The machine did contain one novel feature: a built-in meter of a novel type, whereby it could be set to operate for a predetermined time and then destroy itself, and a radio control whereby the time limit could be varied. Furthermore, the meter would destroy itself and the receptors if tampered with by any person not familiar with its design. It was Waldo’s tentative answer to the problem of selling free and unlimited power
But of these matters he said nothing. Small waldoes had been busy attaching guys to the apparatus; when they were through he said, ‘This, gentlemen, is an instrument which I choose to call a Jones-Schneider-deKalb. And it is the reason why you will not be in the business of selling power much longer.~ ‘So?’ said Gleason. ‘May I ask why?
‘Because,’ he was told, ‘I can sell it more cheaply and conveniently and under circumstances you cannot hope to match.
‘That is a strong statement.
‘I will demonstrate. Dr Stevens, you have noted that the other receptors are operating. I will turn them off.’ The waldoes did so. ‘I will now stop the beamcast and I will ask you to assure yourself, by means of your own instruments, that there is no radiant power, other than ordinary visible light, in this room.
Somewhat sullenly Stevens did so. ‘The place is dead,’ he announced some minutes later
‘Good. Keep your instruments in place, that you may be sure it remains dead. I will now activate my receptor.’ Little mechanical hands closed the switches. ‘Observe it, Doctor. Go over it thoroughly.
Stevens did so. He did not trust the readings shown by its instrument hoard; he attached his own meters in parallel. ‘How about it, James?’ Gleason whispered
Stevens looked disgusted. ‘The damn thing draws power from nowhere!
They all looked at Waldo. ‘Take plenty of time, gentlemen,’ he said grandly. ‘Talk it over.
They withdrew as far away as the room permitted and whispered. Waldo could see that Harkness and Stevens were arguing, that Stevens was noncommittal. That suited him. He was hoping that Stevens would not decide to take another look at the fancy gadget he had termed a Jones-Schneider-deKalb. Stevens must not learn too much about it – yet. He had been careful to say nothing but the truth about it, but perhaps he had not said all of the truth; he had not mentioned that all Schneider-treated deKalbs were sources of free power
Rather embarrassing if Stevens should discover that! The meter-and-destruction device Waldo had purposely made mysterious and complex, but it was not useless. Later he would be able to point out, quite correctly, that without such a device NAPA simply could not remain in business
Waldo was not easy. The whole business was a risky gamble; he would have much preferred to know more about the phenomena he was trying to peddle, but – he shrugged mentally while preserving a smile of smug confidence – the business had dragged on several months already, and the power situation really was critical. This solution would do – if he could get their names on the dotted line quickly enough
For he had no intention of trying to compete with NAPA
Gleason pulled himself away from Stevens and Harkness, came to Waldo. ‘Mr Jones, can’t we arrange this amicably?
‘What have you to suggest?
It was quite an hour later that Waldo, with a sigh of relief, watched his guests’ ship depart from the threshold flat. A fine caper, he thought, and it had worked; he had got away with it. He had magnanimously allowed himself to be persuaded to consolidate, provided – he had allowed himself to be quite temperamental about this – the contract was concluded at once, no fussing around and fencing between lawyers. Now or never – put up or shut up. The proposed contract, he had pointed out virtuously, gave him nothing at all unless his allegations about the Jones-chneider-deKalb were correct
Gleason considered this point and had decided to sign, had signed
Even then Harkness had attempted to claim that Waldo had been an employee of NAPA. Waldo had written that first contract himself – a specific commission for a contingent fee. Harkness did not have a leg to stand on; even Gleason had agreed to that