He will naturally do so at the first opportunity
after his water-pot is refilled. But he wishes to do so at the first
effective opportunity. What is the most effective moment? The rush hours.
What are the rush hours? From eight to ten, and at six. Since he did not
pull off his show in the morning, we are fairly justified in concluding,
tentatively, that the water-pot was not full by then, and, as the Atlas
phenomena subsided at three of the morning before, the inference is
obvious."
"But isn't the most effective time at night, anyway, on account of the
lights?" asked Jack.
"Good boy!" approved Darrow. "He might have waited for that. But the
city-wide phenomena ceased at eight the night before; and the Atlas sound
phenomena did not occur until ten the next morning--fourteen hours. Now,
the most effective time to scare McCarthy was any time after nine.
McCarthy arrives as the clock strikes."
Jack shook his head.
"Oh, it's not proof; it's idle hypothesis," admitted Darrow. "We shall
have to test it. But let's go on with it, anyway, and see how it works
out."
"What's McCarthy got to do with it?" demanded Helen.
"That's so, you aren't in touch there." Darrow sketched briefly the
situation as it affected the boss. Helen's eyes were shining with
interest.
"Now," continued Darrow, "having tried out his new power to the limit, our
friend would begin to use it only as he needed it.
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