Evening Star Newspaper, April 9, 1930, Page 24

The Emperor By Of America |> "™ Copyright. 1930, by North TWENTIETH INSTALLMENT. {4 OINT is,” said the captain, “that although I am hon- . ored to place my cabin at your_disposal, I can't hold the Ruritania three seconds after 1 o'clock. It is just 12.30.” Sir Henry Bristol was a charming host. He was also a very truculent specimen of a merchantile skipper. ‘The big politican smiled soothingly. For a big politician he was a small man, but his face conveyed a definite impression of power. A faint vibration communicated it- self to the party assembled in the captain’s room. It ceased. “They're turning the engines over,” 8ir Harry went on. “My first officer will report inside two minutes. We carry mails and we sail on time.” He looked at the clock. “If the missing member isn't here soon, your confer- ence will be a short one, madame and gentlemen.” He glanced around .at his guests. They were a notable company: one woman and seven men. The woman was _charming—one of those elusive creatures commonly supposed to live only in the imagination of artists. The men were: Comdr. Drake Roscoe, Dr. Stopford, ex-surgeon of the Ruri- tania, Ned W. Regan, famous private detective, Deputy Commissioner Burke of Police Headquarters, Page Sutton, one of America's ‘wealthiest citizens. Peter Champion, “the lumber king” +..and the big politican. “I appreciate your position entirely, Bir Harry—" said the politician. He was interrupted by a rap on the «door. “Yes?" cried the captain. ‘The door opened. The first officer approached. “O. K., sir,” he reported laconi- y. Very good. Carry on, Mr. Graham.” | The first officer withdrew. “You understand, captain,” said Re- gan, “that this party couldn’t have assembled in any other place. Two of us are booked to sail. You know how ‘we got aboard. ' You lmow how we aim to get ashore This is a British ship and unless they bomb us we recken we're safe here from the Zones.” “That is, for another 25 minutes.” “The criminal known as the Em- peror of America is operating in New York again,” said Peter Champion, and brought a large gnarled fist on to the chair arm. “It's costing me and Page Sutton a big piece of money to buy the information we're expecting to- night. But we have suffered enough. So has all the country.” “Excuse me for buttin’ in,” said Stop- ford, “on such scanty information. But this sportsman who seems to have been unavoidably detained—how does he come to be at large? I've been away from your peaceful country. My impression was that there’d been a big bust-up of the gang.” “Some of the worst of the bunch slipped through,” Burke explained “The newspaper reports you read in Europe didn't Jay undue stress on this point. They're operating again. We've established touch several times.” “It seems to me..."Stopford mur- mured. He ceased speaking. There came a loud rap on the door. It was thrown open. A big man, heavily muffled, his hat brim pulled down to shade his face, burst into the cabin.... 3 In a vault that suggested medieval Spain a horrible figure was seated. ‘The vault, which appeared to have been hewn out of rock, was oval in shape; it was, in fact, a natural cavern, ar- tifically perfected. The rock compos- ing its walls and roof was dark green serpentine; so dark that it appeared black, having been refined to a glossy surface. A greenish light prevaded the place. somewhere—evidently a long way off —as though echoed and re-echoed | American Newspaper Alliance and Metropolitan Newspaper Service. through innumerable caverns, a sound of falling water was audible. Except for a long and narrow table set be- fore the western wall and a high-back- ed Spanish chair ornamented with stamped leather, there was no furniture, In this chair the solitary figure was seated. Strange enough the vault— a serpentine bubble, a geological phe- nomenon in the bowels of Manhattan —the figure who occupied the place was_stranger vet. On the western side of the central column a speck of red light glowed. From none of the entrances did any one appear. But a voice, as that of someone standing by the table, spoke. “H. Q.” said the voice, “report of divisional chief C, in charge of party covering divisional chief B. The latter Robert Macrae, leaving B headquarters in charge of si inate, proceeded at 10 minues after midnight to the Ruri- tania. He is now aboard. According to orders he was covered, but not de- | tained. Zone officer 3 C has remained aboard. Standing by on boat deck for instructions. Group master 2, sec- tor 3 C 2, and group master 4, sector Party in captain’s cabin as be: fore. Report ends.” “Report,” directed the musical voice of the masked man, “of H. Q. patrol covering divisional chief C.” “Report just to hand. H. Q. pa- trol confirms. Reports ends.” The snappy nasal voice was that of one self-confident and undismayed. ‘The masked man spoke again. “Your reports are unsatisfactfory,” he sald, and his modulated tones spoke as through ice. “If I desire you to condense them, I shall order it. Unless I do so, make all reports in detail. This s an official reprimand. Do not repeat the report of H. Q. patrol. me that of group master covering Ruri- tania from the river, as received.” “To hand.” The nasal tones were less confident. “Group master 1, sec- tor 3 C 1, reports that all other visi- tors are now ashore. All mails aboard. Dock quiet. Ruritania’s engines have been turned over. Chief officer at sta- tion. First officer at station. All set fordpulling out. Timed 12:42. Report ends.” Silence fell in the sea-black vault, broken only by that sound of distant falling water; then: “Instruct Zone officer 3 C,” said the musical voice, “to place group masters | detailed for special duty at selected | points commanding port-side port- | holes of commander’s cabin. Zone offi- cer will be held responsible if both fail. Advise the rolls, Zone officer and group masters will report to divisional chief C, personally. Move.” The speck of red light went out. Across the polished surface of the table one long, flexible yellow hand moved. It rested for a moment on a switch- ard. ‘The vault became plunged in dark- ness.... The only thing I have got to worry about,” said the man who had burst into Sir Harry Bristol's room, “is this: Have I covered my tracks?” Dr. Stopford replaced his monecle, which he had been burnishing, and: “From the spots of information I've been able to pick up about the Zone people,” he replied, “I should say de- finitely and positively, no!” “1 agree with you,” Macrae declar- ed. “I've fallen for a price that would buy most any man. But I'm doubting if T'll live to spend the money.” ‘The captain broke in amiably. “As I gather,” he said, “that a pro- portion of this committee is not sailing in the ship, it appears to me”—glancing at the clock—" that you have roughly 17 minutes in which to earn the price | to_which you refer.” He bowed to Madame Czerna and the turned to the politican. “Duty calls,” he explained. ‘“Neces- Give | THE EVENING orders have been given, be warned three minutes before the 5 ught me back to this murder business?” He turn- ed to the charming woman oecuplyln‘ the adjoining chair. “Was it my fault or yours?” “Mine, I think,” she confessed. am sorry. But yet"—she hesitated— “perhaps we can be of use.” “Say it quick, Macrae” Peter Champion burst in exchanging a glance vith Roscoe. supploaa you place yourself at his dis- ‘Without waiting for confirmation from the informer, Drake Roscoe faced Mac- rae. ‘We won't waste time,” said he terse- ly. “You are Robert Macrae, divi- sional chief of the organization known as the Zones,” “That's right.” “Show me your badge.” Macrae threw back the lapel of his coat. Diamonds glittered. Seven pairs of eyes became focused upon the device pinned to his coat; a large diamond D upon an onyx shield. “You have undertaken,” said Ros- coe crisply, “to furnish evidence which will enable us to clean up the Zone group. What is this evidence?” Amid a tense silence—for every one in the cabin rn-nlud the value of time—Macrae from his pocket something wrapped in tissue paper. Unwrapping the paper, he put upon the captain’s table a duplicate badge. “Pagte.” he explained. “But no one will chailenge it. My own I daren’t part with yet, for obvious reasons. I figure I'm one of four, but I can't be sure. Under me I have 3 Zone officers, 9 sector captains and 36 group masters with operatives. Over me I have Head Centre. I don't know ! Head Centre—what he really looks like, I mean. But he knows me. I know my three Zone officers. They know me. I know my sector captains—but they don’t know me! I don't know who's in charge of the other divisions. But the power of this badge holds good all over the city.” “What d'you mean?” Page Sutton demanded. “I mean that this badge gives me au- thority over all Zone officials below the rank of chief, whatever division they belong to.” “I see!” Drake Roscoe murmured and studied the duplicate badge which he held in his hand. “You mean that anybody, wearing this badge, could obtain control of the Zones?" “Sure!” Roscoe turned to Madame TNA. “Does this look familiar to ycu?” he asked, and held up the diamond D. “It is the badge of a divisional chief,” she replied composedly. “How do you know?” Macrae chal- lenged. “I was once a Zone officer,” Madame explained. “I had charge of Zone 2 A. That was before the big raid.” “Are there any more of us here?” Macrae asked. . No,” said Roscoe shortly. “Get busy. Time is sort Listen. Have you any reason to suppose that there is a big political plot being hatched by Head Centre?” “Yes. But I don't know what it is.” “Have you reason to believe that there are yet higher officials than Head Centre?” the politician asked. “No. He's the boss.” “How d’'you know?"” “I don't know. But whereas Zone officers are sometimes put through di- rect to Head Centre, a divisional chief is never put through to anybody above. That's why I figure he's in control.” “Reasonable but wrong,” Stopford ‘murmured. “Let me get the facts clear,” Roscoe went on. “You are supposed to be abfll;'d this ship tonight on Zone busi- ness?” “I am. My passage to Cherbourg is booked.” “‘You are supposed to leave before the shlx; ufl!?;‘ " e i “I am. My baggage is to go on. “What is your business on the ship?” “Now we're coming to it!” said Mac- rae grimly. “There's an important move being made tonight.” He looked around the party significantly. “I don't know if it's you, Mr. Champion, or Mr. Page Sutton, or—" The big politican smiled, and: “Or me!” he added dryly. gather, Mr.—er- crae, that when a “But I round-up. States has so far been able to explain . “The commander, here, | their construction. I take it you carry has a lot of Tleauona to put to you. | one?” | ohman e el g e N S S L T AP ——— N N STAR, WASHINGTO and divisional chief is employed presonal- m' ly there’s an extra push coming?” : ‘Precisely,” Macrae confirmed. “What are your further orders?” ed. Roscoe asked. “To stand by in my state room.” ‘What!” Stopford exclaimed. 'You forget,” said Madame Czerlna. “All officers of the Zones are in cgn- v | stant touch with Head Centre.” “X radio!” Roscoe was the speaker. ‘We got several instruments in the big No electrician in the United “A new issue,” was the reply. “The D. C, WEDNESDAY, old one. Morse is done away with, It operates like a telephone!” From his breast pocket he drew out what looked like a cigar case, when: ;‘Mldlme and gentlemen!” a .voice cried. All eyes turned to the doorway. The captain had come in. He was wear- ing his bridge kit and had obviously been called down. He was accompained by a smmgely beautiful woman, Every- body stood up. Roscoe bowed, and his bow was coldly returned. The new- comer was staring at Madame Czerna. “The Dushess de Greuze," Sir Harry explained, “who is sailing with us, — “SILVER JUBILEE YEAR” Our Twenty-Fifth Year of Public Service THESE LOW PRICES ARE ALSO EFFECTIVE AT OUR ALEXANDRIA STORE, 727 KING ST. AN KPR S, Popular Cigarettes 0ld Gold Chesterfield 40c Pkg. of 50 . « « 4o o« Camel Lucky Strike An Outstanding Book Value— Universal Dictionaries Self-Pronouncing Special 98(} These dictionaries are espe- cially valuable to school chil- dren and to have in the home APRIL 9, present X radio is an advance on the | has discovered & serious telephone is connected hate to disturb you, But the ward room, along the alleyway is empty.” As the party proceeded along the alleyway: The Old Man would let anything go at anytime,” Stopford Roscoe’s ear, “for a pretty woman. I except his ship.” “Duchess de Greuze,” said Roscoe, as :ge&flled into the ward room. *“She duc_married her, i “That woman! whispered, and her eyes were wide and 51110“’“;55 CONSTIPATION 1930. loss. room with llh?we. 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