Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-01-30
THE STOLEN MODEL
How the Plan of Torpedo Destroyer
Was Obtained For the Rus
sian Government.
@o@o~o@o@~o@o@o@oG

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
"Read that, yalini," said the dock
yard chief, handing me an official COM
munication from the minister of ma
rine. 1t ran:
81 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-
cording to our model Please make
every inquiry Immediately to find out
how the plan of the model has come in
Of its possession. You have full au-
thority to adopt all necessary means.
Need l impress the Importance of dis
covering the leakageY
at is inexplicable," said. mo one
has seen the model except you and me
and the members of the council unless,
indeed, the inventor has driven a dou-
BILE bargain or some one has obtained
copy of the model from his workshop"
II have thought of that" said the
chief, "but think that solution very
unlikely. He will probably be here in
a few minutes"
"What about the ministers? Could
there be any leakage from the coun-
cil?" queried.
II would rather you would suggest
that than that l should" he replied
dryly. mo, 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
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.
"No one. | am not a 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 itT'
certainly notr he replied decided
ly. ut would be quite impossible. The
room in which | work is on the ground
floor and built of solid stone, with a
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 II would disturb electric bells
over my head. SO you see. my dear
friends, do not sell secrets without
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
without the connivance 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.
II 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 a dry smile don't give up
the search"
Three months had elapsed and had
been fruiriess 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, II have made
many experiments to try TO find out
how my model was stolen. At last !
am near success"
"Howf" we both queried simultane-
ously.
"Gently. gently, my dear slrs. II has
taken me three months hard work and
anxious thought to get on the track.
Now is the time to act No; no ques-
tons now, but come with me In the
train tomorrow. for every one In the
town knows that tomorrow bring my