The San Francisco call., 1907-03-03

had brought me into association with
persons and happenings OF such i'm
portance.
Lord Chelsford seated himself at the
open desk opposite to the Duke. As
was his custom, he wasted 10 time in
preliminaries.
"We wish for few minutes conver-
sation with you, Mr.. Ducaine," he said.
ION the subject of this recent leakage
OF news concerning our proceedings on
the Council of Defense. | need not tell
you that the subject is a very serious
one"
II quite appreciate its importance,
sir" answered.
The particular documents OF which
we have news from Paris. Lord Chels-
ford continued, ARE those having ref
erence to the proposed camp at Win
chester and the subway at Portsmouth
/ understand, Mr.. Ducaine, that these
were drafted by you. and placed in a
safe in the library of Rowchester on
the evening OF the eighteenth of this
month
THAT is so. sir" I answered. and
early the next morning / reported 10
the Duke that the papers had been
tampered with
There was a dead silence for several
moments. Lord Chelsford glanced at
the Duke, who sat there imperturbable,
with chill. mirthless smile at the
corner of his lips. Then he looked
again at me, as though he had not
heard Alright.
.'Will You kindly repeat that MIR.
Ducaine?" he said.
Certainly, sir" l answered. II had
occasion 10 go TO the safe again early
on the morning OF the nineteenth, and
I saw at once that tho documents in
question had been tampered with. /
reported the matter at once TO his
Grace"
The eyes OF every one were bent
upon the Duke. He nodded his head
slowly.
.Mr. Ducaine'' he said certainly
came TO me and made the statement
which he has just repeated Il con-
sidered the matter. and | came to the
conclusion that he was mistaken.
was sure OF II then. am equally sure
of It now"
TELL us. Mr.. Ducalne." Lord Chels-
ford said. what your reasons were for
making such a statement
took a piece of red tape and
newspaper from the table before which
1 stood. / folded up the newspaper and
tied the tape around IT,
when | put those documents away"
I said. Il tie& them up with knot
like this. OF my own invention. which
have never seen used by anybody
else. In the morning I found that my
knot had been united and that tho
tape around the papers had been re-
tied in an ordinary bow
.syvill you permit me for moment
the Duke interposed. The safe | be-
iieve Mr.. Ducaine. was secured with
a code lock, the word OF which was
known to--whou?
Yourself. sir. Colonel Ray and my
SELF
The Duke nodded.
'Tf remember rightly he said. "the
code word was never mentioned, but
glanced at by each of us In turn AMI
Immediately destroyed"
THAT Is quite true, sir"
Now, do you believe, Mr.. Ducaine''
the Duke continued. that 1t was pos
sibie for any one else except us three
to have attained to the knowledge of
that verdi
II do not. sir" / admitted.
do YOU believe that it was possible
for any one to have opened the safe
without the knowledge OF that word?'
Without breaking II open. no sir
There were no signs of the lock
having been taHpered with when you
went to 1t in the morning.
None. SIR
sIt was set at the correct word, the
word known only to<Colonel Ray, my
self and yourself?
yes, sir
The Duke leaned back in his chair
and addressed Lord Chelsford.
Tor the reasons which yon have
heard from Mr.. Ducainc himself he
said dryly, II came TO the conclusion
that he was mistaken in his sugges-
tion think that yon will probably
be ipcilned to agree with me-
These men had learned we'll the art
OF masking their feelings. From Lord
Cheisford's polite bow could gather
nothing,
IT am forced to admit he said. that
no other conclusion seems possible.
Now, Mr.. Ducaine, with regard to the
execution of your work. 1t is carried
out altogether, ! believe. at the
'Brand'?''
Entirely. SIR"
Your only servant is the man Groo-
ton, for whom the Duke and myself
are prepared to vouch. You are also
watched by detectives residing in the
village. as I dare say you know.
also understand that you have~no pri-