"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 123 - Washington Crime" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

device for army planes. Because of past circumstances, he had taken the device
to the navy department; and had been allowed to test the device on planes
belonging to the marine corps.
Feeling that the war department might still be prejudiced against him,
Bryland had gone to Senator Releston for advice. The senator had suggested
that
they visit various army officers, to ask if they would approve the tests. On
the
list was Colonel Follingsby. Bryland and Releston had merely stopped at his
apartment on their way to the Army and Navy Club.
Senator Releston was the next witness. A man of rugged features, but mild
expression, Releston was the symbol of dignity. His gray hair added to his
appearance; and Releston spoke in a tone that showed sincerity. No man in all
Washington possessed greater integrity than Senator Ross Releston.
The senator supported Bryland's testimony; he added that there had been
no
possible way of knowing that Colonel Follingsby was due to receive the
National
Emergency Code.
"Bryland and I were amazed, the next day," stated Releston, "when General
Darson called us and asked us to visit his office. Bryland was enthusiastic,
when he called me by telephone. He thought that the request pertained to his
new invention. We went to the war department separately. There, General Darson
gave us our first knowledge of the fact that Colonel Follingsby had received
and lost the National Emergency Code."


THERE was a lull in the proceedings. Follingsby was finally called upon
for further testimony. The trial officers, concerned chiefly with the question
of Follingsby's negligence, wanted to know more about the colonel's actions at
the time of the fake telephone call.
"I was confused," admitted Follingsby. "I knew that my wife was on a
motor
trip with the wives of some other officers. I actually started from my
apartment, forgetting all about the National Emergency Code. Then I went back,
put the code in the desk drawer and locked it there."
"You are sure of that?" came the stern question. "Did you actually
remember to put away the code?"
"Yes," responded Follingsby. "I forgot other things in my haste. For
instance, my gold-headed cane, given to me by my regiment in the Canal Zone. I
must have left it in the taxicab, while riding to Alexandria -"
The Judge Advocate interrupted. The matter of the cane was irrelevant in
his opinion. General Darson asked the privilege of a statement. It was
allowed.
"Colonel Follingsby left his cane in my anteroom," explained the chief of
staff. "It was similar to the one that my regiment gave me; but the initials
on
the gold heads were different. I never carry my cane while in uniform hence I
did not discover Follingsby's cane until to-day. I shall have it returned to
him."