circulars than appears on the surface, and if we can secureevidence that is important, and present it to the proper officials, weshall be doing our country a service. So I'll start out on my ownresponsibility."
"Doesn't your secret service badge give you authority?" asked MaryLouise.
"No," replied Josie; "that badge is merely honorary. Daddy got it forme so that if ever I got into trouble it would help me out, but itdoesn't make me a member of the secret service or give me a bit ofauthority. But that doesn't matter; when I get evidence, I know whatauthority to give it to, and that's all that is necessary."
"Anyhow," said Mary Louise, with a relieved sigh, "I'm glad you aregoing to investigate the author of those awful circulars. It hasworried me a good deal to think that Dorfield is harboring a Germanspy, and I have confidence that if anyone can discover the traitor, youcan."
"That's good of you," returned Josie, with a grimace, "but I lack asimilar confidence in myself. Don't you remember how many times I'vefoozled?"
"But sometimes, Josie, you've won, and I hope you'll win now."
"Thank you," said Josie; "I hope so, myself."
CHAPTER XTHE EXPLOSION
Day was just beginning to break when a terrible detonation shook allDorfield. Houses rocked, windows rattled, a sudden wind swept over thetown and then a glare that was not a presage of the coming sun lit thesky.
A brief silence succeeded the shock, but immediately thereafterwhistles shrieked, fire-bells clanged, a murmur of agitated voicescrying aloud was heard on every side, and the people began pouring fromthe houses into the streets demanding the cause of the alarm.
Colonel Hathaway, still weak and nervous, stood trembling in hisbathrobe when Mary Louise came to him.
"It's the airplane factory, Gran'pa Jim," she said. "I can see it frommy windows. Something must have exploded and the buildings are onfire."
The airplane works of Dorfield had been one of the city's most uniqueinstitutions, but until we entered the World War it was not deemed ofprime importance. The government's vast airplane appropriations,however, had resulted in the Dorfield works securing contracts for themanufacture of war machines that straightway raised the enterprise toan important position. The original plant had been duplicated a dozentimes, until now, on the big field south of the city, the cluster ofbuildings required for the construction of aircraft was one of the mostimposing manufacturing plants in that part of the State. Skilledgovernment aviators had been sent to Dorfield to inspect every machineturned out. Although backed by local capital, it was, in effect, agovernment institution because it was now devoted exclusively togovernment contracts; therefore the explosion and fire filled everyloyal heart with a sinister suspicion that an enemy had caused thecalamity.
Splendid work on the part of the fire department subdued the flamesafter but two of the huge shed-like buildings had been destroyed. Bynoon the fire was controlled; a cordon of special police surrounded theentire plant and in one of the yards a hundred and fifty workmen werecorralled under arrest until the federal officers had made aninvestigation and decided where to place the blame.
Reassuring reports had somewhat quieted Colonel Hathaway and MaryLouise, but although they returned to their rooms, they could notsleep. Aunt Sally, realizing the situation, had an early breakfastprepared, but when she called Josie O'Gorman the girl was not in herroom or in the house. She appeared just as the others were finishingtheir meal and sat down with a sigh of content.
"My, but the coffee smells good!" she exclaimed. "I'm worn out with theexcitement."
"Did you go to the fire, Josie?" asked Mary Louise.
"Yes, and got there in time to help drag some of the poor fellows out.Three men in the building where the explosion occurred were killedoutright, and two others seriously injured. Fortunately the night shifthad just quit work or the casualties would have been much greater."
"It's dreadful, as it is," said Mary Louise with a shudder.
"What was the cause of the explosion!" inquired the colonel.
"Dynamite," replied Josie calmly.
"Then it was not an accident?"
"They don't use dynamite in making airplanes. Twenty-two machines, allcomplete and packed ready for shipment, were blown to smithereens. Agood many others, in course of construction, were ruined. It's a prettybad mess, I can tell you, but the machines can be replaced, and thelives can't."
"I wonder who did it," said Mary Louise, staring at her friend withfrightened eyes.
"The Kaiser," declared Josie. "He must be in fine fettle this morning,since his propaganda of murder and arson has been so successful."
"I--I don't quite understand you," faltered Mary Louise.
"Josie means that this is the work of a direct emissary of the Kaiser,"explained the colonel. "We know that among us are objectors andpacifists and those who from political motives are opposing theactivities of our President, but these are not dynamiters, nor do theydisplay their disloyalty except through foolish and futile protests.One who resorts to murder and arson in an attempt to block thegovernment's plans, and so retard our victory, is doubtless a hiredassassin and in close touch with the German master-spies who are knownto be lurking in this country."
"That's the idea, sir," approved Josie, nodding her tousled red head,"and better expressed than any answer of mine could have been."
"Well, then, can't this demon be arrested and punished?" asked MaryLouise.
"That remains to be seen," said Josie. "An investigation is alreadyunder way. All the outgoing night shift and some of the incoming dayshift have been held under suspicion, until they can be examined andcarefully questioned. I heard your Chief of Police--whom I know andknows me--assert that without doubt the bomb had been placed by one ofthe workmen. I wonder what makes him think that. Also the police arehunting for everyone seen loitering about the airplane plant during thepast twenty-four hours. They'll spend days--perhaps weeks--ininvestigating, and then the affair will quiet down and be forgotten."
"You fear they will not be able to apprehend the criminal?" from thecolonel.
"Not the way the police are going at it. They're virtually informingthe criminal that they're hunting for him but don't know where to findhim, and that if he isn't careful they'll get him. So he's going to becareful. It is possible, of course, that the fellow has left traces--clues that will lead to his discovery and arrest. Still, I'm notbanking much on that. Such explosions have been occurring for months,in various parts of the country, and the offenders have frequentlyescaped. The government suspects that German spies are responsible, butan indefinite suspicion is often as far as it gets. Evidence islacking."
"How about your boasted department of justice, and the secret service?"asked Mary Louise.
"They're as good as the German spy system, and sometimes a bit better.Don't think for a minute that our enemies are not clever," said Josieearnestly. "Sometimes our agents make a grab; sometimes the German spyremains undiscovered. It's diamond cut diamond--fifty-fifty. But whenwe get every alien enemy sequestered in zones removed from allfactories doing government work, we're going to have less trouble. Alot of these Germans and Austrians are liberty-loving Americans, loyaland true, but we must round up the innocent many, in order to squelchthe guilty few."
The following week was one of tense excitement for Dorfield. Federalofficers poured into the city to assist in the investigation; thevictims were buried with honor and ceremony, wrapped in American flagsto show that these "soldiers of industry" had been slain by theircountry's foe; the courtrooms were filled with eager mobs hoping thatevidence would be secured against some one of the many suspects.Gradually, however, the interest decreased, as Josie had predicted itwould. A half dozen suspects were held for further examination and theothers released. New buildings were being erected at the airplaneplant, and although somewhat crippled, the business of manufacturingthese necessary engines of war was soon going on much as usual.
CHAPTER XIA FONT OF TYPE
Mary Louise went into Josie O'Gorman's room a
nd found the young girlbent over a table on which were spread the disloyal circulars.
"You've been studying those things for nearly two weeks, Josie," shesaid. "Have you made any discoveries?"
"I know a lot more about the circulars than I did," answered Josie."For instance, there are nineteen printing offices in Dorfield, andonly two of them have this kind of type."
"Oh, that's something, indeed!" cried Mary Louise. "One of the twooffices must have printed the circulars."
"No; the curious fact is
Mary Louise and the Liberty Girls Page 11