Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-13
By
Sax Rohmer

mo weather could sink White
Hawk" the remorseless voice went on
IF you're afraid, you have private rea-
sons. What are they?"
Champion called the quartermaster
This mans under arrest" he said
Notify Capt. RanSome."
You will hear more of this-when
we reach shore" said the prisoner.
Good enough" Champion returned
so long rs hear nothing more Of you
while we're at sea-"
Three of the women were on deck
now-Molly OHay, Page Sutton's
daughter and Nine. CZerna.
Champion drew Roscoe aside.
We're covered!" said he. THAT man
was planning his getaway"
'S-sh!" Roscoe cautioned, II never
hoped we'd escaped the Zones. Leave
the position to me. He's probably
mere groupmaster. We should be CRATE
full, Champion, for small mercieS. We
do know the official rating of the Zone
officials!'
whats this!" Champion exclaimed
suddenly.
White Hawks engines had been
slowed down.
stand by No. l lifeboatv" came a
remote cry from the bridge.
Whats this!" Champion repeated
and started for the ladder.
He was interrupted by his chief Of
ficer.
mo cause for alarm, Mr.. Champion
Lookout has sighted an insensible man
wearing a lifebelt, right on our course.
I'm going off to pick him up"
Good" said Peter Champion.
Everybody craned over the rails,
watching the rescue; The chief officer
had gone away without q hitch. He
came aboard as smoothly. The rescued
man was inSensible. He had been badly
mauled by the sea. Exhaustion had re-
duced him to q desperate state.
| "Oh!"-the exclamation came from
Page Sutton's daughter-"its Mr.. Part
ington!"
The others recognized the victim of
the sea. He was Hilary Darlington.
Take him to my cabin" said DR.,
Stopford. Don't waste time
Lou" Bronson, John Wilberforce
Wright's rival for the governorship. sat
in his library. He had scanty, straight
hair and colorless lashes. But his
strange dark eyes held that magnetism
which dominates. Given different COM
plexion and hair, one would have said
that Bronson had Napoleonic charac-
teristics.
For long time he sat staring alb
stractedly before him. Then a phone
|
of the several instruments on the table,
and:
"Yes2" he said. adding strange
ly: e."
Zones" came the reply &c. H. O.
Head Center, New York"
Stand by. Great Head Center wishes
to speak"
No change of expression showed upon
the pale face. But q new CLINT seemed
to come into Bronson's eyes. Then:
Great Head Center" said woman's
voice. Report to me at once. Discon-
meet"
Bronson replaced the receiver and
crossed to a bookcase, took out vol
ume from the bottom shelf and Their
inserted key in some hidden lock. He
replaced the book, grasped one Of the
shelves and the entire section of the
case slipped noiselessly upward, reveal
ing a narrow passage. Bronson step
ped inside, turned and lowered the con-
cealed door, relocked it below anc
walked through the darkness for som'
10 PAGES. Another door was opened,
light switched on-and he was In 9
dressing table. When he stood w
again, Lou" Bronson, politician. hac
vanished. This was a stranger to al
who knew the man. He resembled him
facially, but not in respect of COM
plexion or hair. The Napoleonic like
ness was greater than ever now.
At about this time strange scene was
taking place in DR.. Stopford's cabin
| aboard the White Hawk.
Following half an hours anxious work
| the rescued man opened his eyes, moved
weakly, and looked up at the surgeon.
where am ~" Partington whispered
you're on board Mr.. Champions
! wacht White Hawk"
Color had been returning slowly to the
mans cheeks Now 1t fled-leaving him
as pale as when they had hauled him
| out of the sea.
What time?" he asked.
Stopford answered: ITS just after z,
shore time"
Darlington raised his hand in fren-
zied gesture.
MY things" said. he. "where are
they?"
"Your kits bein' dried, Mr.. Parting
ton"
"You know me, them"
Somebody told me. haven't hither-
to had the pleasure"
The man was sitting up again, glaring
wildly.
DO me favor" he entreated. "Get
my cigar case! It sounds absurd" .
His voice failed him. He was weak as a
kitten. But some secret dread drove
him remorSeleSsly. There are-senti-
mental things in 1t. should hate to
| think -
GOOD enough" said stopford cheer
lily. but do lie down."
Out In the alleyway:
"How's the patient?" said Roscoe.
Kind of funny, old scout" Stopford
replied. Hes peeved about his bits of
bit odd nayt xxyfrn
you?"
Roscoe stared at the speaker. Come
along to my cabin" said he.
In the cabin:
"Look!" Roscoe invited. ct found this
in the arrested deckhand's box!"
He placed q badge on the bed cover.
It was blue and white enamel with a
tiny diamond G underneath.
Group maSterw Stopford murmured.
But why should this excite you? We
| knew 1t from the start
Look at this!"
Roscoe held up queer continuance.
"a gas-mask!" Stopford exclaimed.
also in his kill" Roscoe added. And
now :: where are the things belonging
to Partington?"
Stopford's expression changed sud-
denly. "Dryin' in the cooks galley. I
They were in the cooks quarters in 40
seconds.
When they returned to Roscoe's room,
Roscoe threw O glittering badge on his
bed, beside the smaller one. It repre-
Sented large diamond D.
Down below, in q locked cabin, q
frantic man was banging on the door.
Some onel Please tell the captaini
I must see the captain. must"
Hurrying footsteps sounded. There
was muttered exchange of words. A
key was put in the lock and the door
opened.
Drake Roscoe came in, followed by
DR.. Stopford. The prisoner sprang for
ward
whats your name?" Roscoe de-
/