The true northerner., 1901-01-25
THE STOLEN MODEL
How the Plan of Torpedo Destroyer
Was Obtained For the Rus
sian Government.
,o~o~o~o~o~3o~o0o~o~o

| cO2O1O2OHO1Occ 10000
"Read that, Valini," said the dock
yard chief, handing me an official com
municatiOn from the minister of ma
rine 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-
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 leakageT
"It 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 q dou-
BILE bargain or some one has obtained
copy of the model from his workshop"
II have thought Of that" said the
chief, "but l think that solution very
unlikely. He will probably be here in
few minutes"
"What about the ministers? Could
there be any leakage from the coun-
cil?" l queried,
'I would rather you would suggest
that than that | 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. 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 n fool. | trust no
one. | speak to no one when there is
a work on hand till | hand II to the
government for consideration. No one
touches the model but myself. Every
model up 10 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. 1T 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 it would disturb electric bells
over my head SO you see, my dear
| friends, l do not sell secrets without
taking care that they shall net become
public property first. No, no; the Sc
cret did not come from me, my friends.
1t must have been stolen from you"
"The model might have been sold on
the double" remarked the chief.
Brazier drew himself up and said;
"You are an honorable man, and yo0r
friend here is an honorable man, but
you are, fortunately, not the only hon
orable men chat this country pos
sesses."
The examination Of Bra2ier'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
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 or
the search.
81 should not accept them" he said
kindly. This particular matter is, aft
er all, OF great Importance only thai
we may detect the leakage, and | leave
the matter in your hands, gentlemen
Keep your eyes and ears open and" h,
added, with dry smile, don't give vi
the search"
Three months had elapsed and hat
been fruitless when one day Braziel
was announced. He came into th'
chiefs room, his face furrowed will
thought, but with triumphant CLEAN
I'm his eyes.
"Gentlemen." he said, 81 have mad'
, many experiments 10 try to find on
how my model was stolen. At last
am near success"
"Howr' we both queried simultane
ously.
Gently, gently, my dear sirs. II ha
taken me three months hard work an'
anxious thought to get on the track
! Now is the time to act. No; no ques
, tions now, but come with me In tn
. train tomorrow, for every one in tn
town knsjws that tomorrow bring M