Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-08-11

buHIOH ana SllrllDS were coming
along behind me. Around the build
ing we went, | gaining rapidly on the
runner. He dashed across the open
space, going toward the spot where
the pole still lay and caught it UP as
he ran. Planting it deity and Sc
curely in the pavement. he rose and
cleared the high wall.
Don't shoot, don't Shoot" | heard
Dunton gasp to the chief. IT'S a wom-
IN"
Outlined for III instant against the
lighter a was a figure in mans
clothes, but long hair loosened by her
efforts flowed from her head. 1t was
a woman.
Pursuit was useless. She would be
lost before we could get to the gate.
There is but N thing that | can
the gate, that either Mr.. Rand or |.
perhaps both of US, be allowed to take
up work with you in the laboratory
in the guise either of workmen or
chemists"
This suggestion pleased the chief.
1t shifted the burden of responsibility
from his shoulders.
| arrived, properly accredited and
equipped, at eight o'clock that morn
ing, as a specially detailed chemical
expert who had come IN from Wash
ington. Before | came to the yard,
however, l found time to write a de-
tailed report for Rand.
| soon found that it was almost i'm
possible to see from the laboratory
windows to any point of vantage where
a receiver might stand concealed to
AXE signals, and certainly none was
sent. Apparently not a mar in he
place paid the slightest heed to the
outer world. Luncheon time came
and we repaired to the barracks. On
the way I watched the men to note If
any of them seemed to be looking
for anybody or anything, but the only
incident of any sort was when one
of them, a stocky little follow named
McCready, stopped and picked up a
short piece of fine copper wire which
he saw on the yard pavement. He put
it carefully In his pocket.
Nothing happened during luncheon,
and In the half-hour of rest thereafter
the men all smoked or chatted except
Sloane, a machinest, who sat down to
write a letter to his wife. He took
his place at one Of the windows and
used a large portfolio with a high
roll, ink-well, and SO on, at the end OF
it. He seemed very intent but wrote
very little for the length of time he
- 1-A ~.e .h,o1,,tolr rofh-
ing about him to indicate that he was
signalling in any, way; also the only
persons who could have seen him were
the civilian clerks in the headquarters
building about two hundred feet across
the yard, and none of them looked in
his direction at any time. At one win
dow were two laughing men, at an
other a girl stenographer and a young
clerk obviously engaged in small talk,
an clerk, with hat and veil on, was
apparently waiting lunch time.
1t was late in the afternoon when
Lieutenant Dunton stopped work.
AS we were crossing the yard l saw
two familiar figures approaching
Rand and the Secret Service Chief.
Hello, Dunk! This is d pretty job"
was Rand's greeting. Vastly inter-
esting, isn't it? What has turned up
today?"
l detailed the days events for him.
and you are sure no messages have
beer sent out?"
Everybody has been closely
watched"
Look at this" He rendered me a
fresh report from a Secret Service op-
erative in the employ of the New York
Office of the Belgian cables, giving the
cipher transcript of an anonymous
message which had been filed for Ber-
kelen Freres at three that very aft
ernoon giving the full details Of Jul
morning work!
The thing was a physical impossible
ity, and yet before me was proof of it's
occurrence.
Perfect! An absolutely perfect re-
port Dunton repeated.
There you have given us the key
to the premises" exclaimed Rand,
studying the development Of Dunton's
head. This transmission can be pre-
pared and executed only by a man of
high order of intelligence. Brains al
ways show in the head and face Of
their p~ossessor. Now, granted you and
Lieutenant Ormsby are in hat class,
let us see who else could qualify. Re-
turn to the barracks. The chief and
will visit your party in half an hour"
They did so and l noticed Rand sur
veying each of the men with close at
tention. When he ven out he merely
said to me: Work straight ahead on
the lines you have laid out for your
self until tomorrow evening, and II
you have detected nothing then, leave
the yard and join me at the club"
All night / lay awake, struggling
with the mystery and listening for any
movement among the men or any ex-
terror sound that was suspicious, but
there was nothing. From lack Of
sleep, much worry and the effect of
the fumes, l was scarcely able to drag
myself about at the hour for beginning
work In the laboratory.
I'VE are likely to hit the big truth
in the experiments today. Dunton had
said early In the morning. Il dare not
retard the work and / dare not puz-
zle the men on details. One man can
not know what all the others do not,
and SO l hope to high heaven we tap
this underground line very Soon"
But when we quit work neither goal
was reached. A few minutes CONVEX
IA $50 -