The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-04-04

to him that in the heart of a great
city, with its teeming millions, he
was as completely sealed away as
a dead man in tomb.
Out in the offices of the Andes
Gold Mining and Milling Company a
blunt new crew had taken over, head
ed by Lieutenant Colonel Wallace,
corps area Intelligence officer Three
of Wallace's officers were checking
through the company records, three
others were standing guard over
four glum prisoners.
This sharp transfer of authority
had been accompanied by a brief,
tragic violence. In a corner of the
office. covered by rug, . lay the
body Of Backropp. A bullet from
Wanace's pistol had been needed to
end Backropp's resistance.
"All right, Oldfer," Wallace
threatened the covering fat man
who sat in front of him. "I'll give
you one more chance to remember
the combination to that safe. II you
do remember, III make it an intern
ment camp, if you don't III have you
hanged inside a week."
He lifted his wrist to his eyes and
glanced at the time. IN give you
exactly thirty seconds more to de-
eide whether you live or hang"
Ten seconds had passed when the
office door opened. Safe experts re-
ported in to tackle the job of open
ing the vault. Oldfer was jolted into
decision by knowledge that if the
man in the vault emerged alive, the
Jig was up with him.
"Il open it," he cried, leaping
to his feet. ia, III open the safe,
II you promise me I don't hang for
it,"
Oldfer fairly raced to the steel
doors and nervously fingered the
combination. In his excitement three
trials were necessary to complete
the combination. Colonel Wallace
seized the door and pulled it open.
Benning was lying on the floor, his
right hand clutching a small pocket
notebook.
Wallace lifted the unconscious man
to sofa in the Salvatore room. A
medical officer, who had been hur-
ried in from Governors Island, took
pulse and temperature and applied
stimulants. In a minute Benning
opened his eyes and, on orienting his
mind to, the. Whirltpg ~ y world
about him, attempted to sit up.
'The captain will be all right
shortly the doctor predicted. Its
just as well, however, you got him
out of there without much more de-
lay"
Half an hour later Benning in
sisted on getting to his feet. His
legs were wobbly under him, the
slow, steady throb of his pulse re-
verberated in aching temples. But
he waved the medico aside and went
into the office where Wallace and his
men were working.
Here, Bcnning, you'd better take
it easy" the corps area G.2 chief
admonished.
I'm feeling better" Benning an
swered. whats the score now,
Colonel"
Colonel Wallace was effervescent.
1.-THE Andes Gold Mining and Mill
ing Company" he exclaimed, lis
the most valuable mine in the world
right now. No question about it,
we're headed for the biggest spy
roundup in history"
where's Bravot?" Benning want
ed to know. "Bravot, alias Saliva
tore"
The glow Of Walaces face van
ished into gloom. Pretty bad luck,
Benning," he said heavily. He man
aged to slip out his private door as
we entered. had Lieutenant Crane
guarding the hall. Salvatore killed
him with a small automatic and was
lucky enough to catch a cage down
before we could get out there. By
the way, Benning, when you feel up
to it, Colonel FlagWill wishes you
TO call him at the War Department"
Benning checked through the haul
of records. There was no need of
PHOTOGRAPHERS on the job. In a false
bottom of Bravots desk, Wallace
had unearthed a code book which I'M
locked the symbols
The first estimates showed seven
teen thousand cards of stockholders.
Many Of these we're innocent pur-
chasers, Wallace thought from the
first results Of his check, but there
was evidence OF thousands Of enc
my agents, scattered in important
posts and positions throughout the
United States
An hour later Benning went to
the McAlpin His legs still lacked
strength and he took a cab for the
short ride Upstairs IN his room he
called FlagWill. who was on the line
promptly
Glad you're all right, Benning,
you had us Worried" Flagwill ex-
claimed "A great piece Of work,
simply great! Report back as soon
as you feel like travelling, Benning ."
Flagwill's voice trailed into gravity.
Things are looking pretty black
right now-and we've got to find out
what's ahead Of US General Hague
uggested--well, if you think you've
~hapra ~ fbCttube