But Dr. Alton showed little surprise, merely regarding his son more attentively. "What is to take its place, Cyrus?"
"Just the spoken word. Its transmission through the ether with no mechanical appliance for sending or for receiving."
Luther smiled. "It will have to be a pretty loud voice."
"No louder than wireless. It will be carried by the same forces that carry the wireless message, only more simply applied. The air about us is alive with electric force that is perfectly willing to take our messages without the machinery."
Dr. Alton smiled. "Well, you seem to have confidence in it. That's a good beginning, anyway."
Cyrus also smiled. "I have already done it."
"Already done it?"
"Yes, sir; and more than once. Billy Saunders and I went out into the country, stood nearly a mile apart, spoke in ordinary tones and each heard more than half the other said."
"With no instruments whatever?"