"But now, as I take it, Charles," he continued, "you never had any definite and exact idea of handling the unattuned current of electricity which runs free in the air, and which--according to my theory--can be taken down by the proper receivers and used locally--harnessed, set to work; and retailed at a price. That's the wireless idea, of course, in one form. It's the one big thing left for big business to discover. There's nothing left in timber, mines, irrigation, railroads; cream's all off the country now. But now here comes this idea of mine, and it's bigger than any of those old ones. _Money?_" He threw out his hands. "Were you working on this yourself, my son?" he concluded. "How singular! But it's in the air." "Not very much," said Halsey honestly. "I didn't have time to work steadily at it. We're pretty busy in the office. I did make a little model, though. I spent quite a lot of time on it, as I could." "We are busy in our office, too," said Rawn grimly. "But _I_ found time. We'll look over your model together, some day." CHAPTER IX CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive. Vesuvius erupts; a few human ants are scorched. A city burns, and a few ant-hills perish. An earthquake rocks half a continent; the other half stands firm. Nothing much matters, and nothing happens. That men fly in the air, that men talk across seas by machines--as right presently they will talk mind to mind, free of all mechanical hindrance--attracts no attention beyond passing chronicle in the argot of the day. The large things of the age, of course, are the ball games and the encounters of the prize ring. Why should we think? Why should we feel apprehension, whereas we know full well that, come what may--unless that shall be, to wit: the ball game, the prize fight, or the Day of Judgment--nothing really can much matter, and nothing much can happen?