The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-06-16

his. wrist in. paralyzing grip and
removed them. from his limp hand.
Then" Harrison Grant raised his
voice a little. 4 must say. Mr.. slak-
berg, alias Curly. alias weasel, that
while you've done very good little
Job OF forgery here you've forgotten
one rather strong point viii you
please put or your hats End coat and
come to the criminology Club with
Mr. Marquis and myself.,'
So meekly did he submit to his
enforced departure that although
Grant saw him draw a cigar from
his pocket. bite it on and then throw
il away as though it were distasteful
to him, he paid little attention to the
action. The cigar rolled along the
grayeled pathway and stopped near
the door OF the power house. In the
doorway lounged the electrician. As
Grant and Marquis and their captive
disappeared around the corner the
electrician picked up the discarded
cigar.
Dixie Mason had been working in
the factory since early afternoon as
shell loader. The table at which she
worked was near a window overlook
ing the factory yard. The events. OF
the last afternoon had not escaped
her. She had watched the departure
Of SIakberK with Harrison Grant and
Ia feeling OF relief that unco18eiously
she was being helped had stolen over
her. But though Grant attached no
Importance TO the cigar Slakberg had
tossed aside. Dixie from her point Of
vantage soon was given the oppor-
tUUity TO.
Scarcely had the men disappeared
around the corner OF the building
when she saw the electrician emerge
from the doorway and pick up the
cigar. The act was natural and Dixie
ordinarily would have thought moth
ing OF Il. Now her gaze hung on him
curiously and then frightened into in
terest as she saw him break the cigar
open. Something white appeared as
the carefully wrapped weed was
broken apart. She saw the electrician
unrolI a tiny slip OF paper, read II
kurriedly and then crumple II up.
Dixie. to all appearances overcome
by sudden illness, left the loading
room, slipped out Of the DOR and
across the yard to the power house.
The electrician was gone, but where
he lad stood was a tiny slip OF crum-
pied paper, which Dixie snatchel at
eagerly and read as she hurried out
Of the building. It contained three
words:
Warn Won Papen."
Dixie Takes Up the Trail.
Dixie Mason did not return 20 the
loading room. Instead she took up
the trail Of the disappearing electro
clan. She did not know that in ths
Criminology Club they had that slak-
berg surrounded with the evidences
OF his guilt and his cross-examina-
ton begun. All Dixie knew was that
the electrician had been told to warn
Won Papen and had been ordered to
await further instructions on the hill
at the edge OF the town
The day faded into dusk and the
dusk into darkness. The lights from
the munition factory blazed out into
the might as the new shift took up
it's duties. At last Dixie saw the
electrician emerge from the saloon.
She took up the trail, a trail that
seemed never-ending as he walked on
and on away from the town. Dixie
guessed his purpose. He was about
TO catch a train back to town.
The train passed, and in the dim
light she discerned his figure cling
ing to the side OF. car. Then she
hurried to the switch light and pick
ed up the scrap OF paper he had
thrown aside. BY the light she saw
a series OF Morse code dots and
dashes which she translated:
BLOW up the factory at once"
This was the message he had been
told to received And he had gone to
carry out its orders! Dixie racked
her brain desperately for ideas. She
must get back at once or get a mes
sage. But how?
She remembered passing a motor
service station down the road. II she
could reach that. she might still 5e
able TO interfere with the electricians
orders. She would telephone back to
the factory--tO Harrison Grant! one
idea after another few through her
mind as she hurried over the endless
labyrinth OF tracks and down lie
rough road, but when she reached vhe
little building, TO her breathless in
quries the keeper shook his head mo
telephone here" he said there's one
about q mile down the road
Then Dixie brought out her Sc
Crtt Service commission
LET me have motorcycle. autrE'
he ordrred The man yiaibly impress
a huffied inside
a moment later hs had hrounht oct
motorcycle and raH holding It 10
rHt.tinn
atathsra's taafrusiaa
while uitif haHaH Hnfd ever ne
Ia.E 600 f1ftuHHa rafhs ~ ths raaa
A. 80 49, a. a.aaHHE.la.a -