Jennie Baxter, Journalist

by Robert Barr

  CHAPTER XV. JENNIE BESTOWS INFORMATION UPON THE CHIEF OF POLICE.

  A few minutes after leaving the Treasury building the carriage ofthe Chief stopped in front of the shop of Herr Feltz in the wideGraubenstrasse. The great chemist himself waited upon them and conductedthem to an inner and private room.

  "I should be obliged to you if you would tell me the component partsof the mixture in this package," said Jennie, as she handed the filledpaper bag to the chemist.

  "How soon do you wish to know the result?" asked the man of chemicals.

  "As soon as possible," replied Jennie.

  "Could you give me until this hour to-morrow?"

  "That will do very nicely," replied Jennie, looking up at the Directorof Police, who nodded his head.

  With that the two took their leave, and once more the Director of Policepolitely handed the girl into his carriage, and they drove to the PalaceSteinheimer. Here she again thanked him cordially for his attentionsduring the day. The Director answered, with equal suavity, that his dutyhad on this occasion been a pleasure, and asked her permission to callat the same hour the next afternoon and take her to the chemist. To thisJennie assented, and cheerily bade him good-evening. The Princess waswaiting for her, wild with curiosity to know what had happened.

  "Oh, Jennie!" she cried, "who fired the mine, and who robbed theGovernment?"

  Jennie laughed merrily as she replied,--

  "Dear Princess, what a compliment you are paying me! Do you think thatin one afternoon I am able to solve a mystery that has defied thecombined talents of all the best detectives in Austria? I wish theDirector of Police had such faith in me as you have."

  "And hasn't he, Jennie?"

  "Indeed he has not. He watched me every moment he was with me, as if hefeared I would disappear into thin air, as the treasure had done."

  "The horrid man. I shall have my husband speak to him, and rid you ofthis annoyance."

  "Oh, no, Princess, you mustn't do anything of the kind. I don't mind itin the least; in fact, it rather amuses me. One would think he had somesuspicion that I stole the money myself."

  "A single word from the Prince will stop all that, you know."

  "Yes, I know. But I really want to help the Director; he is so utterlystupid."

  "Now, Jennie, take off your hat and sit down here, and tell me everyincident of the afternoon. Don't you see I am just consumed withcuriosity? I know you have discovered something. What is it?"

  "I will not take off my hat, because I am going out again directly; but,if you love me, get me a cup of that delicious tea of yours."

  "I shall order it at once, but dinner will be served shortly. You aresurely not going out alone to-night?"

  "I really must. Do not forget that I have been used to taking care ofmyself in a bigger city than Vienna is, and I shall be quite safe. Youwill please excuse my absence from the dinner-table to-night."

  "Nonsense, Jennie! You cannot be allowed to roam round Vienna in thatBohemian way."

  "Then, Princess, I must go to an hotel, for this roaming round isstrictly necessary, and I don't want to bring the Palace Steinheimerinto disrepute."

  "Jennie, I'll tell you what we will do; we'll both bring it intodisrepute. The Prince is dining at his club to-night with some friends,so I shall order the carriage, and you and I will roam round together.You will let me come, won't you? Where are you going?"

  "I am going to the Graubenstrasse to see Herr Feltz."

  "Oh, I know Herr Feltz, and a dear old man he is; he will do anythingfor me. If you want a favour from Herr Feltz, you had better take mewith you."

  "I shall be delighted. Ah, here comes the tea! But what is the use ofordering the carriage? we can walk there in a very few minutes."

  "I think we had better have the carriage. The Prince would be wild if heheard that we two went walking about the streets of Vienna at night. So,Jennie, we must pay some respect to conventionality, and we will takethe carriage. Now, tell me where you have been, and what you have seen,and all about it." Over their belated decoction of tea Jennie relatedeverything that had happened.

  "And what do you expect to learn from the analysis at the chemist's,Jennie?"

  "I expect to learn something that will startle the Director of Police."

  "And what is that? Jennie, don't keep me on tenterhooks in thisprovoking way. How can you act so? I shall write to Lord Donal and tellhim that you are here in Vienna, if you don't mind."

  "Well, under such a terrible threat as that, I suppose I must divulgeall my suspicions. But I really don't know anything yet; I merelysuspect. The weight of that dust, when I picked up a handful of it,seemed to indicate that the gold is still there in the rubbish heap."

  "You don't mean to say so! Then there has been no robbery at all?"

  "There may have been a robbery planned, but I do not think any thief gota portion of the gold. The chances are that they entirely underestimatedthe force of the explosive they were using, for, unless I am very muchmistaken, they were dealing with something a hundred times more powerfulthan dynamite."

  "And will the chemical analysis show what explosive was used?"

  "No; it will only show of what the _debris_ is composed. It will settlethe question whether or not the gold is in that dust-heap. If it is,then I think the Government will owe me some thanks, because theDirector of Police talked of carting the rubbish away and dumping it outof sight somewhere. If the Government gets back its gold, I suppose thequestion of who fired the mine is merely of academic interest."

  "The carriage is waiting, your Highness," was the announcement made tothe Princess, who at once jumped up, and said,--

  "I'll be ready in five minutes. I'm as anxious now as you are to hearwhat the chemist has to say; but I thought you told me he wouldn't havethe analysis ready until four o'clock to-morrow. What is the use ofgoing there to-night?".

  "Because I am reasonably certain that the Director of Police will seehim early to-morrow morning, and I want to get the first copy of theanalysis myself."

  With that the Princess ran away and presently reappeared with her wrapson. The two drove to the shop of Herr Feltz in the Graubenstrasse, andwere told that the chemist could not be seen in any circumstances. Hehad left orders that he was not to be disturbed.

  "Disobey those orders and take in my card," said the Princess.

  A glance at the card dissolved the man's doubts, and he departed to seekhis master.

  "He is working at the analysis now, I'll warrant," whispered thePrincess to her companion. In a short time Herr Feltz himself appeared.He greeted the Princess with most deferential respect, but seemedastonished to find in her company the young woman who had called on hima few hours previously with the Director of the Police.

  "I wanted to ask you," said Jennie, "to finish your analysis somewhatearlier than four o'clock to-morrow. I suppose it can be done?"

  The man of science smiled and looked at her for a moment, but did notreply. "You will oblige my friend, I hope," said the Princess.

  "I should be delighted to oblige any friend of your Highness," answeredthe chemist slowly, "but, unfortunately, in this instance I have ordersfrom an authority not to be disputed."

  "What orders?" demanded the Princess.

  "I promised the analysis at four o'clock to-morrow, and at that hour itwill be ready for the young lady. I am ordered not to show the analysisto anyone before that time."

  "Those orders came from the Director of Police, I suppose?" The chemistbowed low, but did not speak.

  "I understand how it is, Jennie; he came here immediately after seeingyou home. I suppose he visited you again within the hour after he leftwith this young lady--is that the case, Herr Feltz?"

  "Your Highness distresses me by asking questions that I am under pledgenot to answer."

  "Is the analysis completed?"

  "That is another question which I sincerely hope your Highness will notpress."

  "Very well, Herr Feltz, I shall ask you a question or two of w
hich youwill not be so frightened. I have told my friend here that you would doanything for me, but I see I have been mistaken."

  The chemist made a deprecatory motion of his hands, spreading them outand bowing. It was plainly apparent that his seeming discourtesycaused him deep regret. He was about to speak, but the Princess wentimpetuously on.

  "Is the Director of Police a friend of yours, Herr Feltz? I don't meanmerely an official friend, but a personal friend?"

  "I am under many obligations to him, your Highness, and besides that,like any other citizen of Vienna, I am compelled to obey him when hecommands."

  "What I want to learn," continued the Princess, her anger visibly risingat this unexpected opposition, "is whether you wish the man well ornot?"

  "I certainly wish him well, your Highness."

  "In that case know that if my friend leaves this shop without seeing theanalysis of the material she brought to you, the Director of Police willbe dismissed from his office to-morrow. If you doubt my influence withmy husband to have that done, just try the experiment of sending us awayunsatisfied."

  The old man bowed his white head.

  "Your Highness," he said, "I shall take the responsibility of refusing toobey the orders of the Director of Police. Excuse me for a moment."

  He retired into his den, and presently emerged with a sheet of paper inhis hand.

  "It must be understood," he said, addressing Jennie, "that the analysisis but roughly made. I intended to devote the night to a more minutescrutiny."

  "All I want at the present moment," said Jennie, "is a rough analysis."

  "There it is," said the chemist, handing her the paper. She read,----

  Calcium 29 Iron 4 Quartz ] Feldspar ] 27 Mica ] Gold 36-1/2 Traces of other substances 3-1/2 ------- Total 100

  Jennie's eyes sparkled as she looked at the figures before her. Shehanded the paper to the Princess saying,--

  "You see, I was right in my surmise. More than one-third of that heap ispure gold."

  "I should explain," said the chemist, "that I have grouped the quartz,feldspar, and mica together, without giving the respective portions ofeach, because it is evident that the combination represents granite."

  "I understand," said Jennie; "the walls and the roof are of granite."

  "I would further add," continued the chemist, "that I have never metgold so finely divided as this is."

  "Have you the gold and other ingredients separated?"

  "Yes, madame."

  "I shall take them with me, if you please."

  The chemist shortly after brought her the components, in little glassvials, labelled.

  "Have you any idea, Herr Feltz, what explosive would reduce gold to suchfine powder as this?"

  "I have only a theoretical knowledge of explosives, and I know ofnothing that would produce such results as we have here. PerhapsProfessor Carl Seigfried could give you some information on that point.The science of detonation has been his life study, and he stands headand shoulders above his fellows in that department."

  "Can you give me his address?"

  The chemist wrote the address on a sheet of paper and handed it to theyoung woman.

  "Do you happen to know whether Professor Seigfried or his assistantshave been called in during this investigation?"

  "What investigation, madame?"

  "The investigation of the recent terrible explosion."

  "I have heard of no explosion," replied the chemist, evidentlybewildered.

  Then Jennie remembered that, while the particulars of the disaster inthe Treasury were known to the world at large outside of Austria, noknowledge of the catastrophe had got abroad in Vienna.

  "The Professor," continued the chemist, noticing Jennie's hesitation,"is not a very practical man. He is deeply learned, and has made somegreat discoveries in pure science, but he has done little towardsapplying his knowledge to any everyday useful purpose. If you meet him,you will find him a dreamer and a theorist. But if you once succeed ininteresting him in any matter, he will prosecute it to the very end,quite regardless of the time he spends or the calls of duty elsewhere."

  "Then he is just the man I wish to see," said Jennie decisively, andwith that they took leave of the chemist and once more entered thecarriage.

  "I want to drive to another place," said Jennie, "before it gets toolate."

  "Good gracious!" cried the Princess, "you surely do not intend to callon Professor Seigfried to-night?"

  "No; but I want to drive to the office of the Director of Police."

  "Oh, that won't take us long," said the Princess, giving the necessaryorder. The coachman took them to the night entrance of the centralpolice station by the Hohenstaufengasse, and, leaving the Princess inthe carriage, Jennie went in alone to speak with the officer in charge.

  "I wish to see the Director of Police," she said.

  "He will not be here until to-morrow morning. He is at home. Is itanything important?"

  "Yes. Where is his residence?"

  "If you will have the kindness to inform me what your business is,madame, we will have pleasure in attending to it without disturbing HerrDirector."

  "I must communicate with the Director in person. The Princess vonSteinheimer is in her carriage outside, and I do not wish to keep herwaiting." At mention of the Princess the officer bestirred himself andbecame tremendously polite.

  "I shall call the Director at once, and he will be only too happy towait upon you."

  "Oh, have you a telephone here? and can I speak with him myself withoutbeing overheard?"

  "Certainly, madame. If you will step into this room with me, I will callhim up and leave you to speak with him."

  This was done, and when the Chief had answered, Jennie introducedherself to him.

  "I am Miss Baxter, whom you were kind enough to escort through theTreasury building this afternoon."

  "Oh, yes," replied the Chief. "I thought we were to postpone furtherinquiry until to-morrow."

  "Yes, that was the arrangement; but I wanted to say that if my plans areinterfered with; if I am kept under surveillance, I shall be compelledto withdraw from the search."

  A few moments elapsed before the Chief replied, and then it was withsome hesitation.

  "I should be distressed to have you withdraw; but, if you wish to do so,that must be a matter entirely for your own consideration. I have myown duty to perform, and I must carry it out to the best of my poorability."

  "Quite so. I am obliged to you for speaking so plainly. I rathersurmised this afternoon that you looked upon my help in the light of aninterference."

  "I should not have used the word interference," continued the Chief;"but I must confess that I never knew good results to follow amateurefforts, which could not have been obtained much more speedily andeffectually by the regular force under my command."

  "Well, the regular force under your command has been at work severalweeks and has apparently not accomplished very much. I have devoted partof an afternoon and evening to the matter, so before I withdraw I shouldlike to give you some interesting information which you may impart tothe Government, and I am quite willing that you should take all thecredit for the discovery, as I have no wish to appear in any way as yourcompetitor. Can you hear me distinctly?"

  "Perfectly, madame," replied the Chief.

  "Then, in the first place, inform the Government that there has been norobbery."

  "No robbery? What an absurd statement, if you will excuse me speaking soabruptly! Where is the gold if there was no robbery?"

  "I am coming to that. Next inform the Government that their loss willbe but trifling. That heap of _debris_ which you propose to cart awaycontains practically the whole of the missing two hundred millionflorins. More than one-third of the heap is pure gold. If you want todo a favour to a good friend of yours, and at the same time confer abenefit upon the Government itself, you will
advise the Government tosecure the services of Herr Feltz, so that the gold may be extractedfrom the rubbish completely and effectually. I put in a word for HerrFeltz, because I am convinced that he is a most competent man. To-nighthis action saved you from dismissal to-morrow, therefore you should begrateful to him. And now I have the honour to wish you good-night."

  "Wait--wait a moment!" came in beseeching tones through the telephone."My dear young lady, pray pardon any fault you have to find with me, andremain for a moment or two longer. Who, then, caused the explosion, andwhy was it accomplished?"

  "That I must leave for you to find out, Herr Director. You see, I amgiving you the results of merely a few hours' inquiry, and you cannotexpect me to discover everything in that time. I don't know how theexplosion was caused, neither do I know who the criminals are or were.It would probably take me all day to-morrow to find that out; but as Iam leaving the discovery in such competent hands as yours, I must curbmy impatience until you send me full particulars. So, once again,good-night, Herr Director."

  "No, no, don't go yet. I shall come at once to the station, if you willbe kind enough to stop there until I arrive."

  "The Princess von Steinheimer is waiting for me in her carriage outside,and I do not wish to delay her any longer."

  "Then let me implore you not to give up your researches."

  "Why? Amateur efforts are so futile, you know, when compared with thelabours of the regular force."

  "Oh, my dear young lady, you must pardon an old man for what he said ina thoughtless moment. If you knew how many useless amateurs meddle inour very difficult business you would excuse me. Are you quite convincedof what you have told me, that the gold is in the rubbish heap?"

  "Perfectly. I will leave for you at the office here the analysis made byHerr Feltz, and if I can assist you further, it must be on the distinctunderstanding that you are not to interfere again with whatever I maydo. Your conduct in going to Herr Feltz to-night after you had left me,and commanding him not to give me any information, I should hesitateto characterize by its right name. When I have anything further tocommunicate, I will send for you."

  "Thank you; I shall hold myself always at your command." This telephonicinterview being happily concluded, Jennie hurried to the Princess,stopping on her way to give the paper containing the analysis to theofficial in charge, and telling him to hand it to the Director when hereturned to his desk. This done, she passed out into the night, with thecomfortable consciousness that the worries of a busy day had not beenwithout their compensation.