Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-24
Copyright 1908. by Thomas H. Mckee.
AWRENCE RAND and / have multitude
of enemies, and for years we have walk
ed daily In the shadow of danger. AS


of enemies, and for years we have walk
4 ed daily In the shadow of danger. AS
result of which, aroused by someone
rapping on my door. I swung out of bed and caught
up my revolver before flung wide the door and saw
in the hall Anton Werencki, one of the Oldest and
cleverest operatives In the Service.
'Mr Rand Is in Maryland, know, but the Chief
wants to see you," he announced briefly.
dressed. sent telegram to Rand, and accom-
panied werencki to Chief Strings room in the
Hotel Bavaria
THE matter 10 just this explained that Of
fetal, motioning us to chairs "The Navy Depart
ment is making some experiments In steel which
promise to be the greatest thing ever brought to
light for use in building big guns For weeks 1t
has appeared as IL the American Navy was about
to gain gun supremacy over the world. The work
is proceeding in the navy yard here, where close
guard can be kept. Now, Duncan, our puzzle Is
this Though the twelve men who engaged
in the work are shut up as II they we're In prison
and communicate with the outside world only
through the commanding ofhcer. nevertheless a
bulky letter that had burst its envelope and lost its
address fell by mere chance into the hands of the
Post Office Department and proved to an anony-
nous communication to Berkelen Freres, the big
Belgian shipbuilding firm, containing complete
report of everything the experimenting party had
done up to last Sunday, four days ago.
"Of course Berkelen Freres are merely the re-
ceivers for more foreign governments We
have failed SO far to determine which one 1t Is that
is trying to steal such important information nor
have we the slightest indication of where the
avenue of communication lies.
Lieutenant Richard Dunton Is in command of
the experimenting party. with Lieutenant John
ormsby as second. The chemists are Eldridge.
Speigel, John r. Hart and Alfred Cinametti, the
latter Italian-born. The others enlisted ma
chinists
The party does all its work in a low brick build
ing fifty yards from the gun shop and with nothing
near IL except the blank wall OF the yard. 1t Is
in plain view from the Offices. as is also the sec
tion of new barracks In which the party eats and
sleeps. When finished with their work in this
temporary foundry ana laboratory the men retire
TO the barracks All volunteers and are under
watch day and night.
Now despite all this of our men in Paris
cabed three days ago that the coterie OF inter-
national spies there knew that the agent OF some
government had cabled home the news of his sue
c.ss getting the results Of the new experiments
up to date. There 10 clean leak in the navy yard
If we do not stop that leak there is going to be
trouble"
On my suggestion went Immediately to the
navyryard. It was nearly four o'clock and every
thing was dark and deserted, yet waking Leuten-
ant Dunton. made a quiet inspection of both
the living quarters and the laboratory. first sat
isfed myself that when the laboratory was locked
at night no one could obtain entry except by such
burgiarious methods to leave abundant trace
and that when the sleeping quarters were locked
the men were as II in prison. Dunton had possess
sion of all keys. I went carefully over both build
ings to be there were no telegraph, telephone
or electric wire connections There was but one
possible solution. Some member OF the party had
a means of sending notes or signals to the outside
world in daylight hours said as much to Lieu
tenant Dunton, and he replied;
THAT is the result of process OF elimination
based ON these facts but eight men stationed in
and about this yard day and night. and ormsby and
myself inside the laboratory have watched every
man for one suspicious move and every outside
person for any indicative act, and tell you posi-
lively there are no written signalled messages
going or coming out of this place. Everything
passes through me-
sudden suspicion flashed over me. i whirled
ON him and looked at him searchingly. He under
stood instantly and said with deep feeling: Eyes,
know IL Is up to me. That am the one avenue of
outlet would be any mans logical conclusion. That
ia why am SO deeply concerned. /. alone of all OF
vou know there is another and most dangerous one,
for have told nothing.
liked the note of honesty in his voice and was
Wondering over the matter as we walked back to the
barracks. Suddenly Dunton stopped and picked
MD long POLE round, well-polished, and fully If
teen feet in length.
..What is that?" asked Stirling.
..some material that is entirely foreign to this
ward. I have served here four years and this is
the first time have seen anything like
1t within these walls.
bent closer attention on 1t. 1t was quite
dry except where it had lain on the moist ground.
Everything else was damp with the night mist from
che river mentioned this fact The pole had
heen nut there within the last ten or fifteen min
utes.
1t was still quite gloomy, as day was just break
ing when we reached the door Of the barracks
and took careful look around before we en-
tered Not soul was In sight. but it seemed to
me that the shadow In little niche OF building
forty PAGES away was little blacker than 1t should
have been and walked toward 1t. When within
twenty-five feet OF it 1.-THE figure dashed out ran at
right angles TO my track. and shot around the cor
ner.
was in hot pursuit instantly and Dunton and
Stirling were coming along behind me. Around the
building we went, gaining rapidly on the run
ner. He dashed across the open space. going to-
ward the snof WHARF, the pole still lay and caught