Evening star., 1924-12-30
The Ark of the Covenant
A Story of Mystery and Adventure
BY VICTOR MacCLURE
Copyright. 1924, by Harper & Brothers

Boon" he replied. land I don't know
| what to think. If it wasn't the same
airship, were left to the conclusion
of at least two in Europe. which leads
to the possibility that there may be
one or two in America--and these
raids are given the significance of
real war. What's the greatest air
ship speed made hitherto-can you
rem member?'
"Propert with his America did
nearly two-twenty kilometers in an
hours speed off Sandy Hook in 1926"
l reminded him. but a puff of wind
buckled his machine. 1t was too
light in construction"
Il remember. Phew, Three hun
dred is amazing speed for a dirigible
-but-the brain that can discover a
gas capable Of putting cities to sleep
will you deny it the ability to in
vent a machine to do a mere three
hundred kilometers the hour?"
Not me-" said l. 1T seems to me
we're up against one of the clever
est minds of the century. Where
did they-the raiders-get all that ra-
dium, for example? Lord Almeric
was asking the question just before
you arrived"
Blessed If know" said Sir
Thomas. very much the bewildered
soldier for moment. That radium
would be enough to float a company
in the city with millions of capital
eh, Pluscarden?'
Yes, 1 should think So" said Lord
Almeric But. Basildon-you haven't
mentioned the damage that was done
to the Banque de France
Bless me-" said Sir Thomas, help
ing himself to marmalade. Didn't
tell you what happened there?
They left radium as usual-and also
gold ingots valued at twenty-five
millions of francs"
What. Lord AImeric jumped to
his feet.
They left gold valued at twenty
f1ve million francs" Sir Thomas re-
peated quietly.
What madness is this?" cried his
lordship. 1T is fantastic., Incredi-
blei"
I'm giving you the information that
was passed to me, Pluscarden," Sir
Thomas said distinctly.
my dear fellow-I did not refer to
you, but to this action of the raiders"
Lord Almeric explained. "Tell me,
did you learn if these ingots were
stamped with any government mark?'
II asked particularly about that
They bore no marks by which they
could be identified"
1T is astonishing. I can find no
real iloliNc IOF any Oh the Ta1QS-DUC
this-this-what do you make of it,
Basildon?"
II can make nothing of it-espe-
cially as the ledgers of the Banque
de France suffered the same treat
! ment as those of the Reichsband-ut-
terly obliterated."
"The thing seems to me so wan
ton-so useless" said Lord Almeric
The trouble that must ensue-no
record of transactions-how can all
the complications that must result be
sorted out? 1t is monstrous!"
TITS pretty damnable," Sir Thomas
agreed. rising as he spoke. 'If the
idea of the raiders is to bring busi-
ness to a standstill, they are going
| the right way about it. Well, we
| must do our best to run them to
earth. Sitting still won't do any
good. You'll do your best when you
get back to America. Mr.. Boon. to
! make those in authority realize the
| position? Your father will help you
| there"
81 shall cable Mr.. Boon myself"
said Lord Almeric, land Jimmy here
will supplement my Efforts
That being so," said 1, "the best
| thing / can do is to get back to
| America as quickly IS can. ] can do
nothing further on this side, Sir
| Thomas?' ..-.
You have done US great service in
| bringing Lord Almeric back so speed
| lily, and in telling us about the Ameri-
can raids" said he. "Your work is on
| the other side of the Atlantic But
| shall keep you posted. If any new
development occurs of which the
| news might help you in your investi-
cations, shall inform you as quick
ly as | shall the police over there
! depend on that. Now, I'll say good
| tye-and wish you every possible
| good luck. 1 hope we shall meet
again Mr.. Boon'
Il hope so, SIR I said. Good bye.
and good luck to you, sir
Thanks. Goodbye. I shall see
you later. Pluscardenf'
N'Yes< I intend to see Jimmy of