The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16

II can tell you nothing he said, moisten-
ing his parched lips.
You mean that you will tell me nothing:
Il knew nothing of any explosion until
you spoke of it. What have l to do with
the treasury or the government"
THAT is just what l want to know"
1T is absurd. L am no conspirator. but a
scientist"
Then you have nothing to fear. Herr
Seigfried. If you ere innocent. why are
this matter?'
TT has nothing to do with me. I am a
SCIENTIST am a scientist. All l wish is to
be left alone with my studies. l have Moth
ing to do with governments or newspapers
or anything belonging to them"
Jennie sat tracing a pattern on the dusty
floor with the point of Der parasol. She
"The penciied line which you drew on the
map of Vienna passed through the treasury
building; the center of the circle was this
garnet. Why did you draw that penciled
semicircle? Why are you so anxious that |
should not see you had done so? Why did
you destroy the map?'
Professor Seigfried sat there looking at
her with dropped jaw, but he made no re-
ply
ishly. 1t is evident TO me that you are
nofcriminal, yet if the director of police had
been in my place he would have arrested
you long ago, and that merely because of
your own foolish actions"
The mar, proved pothing." he said at
last, ~haltingly, and besides, both you and
the director will now have some difficulty in
finding it,"
That is further proof of your folly. The
director doesn't need to find II. / am
here to testify that / saw the map. saw the
curved line passing through the treasury
and saw you destroy what you thought was
an discriminating piece of evidence. 1t will
be much better If you would deal as frank
ly with me as I have done with you. Then
/ shall give you the best advice / can-if
NV Wi u-fn h IF onx- q 4 ma 70 van ~
Yes. and publish it to all the world!''
1t will have to be published to all the
world in any case, for; if I Leave here with
And # 1 do speak you will still go to
the director of the police and tell him
what you have discovered!"
not!'
the old man, suspiciously.
mo guarantee at all except my word!"
will you promise not to print in your
+ paper what 1 tell your"
No: 1 cannot promise that"
Still, the newspaper doesn't matter"
continued the scientist. THE story would be
valueleSS to you, because no one would be-
lieve 1t. There is no use in printing a story
In a newspaper that will be laughed at, is
there? However, 1 think you are honest.
Otherwise you would have promised not to
print a line of what / tell you. and then /
should have known you were lying. 1t was
as ;. easy asgI, to promise that at as to say you would u
first some scientist had sent you here to
play the spy on me and learn what / was
the explosion you speak of. yet l was GER
tain 1t had occurred somewhere along that
line which 1 drew on the map. L had hoped
II was not serious and begun to believe
1t was not. The anxiety of the last month
has nearly driven me insane, and, as you
say quite truly, my actions have been
childish"
The old man in his excitement had risen
from his chair and was now pacing up and
down the room. running his fingers dis
tractedly through his long, white hair. and
talking more to himself than to his auditor.
Jennie had edged her chair nearer TO the
door and had made no protest against his
rising, fearing to interrupt his flow of talk
and again arouse his suspicious.
II have no wish to protect my inventions.
l have never taken out a patent in my life.
What / discover l give freely 10 the world.
but 1 will not be robbed of my reputation
as a scientist. / want my name to go down
TO posterity among those of the great discov-
erers. You talked just now of going 10 the
police and telling them what you know.
Foolish creature. You could no more have
gone to the central police office without
my permission or against my will than you
could go to the window and whistle back
those bits of paper | scattered TO the winds.
Before YOU reached the bottom of the stairs
I could have laid vienna in a mass of ruins.
Yes, / could in all probability have blown up
the entire empire of Austria. The truth is
that I do not know the limit of my power
"Oh, this Is a madman!" thought Jennie
as she edged still nearer to the door. The
old man paused in his walk and turned
fiercely upon her.
YOU don't believe me?' he said.
mo. 1 do not" she answered. the color
leaving her cheeks.
hideous chuckle. He took from one of his
numerous shelves a hammer head without
the handle. and for a moment Jennie thought
he was going TO attack her, but he merely
handed the metal to her and said:
Break that in two. Place IL between
your palms and grind it TO powder"
You know that is absurd; I cannot do
It."
why can't you do it?"
Because II is of steel
THAT is no reason. Why can't you do it?'
He gIared at her fercely over his glasses
thusiasm Of an instructor enlightening a
'Til tell you why you can't do it. be-
cause every minute particle or II Is held
heated redhot and beaten into this shape
and that. but still the force hangs on as
tenaciously as the grip of a giant, Now.
euppvse L had some substance, a drop "a
release the force which holds the particles
together. what would happen?"
Il don't know" replied Jennie:
patiently. but you are like every other
woman. you won't take the trouble TO
think. What would happen would be this
The force that held the particles together
fall TO powder like that gold you showed
me, and there would be an explosion,
caused by the sudden release OF the power,
extinguish both our lives. You understand
that, do you not?'
Yes, / think / do.
Well. here Is something you won unoer'
hear II. There is but one force In this world
and but one particle OF matter. There Is onl,