Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-19
The Ark of the Covenant
A Story of Mystery and Adventure
BY VICTOR MCCLURE.
Copyright. 1924. by Harper & Brothers
imply can't understand this thing at

simply can't understand this thing at
all"
l must say that / admired the grip
he had of himself, and his acceptance
Of what must have been a bewilder-
ing situation. He was alert and bust
ness-like as he led the way back to
the lower bridge.
Mr.. Boscence," he called up to the
chief officer. The first thing to do
is to ct some way on the ship. Give
Mr.. Barr d hail, and tell him to turn
out all the engine-room staff not on
duty, and to send them down toto
wake their fellows Tell them not
to interfere with any of the passen-
gers who may be on deck or in the
saloons Pass the word to such Of
the crew as may be stirring. Do you
understand"
He turned to Dan and myself
you'll forgive any lack of courtesy
in your welcome. ] am sure You
were not expected to appear in cir
cumstances such as these. Come with
me. please. We won't go to my cabin.
I must look after the ship. You can
tell what you know as we go along"
We followed him below, but when
we came to the smoking saloon, and
found there a number of passengers
huddled like dead men round the
card tables. or sprawled out on the
floor it was too much for the cap
tain.
1T is no use. | must get the hang
of the thing first of ALL he said
You'll have to tell me what it means.
This morning at o'clock 1 was called
out of my bunk by word that a red
riding light was floating on the sea
ahead. | turned out, and was i'm
mediately met by n message that had
come over the wireless phone. 1t
came from the U. S. battIeship Ar
gonne-or was supposed to come from
her: 'Heave to Immediately. DAN
ger l passed the word to the bridge
to obey the order, and made to fol-
low. I had no sooner reached the
chartroom-I wanted my binoculars
-when-well-the next thing l re-
member is being spoken to by this
young man-Lamont, did you say?
That's my side of 1t. Now, a clear
ly and rs quickly as you can--what
do you know"
With as few words as I could.
told him about Wall street, of the
mysterious sleep, and how the thieves
had got away with two and a half
millions in gold.
There was something about that
came over the wireless yesterday"
said the captain. TITS a very mys-
terious thing. You say that the folk
round Wall street were chloroform-
ed-or whatever it is-just as we've
been?"
Exactly, sir"
"Then-by thunder!-they've been
after the specie I'm carrying-a half
million sterling in gold"
He darted off through the saloon
doorway, and down an alleyway. Dan
and l close to his heels. He stopped
at a cabin labeled, "Purser," and
banged on 1t, trying the handle at
the same time. A fat little man open
ed the door, and blinked sleepily at
us.
Quick. Strachanw yelled the cap
tain. The second key of the strong
room! Hurry, man."
Whats the matter, sir?'
Damn it. man! Don't argue! Put
on some clothes and bring the key
of the strong-room as fast as you can.
Hurry
He turned and barged past us back
the way he had come, and up a COM
panionway. Dan and l tagging after
him. We followed him into his suite
beyond which was the strongroom.
He needn't have worried about the
key. Right In the middle of the steel
door was a yawning hole, through
which we saw, in a brilliant blaze of
electric light, the disorder of smash
ed wooden cases.
Piracy, by Cod" gasped Sir Peter.
Piracy on the high seas-and on my
ship! 1t can't have been done from
aboard the ship-theyd never get
away with that weight of gold-half
a Million
"Florins?" asked Dan.
"Florins be damned" said the cap
tain. "Ten-fiorin pieces. Sover-
eigns!*
'In 1920. when Britain and the United
states of America adopted the metric system
for weights and measures, the form OF 100
farthings became the British unit of money
in a new decimal coinage.
"Phewl Nearly two and a halt
million in American dollars" l said
the British form standing at that
time at 2.42-"just about as much as
they got out of Wall street."
Tell me, Mr.. Boom" said the cap
tain: when you sighted us, was
there any craft near us?"
Nothing within 40 kilometers of
you, Sir Peter-and certainly nothing
up to doing that distance in the
hour"
That cuts out an hour, leaving one
for some craft to do the job in. They
must have been damned smart!'
Just then the purser came running
in, and when he saw the strongroom
door, he let out a wall of despair. Sir
Peter cut the lamentations short.
Step down to Lord Almeric Plus
Gardens cabin. Strachan," he said.
MY compliments to him, and will he
come here at onceT"
CONTINUED in Tomorrow's Star.)