“Sit down then,” said Mr. Ridgeway, “and I will explain.”
“In the first place,” he commenced, “young as you are, you must have felt the dangerous mood the whole world is in. Of course the adjustment after a world war necessarily takes several generations. But to us who happen to be on hand during that adjustment comes the task of hurrying the thing along as much as we possibly can. For this comes the need for absolutely safe transportation of papers, messages and money. Often, too, there is the need for the transportation of millions of dollars’ worth of jewels—jewels enough to ransom whole principalities, let alone a king or two.
“We have worked this thing out with the greatest difficulty, trying one method after another, sending our papers in disguised packages, with trusted messengers, and using the most intricate codes. But all the time there are leaks. For instance, a short time ago a message to the King of Morania, sent under a triplicate code, that is, a code that must be translated three times, was intercepted and only the fact that it was a false message sent to try out a new system kept us from the brink of a fresh war.
“These things are only known to the inner circles, you understand. It would not do to frighten and agitate the public with intimate affairs of state. But we absolutely must find a means of transportation that is as free from danger, free from spies and thieves, as it is possible to invent.
“As a last resort, we are going to make use of the dirigible. This of course is where you come in.
“In my private business I have used planes, hydroplanes and one or two dirigibles and as they are well known to be used exclusively for passenger and freight service, they have never been interfered with in any way. I am not known to be working with the government, and my one hope was that we could take the new dirigible that has just been completed for me and make use of it for the transportation of these priceless documents that mean so much to the peace of the world.
“What has happened this morning troubles me more than I can tell you. Someone suspects us, or else those two men are the victims of a private enemy.”
The telephone bell jingled. Mr. Ridgeway lifted the receiver and adjusted the delicate needle point on the desk pad by means of which all telephone conversations were recorded, a new invention which Lawrence had heard of but had not seen. Mr. Ridgeway listened with a frown darkening his brow.
“I will be right out,” he said finally, and replaced the receiver.
“Well, the new dirigible was wrecked in the night,” he said. “That looks like business! Come on; we will go out and look the ground over. That is, if you care to cast your lot with such a dangerous game.”