telegrams reached the police bureau from every part of America, each contradicting and nullifying the others. The enormous rewards offered could not help but lead to accusations, errors, and blunders, made, many of t

a telephone message to come to Mr. Ward on the in

an hour, Str

re f

Tol

s been

you will get you

men and I will

k, I now give you

s it, M

! This time