Kennedy nodded negatively.
“Fortescue, the American inventor of fortescite, the new explosive, died very strangely this morning.”
“Yes,” encouraged Kennedy, as Burke came to a full stop to observe the effect of the information.
“Most incomprehensible, too,” he pursued. “No cause, apparently. But it might have been overlooked, perhaps, except for one thing. It wasn’t known generally, but Fortescue had just perfected a successful electro-magnetic gun—powderless, smokeless, flashless, noiseless and of tremendous power. To-morrow he was to have signed the contract to sell it to England. This morning he is found dead and the final plans of the gun are gone!”
Kennedy and Burke were standing mutely looking at each other.
“Who is in the next room?” whispered Burke hoarsely, recollecting Kennedy’s caution of silence.
Kennedy did not reply immediately. He was evidently much excited by Burke’s news of the wonderful electro-magnetic gun.
“Burke,” he exclaimed suddenly, “let’s join forces. I think we are both on the trail of a world-wide conspiracy—a sort of murder syndicate to wipe out war!”
Burke’s only reply was a low whistle that involuntarily escaped him as he reached over and grasped Craig’s hand, which to him represented the sealing of the compact.
As for me, I could not restrain a mental shudder at the power that their first murder had evidently placed in the hands of the anarchists, if they indeed had the electro-magnetic gun which inventors had been seeking for generations. What might they not do with it—perhaps even use it themselves and turn the latest invention against society itself!