A SECRET SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 279, 22 November 1913, Page 20

A SECRET SERVICE.

By FSED M. WHITE.

' I ciJAPTtaR x.vi:;. bogtjes IN" COUNT!!.. , The mere statement that a spy had )• >■•■:! arrested on a char,;.; of trafficking .-: -'. ita papers had caused a comiiiler:r. ■ Th- uevi>papero had i. -".-d of the case in a 1. , " - lines, for ::■> ..-.idence of an;, kind had been ton- .]••: ■.!. and t-iie r:-m-ii:J b*.l< a frmr.a! 1 • r; •. N"eTer-uhe.;ti>s. ,niipli» d..-'-.i.-s»:-d the 1 :i '/a:.' a .-.tiemirity In-iitting the «.ii',ir:r.n. The sir, mania, w.'.- in the air: ■.:.-■• had recently been oiner arrnsts. | I ■•■:■.! in Kugian<! and on ilu- t'<i:iunc:iL. i ?.::.l thi» -Aiidchrt rumours were afloat.; '."."...- tact thai the spy was a woman added i piqoani'y to the <-:i;trge. Some >>f tlie I <::ic a.per sen3a.tr -na-i papers to! give ,'icta.ils. The woman was an i.T.ej--:iational epy of marvplloiirf beaiiiv and 1 high intelligence. She w.w w.h'l born,! 'a r>. and at home in the armoftpher-* of ! <xiurts. It was easy for papers of this. .ype to indulge in pungent particulars ; of this kind, fur news '-.»:•., scarce, lad; anything ia the rrature of an appeilsing; pHr.igraph w.i- welcome. One of rhe j evening sheets. w»:n ,--. far a<- to publish ! ■■<-. photogtavh and tabloid biography of I the epy. ' " j <;iisjrow had .5.r.1.i.-.ip.it.-! s.>nvnnin; of; rip is.srt,. but it had gone further than I he had expected. He feared air. would li.uppeji ax the adjourned hearing of the I charge. Tie reporters won',! turn up in] force, and it was inevitable that stj photograph -would be smugg'e-1 nut of' court. There was only one thin.; for it. I and tost was to arrange f..r the hearing 1 to taJ<e p4a<-e .1 day esormer than ! a.i ; been aimotinr-prt. In his official position indeed, he di ! more. Ther» w-.us r.,-i 00- j «"ar>ion now for Ida to remain in gaol. j She was represented by eotraeel. ar.d her ] application lor bail was net opoos.-d !>v j the police. There would bo trouble over 1 i.his with the Press, hut thr. chagrin ot tae pditora caused Glasgow no anxirty. j For the meet part., he looked upon n'-~.s-1 "Wipers ac his natural enemies. Bcwiiici 3 , | -r.tii] in. a -very STibr.tantial jjioont was , forthcoming, and Glasgow flittered him- 1 eel; that he had managed this •■.:.-• ir.e.is ! sJiccesefnTJy. lie. would have felt somewhat ]<*>*. (ct» fiftd had he known t.ha.r the brief procwd:ngs hid i>een watch. , ! by 1 Jcorge Jlf-athcote. It was on- .»f t'in=o accidents that upset the best i .id schemes:,l sind Heathcote liad ,aro-m? home in a ' rhro'jg-htfnl frame of mind, He did not! even tro-jolfi to remain to hear the case in which, he himself w-w indirectly interested. That wn-nld keep for the moment. He called tin Varrstonp and Avid or. the telephone, with an imperative request that IJcy would come nun-! at once. lie ! r+-.!iiEcii to diseiase his businese ov»r the' line. It was urgent, and if they did not | carp to see -him, it would be all the worse lor them. Ten minn-tes later the partners' taxi '■■*'«■ up at IT-eatheo-te'fi rooms. They entered with a, jaunty a-ir ac if th-ey were ! v.yi: satisfied with themselves; indeed, j things had been g-oi?ijj remarkably well' ■""it.;, them ifor the last few days. "Well, "srriai'i the trouble?' Avis denraniii'd airily. "Upon my word, one would think that we -had nothing- else to do but ran alter you. Ail the time we are here we are losing ten pounds a minute." "Why di-tl-rrt you romp to us'--' "•You'll know In a few nTJßntts, -, 2. r -at<hcoie sakl grimly. '-Yonil burn your iittcrers interfering with Ruperra's seltem«i before long.' _ -'We'll risk it," Vanstone answered. "Uc'vedrane well enough up to now. Take this last exploit— I mean tire "Vfoditerraiipan OH fields. Wiry, th-e thing is ui-L-doomed to failure. The concession wi_.l be reseir.ded and ihe sljareh-old«re will lose *heir morrey. We are selling night aDd day. We errail go on eellinTr -as long as anybody will buy. Why; Because those. documents are lost and wuJ never be. heard of again. \\Tnen the iving of Botei is Miry of his ground Jie win be he-fore long-It* will au<rh at Ruperra, and, we- we shall ma.'d "zoodi:pss knows how rrracii. Avis puts it at a cotrple of nrillicmp. It, a wee j we p,i la jj be buying back Mediterraneans at two for three ha-pence. Kuperra a.nd Iris I iOUowing will have to make good (he \ 1-ya for tlw eak-e. of their own reptrto- i tiorn. My dwu- fellow, don'i come i in? -us how to make -money in «,e City." There was an ugly smile on Heath- | cot^ 1 c I "TtKT-es another side -to iae medal" ' Trn said. "Snppose lor a moajHTit that i t-ne concEEHion -hokls good after all Pappose ihsi Enperra manages to pull j st through. He's a marvellous man i mind you. and these accidents will I happen. I should like to know where you'd be then. >fot on A y would' both of Ton be smashed, .bat you'd be Irard put to it to escape prosecution." '"Thai's aj] rot," Avis KneemL '-PveaHy? I think I can show you that i.. isn't. There is no denying that we an still more or lew, in Arnold Gray's rands. If he can produce .tuesp letters %-'icti yon are done. And I am done, too' 1 ©r thai matter. You think the letters' ! are lost. The other m>ht yon nearly ™t yonreelf into serions trouble in eonnectTOn wiili a little boating erpedilion on the Thames. The police "have their eye upon you, and a prosecution .rrrav follow yet." ''It was -nrCiieT awkward" Iri; con fessed. "Still, we know «ie worn! of v h3t. The .worst would only mean a Heavy fine for saccharine smuggling, and -t would be reg:irdcd in -the City as a joke." "That's jtt! THry -we!] as fa.*- as it frocE. -, Heaihcote frud, knpa.tiently. "We fcnow flic Gnrufrgring is a -mere blind to I conceal more s=TiotJS raaiterp. YOuV O u a.-c I forgetting that row ia which Jim Fa.i--rant was injnred and Arnrvtt and ll;e wot clear awnr after a futile to rcEcne Arnold Cray. There •was itoinSxC-r rIK. in the hmiFfl with ihfTn. whoe* , very existence -you have forgotten. I mean the girl whom you acrased of hp'mg 3. gttv." "Oh. that wnfl done partly in the way ' "f Rni-i-e:-' Aria Paid. "f was ™nlorrndPdJy annoyed aiboxct the-whole thing, and T really thought the girl might have' important doenmfrnts on her. At any n-if rf,e had eeen Gray. Afterward* it o-ciirrp:l to mc that -he was far too never to trust his secrets to anyone '/■••'•J-T! rrrake nothing of the girl. Wlipn f .ie R-nrfi up fco-marrnrw she-Tl be dieen.irgcd.-' , •'.-"ho wont come Tip to-mormw. for the B-mplc reason -that she was before the ! ajl™*"** tc«ky» Heathcote eaid i i, -"■ . x ha PT>ra to know there were ! ™ the proper day. It ' lods to jomp to a logical j

I Foreign Office haye h-amhugged the public land the Press because they didn't want | she girl to be recognised. All sorts of jplansible excuses were, urged why she should be admitted to bail, and it w:ib evident that the rmg.t?tra:e bad been coached for his part. Tiie police made light of tile importance of the papers which, of course, convinced .me that they were exceedingly valuable. 1 don': doubt for a moment tan' those papers wore given to the girl by Cray, She was driven into .1 tight corner and handed them over to the poliee. knowing that they would be s-tfe." V-anstono und his partner looked grave. '•Sounds rather had." the former said. "By the way. what *» the girl like? Ravishing! beiiu-Lifiii. of i ourso":"' ! 1! ■atlwote -ttiiled quepriy. if,. w.ir j considering Hon- f:ir he could inwr ihese so-e-j lied -friends of by. They had been ; in hiirsineisr} ventures ego: h--v m.'it.v a i Ltrue. but .my one of them wuuld have 'cheerfully betrayed the other two '•'. j it born to 'hi.-* interest to *\o so. I "Yon must have seen hc-r." Ffeathcote ! said. | "Wo didn't" Avis replied. "It wis too •dark for -.hat. When the police collared ' lis the girl sna-te-iied up a boat, cloak and . int:tHcd up nor h.-ad in it. She was very !.anxious not lo ho recognised. Sho conjt rived to jo: Taken into another room at | the ctaiion. and we didn't M>r h- r any j more. Doer: that satisfy you'" I "<;h. i: satisfies m-:" Heathcote said jsignitican-ly. "I'm n.'t engaged in .1 j tin an rial aar with Kuperra. I'm not I gam hi in? on the chances of some letters i -..urning up or not. About a year ! ago J canto down -:o yotjr piace. Van- i stone. and was introduced to vour I daughter. I w.is very much F-trnek bv her , rare and beauty: moreover. 1 never for- ! got. a face. F big to = reform you thai the j gH -01 v.-oro ciiasiusr the other n : glit is j voir own daughter." j A strange cry crossed Vanstone's lips, j end his face piled as ho dropped into I a chair. I " Impossible." he said, hoarsely. "My I dear fellow, you must bo mad. The I thin.tr i- ridiculous." j I've met with stranger things." I Iloatiieotc asserted. " I take it from what, you say that your daughter is at ; home, engaged in the simple delights of i hockey tind golf. What should she know 1 about diplomatic historv. eh ';" ! " A« it matter of fact, she isn't at home." Vanstone stammered. "I have nor. seen her for six months or more. We had a serious difference and .she loft the house, 'lo be precise, 1 wanted her to marry Avis, f am under obligations to I him. and he made a .strong point of it. j My daughter refused to listen, and I . would not give way. Anyhow, si,,. loft home to earn her own living, and I have ' not seen her since. P.ut I decline to be- j lieve — "' ! " My dear man." TTeaiheoio inter- I rupted, "you can decline to believe what you like. 1 a-tn telling, vou the literal trnth, and if you • like lo regard my information as worthies?, it doesn't matter twopence to mo. When that, alleged spy was brought, forward this morning "f was never more surprised in tot life. How yonr daughter managed to be mixed up I with Arnold Gray and his friends is a I mystery." "Stop a moment:" Vanstone muttered. " f do reco-llect my daughter tolling me about a man she had met who was in the diplomatic service. But his name wasn't Gray." "' Did it happen to be Fraser?" " Upon my word. I think it was." "Well, perhaps you'll' believe now." Heathoote said triumphantly. 'Cray's name was Fraser. but lie dropped it when he had money left him. IVetty storv. don't you think? I should like 'to know wh.a.t you are going to do about it." CUATTER XXX. THE DIAMOND? AC IN*. Tlie partners exchanged serious glances. They could no longer doubt the truth of Heathcote's statement. It was an amazing declaration, too, and the more Vanstone thought, it OTer the more anxious be felt. It was useless to ask how Ida had found Cray, nor how sho had come, apparently without making the slightest mistake., to Cray's second hiding place. Nor could he shut his eyes to the fact that Cray had entrusted important papers to Tda's care. die 'would have given half he possessed to know what those papers contained. Tie flung himself back in bis chair and broke out into a passion of rage. I j " What are al-1 our fools paid for?" he ] i cried. '' What are we lavishing nil this I I money upon them? We spend days j working out our schemes, and then they I are .spoilt at the last moment by a Jot of servants who harven't the brains to ' follow common irodj-uertions. \\<\ get | hold of Cray with the papers upon him, we smuggle "rim down to the Thames side, we have all the time -we need before us, and not so much as the back of an envelope can we discover. Papers, don't take up much space, I know, but when it came to the diamonds " Vanstone pufled up in confusion, conscious that he was going to faT. Tliere was an evil sneer on Heathcote's lips. "•Go on," he said, " you needn't be shy. I've known for some time that you I were killing two birds with one stone, j Of course, I was to be kept in the dark j about tbe diamonds, despite the fact that we arc nil supposed to share eqnally. But a chance remark of Avis's -put me on the track, and I took tie trouble to ask a .few questions. Of '.ate I have spent more time at the house by the river than | you have, and a few inquiriea we"!, there • there is no occasion to dist-urws it. Vou I found out from one of our friendis in ! Berlin that Cray -was bringing the Princess Zena Victoria's jewels with him to London. Tlie idea was thai, you should divide that bit of plunder between you. But Gray had laid an artful trap, and" the old woman down yonder walked into it beautifully. As a precaution he represented the diamonds as only paste, and the old crone gave t.hetu lo her grandchildren to play wihh. They appear to have lost the &tones. and there naa apparentlv an end of the matter. I have got another surprise for you. Look here.'" From his pafe Heathcote produced a red morocco ca*=e with a crown and monoI gram embossed in gold upon it. JJe I threw the case open before Avis's and Vanstone's greedy eyes. "There they are!" he said. "There they are, back again in all their glorv." I ''How on ftarth Avis stammered. "How on ea-rth " " 111 be quite candid with you." Heathcote went on. " I got -them from Jim Farrant after the rumpus the other j night. He decided that it would be wiser to go back to tbe old quarters. The police were watching the other place | close to the rifer, and Jim deemed it i advisable to lie low for a time where | they wonldn't he likely to look for him. He was a bit knocked about in that scrimmage, bnt contrived to crawl along I the passage to the old place, and the ! , woman smuggled in a bed and a few i articles of furniture, Perhaps the child-} j ren bad found the stones again, took ' them back to the house, and left the diamonds there; anyhow Farrant got, [them. I -was anxious to know whether}

the children oould tell me anything, but I hear -they have been pic-ki'il up by some i society or oilier and sour oil into the eountry. So we needn't worry any : more about rhem. I've seen F.irrant two or three times, and at he was very I anxious to have the stones our. of the. ; house in case of a police raid, lie gave i them to me. 1 had to pay him some-l-thing, of course —and whilst I'm about I it. 1 may as well tell you that he is very j sjire with you people, lie says you pro- | mis'*il him mo-ney which you "haven't : paid him. and he contends that it is no | fault of hi-< if your scheme failed. Ii j did ail the dirty work, and now lie claiinjlhe reward. When I saw him yesterda;. I it took me all mv time to keep him qniet. 111.' swore that, "when lie gi>t bolter he ■ would drop a few lines lo tile police and I l»il them a thing or two. if you'll take ; !i-\ advice, you'll pi. down and put liim . right without, delay." ! "Well. 1 don't mind hit- having Ids ; monev now." Yaristoiie said. "A; any irute. you're in luck over the diamonds. il suppose you'll expect t-o keep them"." i "I'm not so greedy as all that." Heathj cote said. "1 am prepared to -.hare with you if you will undertake the rpspon- ! sibilitv of getting rid of the stones. [Trafficking i-n stob-n gooiis is nor in my I line. I nrueh prefer t-o leave that alone. ; Isn'i Avis ot«r man'.'" i '"Yes, he is. when lie gets properly : paid for it."' Avis said promptly. "Hand that case io me. and I'd '.urn if into mniii'i before long. I can't alToril the time ' ju-t now. for we are too ousy mer this business of th,- Mediterranean nil Fields. But within a fortnight I daresay. 1 shall lie aide to go over to Amsterdam, which is the h.-st. market in the world for di--pc-:ng of stolen din moiids. Within a day or two of th .-.loin-- being in the hands of an expert manipulator, the lines'., judge in tinworld would not reiogn'sc them. Ilclthcolo seemed di-.poscd lo assent. and n. little later the partners returned to their otliee. But itiey were not .-o en.sv ill their mind- as they had been an "hour before. Tie- know that Heathcote had imparted to them suggested danger. If the letters which Ida handed over lo the authorities were the. letters upon which Princes.. Zena Vie tori.i .had ha.-e.l .-o much, then their ' campaign against Kuperra must en!lapse. They sat for some time gloomiu I "Can't you tind your daughter?" Avis , suggested. '•Kxcrc-ua- parental authority. 1 and all that sort of thing." , "How can I find lcr?" \ an-tone asked ' irritably. "lly this tame site i- wi'.i frii nils who will take precious good care that she doesn't fall into our hand.-. And -he inn--: know that we are more or lesmi.ved up with the attack upon Artio!.: (iriy. What you s.v, about, parental authority is rubb : -n. "i'her-. '- no sui-l. tiling nowadays. 1 gave j.i.i tiie i-iiiui e and she took ii. By some e:\tivordi.inry means slv has got auioiinst powerful people, an.l and oh: e oifound it. tiie whole thing makes me feel like a perfect fool. Fancy my bring face to face with my own child the other night anil no: knowing it! And she probably laughing at us in her sleeie all the time! L'po.i my word. 1 don't half iike ii. Am.,." For once :n a way th" ingenious an.l offer. Tilings must take the r course, and meanwhile they would uo out to lunch. in the Hrr-'t a score nf w-.v------boys were hurrying along, .-'louting the r wares its they went, tlrt of i'..- -!.n thname of Ruperra came prominently, an.l then another word or two that cau-ed Avis to gr.l-p one of the boys by the -boulder and snatch a paper from him. He -tood almost petrified, breath;---.-!/ flevo'iring a paragraph in the stop pri.--column. "'Listen to this. Vanstone." he gisped. "Here'- a -li-ee of luck. Where d-, yo.i suppose ftuperra is at the prcs;:; niomen-t ': " "Somewhere on the south coast, taking a holiday." Vanstone repiied. "So th"Morning I'ost' says." "Well, the 'Morning Post's' wrong. Ruperra's in Bohn. and has been there'"or some time. Now listen to this an/1 agree with me that, the star.- are fighting on our side: — '•'FEARED DEATH OF FAROS' RUPERRA.

" 'A startling rumour is lo hand from one of the coast villages on the Bohn seaboard to th" effect that Baron Ruperra and his chief steward hav been attacked and killed by peasants, in < onsequence of a quarrel arising out of surveying operations. For some time past the Baron has been making inquiries with regard t-o mining possibilities in the country, and it is believed that he holds a concession oc,--r a vast section of territory there. The peasants are ignorant and superstitious, and have taken umbrage at the use. of dynamite in connection with blasting operations. They appear to imagine that there js black magic in the business, and that they are imperilling their future bv com ing in contact with these high 'explosives. It is stated that Baron Ruperra was suddenly- attac-ted, and latesi advices announce that he wis killed an.l his body sn'bseunenl iy dcstroied. Near the spot where'the "tragedy 'took place is a large convict prison, and the warders in charge of the prisoners came gallantly- lo fhe rescue, but too late ■~ prevent the loss of life. They report that no .sign of Baron Rnperra can be found, and there is on doubt but that the great financier has been the victim of a brutal and ignorant murder. It is hoped this slvock-ing fatality- will have no ellei-t upon the fortunes of the Mediterranean Oil Fields. Jjmitcd. in which the. public has lately invested so largely.'" "Come! what do you think of that?" Avis asked exultingly. This mnst have Happened some clays ago, for at the bottom of tbe telegram is an intimation that it was delayed in -transmission Cheer up, friend and partner. If thibe true, then we have -precious littla i-o be afra.il of. Let's stroll rouiui and sell a lew thousand shares.'' But, the panic had already «ct in nn i Mediterraneans were a perfect drii-r' in the market. There would be a recoveron tbe morrow, no doubt, but in the meantime the city was avoiding the venture as if it had been the plague. Men walked about looking depressed and uneasy, and Glasgow, passing through the city on private business of his" own. smiled a-s he saw them.

I "What, a set. of sheep thev are.'" he said to himself. "How blindly one folI lows the lead of another! Still, this is I sufficiently disturbing. If anything has happened to the Baron, it looks as if I . shall have to begin everything over again. And what about those diamonds I Glasgow went back to his office deep I in thought. His plans had progressed in |a manner that had exceeded his utmost ! expectation. He was genuinely sorry to i bear of this trouble, for bis admiration i i of Ruperra was sincere. As he reached his rooms he was informed that somebody from Ruperra's house was asking . for him on the telephone. He was almost reluctant to ring up Grosvenor Square.

Probably the Baroness needed him. He could picture her jrrief and despair a.t the catastrophe. Then a-; he called the ■ nnmber and gave his own name, he ra« • j hailed by a voice that stacr?or?rl him. ■ ' '■ x i'''~. it's mc." the riaron said. "Be- '■ I sides my wife, yon re the only -u;il who I knows J'm in Eajrliinrf. ,, ' ; {To be continued Saturday not.)