The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bell Tone, by Edmund H. Leftwich

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Title: The Bell Tone

Author: Edmund H. Leftwich

Release Date: August 31, 2007 [EBook #22470]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Illustration]

THE BELL TONE

by

EDMUND H. LEFTWICH

_It is no use. It's too late.
The earth--I must dig--alone._

_To Whom It May Concern:_

In order to clear up any misunderstanding or false impressions regarding
the amazing case of my beloved friend and co-worker, Professor Howard E.
Edwards, I submit herewith, extracts from the professor's notebook,
which I found on the desk.

EVANS BARCLAY, B.S. Fellow IRE.

* * * * *

_Jan. 25._

Last night, in my dreams, I was a monstrous ant, and had been digging
myself a burrow in the soft fresh earth. The dream was intensely real,
and when I awoke, I felt as tired as if I had actually been digging. My
arms ached, and I was astonished, upon examining my hands, to find them
raw.

Dressing hastily, I rushed to the back yard, and there, sure enough,
near the fence, was a large hole about two feet deep and three feet
long. Hurriedly, I filled it in and returned to the house.

I must rest for a few days, as I feel that the intense excitement caused
by my investigations, is preying too heavily upon my mind.

At this time, I feel that I should make a brief summary of my findings
in respect to the ants, so that Barclay may go over these notes upon his
return from his vacation.

_First:_ The ant colony is the source of a powerful bell-like tone which
is radiated continuously on two wave-lengths, .0018 meter, and .00176
meter. This tone acts as a radio-beacon, and directs the ants to the
colony, no matter where they may be located. The .0018 meter wave is
used by the ants for their "clacking" conversations, by means of which
they communicate with each other and the colony, receiving orders from
the directing intelligenc