The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-11-23
THU STOLEN MODEL

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9 sian Government.
@oHO*o.o.o.o..o.o. o.o.o.o.o
"Rcad that, valini," said the dock
yard chief, handing me an official com
muncation from the minister of ma
rinc. 1t ran:
Il have received positive informa-
tion 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-
corling to our model. Please make
every inquiry Immediately TO find out
how the plan of the model has come in
Of its posscssion You have full au-
thority to adopt all necessary means
Need | Impress the Importance of dis
covering the lcakagcf"
1T is iueXplicablo," | said NO one
has seen the model except you and me
and the members of the council unless.
indeed. the inventor has driven a dou-
bic bargain or some one has obtained a
copy of the model from his worl,shop.'
q have thought OF that" said the
chief, but | think that solution very
unlikely. He will probably be here in
Il few minutes"
''What about the ministers? Could
there be any leakage from the coun-
cil:' | qucricd.
Il would rather you would suggest
that than that | should" he replied
dryly. NO, my dear Nalini, the re-
sponsibiity rests on your shoulders
and mine, ana 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.
"Thc matter is very important" said
the chief. "as a foreign government
no matter which has managed to OBJ
tain copy of your model No 1872"
"What, the torpedo Destroyer" ex-
claimed BraZier.
1--WE want to know who has access to
your models beside yourself" said the
chief.
"No one. am not a fool trust no
one. | speak to no one when there is
work on hand till hand it to the
government for consideration. No one
touches the model but myself Every
model up to the present time that l
have submitted has been made com
pletely, from first to last, by myself"
could any one enter your work
shop" quercd the chief. without your
knowing it?'
"Certainly notw he replied decided
ly. at would be quite impossible The
room in which work is on the ground
floor and built of solid stone. with a
concreted foundation"
"Iow 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 We're
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 Sc
cret did not come from me, my friends.
1t must have been stolen from you"
''Thc model might have been sold on
the double" remarked the chief
Brazicr drew himself up ana 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
sesScS."
The examination of Brazicr's work
shop only confirmed his view in every
point, and there could be no question
of the secret Of the model having been
discovered or got ut surreptitiously
without the connvance of BraZier 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 on
the search.
81 should not accept them" he said
kindly. This particular matter is. aft
er all, of great Importance only that
~ iH''1 A'N'NN liN itah'lSts anu ItuNb
the matter in your hands, gentlemen.
Ke, your eyes and ears open and" he
add d. with a dry smile, don't give UP
the earch.'
tn ee 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.
Gentlemen" he said, 81 have made
many experiments to try to find out
how my model was stolen. At last |
am near success"
How we both queried smultane-
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-
tions now, but come with me in the
train tomorrow, for every one in the
town knows that tomorrow bring my
great new invention to show to the
ministry. But come armed"
On the next day, when the train en-