CHAPTER XXIV
THE PURSUIT
"How did it happen, Russ?"
"Where have the men gone with the model?"
"Can't you get some trace of them?"
Thus Ruth and Alice questioned their friend, as he stood at the open
window of the taxicab, looking at the crumpled paper.
"I--I don't understand it all," he confessed. "After I knew those
fellows were after my patent I cautioned Mr. Burton about letting any
strangers see it."
A figure came into the doorway of the machine shop. It was that of an
elderly man, with steel-rimmed spectacles. His face was grimy with
the dirt of metal.
"I'm awfully sorry, Russ," he said, contritely. "But of course I
thought the note was from you, and gave up the model."
"Did Simp Wolley get it?" asked Alice, eagerly.
"No, a uniformed messenger boy came for it," explained Russ. "That
was it; wasn't it, Mr. Burton?"
"Yes. And I had no suspicions. You know you had said you might want
the model some time in a hurry, to demonstrate to possible buyers,
and of course when the boy came with the note I supposed you had sent
him. I'm not familiar enough with your handwriting to know it," he
added.
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