The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-06-01
JENNIE BAXTER: JOURNALIST
BY ROBERT BARR.
Viii. 1heR0bbe|y IDthe SLEEPING Cor.
copyright, 1900, by Robert Barr.l


rector of police, and she now wondered
whether she would be breaking her
word or not if she let that official
know the result of her investigation
when it could make no difference, one
way or the other, to the professor. If
Professor Seigfried could have foreseen
his own sudden death, would he not,
she asked herself, have preferred to
make public all she knew of him. for
had he not constantly reiterated that
fame, and the consequent Transmission
of his name to posterity, was what he
worked for? Then there was this con-
sideration-if the chief of police was
not told how the explosion had been
caused, his fruitless search would 60
futilely on, and doubtless in the course
of police inquiry, many innocent per-
sons would be arrested, put to incon-
venience and expense, and there was
even chance that one OF more who
had absolutely nothing to do with the
affair might be imprisoned for life.
She resolved, therefore, to tell the di-
rector of the police all she knew, which
she would not have done had Professor
Seigfried been alive. She accordingly
sent a messenger for the great official,
and just as she had begun to relate to
the impatient princess what had hap
pened he was announced. The three of
them held convention in Jennie's draw
ing room With locked doors.
Il am in a position, began Jennie,
'tto tell you how the explosion in the
treasury was caused and who caused it,
but before doing so you must promise
to grant me two favors, each of which
is in your power to bestow without in
convenience. .
"What are they p asked the director
of police cautiously.
''To tell what they are is to tell part
of my story. You must first promise
blindly and afterward keep your prom
Use faithfully.
''Those are rather unusual terms,
Miss Baxter, said the chief, 'sbut ac-
cede to them, the more willingly as we
have found that all the gold is still in
the treasury, as you said it was
Every well, then, the first favor is
that shall not be called to give testi-
mony when an inquest is held on the
body of Professor Carl seigfried.
"You amaze me' cried the director
elbow did you know he was dead?
had news of it only moment before
left my office. y
81 was with him when he died, said
Jennie simply. which statement drew
forth an exclamation of surprise from
both the princess and the director. my
next request is that you destroy utterly
a machine which stands on table near
the center of the professors room. Per-
haps the instrument is already disabled
Il believe it is-but nevertheless l
shall not rest content until you have
seen that every vestige of it is made
away with, because the study of what
is left of it may enable some other scien-
fist to put it in working order again. l
entreat you to attend to this matter
yourself. Twill go with you, if you wish
me to, and point out the instrument in
case it has been moved from it's posi-
tion. :"
''The room is sealed up said the
director, and nothingwill be touched
until arrive there What is the nature
of this instrument p
cit is of nature SO deadly and de-
structive thatif it got into the hands of
an anarchist he could alone lay the
city of Vienna in ruins. /"
"Good heavens' cried the Mortified
official, whose bane was the anarchists
and Jennie, in mentioning this particu-
| lar type of criminals, had builded better
| than she knew. If she had told him that
the professors invention might enable
| Austria to conquer all the surrounding
nations, there is every chance that the
machine would have been carefully pre-
served
"The explosion in the treasury
vaults, continued Jennie, "was acct,
dentally caused by that instrument, al
though the machine at the moment was
in a garnet half mile away. You saw
the terrible effect Of that explosion.
Imagine, then, the destruction it would
cause in the hands of one of those an
archists. =
81 shall destroy the instrument with
my own hands. asserted the director
fervently, mopping his pallid brow.
Jennie then went on, to the increas-
ing establishment of the princess and
the director, and related every detail OF
her interview with the late Professor
Carl Seigfried.
| 81 shall go at once and annihilate
that machine, said the director, rising
when the recital lad been finished. 81
shall see to that myself. Then, after the
inquest, | shall give an order that ey-
erything in the attic is to be destroyed
l wish all the scientists on the face OF
the earth could be safely placed behind
prison bars.
81 am afraid that wouldn't do much
good, " said Jennie, unless you coul6
prevent chemicals being Struggled in
The scientists would probably reduce
your prison to powder and walk calmly
out through the dust
Mr.. Hardwick had told Jennie that il
she solved the Vienna mystery she
would make European reputation fol
The Daily Bugle. Jennie did more thar
was expected of her, vet the European