Evening star., 1938-07-17

From the moment when gun had been
showed into Sincar's back on that pathway
among the cliffs, he had been waiting for a
chance to turn the tables. But Jeromes
vigilance had never relaxed for an instant.
Sinclair put the pencil to the sheet of paper.
20. X" he said.
Jerome watched the moving hand as he
dictated. Kindly sign it -. want you to
address this yourself, Mr.. Sinclair -. Thank
you" He sealed down the envelope and
passed it to the manservant. Give this to
one of the fishermen. As soon as the salvage
ship comes back, he'll row out and hand it
personally to the captain
And now. my friend, I'm afraid l must
ask Dreux to put my mind at ease about you.
This chair looks both strong and comfortable.
Please be seated. A piece of tough cord ought
to keep you snug until morning"
Sinclair backed away, his fists clenched,
and quiet roll of laughter came from Henri
Jerome. The prospect doesn't appeal to you?
Frankly, Mr.. Sinclair, | had thought of
putting bullet through your brain, but |
know better way out for us both :. Let
me hold your gun Dreux. All, this is the one
with the hair-trigger - rather dangerous
little devil Sit down, Mr. Sinclair -
The situation was critical. 1t did not take
Sinclair long to reach this conclusion. In
smuggling arms into Spain, Jerome must have
covered his tracks carefully, for he had
spoken with confidence about his prospects
for the near future. Where the arms and
munitions were coming from, it was impos-
sible to guess; perhaps there was some secret
repository among the hills of Brittany; and
Sinclair could think Of no more Cunningly
chosen place than the lie de Fernand for the
stealthy tranShipment of war material .
Suddenly he raised his head and listened.
They had left him in darkness. The cords
that bound him to the chair cut into his
flesh, and hours seemed to have passed since
he had given up all effort to free himself He
was very near to despair when sound in the
next room startled him.
As it grew louder, he recognized the hiss
and crackle of wireless transmitting set.
Wireless! What was at the back of this? Then
he recognized the value it could be to Henri
Jerome: he could keep in touch with the
cargo boats that were running the blockade.
Sinclair listened eagerly to the Morse signals,
but the message was being sent in code, for
he could make nothing of it. Presently the
switch was pushed over, and the door was
opened.
Dreux put on the light for moment and
looked at him, then with grin and nod
went out and turned the key. His footsteps
faded in the corridor.
Sinclair felt the cramp going from his j..
limbs, leaving behind it vague agony. .
Suddenly he realized that something was
happening in the next room. Below the door
he could see gleam of light. There was
rustic of paper.
Dreux had come back to send out another
message This was Sinclair's first impression,
and then it struck him that there was some
thing odd about the mans movements. The
footsteps were rapid and stealthy, and there
was the sound Of drawers being opened with
great care Why should Dreux have stolen
up here and be moving about in the wireless
room like thief?
1t was just possible that Dreux was not
playing quite square with Jerome. He might
be able to bribe Dreux. 1t was worth trying,
and he called out quietly.
There was long silence. But the light had
been extinguished for he could no longer see
that bright line below the door. He called
Al.