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“The Navy says that he caused the explosion that killed him, but they won’t tell me how they know”

“I wouldn’t read too much into that,” said Van Dorn ?

??The Navy is habitually secretive What does surprise me is they tend usually to look after their own”

“My father deliberately established the Gun Factory to be ner replied “It is a businesslike operation”

“And yet,” Van Dorn ventured cautiously, “as I understand it, civilian factories have recently taken over many of its duties”

“Certainly not! Fours and 6s, perhaps But not the dreadnought guns”

“I wonder whether that shift troubled your father”

“Father was accusto with a faint ss and arrows of ress and local interests’ He had a sense of huh Such men don’t kill themselves”

“Of course,” Van Dorn said gravely

The Kellogg rang again

Saved by ht to himself He stepped to the here the instrument was mounted, picked up the earpiece, and listened

“Send him in”

To Dorothy Langner he said, “I asked Isaac Bell, my best operative, to step down from an important bank robbery case in order to look into the circumstances of your father’s death He is ready to report”

The door opened A man in a white suit entered with an economy of motion unexpected in one so tall He ell over six feet, leanly built-not more than one hundred seventy-five pounds-and looked to be about thirty years old The full old, as was his thick, neatly trimmed hair His face had the robust appearance of an outdoorser to sun and wind

His large hands hung still at his sides His fingers were long and preciselyDorothy Langner ht hand were red and swollen