Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-09
TWENTIETH 1NsTALLMENT.

NN ONT is" said the captain.
- that although I am hon.
ored to place my cabin at
Il your disposal, 1 can't hold
the Ruritania three seconds
after l o'clock. 1t is just $780,
Sir Henry Bristol was a charming
host. He was also a very truculent
The big politician smiled soothingly
For big politician he was a small
man, but his face conveyed a definite
impression of power.
A faint vibration communicated it
self to the party assembled in the
captains room. It ceased.
They're turning the engines over"
Sir Harry went on. MY first officer
will report inside two minutes. We
carry mails and we sail on time" He
looked at the clock. IF the missing
member isn't here soon, your confer
ence will be short one, madame and
gentlemen"
He glanced around at his guests.
They were a notable company: one
woman and seven men. The woman
was charming-one of those elusive
creatures commonly supposed to live
only in the Imagination of artists.
The men were: Comdr. Drake Roscoe,
DR.. Stopford, eX-surgeon of the Ruri-
tan1a, Ned w. Regain, famous private
detective, Deputy Commissioner Burke
OF Police Headquarters, Page Sutton,
one of Americas 'Wealthiest citizens.
Peter Champion, the lumber king"
e.. and the big politician.
II appreciate your position entirely,
Sir Harry" said the politician.
He was interrupted by rap on the
door.
"Yes?" cried the captain.
The door opened. The first officer
approached.
20. K, SIR" he reported laconi-
cally.
Very good. Garry on, Mr. Graham"
The first officer withdrew.
"You understand, captain" said Re-
gan, that this party couldn't have
assembled in any other place. Two of
us are booked to sail. You know how
we got aboard. You 1now how we aim
and unless they bomb us we recken
we're safe here from the Zones"
THAT is, for another Is minutes"
THE criminal known as the EN-
peror of America is operating in New
York again." said Peter Champion, and
brought a large gnarled fist on to the
chair arm. Its costing me and Page
Sutton a big piece of money to buy
the information we're expecting to-
n1SnC. 6uG we nave suffered enough.
So has all the country"
Excuse me for buttin' in" said Stop
ford, ION such scanty information.
But this sportsman who seems to have
been unavoidably detained-how does
he come to be at large? I've been
away from your peaceful country. My
impression was that there'd been a
big bust-up of the gang
Some of the worst of the bunch
slipped through" Burke explained
THE newspaper reports you read in
Europe didn't lay undue stress on this
point They're operating again. We've
established touch several times"
1T seems to me "Stopford muir
INJURED.
He ceased speaking. There came a
loud rap on the door. 1t was thrown
open. A big man, heavily mufied, his
hat brim pulled down to shade his face,
burst into the cabin go.
In a vault that suggested medieval
Spain horrible figure was seated.
The vault, which appeared to have been
heWn out of rock, was oval in shape;
it was, in fact, natural cavern, ar
tifically perfected. The rock compoS-
ing its walls and roof was dark green
serpentine: so dark that it appeared
black, having been refined to glossy
surface.
A greenish light prevailed the place.
ENTHUSIASTICALLY a long way OF
AS though echoed and re-echoed