The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-04

orders and Grant ard his men wer6
hurrying by motor to Staten Island,
to pick up Stewart on the way and
rush to the shack that had housed
the torpedo. But would they reach
there in time? Grant would have
given much to know.
Out in the bay, here. there, every
where. the boats of the harbor pos
lice were scattering, up toward the
great, monstrous forms of the bat
tleships, where, flags fiuttering. the
preparations were being made for
the start OF the Presidents review,
searching under wharves. around
lighters. hurrying to the protection
Of the MaYfiower, whence the Presl-
dent would review the fieet--honey-
combing the harbor in their search
for suspicious characters, seeking
everywhere for the torpedo that was
planned to send flagship to its
doom, block the great Atlantic feet
in New York harbor and cripple the
defense OF the greatest nation in the
world.
But so far, the torpedo was safe
from their search. In the dark con-
fines of the sewer, 1t had been low
cred and shunted to Its mouth, where
it lay concealed from view under the
piling of an old dock. Back in the
shack. Schmidt, the electrician, la
bored furiously on the last connec-
ton that would make the torpedo
available for its deadly use-the
wireless controller.
Watching From q Sewer. ;
Hurriedly he made the finishing
touches, while down at the mouth
of the sewer, the piotters watched
the gathering boats across the way,
the waving flags, and hright-hued
decorations that shone and SHIN
mered with the bright sunlight of
morning. From far In the distance
came the screaming Of sirens and the
hoarser- throated sound Of hundreds
Of tugboats. ferries and river craft.
The review had started. Aboard the
Mayhower. the President OF the
United States was to see the pride
of the navy as 1t steamed forth to
the open sea and
"If Schmidt only gets here with
that controller seethed the spy from
the Hohen2ollern club, as he watch
ed the fleet in the distance through
his binoculars, "if he only gets
here"
How long will It take to attach
it?' Another plotter was staring to-
ward the distance.
Ten seconds. We've got plenty Of
time in that Way-if he only gets
here with It'll" A
A sound from the tunnel. It was
Schmidt, Juggling the controller for
ward. The spy from the Hohenzol-
lern club turned with a. quick order.
you get back there and guard the
shack" he ordered of the third plot
ter. We'll attend to things down
here"
The German retreated into the
sewer. Schmidt began the placing
of the wireless controller in its po-
sition. The spy from the Hohenzol-
lern club looked again through his
binoculars.
wen launch the torpedo just as
the flagship rounds the point there.
Understand"
Perfectly" Schmidt was testing
his connections.
They looked at each other then
and laughed. America was at their
mercy, they thought! For they did
not know that as they gloated over
the coming fate of the flagship, Har-
rison Grant and his men were fore
ing their way through the doorway
Of the shack above them!
But only emptiness greeted the
members of the Criminology club as
Grant glanced about him quickly.
They're gone-they're already in
the sewer!" he exclaimed despond-
entity. We've got just one chance
to head off that torpedo when it
starts! You men hurry to Buffan's
landing and get the reserve launch
there. I'll investigate here"
'tAli right" then Stewart turn
ed. Here's something I picked up
just outside. Should have given it
to you before-but my brains work
ing a little slow since that blow on
the head"
He passed a reticule to Harrison
Grant, who stuffed 1t In. his pocket.
The men departed. Grant looked
hastily about the shack. then veered
to corner at a sound from below.
Sending the Torpedo.
the sewer manhole moved a little.
Then bit more-then it raised
while the figure of a man started up
ward and through it Grant crept
forward A quick leap, he seized the
plotter by the throat, choking him
and at the same time dragging him
back on the floor. "A moment more
and he had bound him, dragged him
! to a corner and almost thrown him
there, then started down the man
hole. But as he CROPPED blinking
through the darkness, Schmidt and
the spy from the Hohenzollern club
sighted the Prov of the flagship as II
rounded the point below them. swung
the torpedo into position and shunted
4 1t, seething into the water!
"A few steps forward and Grant saw
what had been done. There were
two men, both with their backs to
him, one guiding the torpedo with the
wireless controller, the other leaning
forward. pointing out its course as il
made it's way, slowly at first, then
faster. toward the laundering flag
ship.
Everywhere was noise, the scream
Ing of whistles, the booming Of guns
as the battleships fired their salutes
before the Mayfiower. Harrison
Grant crept forward unnoticed,
Ten feet-then then three
while the spies stared outward, I'm
taware OF the approach of the detec-
tive. Harrison Grant gathered his
full strength. "A tremendous kick
and he had sent one OF the pIotters
sprawling into the water. A great
lunge and he wasgat the throat OF the
spy from. the Hohenzollern club.
g. - 80