The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-06-18


rapping on my door, l swung out of bed and caught
up my revolver before flung wide the door and saw
In the hall Anton Werenck of the Oldest and
cleverest operatives in the Service.
Mr.. Rand is in Maryland, know but the Chief
wants to you' he announced briefly.
/ dressed, sent telegram to Rand, and accom-
panied Werencki to Chief Strings room in the
Hotel Bavaria
THE matter is just this" explained that Of
fetal, motionng 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 it
has appeared as If the American Navy about
to gain gun supremacy the world. The work
Is proceeding in the navy yard here, where close
guard can be kept. Now, Duncan, puzzle is
this Though the twelve who are engaged
In the work shut up if they in prison
and communicate with the outside world only
through the commanding officer, nevertheless a
bulky letter that had burst its envelope lost
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 shipbuding firm, containing a complete
report of everything the experimenting party had
done to last Sunday, four days ago.
"Of course Berkelen Freres merely the
ceVers for one or more foreign governments. We
have failed far to determine which one it is that
is trying to steal such important information, nor
have the slightest indication of where the
Lieutenant Richard Dunton is in command of
the experimenting party, with Lieutenant John
iOrmsby as second The chemists Eldridge,
Speigel, John r. Hart and Alfred Cinametti the
latter Itaian-born. The others are enlisted ma
Echnists
The party does all its work in low brick build
- Ing fifty yards from the shop and with nothing
near it except the blank wall of the yard. 1t Is
In plain view from the offices, as is also the
ton OF new barracks in which the party and
sleeps. When finished with their work in this
temporary foundry and laboratory the retire
! to the barracks. All volunteers and are under
watch day and night
Now, despite all this, of men in Paris
cabled three days ago that the coterie of inter-
national spies there knew that the agent of
government had cabed home the news his sue
cess IN getting the results of the experiments
to date. There is a 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
navy-yard. 1t nearly four O'Clock and every
thing dark and deserted, yet waking Lieuten-
ant Dunton, made a quiet inspection
the living quarters and the laboratory. l first
listed myself that when the laboratory locked
at night one could obtain entry except by such
burgarious methods to leave abundant trace,
and that when the sleeping quarters were locked
the men were as if in prison. Dunton had posses
sion of all keys. l went carefully both build
or electric wire connections There was but one
possible solution. Some member of the party had
p means of sending notes Or signals to the outside
world in daylight hours l said as much to Lieu
tenant Dunton, and he replied:
THAT is the result any process of elimination
based on these facts, but eight 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 written or sgnalled messages
going coming cut of this place Everything
passes through ME.
A sudden suspicion flashed over me- whirled
on him and looked at him searchingly He under
stood instantly and said with deep feeling: Yes
know it is up to That | am the one avenue of
outlet would be any mans logical conclusion, That
Is why am deeply concerned I, alone of all of
you know there is another and most dangerous one,
for have told nothing
l liked the note of honesty in his voice and
wondering over the matter as we walked back to the
barracks. Suddenly Dunton stopped and picked
up 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
yard. have served here four years this is
the first time l have anything like
DIT within these walls.
Be-. | bent closer attention on it. 1t was quite
dry except where it had lain on the moist ground.
Everything else damp with the night mist from
the river 1 mentioned this fact- The pole had
been put there within the last ten or fifteen min
utes
- 1t still quite gloomy. day was just break
ing. when reached the door of the barracks
and l took careful look around before we en-
tered. Not a soul was in sight. but it seemed to
me that the shadow in little niche of a building
forty PAGES away little blacker than it should
have been and walked toward it. 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.
l was in hot pursuit instantly and Dunton and
Stirling were coming along behind Around the
building we went, I gaining rapidly the run
ner. He dashed across the open space, going to-
ward the spot where the pole still lay and caught
| It up as he ran. Planting it deity and securely