按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
himself an education in the manufacture of high explosives。〃
〃But THESE aren't textbooks；〃 said Lady Agatha； who had pulled out
three long； narrow volumes from the pile。 〃They're in manuscript； and
they look more like account books。〃
The first of them； in Loge's handwriting； contained a series of notes；
mostly unintelligible to Cleggett； dealing with experiments in two sorts of
manufacture： first； the preparation of counterfeit money； second； the
production of dynamite bombs。
The second of the manuscript books was in cipher。 Cleggett might
have deciphered it without assistance； for he was skilled in these matters；
103
… Page 104…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
but the labor was not necessary。 The book was for Loge's own eye。 A
loose sheet of paper folded between the leaves gave the key。
The book showed that Loge had been employed as an expert operator；
in the pay of a certain radical organization； to pull off dynamiting jobs in
various parts of the country。 This was his account book with the
organization。 He had done his work and taken his pay as methodically as
a plumber might。 And he had been paid well。 Cleggett guessed that
Loge was not particularly interested in the work in its relationship to the
revolutionary cause； it was the money to be made in this way； and not any
particular sympathy with his employers； which attracted Loge； so Cleggett
divined。 Cleggett was astonished at the number of jobs which Loge had
engineered。 The book threw light on mysterious explosions which had
occurred throughout a period of five years。
But it was the third manuscript book which displayed the real Logan
Black。
This was also in cipher。 Dr。 Farnsworth and Cleggett had translated
but a few lines of it when they perceived that it was a diary。 With a
vanity almost inconceivable to those who have not reflected upon the
criminal nature； Loge had written here the tale of his own life； for his own
reading。 He had written it in loving detail。 It was； in fact； the book in
which he looked when he wished to admire himself。
〃It is odd；〃 said Cleggett； 〃that so clever a man should write down his
own story in this way。〃
〃This book；〃 said Farnsworth； 〃would be a boon to a psychologist
interested in criminology。 You say it is odd。 But with a certain type of
criminal； it is almost usual。 The human soul is full of strange impulses。
One of the strangest is towards just this sort of record。 Cunning； and the
vanity which destroys cunning； often exist side by side。 The criminal of
a certain type almost worships himself； he is profoundly impressed with
his own cleverness。 He is a braggart； he swaggers； he defeats himself。 A
strange idiocy mingles with his cleverness。〃
〃Even people who are not criminals do just that sort of thing；〃 said
104
… Page 105…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
Lady Agatha。 〃Look at Samuel Pepys。 He was one of the most timid of
beings。 And he valued his place in the world mightily。 But he wrote
down the story of his own disgrace in his diaryit had to come out of him！
And then； timid and cautious as he was； he did not destroy the book！ He
let it get out of his possession。〃
It was an evil； a monstrous personality which leered out of Logan
Black's diary。 Boastful of his own iniquity； swaggering in his wickedness；
fatuous with self…love； he recounted his deeds with gusto and with
particularity。 They did not read a quarter of this terrible autobiography at
the time； but they read enough to see the man in the process of building up
a criminal organization of his own； with ramifications of the most
surprising nature。
〃This man；〃 said Dr。 Farnsworth； with a shudder； 〃actually has the
ambition to be the head of nothing less than a crime trust。〃
〃It seems to be something more than an ambition；〃 said Cleggett。 〃It
seems to be almost an accomplished fact。〃
〃Ugh！〃 said Lady Agatha； with a gesture of disgust； 〃he's like a great
horrid spider spinning webs！〃
Interested in anarchy only on its practical side； as the paid dynamiter
of the inner circle of radicals； Logan Black in his diary jeered at and
mocked the cause he served。 And more than that； the man seemed to take
a perverted pleasure in attaching to himself young enthusiasts of the
radical type； eager to follow him as the disinterested leader of a group of
Reds； and then betraying them into the most sordid sort of crime。
Cleggett foundand could imagine the grimace of malevolent satisfaction
with which it had been writtenthis note：
Heinrich is about ready to leave off talking his cant of
universal brotherhood； and make a little easy money in the way I
have shown him。 It will be interesting to see what happens in
side of Heinrich when he realizes he is not an idealist； but a
criminal。 Will he stick to me on the new lay？ But those
Germans are so sentimental he may commit suicide。
105
… Page 106…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
Cleggett recalled the manhandling Heinrich had received。 A little
farther along he came upon this entry： The Italian…American boy
is a find。 Jones and Giuseppe！ Puritan father； Italian motherand he
worships me！ It will be a test for my personal magnetism； the handling
of Gieseppe Jones will。 He hates a thief worse than the devil hates
holy water。 If I could make him steal for me； I would know that I could
do anything。
〃That's our young poet in the forecastle！〃 said Cleggett。 〃I wonder if
Loge still held him。〃 And then as the memory of the boy's ravings came
to him he mused： 〃Yeshe held the boy！ That is what the fellow meant
in his delirium。 Do you remember that he kept saying： 'I'm a
revolutionist； not a crook！'？ And yet he continued to obey Loge！〃