Evening Star Newspaper, April 8, 1930, Page 29

The Emperor Of Amer Copyright, 1930, by North American By ° Sax Rohmer 1Ca Newspaper Alliance and Metropolitan Newscaper Service. SYNOPBIS. Comdr. Drake Roscoe of the United States Navy is seeking to expose and t @ mysterious criminal band known the Zones, directed by a chief who is Delieved to resembje Napoleon and who 1a called Head Cedter. With the aid of Dr. Stopford, formerly chief surgeon of the steamship Ruritania, he makes his investigations They take him to the home of Page Sutton, a wealthy man, who is the most recent object of attack. Mme. Czerna, an coent of the Zones, has made the acquaintance of Roscoe and Stopford. She is ordered to motor in the direction of Sutton’s home, to disadle her car and then to ask sheiter for the night to aid Head Center in carrying out his plans. {2 made on Roscoe's life. Regan, a pri- vate detective in Sutton’s employ, arrests Mme. Czerna, but Stopford, who has fallen in love with her, helps her escape. She tells him that she decame associated with the Zones before she kmew their real purpose and that she would gladly free herself During their flight Mme. Cierna and Stopford seek refuge in @ road house, where a group of Zones operatives find them. At this point Roscoe arrives He has enlisted the aid of the police and an attempt to round up the gang has Deputy Com- missioner Burke is endeavoring to find Zone headquarters. Mme. Cierna and Stopford meanwhile go to the Ruritania, ®hich has just made a return vov. NINETEENTH INSTALLMENT. HE commander of the Rugitania ‘woke up with a start. “That you, quartermaster?” “Yes, sir. Sorry to disturb you. But Dr. Stopfard has just come aboard and insists he must see e “Stopford!” The captain was out of bed in a flash. Dr. Stopford had jumped his| ship on the last voyage undsr mysterious circumstances and had been duly fired by Liverpool when the log was pror duced. Now, in the early morning, a few hé:uxs before sailing, he was again aboar here is he?” utside in your room, sir.” ‘Alone?” “No. There's a lady with him.” “Oh!” said the captain, ‘When he appeared he found his ex- | surgeon, in evening kit and a badly fitting topcoat, seated on the settee with & remarkably pretty Frénch woman, who, though somewhat disheveled, also might have ccme from a dance. “Ah, Sir Harry," “beastly sorry to dig you out, but the fact is we're rather up against it. Mme. Czerna 1s dyin' to meet you.” He turned to his charming companion. “This is Capt. Harry Bristol.” ‘The captain, who had an eye for a pretty woman, regretted that he was unshaven. “What's afoot, Stopford?” he asked. “Your disappearance here in New York last trip caused me endless anxi¢ty. Did you fall into a trap?” “I did,” said Stopford. “I fell into a laid by the Zone gang . .." "The Zon= gang?” “There's a bloke here in New York,” Stopford went on deliberately, “who has got—or who had got—the entire city under his thumb. Drake Roscos nearly lost his life in tin’ him. Our friend here”—he grasped Mme. Czerna’s hand, reassuringly—*is still in danger. Hence our croppin’ up on board so uncere- moniously.” ou mean?” said the commander. | “I mean we claim sanctuary. How, | goodness only knows. but we've got | through the enemy’s lines. Now we're out of their territory. There are no agents of the Zones aboard the old | That might an attempt | said _Stopford, | the splintering, straining and creaking which followed had the dramatic value of a sandstorm bursting on the still- ness. “Where's Comdr. Roscoe?" Nobody knew. “Get Neville on the Bronson phone. Advise h'm we look like we'd found the shaft. here’s Solke?” “Here,” came a smooth voice. Beams from torches split the dark- ness. The power was cut off in these offices. Men strained at the task of forcing the false panel. “Where did you go five minutes back?” “I went to see where Comdr. Roscoe had_gone to.” “Come out into the light.” Max Solke, private secretary to Dep- uty Commissioner Burke and trustee of police headquarters secrets, showed a pale, intellectual face in the ray of a torch. “You made a call on the Bronson line.” “1 admit it, sir.” 1"You were covered. Roscoe put me wise.” Max Solke, Zone Officer I-B, regis- tered no emotion. But his high forehead glistened oddly. Take him “You're under away.” A murmur, subdued both by aston- ishment and respect for the formidable c. amissioner, greeted this order. “Markham, you're responsible for the prisoner.” “Very good, sir.” The work of demolition proceeded and presently the mechanism of & sliding panel being uncovered, a small elevator shaft was revealed. Lights | were cast upward and downward. “A good man might climb that cable,” Burke growled, staring 3 Te- flectivel “but when he reacht the |top—" He turned. “Who's got the | plan?” “Here, chief.” ‘Are we at the base of the Seud- more tower?” “Surc we are.” { “Get out onto the fire ladders. We'll | explore the top three floors.” aching back, he took a torch from the hand of the man standing nearest to him and craning through the shat- t}elreld panel, shot a white ray up the shaft. ‘The torch all but fell from his hand. “What's the matter, Burke?” He came about, facing the speaker. | Roscoe had rejoined the party. | “Up there,” Burke replied, not quite, near the top of the shaft ... .some- thing lookéd down at me.” “‘Something?” “A yellow, hairless thing—like a mummy! But it’s moved.” “Ah!" Roscoe laughed shortly. “So he’s still up there?” “He? The thing I saw wasn't hu- man.” “Human or otherwise, the thing you saw is the thing we're after. t's Head Center!” .. .. Some high-powered instrument spark- ed viciously in the darkness of & room near the summit of Scudmore tower. There cameé a swift tapping Translated it meant: “Great Head center. Your report.” The man masked by darkness ug\:ed: id- Stop. arrest. “New York Head Center. Stop. ing party taking to fire ladders. . New York Zones vacated. Stop. All according to plan. Réport ends.” A distant sound penetrated, a sound of dull blows and of mingled, excited voices. The instrument rapped again briefly: “Withdraw.” ‘Through a semi-shaded window a glare of white light shone, passed and seemed to leave the room darker by contrast. Searchlight units had been detailed by the fire department and the Scudmore tower rose through the misty | distant tower, mysteriously illuminated TUESDAY, - APRIL : 8,- 1930. “Turn back!” he shouted. “This street is closed.” A choleric face familiar to :;’e;‘y‘m member of the force peered out wNed Regan!” said a gruff volce. ‘I'm going to the Scudamore Bulld- 8. The Button car proceeded. Only po- lice and pri citizens were to-be seen in the street beyond. But a hun- dred yards farther along they were held up again, by a police captain. “Who M.J'ou through?” cer demanded. “I let me’ through!” -shouted Ned Regan . THE EVENING. STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, Regan, she was hastening to the battle aréa. At a point 'of vantage Regan, sitting beside the chauffeur, . checked the car. He turned. “Look!” said he, and indicated the “Huh!” Burke ted. “There's no entrance from inside io any floor.” Soundings went on. “This was where they brewed their Fobons." Roscoe went on musingly. looking around him. ‘“Some of the gang have made a get-away, I'm afraid, but we've smashed their base, iy s :&l’l‘ke And I still have hopes of the laboratory was_entered by the raiding m ve.” party. gm Roscoe, with a followl “He the shaft, Chief!” of six, had scaled higher. H'e ‘t'l:‘ m Fclnl'mrkhlnn‘: ;ll.l ml:d “lrioufl the lurking place of the Zone| “Crowbars” Burke growled. ’."pfae'?.' . Pinker. He's been in the navy. That “Help me over the ledge,” said Dep- | right, Pinker?” uty Commissioner Burke. "Rflm enough, sir.” ‘Ald was given and Burke found him- 'Can you swarm up 15 feet of cable self, ahead of h's squad, in a square | 8nd do a useful job of housebreaking room which seemed to have been re- cently stripped of its more important fittings. Automatic in_hand, he looked about him. His torch flashed from wall to wall. Then the others came tumbling in at his heels. “Laboratory,” somebody sail “Hullo!” Burke returned. ready, Markham?”" lo“"fl\ne tnlrilg. hief. Your ex-sec. is ged in cel “Good _enough. Spread out and search. I don't trust a thing.” They found much to mystify, but nothing to help. There was no way out—or no way out that was visible, “Sound the walls,” Burke ordered. Soundings had commenced when Drake Roscoe came in through the shattered window. “Hullo, Burke!” he called. “There's no entrance from outside to the top an Roscos entered first. He found him- self in & room square, and some 10 | paces from wall to wall. It seemingly The floor was laid with black and gold Oriental tiles upon which some dark, rich rugs were strewn. The walls were decorated somberly in black and 1d. There were four lamps, un- hted, In tall black tripods, and prac- tically n'nh“ mmtl:gl“' e-l(‘wpt a long nl';; row antique e, e ce of the western wall, ma wl?lch stood a chalr or rather throne. And in this chair a figure was seat- ed The figure was draped in a biack gown and upon the hands were light yw rubber gloves. These strang: ands rested on the table top, the under a drab drapery of Winter skies. “That's what I call a No. 1 raid.” It was at about this time that the at the top?” “Watch me,” Pinker replied. Crashings and splinterings began. “There's one bad loss on our books," said Burke. “Madame Czerna made a fade-out with your friend Stopford!” 'No loss’ Roscoe returned shortly. “She was the stepping-stone to every- thing. If the gang have falled to get her, I'm glad. We owe her all we know, nearly. She has suffered enough. I hope she’s safe.” “Stand by, Pinker!” came a cry from Markham. Here's the shaft! You can squeeze through. “‘Good enough” said Pinker. “All ready. What orders, Commander?” ... When the Sutton car reached the barricade, a semi-solid mass of human- ity blocked the path. The chauffeur teased a way through. A police offi- cer barred further progress. e left close to the base of a standard lamp. the right upon a keyboard. There were many queer objects upon the long, nar- row table, but no human being entered that room would haye had eyes for them. He would have seen nothing but the shadowed face of one who sat they passed. lice captain, his. eyes fixed upon - ti face of Molly O'Hay, stood stiffly at attention. A cold smile upon his deathly pale face, he raised his hand in salute. Molly grasped Regan’s shoulder. “What's up?” “That man we ...T know him! He was...like Napoleo: there, silent, motionless. “To. look at. Not inside.” It was a dead, yellow face—the face June Sutton spoke, for the first time. | of 8 mummy. The eyes appeared su- “That man, wearing a police captain’s | perhumanly long. The nose was shad- uniform, was watching my father’s | owy, indistinct, the mouth a mere slit. house all last week, Mr. Regan. He'- The effect was indescribal terrify- nq.m! officer!” ing, until one realized that this yellow horror was a wonderful mask of the The car nmg(ped Jerkily. same delicate texture as the gloves “I think"—] oll’y WAs 80 excited as unin Bel 0e came Deputy Com- to be alm ble—“he was | missioner Burke, followed by a dozen what Comdr. Head Roscoe calls police. Torches lighted up the sin- Centre!”... When a way was forced into the room | with the golden dome, Comdr. Drake ‘Back al- gular room. “Head Centre!" said some one. Roscoe stepped forward. The figure to the hundreds of thousands possessed neither doors nor windows. | didn’t move. He laid his hand u the black-robed shoulder, grasped R‘Z inert body, drew it forward. .and cast it back with a cry of anger. “The thing's a dummy!” “‘Hullo, there!"” came a deep, gruff voice. “Where’s Comdr. Roscoe?” | “Up here!” cried Markham, craning | down the shaft. “Who is that?" “Ned n! Head Centre is out in the street disguised as one of your Ppoor doughnuts!” In the turmoil that followed Ned Regan's further remarks were lost Women's voices might be heard below. There was evidence to show taat Ned W. Regen was coming up. Then, uncanny, inexplicable, came a sound of silvery laughter! an, mounting laboriously, con- tinued to talk. But in the black and gold room fell a silence of astonish- ment. The laughter had apparently come from some One among the group ...But no woman was in the room! Then: | “Is Comdr. Drake Roscoe there?” demanded a vibrant, feminine voice. Roscoe started, looked around him | angrily | “Who spoke?” he asked. ! Amid a_ deadly silence: | “Great Head Oentre speaking.” sald | the arresting tone. “You have delayed | my plans, Comdr. Roscoe. New Yark is vacated temporarily, thanks to you In fact, I must congratulate you. Bu’ one day, we may meet. I shall w' Great Head Centre speaking.” (To be Continued.) of owners of General Electric Refrigerators, NOT ONE of whom has ever paid ONE CENT for service E General Electric Refrigerator has so many exclusive features for the convenience of its owners that we wonder if every owner is aware of them all—and enjoying the full benefit of them. Before the General Electric Company ever offered its Refrig- erstor to you, fifteen solid years of research were spent in studying your needs, your problems, and your desires. It is this preliminary study which eliminated all necessity for afterthoughts in the design of the General Electric. In the General Electric Refrigerator which you bought you will find all the refinements of electric refrigeration—all the extra conveniences —all the useful accessories included. Four O'clock HE conditions of modern lif office work under artifici illumination, dust filled city air, smokingand motoring all produce inflammation and :yumr\. 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If you have not alreadydiscovered this feature, just try crime.” “He was right!” Stopford declared. | “Well, where do you come in?” | “Because of me,” Mme. Czerna an- wwered. “I.... was one of them!” “What!” “They had a hold over me.” She laid her hand restrainingly upon Stop- ford’s arm. “Now I have left them and sven all the information I can to dr. Roscoe. But—-" ‘But,” Stopford broke in, “her life and her liberty are at stake as a re- 8ult. For either of us to go ashore would be almost certain death!” “This sounds a bit hollow, chief.’ The raiding glr!y. now far above and | south of “the Blue Barber,” was nearer | ‘Inlgg discovery than any member real- “Tear it down.” Burke gave the order without raising his voice. In contrast to the low tones uantity of apparatus had recently been removed and the shelves and cases were significantly bare. A man stood at a switchboard, his hat brim shading his features. Now he threw the light of & torch onto the board, reached up and unscrewed a large valve. Hatchets were at work somewhere close at hand. There was a faint, creaking sound. Then silence fell in the deserted labor- atory except for the noise made by the raiders. The morning was gloomily dark. A sort of pall seemed to hang above the city. Early workers and belated revel- *|ers thronged the streets adjoining the barricades, all staring upward to where the Scudmore tower glittered magically, an enchanted minaret. Deputy Commissioner Burke's niece, Molly O'Hay, with her friend, Page Sut- ton's daughter, observed this phenom- anon from Escorted by Ned W. New Mattresses for Old Ones HE costly part of a mattress is the inside . . . no matter whether that inside be felt or hair. does not wear out. The inside But it does pack. It becomes less comfortable. The change is so gradual you may not notice it. 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