The Press., 1901-02-14
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

unlikely He will probably be here in
few minutes.
What about the ministers? Could
there be any leakage from the coun-
CLIP quered.
81 would rather you would suggest
that than that | should" he replied
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.
1.-THE matter is very important" said
the chief. las a foreign government
no matter which-has managed to OBJ
tain copy of your model No. 1912"
"What the torpedo destroyer" ex-
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
a 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 ]
have submitted has been made COM
pletely. from first to last. by myself"
could any one enter your work
shop" queried the chief. without your
knowing it?'
Certainly notv' he replied decided
ly. sit would be quite impossible. The
room in which I work is on the ground
floor and built of solid stone. with
concreted 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 Sc
cret did not come from me. my friends.
1t must have been stolen from you"
1.-THE model might have been sold on
the DOUBLE" remarked the 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 be no question
of the secret of the model having been
discovered or got at surreptitiously
without the connivance Of Brazier him.
self. -......s.
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
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" "a, --. W
Three mouths 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. s*
"Gentlemen.''' he said II have made
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-
tions now. but come with me in the
train tomorrow. for every one in the
town knows that tomorrow bring m,
great new lnvent.o.l LOW to the
ministry. But come armed"
On the next day, when the train en-.
tered the station, tie chief, Brazier
(who carried 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 U.s.
He had large black leather suit
case In one hand, which he carried by
q handle, from the center of which rose
little brass knob like mount In
the other hand he carried heavy
stick. Ae he sat down Brazier touched
his revolver pocket. making 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.
pered
HE steals my models by the Roent-
gen rays. Mon Dieu. is he not clever?
Be ready when ! say. Now"
Whether the stranger heard the
words or not do not know; but, any
how. he was startled by seeing Brazier
whisper to us and sprang to his feet,
bringing bis stick to the bayonet
charge, as If to thrust with it at any