Evening star., 1928-03-22

by Lahat Khan would insure any ap-
piicant the situation. Your broadcast
ing set took care of the rest"
And now" said Humphrey Garth
in strained voice, you want two
hundred thousand pounds for my
In gold" said Tajal All softly.
Humphrey Garth reared up his
shoulders.
Bring my daughter back on board
here at once and III give you two
hundred thousand pounds now" he
said. IN give you my check Tor 1t.
and, while. Of course, have not
actually got that amount on deposit, /
win wireless my bankers TO meet the
checker III sign anything else you
like in the way of security"
Taial Ali smiled tolerantly.
II prefer your daughter-as security" {"
he said; II am not interested IN checks,
or agreements, or bonds, or papers OF
any sort-not even bank notes. Such
things have been known to have been
traced. We will deal in gold, Mr.. Garth
and In nothing but gold. And you
will not see your daughter again until
the full amount has been delivered TO
me"
No one in the cabin spoke for a
moment
Go on!" said Humphrey Garth at
last, hoarsely.
You viii go to Sydney, or wherever
you like" said Tajal Ali. procure the
gold, and return with IL TO the rendeZV-
Gus that win be given you by Lahat
Khan. Lahat Khan will be virtually
in command Of this vessel, but that
fact viii not be known TO any one eX-
cept you four who are in this room
and you four are selected for rather
obvious reasons: Mr.. Garth, because
1t is essentially his affair: Capt. Stone
because he must navigate the ship,
and you two others, because you oc-
cupy quarters In the saloon where
Iahat Khan must have the freedom
I.that. otherwise, as a former steward
would at once arouse your suspicious.
Rand, laughed out sharply from the
settee.
You're a bit OF a fool, aren't you?
| Do you expect you can stop the mouths
Of all the crew? Do you imagine that
at the first port we touch 1t isn't go
| ing TO be known at once that We were
boarded by piratical hells-brood, and
that Miss Garth was carried of2"
Even a fool, as Is apparent, since
you mention It," said TaJal All evenly
must foresee that 1t Is obvious that
| Ii will be so--but why walt until then9
| II you wish TO do so, you may wireless
/ the news now, at the present moment
What would be the result? A gunboat
perhaps two, would be rushed to these
WaterS-and they would search~-and
and they would return as empty as
| they came. You miss the point. The
point is that no one but you four must
know that Lahat Khan Is involved In
| this"
Il don't see 1t yet" said Rand sourly
let him flnigh!" Humphrey Garth
burst out neryously. In Coos name
let's get 10 the bottom OF this, and
have done with I'll"
1T Is well saidl" A new note was
! suddenly in Tajal Ali's voice, an ugly
one Of menace-~his suayity was gone
his eyes were hard, narrowed. He
addressed himself curtly. sharply, 10
Humphrey Garth Il VIII put what IL
left 10 be said In few words. You will
90 where you like 10 get the gold When
/ the gold Is on board, you win sail again
| directing your course through ingtruc-
tions from Lahat Khan. who. In turn
| VIII receive his instructions each day
| ny radio. and who VIII not know him"
self until The last moment what Oh
where the final destination Is Lahat
Khan viii receive his instructions In
code. and the course viii be
frequently changed 30 that any govern.
ment vessel that attempts TO follow, II
you are ili-advised enough 10 ask fol
such assistance from the authorities
| wiz be unable ~ do 10 In any case, ANY
attempt 10 arm your vessel In port on
increase her crew viii be- reported by
I4ahat Khan, and failure u receive
constant communication from Lahat
Khan, which would mean that he has
been harmed or placed under restraint
VIII cost your daughter her life. That
| ie quite plain isn't it?~your daughters
life for the slightest interference with
Lahat Khan!"
And II teflise2" Humphrey darth't
voice waa scarcely audible
II you retuhe?" Talhl All smiled
thinly Il had not considered that as q
possibility. Well, II you refuse / should
~ course. lose 100000 and Ia that
case the least said about II would he this
better, SO / fancy the general impres-
Sion would be that the Isis Whs lost II
that bad weather we have experienced
lately and ~ for your daughter. yoti
would probably prefer 10 believe that
she was dead"
"fscuttled" The litile red~haired
Skipper's voice came In anarl. "You
mean you'd g6uttle us with the crew
batteneu down under InLelIH