Islands in the Air | Page 2

life."
"Don't be alarmed, my boy," went on the professor, smiling complacently, "as I have intimated I do not propose a blanket control. I shall tap this energy only in spots for the benefit of my--that is--our islands."

The Professor's Fear
THE professor's face glowed with enthusiasm as he looked at me. I saw that he was looking to me for funds to further his experiment. As the goddess of fortune had blessed me with more than my share of riches and I loved the eccentric professor I listened sympathetically. I may say that my interest was somewhat heightened by my friendship for Greta, who was a skillful air pilot and who had given me many pleasurable rides in her plane which embodied many of the professor's radical ideas of airplane construction.
"What do you want me to do?" I encouraged.
"Well, Walnut Ridge is a good place to start."
"Walnut Ridge--why that is away out in the wilderness."
"Of course, but that is where we want to start--away from everybody. You see I have not been idle since coming to America. While you were away on business I was out looking the ridge over. I would buy and fence a section of the west end of the ridge perhaps a half mile in length by a quarter of a mile in width. There would be machinery to install, you understand, and an island to manufacture--perhaps many of them."
Again I stared at my friend, and he smiled back in his inscrutable, confident way.
"And the islands--what will you do with them?"
"I shall place them in the sky and anchor them."
This was too much for my sense of humor and I laughed in spite of myself. Manufacturing islands and anchoring them in the sky was such a ridiculous proposition that I treated it as a big joke. But now the professor was frowning and a cold light flamed in his eyes.
"You think me joking," he said with quiet dignity, "but I am not. Already I have proved my theory."
"Forgive me," I said contritely. "But my God, man," I added, "your proposition fairly stuns me. It will revolutionize aviation, astronomy--everything pertaining to the heaven above us. Have you worked it out alone and does no one know your secret?"
A shadow came over Professor Stiener's fair face. For a long minute he looked down at the floor, then raised his head with a jerk.
"I believe that no one has stumbled onto this thing but me. However, there is Van Beck. You know something about that confounded Dutchman, how that while I have worked with him and discovered much for the benefit of our fellowmen, he also has pestered me, often garnering the fruits of my toil. You know how he has disputed my claims on several occasions while posing as my friend. The devil take him. I wish I was sure."
Professor Van Beck, a small, wiry man with a bristling black beard, was Professor Stiener's closest rival in the realms of science. The men, differing widely, still had much in common and had been closely associated in Europe before Van Beck took up his residence in the United States. But always Van Beck had managed to gather most of the rewards to himself. And now that I had invited Professor Stiener and his sister to make me a long visit, the irony of fate had guided him to the faculty of the university where the great Dutchman labored.
"You haven't said anything about this to Van Beck?"
"Not a word. But he is always trying to worm something out of me. You know what a persistent way he has--his strange personality--you like him and yet you hate him. And last week while I was conducting my experiments out on the ridge I spied a fellow far across the valley looking in my direction through a field glass."
I certainly sympathized with Professor Stiener's efforts to stop his rival. The little Dutch scientist seemed to exercise some sort of an influence over Greta. She was often seen in his company and always took his part whenever he was held up to scorn by her celebrated brother.
"Your words imply that there is much still to be done; that you have proved only that the theory is feasible."
"That is just it, my boy--perfectly feasible."
And then drawing his chair still nearer the professor told in low tones many of the details of his marvelous plans, but as he talked on his voice rose on a wave of enthusiasm and more than once I had to caution him for fear some servant might overhear.
The night was far advanced when at last he finished and rose to retire. His face shone with ardent hope as he bade me good night and ascended the stairs. I stared after him until he passed from view, and then too much upset by his