Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-03-19
The Case of the
Dixon Torpedo.
BY ARTHUR MORRISON.
CONTINUED
Published by Arrangement With
Harper & Brothers.
oooooooooooooc

SNS
meantime you will remain in the in
e Office opposite"
The note was written, and Martin
Hewitt, without glancing at the adj
dress. thrust it into his pocket. When
Ritter was safely in the inner Office,
however, he drew it out and read the
address. 81 see," he observed, che
uses the same name, Hunter; q Little
Carton street, Westminster, is the adj
dress, and there l shall go at once with
the note. IT the man comes here, l
think you had better lock him in with
Ritter and send for a policeman-it
may at least brighten him. My object
is, of course, to get the man away and
then, if possible, to invade his house in
some way or another and steal or
smash his negatives if they are there
n to be found. Stay here, in any
case, till ] return. And don't forget
to lock up those tracings."
1t was about 6 o'clock when Hewitt
returned alone, but with a smiling
face that told of good fortune at first
sight.
First, Mr.. Dixon" he said as he
dropped into an easy chair in the pri-
vate room, let me ease you mind by
the information that I have been most
extraordinarily lucky. In fact, I think
you have no further cause for anxiety.
Here are the negatives. They We're
not all quite dry when well, what?-
stole them, l suppose l must say, so
that they have stuck together a bit,
and nr.nho INV t1o 4;1p,o ,,o Jo,,0co1
But you don't mind that, L suppose"
He laid a small parcel wrapped in
newspaper on the table. The engineer
hastily tore away the paper and took
up five or six glass Photographic mega
tives Of the half plate size, which were
damp and stuck together by the gela-
tin films in couples. He held them one
after another up to the light of the
window and glanced through them.
Then, with a great sigh of relief, he
placed them on the hearth and pound
ed them to dust and fragments with
the poker.
Fol a few seconds neither spoke.
Then Dixon, finging himself into a
chair, said:
"Mr. Hewitt, I can't express my OBJ
legation to you. What would have hap
pened if you had failed I prefer not to
think of. But what shall we do with
Ritter now? The other man hasn't
been here yet, by the bye"
mo; the fact is 1 didn't deliver the
letter. The worthy gentleman saved
me a world of trouble by taking him
self out Of the way" Hewitt laughed.
I'm afraid he has rather got himself
into a mess by trying two kinds of
theft at once, and you may not be sor-
ry to hear that his attempt on your
torpedo plans is likely to bring hin
a dose Of penal servitude for some
thing else. I'll tell you what has hap
pened.
Little Carton street, Westminster, /
found to be a seedy sort of place-one
Of those old streets that have seen
much better days. A barber had pos
session of the ground floor front of
No. 81 for trade purposes, so to him !
went. Can you tell me- I said, where
in this house 1 can find Mr.. Hunter?
He looked doubtful, so I went on:
His friend will do, you know-I can't
think of his name; foreign gentleman
dark, with u bushy beard
"The barber understood at once. oh
that's Mirsky, 1 expect he said. Now
I come to think of it, he has had let
tiers addressed to Hunter once or twice
I've took ZEN in. Top floor back
'"This was good so far. I had got
at Mr.. Hunters other alias. So, by
way Of possessing him with the idea
that 1 knew all about him, / deter
mined to ask for him as Mirsky before
handing over the letter addressed tt
him as Hunter. A little bluff of tina
sort is Invaluable at the right time
At the top floor back 1 stopped at the
door and tried to open it at once, bu'
it was locked. I could hear some
body scuttling about within, as though
carrying things about, and I knocked
again. In a little while the door open
ed about a foot, and there stood Mr.
Hunter-or Mirsky, as you likerth'
man who in the character Of a trav
eler in steam packing came here twice
today. He was in his shirt sleeve.
and cuddled something under his arm
QaSLlly cOVeTeu VIII u SpOtUeu pOChe
handkerchief.
"I have called to see M. Mirsky.'
said, with a confidential letter.
"eOh, vas, yas.' he answered hastily
4 know, I know. Excuse me n min
ute.' And he rushed off dewnstair
with his parcel.
"Here was a noble chance. / slip
ped inside the door and, finding tn,
key on the inside, locked it. 1t was
confused sort Of room, with a littl
iron bedstead in one corner and a sor
of rough boarded Enclosure in another
This I rightly conjectured to be TIL
Photographic dark room and made 70
it at once.
There was plenty of light within
when the loon was left open, and
made at once for the drying a tina
was fastened e the sink. Their
49, \ number Il negatives h t. IN