The War on Terror

Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin) Reeve

Description

The War on Terror

Sujets

• Arts

Informations

• Publié par: ycyzadom
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 72
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The War Terror, by Arthur B. Reeve#4 in our series by Arthur B. Reeve
Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check thecopyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributingthis or any other Project Gutenberg eBook.
This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this ProjectGutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit theheader without written permission.
Please read the "legal small print," and other information about theeBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included isimportant information about your specific rights and restrictions inhow the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make adonation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved.
**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**
*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****
Title: The War Terror
Author: Arthur B. Reeve
Release Date: February, 2004 [EBook #5073][Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule][This file was first posted on April 14, 2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAR TERROR ***
Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
THE CRAIG KENNEDY SERIES
THE WAR TERROR
BY ARTHUR B. REEVE
FRONTISPIECE BY WILL FOSTER
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
INTRODUCTION I. THE WAR TERROR II. THE ELECTRO-MAGNETIC GUN III. THE MURDER SYNDICATE IV. THE AIR PIRATE V. THE ULTRA-VIOLET RAY VI. THE TRIPLE MIRROR VII. THE WIRELESS WIRETAPPERS VIII. THE HOUSEBOAT MYSTERY IX. THE RADIO DETECTIVE X. THE CURIO SHOP XI. THE "PILLAR OF DEATH" XII. THE ARROW POISON XIII. THE RADIUM ROBBER XIV. THE SPINTHARISCOPE XV. THE ASPHYXIATING SAFE XVI. THE DEAD LINE XVII. THE PASTE REPLICA XVIII. THE BURGLAR'S MICROPHONE XIX. THE GERM LETTER XX. THE ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY XXI. THE POISON BRACELET XXII. THE DEVIL WORSHIPERS XXIII. THE PSYCHIC CURSE XXIV. THE SERPENT'S TOOTH XXV. THE "HAPPY DUST" XXVI. THE BINET TEST XXVII. THE LIE DETECTOR XXVIII. THE FAMILY SKELETON XXIX. THE LEAD POISONER XXX. THE ELECTROLYTIC MURDER XXXI. THE EUGENIC BRIDE XXXII. THE GERM PLASM XXXIII. THE SEX CONTROL XXXIV. THE BILLIONAIRE BABY XXXV. THE PSYCHANALYSIS XXXVI. THE ENDS OF JUSTICE
INTRODUCTION
As I look back now on the sensational events of the past monthssince the great European War began, it seems to me as if there hadnever been a period in Craig Kennedy's life more replete withthrilling adventures than this.
In fact, scarcely had one mysterious event been straightened outfrom the tangled skein, when another, even more baffling, crowdedon its very heels.
As was to have been expected with us in America, not all of theseremarkable experiences grew either directly or indirectly out ofthe war, but there were several that did, and they proved to beonly the beginning of a succession of events which kept me busychronicling for the Star the exploits of my capable and versatilefriend.
Altogether, this period of the war was, I am sure, quite the mostexciting of the many series of episodes through which Craig hasbeen called upon to go. Yet he seemed to meet each situation as itarose with a fresh mind, which was amazing even to me who haveknown him so long and so intimately.
As was naturally to be supposed, also, at such a time, it was notlong before Craig found himself entangled in the marvelous spysystem of the warring European nations. These systems revealedtheir devious and dark ways, ramifying as they did tentacle-likeeven across the ocean in their efforts to gain their ends inneutral America. Not only so, but, as I shall some day endeavor toshow later, when the ban of silence imposed by neutrality israised after the war, many of the horrors of the war were broughthome intimately to us.
I have, after mature consideration, decided that even at presentnothing but good can come from the publication at least of somepart of the strange series of adventures through which Kennedy andI have just gone, especially those which might, if we had notsucceeded, have caused most important changes in current history.As for the other adventures, no question can be raised about thepropriety of their publication.
At any rate, it came about that early in August, when the warcloud was just beginning to loom blackest, Kennedy wasunexpectedly called into one of the strangest, most dangeroussituations in which his peculiar and perilous profession had everinvolved him.
CHAPTER I
THE WAR TERROR
"I must see Professor Kennedy—where is he?—I must see him, for God's sake!"
I was almost carried off my feet by the inrush of a wild-eyedgirl, seemingly half crazed with excitement, as she cried outCraig's name.
Startled by my own involuntary exclamation of surprise whichfollowed the vision that shot past me as I opened our door inresponse to a sudden, sharp series of pushes at the buzzer,Kennedy bounded swiftly toward me, and the girl almost flungherself upon him.
"Why, Miss—er—Miss—my dear young lady—what's the matter?" hestammered, catching her by the arm gently.
As Kennedy forced our strange visitor into a chair, I observedthat she was all a-tremble. Her teeth fairly chattered.Alternately her nervous, peaceless hands clutched at an imaginarysomething in the air, as if for support, then, finding none, shewould let her wrists fall supine, while she gazed about withquivering lips and wild, restless eyes. Plainly, there wassomething she feared. She was almost over the verge of hysteria.
She was a striking girl, of medium height and slender form, but itwas her face that fascinated me, with its delicately moldedfeatures, intense unfathomable eyes of dark brown, and lips thatshowed her idealistic, high-strung temperament.
"Please," he soothed, "get yourself together, please—try! What isthe matter?"
She looked about, as if she feared that the very walls had eyesand ears. Yet there seemed to be something bursting from her lipsthat she could not restrain.
"My life," she cried wildly, "my life is at stake. Oh—help me,help me! Unless I commit a murder to-night, I shall be killedmyself!"
The words sounded so doubly strange from a girl of her evidentrefinement that I watched her narrowly, not sure yet but that wehad a plain case of insanity to deal with.
"A murder?" repeated Kennedy incredulously. "YOU commit a murder?"
Her eyes rested on him, as if fascinated, but she did not flinchas she replied desperately, "Yes—Baron Kreiger—you know, theGerman diplomat and financier, who is in America raising money andarousing sympathy with his country."
"Baron Kreiger!" exclaimed Kennedy in surprise, looking at hermore keenly.
We had not met the Baron, but we had heard much about him, young,handsome, of an old family, trusted already in spite of his youthby many of the more advanced of old world financial and politicalleaders, one who had made a most favorable impression ondemocratic America at a time when such impressions were valuable.
Glancing from one of us to the other, she seemed suddenly, with agreat effort, to recollect herself, for she reached into herchatelaine and pulled out a card from a case.
It read simply, "Miss Paula Lowe."
"Yes," she replied, more calmly now to Kennedy's repetition of theBaron's name, "you see, I belong to a secret group." She appearedto hesitate, then suddenly added, "I am an anarchist."
She watched the effect of her confession and, finding the look onKennedy's face encouraging rather than shocked, went onbreathlessly: "We are fighting war with war—this iron-boundorganization of men and women. We have pledged ourselves toexterminate all kings, emperors and rulers, ministers of war,generals—but first of all the financiers who lend money thatmakes war possible."
She paused, her eyes gleaming momentarily with something like themilitant enthusiasm that must have enlisted her in the paradoxicalwar against war.
"We are at least going to make another war impossible!" sheexclaimed, for the moment evidently forgetting herself.
"And your plan?" prompted Kennedy, in the most matter-of-factmanner, as though he were discussing an ordinary campaign forsocial betterment. "How were you to—reach the Baron?"
"We had a drawing," she answered with amazing calmness, as if themere telling relieved her pent-up feelings. "Another woman and Iwere chosen. We knew the Baron's weakness for a pretty face. Weplanned to become acquainted with him—lure him on."
Her voice trailed off, as if, the first burst of confidence over,she felt something that would lock her secret tighter in herbreast.
A moment later she resumed, now talking rapidly, disconnectedly,giving Kennedy no chance to interrupt or guide the conversation.
"You don't know, Professor Kennedy," she began again, "but thereare similar groups to ours in European countries and the plan isto strike terror and consternation everywhere in the world atonce. Why, at our headquarters there have been drawn up plans andagreements with other groups and there are set down the time,place, and manner of all the—the removals."
Momentarily she seemed to be carried away by something like thefanaticism of the fervor which had at first captured her, evenstill held her as she recited her incredible story.
"Oh, can&#