Evening Star Newspaper, April 10, 1930, Page 37

The Emperor| s, Of Amenca e Oopyright. 1930, by North American Newseaper SYNOPSIS. Comdr. Drake Roscoe of the United States Navy is on the trail of a criminal dand known as the Zones, directed by a ehief who {s called Head Center. With the aid of Dr. Stopford he makes his fnvestigations. Mme. Czerna, an agent ©f the Zones, makes the acquaintance of Roscoe and Stopjord. An attempt is made on Roscoe’s life. Regam, a private detective, arrests Mme. Czerna, but Stop- ford, who has fallen in love with her, Relps her escape. She tells him she be- came assoclated with the Zomes before #he knew their real purpose and that she would gladly free herself. Stopford takes her to the steamship Ruritania, where - he was formerly chief surgeon. Mean- while, Roscoe has enlisted the aid of the police. Deputy Commissioner Burke has located Zone headquarters, but the crimi- mals have been warned and have escaped. When the Ruritania makes its return vov- age with Stopford and Mme. Czerna still on board, Roscoe and Regan with Page Sutton and Peter Champion, two wealthy men who have been objects of Zome attacks, seek its shelter. Macrae, a Zone agent, has promised, for a consideration, to tell all he knows of the Zomes. But @nother Zome agent, known as the Duchesse de Greuze, is advising Head Center of what goes on aboard ship. TWENTY-FIRST INSTALLMENT. N a cavern in the bowels of Man- hattan a section of a curious map was illuminated. It showed the streets leading to and immediately surrounidng the docks used by the big ocean passenger lines, vague light shining through the colored sec- tions of the map revealed a black- robed figure behind a long table. Above the map section a spot of red light showed itself. The map disap- peared. “H. Q.” sald a nasal voice. “Divisi- onal chief D reports that great Head Centre orders immediate call X and dn::z connection. Urgent. Report en "Duconnect " the masked man re- The red light disappeared. A faint sound came from the long table. A green light sprang to life under the yellow hand manipulating & key-board. “Head Centre, New York,” said the musical voice. A woman replied. “Great Head Centre,” she said. “Al- teration of plan on Ruritania. Port hole captain's cabin not practicable. Reprimand divisional chief C. Centre ogerutlons on boat deck, port side, aft captain's cabin. Act immediately. You are now responsible in person. Reinforce units covering. Officers en- gaged are endangered. Move.” The green light- disappeared. In- stantly the red light leaped up on the lhldowy pillar. Q.” sald the nasal voice. “thnxct divisional chief C,” came the order, “to reinforce units covering dock area, All sectors from West Thirteenth and West Fourteenth streets to Aifth avenue must be open. This is a general emergency order. Instruct Zone officer 3 C to place group masters detailed for special duty at selected points on port side of boat deck and to supervise in person. In the event of failure, Zone officer 3 C will if neces- sary follow firing routine and take to tha river. Advise groug master cov- Divisional chief C will then re- port to me, personally. Move.” The red light went out. Drake Roscoe returned aiong the al- leyway, cursing under his breath. For- tunately, he was familiar with the ship, and having dodged the captain’s stew- ard he now headed again toward the cabin. - But he was wasting time. Things he wanted to know—must know—were being told in the ward room by the renegade divisional chief. If his instinct should prove to be wrong, he was blundering badly. And it was sheer instinct, or inspiration which had whispered to him that the telephone call of the Duchess de Greuze was more important than any revelation Macrae had to make. So far, he had not gathered a word. But as he approach- ed the door, he could hear a voice.... “Officers engaged!” (two or three words which were intelligible) ... . “Move!” Silence follewed. Whereupon Ros- «coe rapped sharply and opened the door. ‘The Duchesse apparently just closed her handbag. But Roscoe con- cluded that this meant that she had been using.a powder puff. “A thousand apologies!” he ex- claimed, “Please don’t let me inter- rupt you. But I think I left a note- ‘book on the table!” “No apology is necessary, Command- er,” she murmured. “I fear I must hurry ashore!” hat!” Roscoe exclaimed. My pearls—they are historic, you know—-were left behind at my hotel.... and they have disappeared!” “But—what shall you do?” “T shall go ashore,” she replied. “I don't dare to face my husband without the Greuze pearls! = My baggage my maid will see ashore at Cherbourg.” She held out her hand. Drake stoop- ed, and kissed the tapered fingers. 1 "l'brxlve‘ my rudeness,” he said, “but must go!” Herlcedbflcktothewndrmm As he burst in, Stopford grasped his arm. Madame Czerna raised a finger to her Quiet” radiol” Burke whispered. et. Robert Macrae was seated at & table. Before him rested the tiny instrument. He deprwed a button, and: Q.” said a nasal voice—appar- lnfiy ‘in the ward room! Raising a_warning hand: “Division B,” Macrae replied. uickly!” room. Have not been put in touch with any other officer aboard. Standing by. t. Timed 12:53.” um;ll'lmed to the boat deck" directed the nasal voice. “Cross to rail—port side—between two boats. A Zone offi- cer will meet you. Head Centre's or- ders. Move. Disconnect.” “I must carry out my orders,” Macrae said. “Otherwise I should be of no fur- ther ule to ymll If you follow me, Mr. ‘Burke Mr. Regan, keep out of ;l;ht If my zone duties take me nhare wait my call late tornight. I shsil call you, Champion. Stand by at home ! He hurried from the room. Roscoe exchanged a glance with Stopford and of baggage to plank mu conny shore. phenomenon was due the uptllnl orderu Nobody knew why those orders had been given. Some one was coming up the gang- way. “sund nvu{ umel" roared the fifth officer. “I'm c‘pt lllrkhnm from police “I don’t ure Get off that phnkl" ‘Markham hesitated. - But the ‘won. “Allow me to precede you, Madame,” he said, i s Tlla dmk safely: s nm chz Mp.om "wucmdolmetuljob people and ml:ewl;‘u'l taken care of. hz’ return! er hotel.” srolllee phln Markham saluted the i made from cascara- ‘hihous,hndzdlya Newspaper Alliance snd Metropelitan Bervice. And as she turned on the gang- plank to look back, & frightful scream came from high up in the ship. It rose shrilly and ceased suddenly...... A red light glowed in the darkness below Manhattan. “H. Q.” announced a nasal voice. “Repor$ of gmu master 1, sector 3 C 1, covering Ruritania from river. Zone officer 3 c swam aboard. Group master 4, sector 2 D 1, also swam to the boat. Grou mln;r Z.R:lenmr 3C2 hg{ reported so far, tania pulling out. Timed 1 a.m. Report ends.” “Report of Zone officer 3 C.” “To hand. Divisional chief B was re- moved from the rolls at 12:| M. Zone officer operated in person on boat deck, covered by group mum 3, sector 3 C 2, now missing. Tt en ‘Report of dlvmonl chu! C. “To hand. The Duchesse de Greuse came ashore six minutes bexorl w sajled. She has proceeded to her h Group master covering. Number one came ashore less than a minute before sailing. He has now preceeded to his {;mm)?'ed s He ?anmmmp-lned y an ane missioner Burke. Sutton and Peter Champion sail v.h ship as no- tified. Stopford and Madame Czerna have also sailed. Comdr. Roscoe remained on board. Divisional l‘.h!efconhllwl!wH.Q. ‘Timed Report ends.” istantly came an order: “Cover No. 1 and party. Advise di- visional chief D. le quarter-hourly reports of movements of Ned W. Re- gan and Commissioner Burke. Zone officer 3 C is responsible for group mas- r 3, sector 3 C 2, unreported. Ad: vise Zone officer. Instruct group mas. ter in charge seaplane G await Rurl- tania’s d.rnrpln[ pilot and report. visional chief C to be admitted by m- trance two. Move.” ‘The red light went out.... “What makes you think there’s a man overboard?” the purser asked. “Well,” said his second, “four m have said so. A couple of deck-] report that two men went a minute before we pulled out. “Making threel” growled the purse:. “Any more trouble?” “Yes, The Duchesse de Greuzé went ashore at the last moment. Her maid's left in charge of her gear.” Up in the ward room: “That poor devil had a premonition of what was coming to mm," said we can tabulate what we've , because we'll learn no more, “You mean he was murdered?” said Peter Champion hoarsely. Madame Czerna spoke listlessly. She was very pale. ;‘l knew he would be murdered,” she “Position is,” said Page Sutton biiter- ly, “that Chlm&lnn and myself have already lost millions to this Zone gang. Now they're covering up again. We're fugitives in our own country. When we get ashore, what do we do?” “Remains to be Roscoe an: swered dryly. “Yau’re "by no means alone.” ‘There was no moon. and a long oily swell stirred the sea when the Ruritania dl’upped her pilot. Only a few passengers witnessed the event. Stopford went down the ladder first, followed by hose trousers didn't seem Gauzy frocks ant hif h are no sort of kit for this kind of 'ork. and Madame Czerna had availed her- self of Stopford’s wardrobe. ‘Then came the pilot and_a couple of hands of baggage. Next, Page Sut- t&x’\ r:mmged to transfer without ac- en Peter Champlon was standing at the head of the ladder hesitating, when the ship’s searchlight suddenly came to life and swept the dark, heaving breast of the ocean. “Pilot just leaving, sif,” said the offi- cer supervising and well aware that time was valuable. Then: “Follow me, Mr. Champion,” came a peremptory voice. “Watch your step.” Roscoe appeared out of the shadows and went over on to the ladder. “Can I be of any assistance, sir?” the ship’s officer asked. Peter Champion grinn “Thanks all lhe su'ne." nlfl he b ¢ But Sir Harry Bflskfl lnd two of his officers were focussing their glasses on a seaplane which, as the lmm lckea her up, had skimmed swiftly and now, pursued by the vhlu was taking the air. “Log that,” he directed. He gave the signal which meant in e ~All out for Cherbourg.” ; (To be Continued.) —_—— Justice Charles, at Newcastle, Eng- land, Assizes, recently dealt with 29 divorce cases at an average rate of one every six minutes. You need not unuhulugnh’ system with purgan!:ra that do- violence. {:;t chew a pleasant Cascaret before time. Nfltc::;l ing you'll be a new person. ly are L R say Jy sirem, muscles. So_their utxm is dny- beneficial. They clear uj mm condition_every time. 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