THE VENGEANCE OF HOP F1.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 172, 23 July 1928, Page 18

THE VENGEANCE OF HOP Fl.

J By PETER CHEYNEY. I

CHAPTER XVIII. I commenced, to descend the stairs. Halfway down I Hashed my lamp and saw at the bottom of the stairs was a rough-hewn passage, about six feet high, revetted in German infantry fashion. I switched otT my torch, and, pulling Jaffray's automatic from my hip pocket, I started oil", keeping my'left hand against the earthen wall of the passage as a guide.

I stumbled slowly along in the darkness for about a quarter of an liour, when in the distance 1 observed a glimmer of light. The passage seemed to have become wider and the air tasted cleaner. I approached the light warily. At fast I was able to see that the end of the passage was bloeked by a wooden door, the top half of which was composed of dirty glass through which the light was shining. 1 knelt down and peered through and found myself looking into a large vault. The floor was earthen and the ceiling so high that 1 could not mm l it from my [■resent position. 1 could sec, however, at regular intervals, ihe ancient stone pillars which supported the upper part of the vault. 1 heard the .-onnd of voices, and with great care began to push tin: door—which was unlatched—inch by inch. Soon I had made a crack big enough for me to insert my head and look into the vault.

On the right side of the vault, which was about one hundred feet square, rough fireplace had been hewn out of the old masonry, and seated round the fire, in different stages of undress, were four men. Two of them—the two who were doing the talking—were obviously German, and. at a giance, 1 judged toothers to be Englishmen. 1 have quit'! a fair knowledge of German, picked up during my stay after the Armistice, a::d I listened intentlv to the conversation.

One of the Germans, who appeared to be in charge of the party was speaking:

"I have no instructions about food." he growled. "Stahlhauben has said nothing, neither has Yon tiratz. Let the swine starve or end their troubles with ;l bullet!"

My heart began to beat furiously. Evidently they were talking about the Onlooker and Marion Yarmy, and my doubts about their being alive were, for the moment, stilled. "Have it your own way." replied the other (ierman. "1 suppose they are sa'e enough. The bolt on the floor is weak;, though a strong man could easily force it." The first man laughed. "Let them try," ho said. "One is a woman and there notour of us here —armed! Are >«.u afraid, Schreutzer His companion muttered something a: d then relapsed into mlciicc. After a time the big man" spoke again. "Where the - - is Von GratzY" lie said. "I suppose he thinks it doesn't matter what time he lixes reliefs in th's cursed place.'' "Why don't yon tell him that sneer"d the other. "Or do \oii remember how lie treated you in the front line in the old days. Sergeant':" "[ wish to God I'd put a bullet into him," said the Sergeant. "There were plenty of opportunities." I thought quickly. Kvidently these men were expecting Von Oral/.— the in<>:i I whose neck l.ing had broken outside '.no ; eottagc—to appear, and I imagined that ! in a Jit t It- while someone would be sent, j back to the cottage to investigate. T I made up my.mind and very quietly slid I round the door. "J'ut your hand.- up!"' T -aid in GerI man. "The lir-t man who moves or j speaks gets a bullet in his s-tomaeh." 'J'he four gazed at nie in wonderment, j their hands raised sbi*e their heads. The : big tnau was swearing quietly and calu "y in < iernian. "That won't help you." 1 told him. "You can cut, that out. <io and bring th. l man and woman behind that door here as quickly as you like." 1 advanced and ran my hands over him, relieving him of a Hauser nisiol and knife. "Now get on with it!" I ordered. The man turned, and was about to walk away when I noticed one of his companions grinning at something behind ine. 1 turned my head, but I was too late. As 1 moved a shot rang out and mv pistol was shot clean out of my hand. I spun round. There confronting me, the board door through which he had entered still open behind him was a man who 1 gue.-sed to be Stahlhauben. He stood regarding me. smiling evilly. He was a splendid specimen of a man. over six feet in height, and with the shoulders of an athlete. His elosceropped hair covered a square head, ard his face was of the type which has always distinguished the Prussian officer The name Stahlhauben" fitted him to a nieetv.

He walked over to the fireplace and seated liimsc't in a chair, keeping the pistol pointed towards me. '"So! We have another bird tor the cacre," he laughed. "It is really wonderful where they conic troin. Mr. Kelpn, I am honoured to make your acquaintance." he continued with a mocking bow, "and may 1 ask a- to the health of our esteemed -Mr. Brandon?

".Brandon's all right. T answered. "He sent me here to-nignt. He wants to see

He laughed. "But how interestingY Mr. Kelpli, your lying is as ineflicient ac vour attempted hold-up." He turned to Schreutzer. "<;o and get the other two fooW he ordered, '"aucl tiien call the"other men in . . Ik> quiekv Schreutzer went through the board door and return.*<l in a few minutes followed by half a dozen men of mixed nationalities. They were the mo?t 'villainous crew I have ever seen in my life. He then crossed the floor to the door on the other side of the vault, and after a. moment reappeared with the Onlooker and Marion Varney. She was very pale, but bore herself bravely and smiled as she recognised me. As for the Onlooker he looked thoroughly unperturbed, almo.st gay. Stalliauben addressed us generally.

"Well, madante and messieure,' he said, with a cynical bow. "onee more, you are together —as you should he. I regret tnat our hospitality is so inadequate, but -that need not worry you a great deal, as you will not have to put up with it for very long. You constitute a nuisance to invself and un-

friends here, and therefore it will ' necessary to remove you. You will in removed!"

The Onlooker spoke quietly. "Say. Stahlliaubon," he «ai<l. "T ;ruevnc ciin all take wliat's cuiiiinj; to us standing up, an' tnat s that.. .But

oan bet. your boots that there's something coming to you, and you'll get it all right."

Stahlhauben laughed. "One© again, my friend, I think that you are mistaken. With yourself and these two fools out of the way I consider that I may discount any further interference." He turned to his men. "Sergeant," he ordered, "take Sohreutzcr and Wolff, and take the two men upstairs. Take them to the drying room and cut their throats like the dogs they are. You can deal with tlie woman afterwards in the same way." The two men approached. Stahlhauben returned his pistol to liis pocket and stood, his hands behind him, leering at Marion Varney. Something in the attitude of t'he brute made mo see red. I wa« about to .spring at him, when something happened. Two shots rang out in quick succession and Schreutzer and Wolff dropped to the floor. There was a cry from the girl and we spun round to >-ee L,in<r. an automatic in his hand, standing ju.-t insido the door. lip spoke with his u>nal jjrin. "You goddam Stahlhauben." be >aid quietly. "\im save for something better than a bullet. . ." lie handed me a knife and I quickly freed Marion Varney and the Onlooker. I slipped my arm through hers and felt her trembling. "Stick it." I said. She smiled a reply. "You get down the passage." said Ling. 'T look after this bunch!" I make 'eiu tie each other up ... d— tight . . \ou bet!" he grinned at Stahlhauben. Stablhauhen >pat. "So!" he grunted. "Brandon wins a hand. So!" We stumbled down the earthen pas>age. As we went I heard the .-oft laughter of Ling. . . . "Blandon," he laughed. "That prettv i!—- good .. . Blandon!" The girl -agged on my arm. She had fainted. I picked her up and hurried on. "Come on. Onlooker," I said. "Let's get out of this!" (To l>e continued daily.)