The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-07-23
"Who knows You came up to see
met" he whispered hoarsely. glazing at


| by the information. The rightly Of his
| attitude relaxed, and he became once
more the old man he had appeared as
| he sat in heap in his chair. "You
will excuse me-" he muttered. edging
round toward his chair again, II was
| excited
II noticed that you were, professor.
But before you sit down again please
unlock that door.
"Why3" he asked, pausing on his
| way to the chair.
because l wish it open."
"And L." he said in a higher tone,
"wish it to remain locked until we have
come to some understanding. can't let
| you go out now, but shall permit you
to 60 unmolested as soon as you have
| made some explanation to me.
eff you do not unlock the door i'm
mediately, shall take this machine
and fling it through the front window
| out on the street The crashing glass on
the pavement will soon bring some one
to my rescue, professor, and. as l have
a voice Of my own and small hesitation
| about shouting shall have little diff
| Guilty in directing the strangers where
| to come.
As Jennie spoke she moved swiftly to-
ward the table on which stood the
strange aggregation Of rehectors and
| bent glass tubing.
"No, no, mol" screamed the pro-
! fessor, springing between her and the
table. "Touch anything but that-any-
thing but thatl Do not disturb it an
| inch-there is danger-death not only
to you and me, but perhaps to the
whole city. Keep away from itl'
Every well, then, )" said Jennie, step
ping back in spite Of her endeavor to
sustain her self control, "open the door.
| Open both doors and leave them so.
| After that, if you remain seated in your
! chair. l shall not touch the machine,
| nor shall l leave until l make the ey-
plantations you require and you have
answered some questions that 1 shall
ask But must have clear way to the
stair in case you should become ex-
cited again"
"I'll unlock The doors. I'll unlock
both doors, replied the old man tremu-
| lousy, fumbling about his pockets for
his keys. "But keep away from that
machine unless you want to bring
swift destruction on US all. "
With an eagerness that retarded his
speed the professor, constantly looking
over his shoulder at his visitor, unlock
ed the first door; then hastily he flung
| open the second and tottered back to his
| chair where he collapsed on the tiger
| skin, trembling and exhausted.
eve may be overheard" he whined.
| zone can never tell who may sneak
quietly up the stair. l am surrounded
| by spies trying to find out what am
| doing"
"Wait moment" said Jennie.
She went quickly to the outer door,
found that it closed with spring latch,
opened and shut it two or three times
until she was perfectly familiar with its
workings; then she closed it, drew the
inner door nearly shut and sat down.
"There," she said, 1--WE are quite
safe from interruption, Professor Seig-
fried, but l must request you not to
move from your chair. -
81 have no intention Of doing so,
murmured the old man. "Who sent
your You said you would tell me. I
think you owe me an explanation.
81 think You owe me one, replied
the girl. "As !. told you before, no one
sent me. l came here entirely of my
own accord, and l shall endeavor to
make clear to you exactly why came.
Some time ago there occurred in this
city terrific explosion
"Where3 When9" exclaimed the old
man. placing his hands on the arms of
his chair, as if he would rise to his feet
"Sit where you are" said Jennie
firmly, "and shall tell you all I can
about it. The government, for reasons
of its own, desires to keep the fact of
this explosion a secret, and SO very few
people outside Of official circles know
anything about it. am trying to dis
cover the cause of that disaster. -
Gave you-are You working on be-
half of the government" asked the old
udu edBeIly, IIeluOI VI AcdI III ulo
quavering voice.
"No; am conducting my investiga
tons quite independently of the govern
ment."
"But whys But whyf That is what
don t understand.
II would very much rather not an
swer that question.
"But that question-everything is
involved in that question. must know
why you are here. If you are not in the
employ Of the government. in whose
employ are your"
IF l tell you" said Jennie, with
some hesitation. Twill you keep what !
say secretf"
Eyes, yes, yesl" cried the scientist
impatiently.
"Well, l am in the service of a Lon
don daily newspaper.
II see, see, and they have sent you
here to publish broadcast over the world
all you can find out Of my doings.
knew you were spy the moment l saw
you. should never have let you In. "
- L.. Z.