At sight of him Percy Darrow's lounging gait became accentuated to
exaggeration.
"Hello, Prof!" he drawled. "On the job, I see. Good morning, Doctor," he
greeted Knox. "What do you make of it?"
"I make of it that the Atlas Building will shortly be without tenants,"
replied the doctor; "me, for one."
Eldridge surveyed Darrow coldly through the glittering toric lenses of his
glasses.
"The cause of these extraordinary phenomena is self-evident," he stated.
"You mean their nature, not their cause," replied Darrow. "In nature, they
refer back to the interference with etheric and molecular vibrations.
That," he added, "is a fact that every boy in the grammar-school physics
class has figured out for himself. The cause is a different matter."
"I stand corrected," said Eldridge. "Such lapses in accuracy of statement
are not usual with me, but may be considered as concomitant with unusual
circumstances."
"Right-o!" agreed Darrow cheerfully. "Well, what about the causes?"
"That I will determine when I am satisfied that all the elements of the
problem are in my hands."
"Right-o!" repeated Darrow. "Well, I'll bet you a new hat I'll land the
cause before you do. Be a sport!"
"I never indulge in wagers," replied Eldridge.
"Well," said Darrow to Jack and Hallowell, "come on!"
Without waiting to see if he was followed, the young man again plunged
into the black and clinging darkness.
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