Evening Star Newspaper, January 12, 1930, Page 83

pened,” she declared eagerly. “The admiral's secretary, with whom he left his keys, had oc- casion to go to the safe. He found things dis- turbed. The alarm was given. The ship was isolated. Afterward a search was made.” “This one page from the diary?” “It was not noticed. The secretary—he de- cided that he had been mistaken in the dis- turbance of the papers. People were allowed once more to come and go from the ship as they willed, but tomorrow, monsieur—tomor- row the admiral returns. He will be told of the scare and he will search for himself. It must be returned before midday tomorrow.” She listened for a moment with the old ter- ror in her eyes. “I had a letter from that poor boy this morn- ing—a pathetic letter. If only he knew how I longed to give him back the page! No harm has been done, Not a soul has seen it. Never- theless, when the admiral returns, a report of the scare will be made to him and the theft will be discovered. George will be suspected first of all, because he is the admiral’'s nephew and is allowed access to his cabin. Poor boy, he is not of the nature of those who conspire. He will break down. He will confess. He will be shot.” Tresholm stood considering the problem. “You are my hope!” she cried. ‘Directly you came in, my heart gave a leap. You were pointed out to me at Monte Carlo. They told me that you were a great gambler, Take the risk, monsieur. You will save this boy’s life. You are English. So little can happen to you. Ah!” HE sprang away. Down the passage came footsteps, which in their very tread seemed grim and official. To Tresholm she behaved like a madwoman. She flung herself upon the couch, pulled off her stockings and concealed them beneath the cushions. Then she burst into a senseless fit of gay but hysterical laughter. Then there came the knocking at the door— a brief, imperative knocking. She answered. Her voice was stifled—angry, but not terrified. “Qui est 1a?” “Open the door, in the name of the police,” was the stern reply. She unlocked the door and stepped back with a’little cry. A very official looking inspec- tor of police had entered, followed by two gen- darmes. They closed the door behind them. The inspector addressed himself to Tresholm. “Monsieur,” he said, politely, “I demand pardon for this unusual intrusion, but a grave theft has been committed in the neighborhood, and this lady is under suspicion.” “You arrest me?” she shrieked. “Pas forcement!” the inspector replied. “If this gentleman and you will submit yourselves to a search, and the missing property is not dis- covered upon either of you, our disagreeable duty will be completed.” “But how impossible!” she exclaimed. *Search me—a woman? It is incredible!” “We have a female attendant outside,” was the civil response, “and an empty room.” She scowled at him, and then turned to Tresholm. “I ask a thousand pardons, cheri,” she said. *Shall we humor this man, and then perhaps we shall be left alone?” “I am at your disposition,” he conceded. The gendarme unlocked the door, and mademoiselle passed out into the care of a woman who was waiting in the passage. Tresholm divested himself of his outer gar- State, War, Navy Building’s Fifty-Fifth Continued from Third Page the office rcoms. The inner partitions are almost 2 feet thick. The beautiful doors are of solid red imhogany 2 inches thick. The locks and hinges are of bronze, and each door knob bears the official insignia of the depart- ment which originally occupied that room. At the present tme these kncbs hold no significance, they are merely reminders of past tenants. Each door is framed by at least two rows of borders, both inside and outside. There are borders everywhere. The famous Wall of Troy predominates. It marches around every door, window and ceiling in the building. Some day when you want to go for a nice, Jong walk, why not try the checker board corri- dors of the State, War and Navy Building? All the halls—even the basement—are floored with’ alternating 12-inch squares of black slate and white marble. And there are messengers of the State and War Departments who con- stantly tread those 1% miles of passageways to and from the various offices. These grand halls are always spotless. But it requires great physical labor to clean and polish 2!, acres of marble floors. In 19800 there were 80 scrubwomen employed at $20 a month to clean them. This arduous physical task caused corns and sores on the knees and hands of the scrubwomen, and incited the compassion of the three Secretaries and Admiral Baird. After much study of the situation Admiral Baird installed a scrubbing dmachine which worked something like a bicycle. It had rubber tires, and’ a sprocket and chain which turned two rotary brushes and thoroughly scrubbed the floor. The machines were very heavy and they required two or three women to operate them. With them a dozen women could do the wcrk the 80 had been doing. But the scrubbing machines were decidedly unpopular. The women revolted and refused to run the new-fangled things, mostly because they feared this device would cost them their jobs. They were not appeased when the super- intendent assured them that no one would be fired. Those not used for scrubbing were put to shining the brasses and bronzes. Everything was shipshape. The marble gleamed and the brass glittered like gcld. One of the scrub- women is said to have remarked with pride: “Them golden stairs and marble halls looked Just like he’ben.” But the glitter lasted only a few years. The scrubwomen persistently pre- ferred scrubbing to polishing and the experi- ment was finally abandoned. 'I‘HF; SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. ments, handed over his' belongings and saw every pocket of his clothes turned inside out. After an even closer search of his person, the official saluted. “A thousand pardons, monsieur,” he apolo- gized courteously. “Permit me to play the part of valet. I trust we are more fortunate with the lady.” “What is this missing property?” Tresholm inquired. “A packet of a hundred mille,” the man answered glibly. Tresholm smiled. “A great deal of money,” he remarked, helping himself*to some of the wine and passing the bottle toward the in- spector. In due course the door opened, “and the woman searcher returned with her charge. A glance between the former and the inspector was sufficient. “Perhaps,” mademoiselle demanded angrily, “we may now be allowed to finish our wine.” “There is nothing to prevent it, made- moiselle,” was the inspector’s regretful reply, as he saluted and took his leave. The door was closed and locked. Made- moiselle listened to the retreating footsteps, her hand still upon the key. Her face was drawn, and dark rims were forming under her eyes. “But this is terrible,” she murmured. “Hadn't you better put your stockings on?” Tresholm suggested. She continued to listen for a moment. Then she stole back to the couch and drew out the stockings from beneath the pillows and pulled them on. “The safest of all hiding places,” she mur- mured. She held up her foot. He leaned forward and felt the sole. There was something stiff there. “They are beautifully made by a friend at The eight stairways of the building are truly distinctive. There are none in Washington— and few in the world—that can compare with them in beauty of execution and workmanship. ‘The stairs swing gracefully from ficor to floor unsupported by beams or arches. Each step is made of solid granite and the stone is notched so that it fits over the upper edge of the step beneath it., The end of each step is tightly wedged into the thick wall and forms a canti- lever construction. Should one step give way the whole staircase would fall. But there has never been the least indicaticn that such a catastrophe will ever occur. ‘The balustrades of these thin, graceful stair- ways are made of intricately designed deoxid- ized bronze topped by a mahogany handrail. It was these hundreds of bronze posts that caused the mutiny of the charwomen. A heavy brass guard-rail has been fastened to the hand- rail to increase the height of the low balus- trade—a precaution against accidents. But these brass guards were not placed upon the handrail until after two accidents did oc- cur. In the year 1907 Charles J. Giers, a cripple, and an employe of the War Depart- ment, fell from the fourth floor of the north- east stairway to the basement. The impact of his body totally shattered a 12-inch square of white marble. The splintered stone was not replaced by a new slab fcr many years. Another death, either accidental or suicidal, occurred at the northeast stairwell, but there are no recorded details of this event. Apart from the accidents on the stairs the building has been singularly free from tragedy A messenger by the name of Manning was shot by an irate office seeker many years ago. This incident occurred in the basement. Fortunate- ly Mr. Manning recovered, althcugh it is said that he still carries the bullet in his side. A glass dome lights each stairwell and adds much to the beauty of the interior. Those on the north and south are designed like huge stars. The two center domes are large and very elaborate. The central dome on the east side covers two stairwells. It is of stained glass, with dark blue stars and red stripes on a field cf white, which creates a patriotic ensemble. The opposite dome on the west is more con- servative and is much like the stained-glass windows of churches. THE State Department has always been one of the smallest of the executive offices. For that reason, perhaps, it was customary to call the State, War and Navy Building the C. JANUARY 12, 1930. “You arrest me?” she shrieked. Lyon,” she confided. “No one would ever believe that there is a double sole. And you— you consent now to help me?” “I'll do my best,” Tresholm promised. THE two cars full of noisy sailor boys were brought to an unexpected halt at the com- mencement of the dark descent to the Ville- franche Harbor. A long-bonneted two-seater was slewed across the road, completely barring progress. ‘Tresholm advanced out of the shadows. With his hat pulled over his forehead and his coat collar turned up, he was quite unrecognizable. “Sorry,” he apologized. “I didn’'t see the bend, put on my brakes too soon, skidded round and stalled my engine. If you fellows wouldn't mind giving me a push onto the other road, I'll get her going somehow or other.” They all tumbled out good naturedly enough. In the darkness Tresholm managed to slip a pocketbook into the young man’s hand. “No more of this confounded foolery, mind,” he whispered. The boy looked around. They were well be- hind the others. “I swear there won't be, sir,” he “Think you'll get it back all right?” “Certain,” was the confident reply. you what, sir. You really want to know?"” “Well, you've given me a lot of trouble to- “Tell “War-Navy.” Admiral Baird always referred to it as such. However, since the Navy De- partment moved to the New Navy Building in 1918 the building became known as the “State- War.” And now that the War Department is to have a building all its own, this historical old mound will become simply the State De- partment. Little did Hamilton Pish dream of this when he put the “old clock on the stairs” under his arm and moved to the State, War and Navy Building. The Navy entrance to the building was on the east side, which is still finaked by two great steel anchors, The room formerly occupied by the Navy Library, but which at present is used as a file room by the State Department, is a very ele- gant room, two stcries in height. Its frescoes and decorations are in the highest state of art. The floors are of mosaic tile. Great slabs of blackish marble are embedded in the walls and framed like pictures, Concerning these stones one hears many strange stories, Some of the old messengers will tell you that if you look at a certain stone at a given point light will radiate from it. Others say some place in this room there is a stone from Solomon'’s Temple. The origin of this story is shrouded in mystery. It does not seem possible that a stone of such antiquity and historical value would be placed here without a definite marker. The legend is dismissed as false by those who know the building. There are also tales that pictures of Lincoln and Roosevelt, and even scenes in American history, are depicted in the marble columns of this room. It is true that in the lights and shadows of marble the imaginative person can see almost anything. But it is strange that of all the 600 rooms in this vast building only the old Navy Library should be subjected to these legends. The State Department already has its entire Washington personnel of 625 clerks in the building. It now seems that they will even- tually inherit it all. But some of their records are stored in other houses and in inaccessible places, such as attic rooms and the subbase- ment, The State, ‘War and Navy Building houses all the treaties ever made by this re- public. Such records are kept by the Secretary of State. He is the custodian of the Great Seal of the United States, which is also the seal of the State Department. He is the guardian of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. These last two documents were placed in the night,” Tresholm acknowledged. “I'd like ®» feel that it wasn’t for nothing.” “Stop on the hill, sir, just before the bend. My pal’s on signaling duty tonight. I'll send you three white flashes as soon as the job's done. He'll think it's for a little girl we know at Cap Ferrat.” With a final push, the car was on the right road once more, its bonnet turned. Tresholm jammed on the brakes. They trooped back to their cars, and Tres- holm, starting his engine, curiously enough without trouble, mounted the hill. At the ton he swung into the side of the road, and gazec downward. The shapes of the great battleship and the three attendant gunboats were defined witn curious accuracy by their brilliant line of lights. Everywhere was deep silence. Suddenly the signal came, somehow eloquent- ly dramatic, significant of a catastrophe avert- ed. Three times the brilliant white rays pierced the darkness. Tresholm slipped in the clutech and started off to complete his journey. Behind Mont Agel the dawn, colorless as yet was lightening the sky. (Copyright, 1930.) ' Anniversary Congressional Library about the time of the World War, but the Secretary of State is still responsible for them. Many documents in the State Department files bear the signatures of the leading kings, queens, princes and potentates of the world. Queen Victoria's signature appears on a letter expressing sympathy to the United States at the death of President Lincoln. His highness the Mushir Mohammed Ersadek Bey of Tunis sent the United States an elegant life-size por- trait of himself, bearing the following inscripe tion: “Presented as a souvenir of his friend- ship in November, 1865, by his envoy, Gen. Otman Hashem, bearer of letters of condolences for the assassination of President Lincoln and of congratulations for the termination of the Civil War.” This painting still hangs in one of the State Department's rooms. This gore geous painting shows the Bey of Tunis as & handsome man of short black mustache, wear= ing 10 huge medals on his right breast. His trousers are red and striped with gold. His dark coat glitters with embroideries, gold braid, and heavy bullion-fringed epaulets, which match his jeweled turban. He stands on a Turkish rug near a carved table on which lies a scroll. One of the most amazing things about this picture is his crescent-shaped saber, Army officers still wonder how so curved an instrument could be drawn from its scabbard in case of attack. THE State’s library is a magnificently fres- coed room. Its ceilings and walls are beautifully designed and bordered. The mosaic tile floor in this room has long been famous. One of the most interesting personalities 0 fthe State Department is Eddie Savoy, the T4-year-old personal messenger to the Secre- tary of State. Eddie came to the State, War and Navy Building with Hamilton Fish and “the old clock on the stairs.” He has prob- ably talked to more great personages than any other living American. If your business is with the Secretary of State you will first have to “get by” Eddie. This old darky has his own word for precedence. He says: “I have to use & great deal of particularity.”” Eddie has been called the Alpha and Omega of the Spanish-American War. He personally dee livered the passport to De Lome, the Spanish Minister to America. He also went to Paris with the Secretary of State when peace was Concluded on Twenty-first Page