Evening Star Newspaper, March 28, 1930, Page 35

The Emperor By Of America Sax Rohmer Oopyright, 1930, by North American Newspaper Alliance and Metropolitan Newspaper Service. SYNOPSIS, Comdr. Drake Roscie of the United Btates Navy is on the trail of a myste- rlous dand known as the Zome pang and directed by a chief called “Head Centre.” Roscoe himself is marked for death. so Re assumes a disouise and is known as Remon de Sa. a dancer from the Argen- #ime. With the aid of a friend, Dr. Stopford, he makes his investipations, while Mme. Czerna. a member of the #ang, reports their movements to *Head Centre.” Her duties become rather ob- morious, however, when she finds herself \ 7fallino in love with Stopford. Acting under orders, she goes to a tea in the @partment of Father Burke., whose Drother, John Burke, is a deputy com- (missioner of police. Stopford and Roscoe |(dtsguised as De Sa) are to be there. 'me. Czerna is to be escorted by Gaston l’lll‘nl. whom she does not know. Com- missioner Burke, while on his way to see Ris bdrother, is kidmaped, drugged and taken to gang headquarters. He is soom released and returns to headquarters, dazed. but without memory as to what has happened. H drawn up ‘before a familiar porch. Lazarvich stood at the door waiting for him to alight. He stared, dazedly, at the clock in the car. It recorded 3:15. “It isn't possible!” he muttered, and took out his watch. Three-fifteen. Burke got out. His head was aching frantically. He felt ill. “See here, Lazarvich,” said he, and broke off abruptly Vaguely, there was some mystery. He had been taken ill . . . something had hap- pened to him, something incredible and unrememberable. But above all some- that could not have occurred in the 25 minutes which had elapsed since he had left Center street. “PFive o'clock,” he said to the chauf- feur, and went into the building. it & deadly fear had clutched him. He doubted his own sanity. . . “Are we followed?" Roscoe asked, as the taxi moved away from the porch of the Memphis Hotel. Stopford peered back along the street, “Yes!" he reported. two-seater. “They are covering you in hope of finding me!” said Roscoe. “So far, we are one point up! I regard Father Burke as an important stepping stone. His brother is in charge at police head- quarters just now. But it's more than my life is worth to venture near Center t. As ‘De Sa’ I had a chance, but #f I'm to use it. Deputy Commissioner Burke must make the acquaintance of De Sa under conditions likely to de- ceive the Zone gang. It may be neces- sary to confide in Father Pat. But don’t make any move in that direction wunless I tip b ‘They are holding the suspects?” “Certainly. But they can't hold them indefinitely. Many are undoubtedly in- nocent. Headquarters doesn’t know to look for.” Out of the unfa- miliar face of De Sa the clear gray seaman’s eyes of Drake Roscoe stared. “Among the men arrested are members of the gang, and members of the gang wear a secret badge. I dare not trust this fact to any one, but I want to see those badges and I want to talk to the men who wear them.” ‘When the taxi drew up before Father Burke's door, a smart two-seater passed close outside and then halted in front of an antique store half-way along the block. “They know we're here!” Roscoe mut- tered savagely. Upstairs, in Father Pat's apartment, Roscoe's distaste for his disguise becam acute. Molly O'Hay, the father's niece, pewly out from Limerick, was guest of honor. She was unaffectedly and ex- quisitely shy, a real wild Irish rose EIGHTH INSTALLMENT. ERE we are, sir!” Burke opened his eyes. He was in his car—and his car was “A man in a Introductions being over, found himself with his host for a mo- ment. Patrick Burke was very much like his brother, John, except that he i:uckefl the permanent frown, and had | in he whispered y. daren’t tell you, father,” Stopford pered in reply. Good enough. 1 understand.” Roscoe presently foined Stopford. “She hates me!” he said, his eyes following Molly as she crossed the room “A girl like that would hate a man like I seem to be!" “The deputy commissioner isn't here.” | “He's expected. He's late—nearly an hour. It's a quarter to 4 and he was | to be here at 3. I have asked Father |Pat in my prettiest Argentine to beg | his brother to permit me to view the Tombs prison later today. I want you to seize an opportunity to whisper to the commissioner that it is Roscoe’ drive back with him when he leaves.” Stopford joined Molly O'Hay, who, to the intense annoyance of Roscoe, was being monopolized by a junior lieuten- :‘in who had formerly served under im ! | “What d'you think of my comic pal Miss O'Hay?" Stopford befln. “He' | much nicer than his little whiskers | would lead one to suppose. | " “He has such a funny way of looking | at me!” Molly said seem to belong to him Further conversation was interrupted by the arrival of John Burke. Molly heard his voice and ran out into the lobby to meet him. He had stepped from the elevator with a hunted look 1n his eyes. Now, his gaze set on a grand- ‘His eyes don't indefinitely, he knew that | ARISTOCRAT Stopford | wish that De Sa and yourself should | Past THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, MARCH 28 father's clock which Patrick Burke had had sent all the way from ick, he was as a man dazed. “The old clock’s wrong,” he said, as | his brother greeted him. “Not & bit of it, John,” his brother him. “It kept good time in old and it keeps good time in New 1&61" ‘The hour is just 10 minutes The deputy commissioner raised his hand to his brow. “Ten minutes to 4" he muttered, “and I left at 10 minutes to 3! Heaven | help me I have lost an hour out {of my life' o | _“A family reunion, no doubt,” said Stopford. “The commissioner has bee: here for some time, but he hasn't joined the other gues “No,” Roscoe murmured reflectively. | Then: “Hullo!" he said—"here’s a friend of yours.” Stopford found himself face to face with Mme. Czerna. His heart leaped ridiculously. He had no idea that he should meet her, for he had been un- | assured | Irelind claimed joyously. He ceased abruptly, as a strange looking man entered the room behind madame. She glanced at him, and: “I want you to meet my friend Dr Stopford,” she said composedly. 8he turned to Stopford, but avoided his | eyes. “This is my cousin, Dr. Ci “Delighted,” Stopford murmured and seized Roscoe's arm. ‘“Meet my friend, Senor Ramon de Sa. Mme. Czerna—M cal. “Most charm’,” Roscoe gushed and | performed a right-angle bow. “I am here complete stranger and my friend Doctaire Stoppaford is so good as to |mix me with delightful people.” Father Pat came in and to Stopford’s sscret annoyance he carried off Mme. Czerna to meet the naval lieutenant, and to Roscoe’s intense chagrin he pre- sented M. Pascal to Molly, who seemed to find M. Pascal most attractive. “When we have time,” Roscoe mut- |tered aside, “I want to ask you some | questions about Mme. Czerna. Stopford started. It was a matter upon which his consclence was not | easy. | “Meanwhile,” Roscoe went on, “note her companion.” OF NEW ENGLAND RANSPORTATION T TO BOSTON IN Z HOU EW ENGLAND'S finest train is now in service. The Yankee Clipper, custom- luxurious, more c: built throughout to provide faster, more omfortable service be- tween New York and Boston, offers the dis- criminating traveler a new adventure . . . It RS stops between the more closely together i personality,restrictedin its accommodations, is a limited extra-fare train, making but two great cities it now links ..Itis a train witha 1930. “I have noted the bird,” Stopford re- plied dryly. “A strange bit o’ work.” “But you have missed the point.” ‘His nose?” “Not at all. The mai miraculous double of Napoleon—the Napoleon of Austerlitz! Father Burke rejoined them, and: “I have spoken to my brother,” sald he. “The Tombs prison isn't open to in- spection in the ordinary way at all, but | as you are a friend of Dr. Stopford's, he’s willing to stretch a point. If you'll call tomorrow at 10 o'clock he'll have you shown around. “Splendid!” Stopford said, exchanging a hasty glance with Roscoe. “Could I have a word with the commissioner, father?” “Certainly,” Father Burke replied. “I'm a bit uneasy about him. He's not himself at all. He's overworking, I fancy—" “I'm risking it!"” Roscoe exclaimed in his own voice, much subdued, however. Father Burke's eyes opened wide. He stared at the dark face of the speaker. “Roscoe!” he whispered. “You know me now,” Roscoe went on. “The only suspects in the place are out of earshot——" “Suspects! gang! In my home?" “Listen, father. I must go to police heldqunrtzrs"m the next hour—as ‘Ra- mon de Sa.’ rapped Father Pat. “Good enough!" “Wait_here.” He brushed by M. Pascal, who was comlneld in with Molly O'Hay. Roscoe groaned. “You haven't met Uncle John yet, have you?” the girl said to Stopford “He's in Uncle Pat's study.” “I should so greatly esteem to meet him,” Roscoe declared. Members of this murder | M. Pascal's glittering eyes were fixed upon the speaker. “Let's tootle along,” said Stopford. “It isn't everybody t wants to meet a police commissioner.” Somewhere a clock was striking 4. Father Pat's study was empty. They looked into the other rooms, but John Burke was not on the premises. From | the elevator man they learned that he had left but a moment earlier. “Something’s amiss,” said Father Burke grimly. “He was strange from | the outset. What's afoot?” “I don’t know,” Roscoe returned, “but |I must find out. Yet I daren't reveal | my identity—and without so doing what | | chance have I to follow them?” “Every chance!” Father Burke as- sured him. “You've come to me before, and I never failed you, did 1? Where do_you think poor John has gpne?” “Back to headquarters “Then that's where we're going!” “What! Your guests—" | “Molly’s the attraction! | can be back by 5 o'clock.” | And so, two minutes later, a dark- faced Brazilian, a monocled, imperturb- | able ship's doctor, accompanied by a priest, hatle: | proceeding in a taxi to Center street. “Among that bunch of 16,” sald Ros- coe, “are decent citizens. And .there's going to be bad trouble if we hold them together another night. But among ‘em also I'll stake my job are members of the Zone gang! I have means of identifying them that I haven't dared to pass on even to the police. I don't know who to trust!" He paused: then: Besides, 1 | e asked abruptly. “Why?” demanded Father Pat. “I have known her, I think, since she came to New York. She’s one of my i congregation.” in his eagerness, were | “Have you known Mme. Czerna long?" | “And her cousin?” “Never seen him before. She called up today to ask if she might bring him along. “Why do you ask?" Roscoe glanced at Stopford; then: “I am curious about the people 1 don't know,” he replied evasively. When they arrived at police head- | quarters the presence of Father Burke | insured _prompt admittance. Deputy Commissioner Burke was seated at his in, and his strong face was pathetic. “What's the matter, John?" the priest asked. “Why did you run away like | that?” Commissioner Burke raised his hand dazedly to his forehead “Pat,” he replied, to puzzle out just that “You mean you don't know why you left?” “I can't imagine why I left! What's worse—I can’t remember leaving!” He fixed a_haggard look on the dark face of “Ramon de Sa.” ve been trying | doing here,” | zilian. “But my voice will | Drake Roscoe!” | "The door opened and a police cap- tain came in. form. “All correct, sir,” he reported. “The 16 suspects have been released as ‘The word was uttered as a roar. John Burke leaped from his chair, eyes glar- ing, fists clenched. Capt. Markham fell back in consternation. “Whose orders?” Roscoe demanded tersely. ¥ The police captain stared at the | speaker. His imperious manner was | not in harmony with his appearance. “Answer!” bellowed the commissioner. desk. He looked up as his brother came | nthetic Bra- | tell you. I'm He carried an official | “Yours, sir! | order!” stared in stupefaction at Roscoe. “This is black magic!’ Roscoe nodded. plied. | shoulders of the seated man. “Don’t Worry, ‘You are not to blame. shall know how it was done. Ask any druggist for the red box of Here is your written|Centre has scored a he whispered. “Head Centre scores a point,” he re- He rested his hand on the bowed Burke,” he sald. i One day we|come so serious that its elimination is 1f Head being made a national problem. relieve 1COLD 3 ways—in a day point, I think he's taken a big chancs 1 think I have He laid the form on the desk. John Burke waved to him to go. He went. ‘The commissioner glanced at his own | Pat asked signature, dropped into his chair, and “I think I know who Mr. Gaston Pas- buried his face in his hands. Stopford | cal really is.” “Who?" Stopford demanded eagerly. “Unless T am greatly mistaken,” Ros- coe replied, “M. Pascal is Head Centre!” (To Be Continued.) River pollution in England has be- Here's what Hill's will do for you... 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