Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-29

III ARRANGEMENTS Wy eSiCplAOAS oAAN
after dark, went down to the
"hoat" and gave final instructions to
the officers in charge of the three
launches that we're moored to the edge
of the landing stage.
They were carrying extra crew, ano
each man was armed. In the DOW OF
the larger boat was a machine gun:
There was half an hours council OF
war. and then Wade took his place in
the fastest of the launches.
A detachment Of land police was
TO surround the Mecca, and the three
launches were to be supplemented by
n rowing patrol that would hold the
middle of the river while the raldlng
boats closed in on the wharf.
An old Thames policeman gave them
n niece of information just before the
boats pushed of. ., ..
"There will be very high tide to-
night, and the land police are warning
people to watch out"
Wade's boat was halfway across the
river when he heard his sergeant
whisper. 49,.
MeccaS wharf,
Almost before he knew what had hap
t1ened a bow smashed into the stern
# ali happened in a second. The
other boat flashed past, and ne
glirnpsed the face Of man VINO was
Aikness, Aikness, who was supposed
to be on the high seas! He had no
time to wonder; already the ponce
launch was down by the stern
"Holed," said the sergeant greatness
". shes sinking"
launch
ing up and rescued Wade and his COM
nanions. But the craft that had ram
med Wade's boat had vanished, and the
crew of the police launch had been so
intent upon rescue work that nopooy
had noticed whittier it had disappeared.
Instantly. however, signal lamps began
to flicker, and. from up and down the
river, came responses.
"Close shore, sir!" said a warning
voice
from the wharf of the Mecca. The de-
tachment of land police had arrived ana
the two boats made for shore.
Mrs. Oaks met Wade's force as IL
marched to the house.
''Td like to know who's in charge OF
this business" she said.
I'm responsible" said Wade. win
you give me the key of the cellar?"
There is no cellar" she said steadiiy;
s'only the wood cellar, and we don't
keep that locked"
Wade smiled broadly.
"That's what Golly told us tonight,
indeed" she said calmly. ''Then
Golly spoke the truth, for once IN MS
life'
She had called the inspectors bluff
and he knew that she had no fear Tor
Golly's safety.
asked brusquely. What time olo AK
ness come and go?" -,
of the Seal of Troy? haven't seen
him for weeks"
"He was here tonight" said John.
snow. Mrs Oaks, this is a serious mat
ter. Aikness was here, but that doesn
mean that he's done anything wrong, or
that you've done anything wrong by
entertaining him."
A sour smile played at the corners OF
her thin lips.
IT don't know who's done wrong and
who's done right" she said shortly. I've
not seen Capt. Aikness.'
There was nothing to be gained there.
30 Wade and Elk went along the wnari
and found the short fight OF stairs tnat
led to Gollys coal cellar. They switched
on the light, but apparently there was
nothing here for investigation. Around
three sides of the vault heavy logs OF
wood. old ships timbers, were neatly
stacked, and above them. bundles OF
kindling wood. In the left-nano
corner there was q circular iron bin.
Opening the lid of this. Wade discov-
cred nothing more startling than silver
sand, used for securing.
He tugged at the bin, but it did not
move. Taking off his coat, he bareo
his arm and CROPPED down through the
sand. Presently his fingers touched
metal projection that evidently ran up
from the bottom of the bin. Suddenly
he touched another iron object. He
pulled at this and it yielded immediate
~. He heard the hollow clank OF steel
against steel.
whats that?" asked Elk, curiously.
"Give me a hand with this bin," said
Wade quietly. II think it will move
now"
The bin swung around on an invisible
pivot, and the wall opened inward, re-
yealing a narrow doorway.
GOSH" gasped Elk.
The piles of wood had vanished also.
They were fastened to the wall. Flash
ing his lamp before him, Wade passed
through the little doorway, Elk folloW-
ing.
There's a switch here" said the lat
ter Electric light and all modern con-
Yeniences."
There was a click, and the inner
room was revealed. It was a long
apartment, evidently running the full
depth of the Mecca. Near the door
through which they had entered was a
steel lever. Elk pulled it. Immediately
the wall swung back into place.
That's fastened It," said Elk. Il guess
1t has pushed up the bolt into the sand
bin"
Wade was making a careful search of
the room. There were two tables placed
end to end and a dozen chairs. There
was nothing there to indicate that II
had been recently occupied, but under
one Of the chairs he found crumpled
paper. Smoothing it out, he saw that
It was a page from a Chinese news
paper. Near one of the walls he found
Chinese writing materials. Opening q
door at one end of the room. he found
himself in a small cell, furnished with
q bed and table. Hanging behind the
door was a womans coat--cheap. but
fairly new. It bore the label of Maid
enhead outf1tter. This place had been
the home Of Anna, thought John Wade
How <ong had she been gone? MOI
Tong, r. guessed. There was glass OF
water on the table and a small bottle
containing white tablets. A newspaper
found among the bedclotheS bore the
current date.
A prolonged search revealed nothing
else. The cellar was well ventilated
little too well, for it was very draughty
There's a ventilator somewhere,
said Wade. "Our Mr.. Aikness, or oul
Mr.. Raggit Lane. whoever the master
of ceremonies is, is a crank on hygiene
BY the way, it looks as If there hat
been water here. Look at the greer
stain-it runs up to the roof! Let's go.
They went back to the lever. and Ell
pulled. The lever apparently had stuck
end, though Wade lent his weight, ]