The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-09-08
The Japanese
Agent

a good deal of anxiety during the
earlier phases of the great struggle in
the east from the presence in England
of agents of the japanese and Russian
governments engaged in buying con-
traband of war. These gentlemen had
a gh-and-ready way with each 9TH
er, when their interests clashed. which
sometimes ended in a paragraph in the
paper with the stereotyped heading,
BODY Found in the Thames
Therefore the extraordinary story
which reached US on a beautiful morn
ing in early summer had on the face of
1t nothing that was improbable. and the
course taken by the authorities was
undoubtedly the correct one under cir
cumstances of peculiar difficulty.
When, in answer to an urgent sum-
mons, 1 presented myself in the room
of the chief commissioner, 1 found with
him gentleman whose name was very
familiar to me as that of an investi
gator of social mysteries which, when
solved. are not destined to tickle the
ears of the public. His reputation was,
perhaps. unique in that respect mas
much as IT almost invariably escaped
the fierce. all-sifting crucible of the
law courts
On entering the room. after saluting
my chief, 1 glanced at Mr.. Radford
Shone in some curiosity. He possessed,
at any rate, that first qualification for
q detective-you could not tell at sight
whether he was a wise man or fool.
His large eyes, ruminative as those of
a COW in clover field, might have be-
tokened contemplative observation, or,
so battling were they, they might have
yelled chronic stupidity. One thing
about him there was no mistaking-his
frock coat and gloves and glossy hat
came from Bond street.
inspector Michaels." the chief be-
gan, this gentleman, Mr.. RadfOrd
Shone, has been acting on behalf of the
Russian government in watching Jap
anese contraband operations in this
country. OF course Mr.. Shone's posi-
ton is that of a private individual to
collect information. He has no official
locus standi, and so"
Pardon me-" Mr.. Shone interrupted
with great dignity. Il have no power to
arrest. or 1 should not be here; but
my relations with-the Russian govern
ment are not only official, but ex-
tremely confidential"
The chief bowed in his most delight
full manner.
Then" said he with a smile, lin
Russia you would undoubtedly enjoy
the position which is denied to you
here and possibly on that score would
was saying, Michaels, Mr.. Shone has
reached an impasse in his work which
calls, in the first place, for inquiry on
our part. and it may be. later on, for
action. Be good enough. Mr.. Shone, to
repeat for the inspectors benefit the
information which you have just given
me-"
Now | know our worthy chiefs little
ways, and to listen to a wordy repeti-
ton was not one of them. when he
could have given Mr.. RadfOrd Shone' 5
yarn and HIS own instructions as well
i'm half the time. I made a shrewd
guess that Sir Walter wanted to COM
pare our visitors second statement
with the notes he had made of the
first. At any rate. he kept glancing al
the hieTCglyphiC covered sheet before
him while Shone disburdened himself.
1t appeared that one Schouvalinski
a Russian agent. had unearthed the
fact that the Japanese were having d
submarine boat constructed at the yard
of a yacht builder on the Itchen, a mile
or two above Southampton Water. II
the exercise of his duties Schouvalin-
ski had kept a close watch on the yard
and. being apprehensive of his person
al safety, had enlisted the services OF
Radford Shone to protect him from the
Japanese, who were known to be Turk
ing in the neighborhOod.
The narrator had reached this point
when the chief raised his hand.
Il can see. Michaels" he said, that
you are wondering at the necessity OF
all this fuss. Why don't we step in
and embargo the submarine as contra
band of war? The answer is, that the
boat does not become cOntraband till
it is handed over to the purchaser to be
shipped TO it's destination"
1 nodded. and Shone proceeded to re-
late how he had discovered that Taxi
shura the japanese agent who was
employing the English builder. had be
come so irritatede by Schouvalinski's
attentions that he had planned to MUIR
DER his Russian rival that very night
Shone had got his information from the
foreman of the yard. young mar
named Tremayne, who was also the
designer OF the vessel.
Tremayne, having gained the conf
dence of Takishura, had learned full
particulars of the japanese project
which was the simple one of stabbtng
Schouvalinski after dark and throwing
his body into the river.
Shone ended his turgid recital, anC
from the approving nod which Sir Wal
ter gave at his notes. I concluded thai
there had been no glazing flaw in the
second version.
What we have to do is to prevent
turning to me. ANY trouble of the
kind would lead to all sorts of inter
national complications, and / want yoU
to run down TO Southampton with Mr.
Shone and give him the benefit of Of
ficial backing. You will have TO be
guided by what you find on the spot
and by the enlightenment on minor
details which Mr.. Shone viii give YOU
on the journey down. From what he
limited there is a woman in the case
That ought TO simplify matters"
said, noting the twinkle in the chief:
eye rs the lady a Japanese or
Russian"
she is neither Shone put in pomp.
ouslv she is an English girl, the
daughter of Abraham Goulding, tbs
owner of the yacht building yard Ia
kishura has been making up to her
though young Tremayne has had hope:
in that quarter. You VIII find that i
! is very pretty little case of Jealousy
4 and revenge. Inspector .Michaeis, If yOl
I will be guided by my data.
The chief signed that the interview