r
they felt that inventions such as his would add to the complexities
of life, and that if a halt were not made our own machines would
ultimately destroy us.

"I did not, still do not, believe it. And I know Drayle's spirit broke
when the authorities sealed his last work in that box and released him
upon parole to abandon his experiments."

As the speaker sighed in regretful reminiscence, the sergeant glanced
at his men. Apparently all was well: the only visible menace lolled
within easy arm's reach, swinging his short legs and sucking noisily
on his candy. Nevertheless the non-com shifted to a slightly better
tactical position as he awaited the continuance of the tale.

* * * * *

"Christopher Drayle," said the elderly gentleman, "was the greatest
man I have ever known, as well as the finest. Forty years or more ago
we were close friends. Our homes on Long Island adjoined and I handled
most of his legal affairs. He was about forty-five or six then, but
already famous.

"His rediscovery of the ancient process of tempering copper had made
him one of the wealthiest men in the land and enabled him to devote
his time to scientific research. Electricity and chemistry were his
specialties, and at the period of which I speak he was deeply
engrossed in problems of radio transmission.

"But he had many interests and not infrequently visited our local
country club for an afternoon of golf. Sometimes I played around the
course with him and afterward, over a drink, we would talk. His
favorite topic was the contribution of science to human welfare. And
even though I could not always follow him when he grew enthusiastic
about some new theory I was always puzzled.

"It was at such a time, when we had been discussing the new and first
successful attempt to send moving pictures by radio, that I mentioned
the prophecy of Jackson Gee. Gee was the writer of fantastic,
pseudo-scientific tales who had said: 'We shall soon be able to
resolve human beings into their constituent elements, transmit them by
radio to any desired point and reassemble them at the other end. We
shall do this by means of vibrations. We are just beginning to learn
that vibrations are the key to the fundamental process of all life.'

* * * * *

"I laughed as I quoted this to Drayle, for it seemed to me the ravings
of a lunatic. But Drayle did not smile. 'Jackson Gee,' he said, 'is
nearer to the tr