ientist, a woman, Madame Victor Henri, a student at the
Pasteur Institute in Paris, has shown that a new microbe can actually be
created from anthrax germs by the use of ultra-violet rays. It is not
like anthrax, but may be quite as deadly, perhaps more so.

"This discovery," he added earnestly, "proves for the first time that a
living organism can be changed suddenly and artificially into an
organism of a new and entirely different species. One can scarcely
appreciate the importance of it. If the germs of different diseases can
be transformed, the germ of one being changed into the germ of another,
it will be a first step toward finding a way to change deadly germs into
others that will be quite innocuous."

Kennedy paused impressively to let the horror of the thing impress
itself on our minds. "But this criminal has been working for evil
purposes in the wrong direction--creating a disease in order to cover up
his tracks!"

One could almost feel the net closing.

"Delaney has fallen a victim to a new germ of which someone learned in
Paris," Craig raced on, inexorably, "a germ that would never, in all
probability, be discovered by American doctors, a germ that poisoned
safely, surely, and swiftly by its deadly super-toxin."

A few moments before there had been a noise of a car outside the
laboratory window, but in the excitement of Craig's startling revelation
we had paid no attention.

A hasty tap at the door interrupted him. Before he could open it a very
beautiful woman burst in, followed by a thick-set Irishman.

It was the Baroness Von Dorf and our friend Burke.

For a moment the two women fairly glared at each other.

"I've heard what Professor Kennedy just said," cried the Baroness, her
eyes snapping fire. "Fortunately, I had to go to Washington and was able
to protect myself by seeming to disappear. If I had stayed in New York
another day, there is no telling what might have happened to me.
Probably I should have got this disease internally instead of
externally. As it was, I thought it would come near ruining my beauty."

Burke tossed a yellow slip of paper on the table near Kennedy. "That is
something one of our special agents found and brought me today," he
exclaimed.

Kennedy picked it up and read it, while Burke faced us.

The Secret Service man fixed his eyes on Madame Dupres. "As for you, my
dear lady," he challenged, "how do you happen to be in New York with one
of the greatest internationa