The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-12-14
!; THE STOLEN MODEL
How the Plan of Torpedo Destroyer
Was Obtained For the Kus-
sian Government.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

L
rine. 1t ran:
| 81 have received positive Informal
ton that the Russian government has
in some way obtained possession of the
secret of the new torpedo destroyer
model No. 1912 and is building ac-
cording to our model. Please make
every inquiry Immediately to find ont
how the plan of the model has come in
| Of It's possession. You have full all
thority to adopt all necessary means.
Need l impress the Importance of dis
covering the leakage?
at is inexplicable." said. "No one
has seen the-model except you and me
| and the members of the council unless,
| indeed, the inventor has driven dou-
BILE bargain or some one has obtained
copy of the model from his workshop"
81 have thought of that" said the
| chief, "but l think that solution very
unlikely. He will probably be here in
| q few minutes"
| what about the ministers? Could
there be any leakage from the coun-
cil?" queried.
| 81 would rather you would suggest
that than that l should" he replied
| dryly. NO, my dear Valini, the re-
sponsibility rests on your shoulders
and mine. and we must clear ourselves
| at all costs"
At this moment Brazier, the invent
or, entered the room.
"You have sent for me-" he said
shortly.
| "The matter is very important" said
the chief, "as foreign government
| no matter which-has managed to OBJ
tain a copy of your model No. 1872"
"What, the torpedo destroyer" e%-
| claimed Brazier.
1--WE want to know who has access to
| your models beside yourself" said the
| chief.
| mo one. am not fool. | trust no
one. l speak to no one when there is
| work on hand till hand 1t to the
| government for consideration. No one
| touches the model but myself. Every
model up to the present time that
| have submitted has been made COM
L
Gould any one enter your work
shop" queried the chief, without your
knowing it?"
Certainly not" he replied decided
ly. 1T would be quite impossible. The
room in which | work is cn the ground
floor and built of solid stone. with q
| concrcted foundation"
How is the room entered?" asked
| the chief.
There is only one approach to it.
through an iron door which opens into
my sleeping room. and if the door were
opened it would disturb electric bells
over my head. So you see. my dear
friends. do not sell secrets without
taking care that they shall not become
public property first. No. no; the So
cret did not come from me. my friends.
It must have been stolen from you"
1.-THE model might have been sold on
the double" remarked tie chief
Brazier drew himself up and said:
\ You are an honorable man. and your
friend here is an honorable man. but
you are. fortunately. not the only hon
orable men that this country pos
sesses."
The examination of Brazier's work
shop only confirmed his view in every
point, and there could he no question
of the secret of the model having been
discovered or got at surreptitiouSly
without the connivance OF Brazicr him
self.
We then called ON the minister of ma.
rine and. having told him the details
Of our search, offered to hand in our
designations with our official reports Oh
the search
81 should not accept them" he said
kindly. This particular matter is. aft.
er all. of great Importance only that
we may detect the leakage, and leave
the matter in your hands, gentlemen.
Keep your eyes and ears open and" he
added. with dry smile. don't give up
the search"
Three months had elapsed and had
been fruitless when one day Brazier
was announced. He came into the
chiefs room, his face furrowed with
thought, but with triumphant CLEAN
in his eyes.
ne Sdlu, nave
many experiments to try to find out
how my model was stolen. At last |
am near success"
How" we both queried simultane-
ously.
Gently. gently, my dear sirs 1t has
taken me three months hard work and
anxious thought to get on the track.
Now is the time to act. No; no ques-
lions now. hut come with me in tie
train tomorrow, for every one In the
town knows that tomorrow bring ny
sreat new invention to show to the
ministry. But come armed"
On the next day, when the train en-
tered the station, the chief, Brazier
(who carried n red leather case) and
took seats in the corner Of the smoking
compartment of the car. AS soon as
the train started large, burly looking
man came in and joined us.
He had q large black leather suit
case in one hand. which he carried by
handle from the center of which rose
a little brass knob like a mount. In
the other hand he carried a heavy
stick. Ae he sat down BraZier touched
his revolver pocket, making a sign to
US to be on the alert.
The stranger placed his suit case be-
side our red case, and we noticed that
never once did he take his hand off the
handle or remove his fingers from the
brass knob in the center.
"Brazier leaned over to us and whis-
pered:
"He steals my models by the Roent-
gen rays. Mon Dieu, is he not clever?
Be ready when l say, Now"
Whether the stranger heard the
words or not l do not know; but. any
how, he was startled by seeing Brazier
whisper to US and sprang to his feet.
bringing his stick to the bayonet
charge. as if to thrust with it at any
one who attempted to approach him.
The chief had his hand on his re-