The Seven Stars.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 271, 4 November 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Seven Stars.

PVBIJSHEJ* BY SPECIAL AKKASGEMES I

BY 1

FRANK HOWEL EVANS.

COPYRIGHT.

M>. T.-ILU JU'ArWS, Li.dlli- > 111. IN hi* spacious oJ'ee in the ccntro ot thu chu-i lliuir.ination lamp factory IB the notlu*-. t: C > • ri <>: .»i.-i .:• t-ja aat fienry Smith, th*.* r - •>* the " Illumination” z-nl the ra m»g*>r **t this gig.inti era. •' .Xap Smith,” to* i-i i ■•■■■■•. 1.1 t. ■ J*r»*23, partly « :c . -*> ini *>* hi . m-r i*- * Jous power- j! * .A iv.-iattoii an I the v. •' in wkieh he h;.- 1 3;-.i.im <U>ti-cwltp-s. and 1-a'tiy < n -v>*nir. »»t I, - -* physical aad t»»i.»* i- - -a.liian* ■ to " u.a ihitle Emperor.’’ _ i H« r<«so in t *.l b(f»re the JI; ILie- > r ;i t*i. r th.- i- • :-a-l-**Hi ■ man. with ■ l.« *.*l » •*> h *-r-'f.«d alm- t 3C<1.1 ‘S so *!■ •■[>!>• buried was it !>”- tiorn sbo-ibt-s an i a face indm< >! to !<•* 1 »tt*.«h. ah- >•'. |>!»<>t• »gr.ij>!• •••' in *ts nrodu-V >3 of t : . ■ bier N *p-.-l -‘Oil pel-' -trait*. In tn hm<! he J a vng <.’. '. blank Save * Ji.it m the middle *’ printed th-* mv*tn* M-rtt. ' '■"’***. [!»• looked at it thoughtfully for a moment, then toacltd a lie!! an*! n-vhb-d to the vierk. “Show him up"’ I:*' 'aid '*’rtly. An 1 a swum! Inter Jam--» Towers r-ti-j Vrwl the room. ‘Mr. Si >h. I believe?" he.snid -santlSmith nodded and .-till remain- -I ■Landing, nor did he invite 'lowers t»> take a chair. | “I hop*'* you won’t Ret tired 'land-) ing up.” said Tow ra meaningly. “lie-1 cause I’ve got a lot to say to you.” A half -smle shone across Smith’s face. | Bind he sank into a chair ~n! nwtiouvd I Towers to one. |

“You saw those nari.. on the *.ird 1 ■rut in to you • n**k>'-*'*d in the <.t velope?” we nt on T<>«> rs. " Well. of roiiac you’ve hoard of th- Si-v,-n sz Now, '1 n’lTesont tb-rn; I’m their sgent. And I'rr roino to you in Ili* matter of the increnszm; number ot foreigner to whom y--;r • *:i.p:iny igiving emplovn--nt. It «.*■■. stat* I in tiro preliminary prosper-tn* that none but British labour was to bo employed. The B-v.-n Stars,, i. y*i:i reim-mber, interested themselves in the promotion the Company to th*- <"st,-nt of iuv.-m-.o five hundred thousand pounds in the ciMKcra. after they had satisfied themscivcs as tn its >*ona-fi-!-'». We <••> il l bi re stopped your company. Mr bnut’i, had STB iit<-d A worn tv--in *is would hare wrecked it. But wr- found it wav a Rood thing, so we h*-ip**d to Iwsom *.t. how in return will y.-*u do som* thing for m?’’

“And what asked Smith quict’y. “Sack every foreign workman you've gnt and give the Englisfimi-n a < han ■ . And also giro us the name and addr ivb and antecedent.-—as fat as yon know—cf crerv foreigner you’re ever employed.” That’s all we mint to know.” Henrv Smith nearly smih-d, but t*s faev quickly resumed its habitual calm. " Mr. Seven Stars,'' he said, " yi>'» ctaid never have smashed my company. It was too honest, too .almvc-hoaril. And as regards your five hundred thousand pounds’ worth of capital, if you th’i-s that entitles yen to take any hand in the management, I’ll buy your sharva oft you .and Rive you a cheque tor it now, and very likely have you kicked from one end of th*- worki to the other for coming h- r-- an-I trying t*. int-.-ri--- . I employ foreigners l-t-caiisc in vert-un branches of the work I find they are I*s- - Good, honest fellows they are. trained to cert vin mechanical wors which I cann*-t g* t <i well by Englishmen. It’s not bi'-'iiii'.f' I prefi-r lOtcigncrs; it’s l*ec , ;vi.sie I nvivt Lave them, ns in certain trades abroad they must employ Englishmen. I’m telling yo i this. » S*-v._n Stars, hrc.m.'-e I'm iu..t ■s good a patriot ns yui r.r*- But when it cotnes to in*- rf>-ring with the man-aicettM-nt of the Idummaii hi Company. Limited, .d’ow ire ,to inform y- IT an,l your mvst’Tinur sor-b-tv that I’ll see y*'tt fl a rup* I first I Iwi See that large sot** there. Mr. Seven Stars? Inside are ti:o ccmph’to vrtords an-.l p!'r*t.*>gr.iphs every foreign subject I employ. , I’m compelled to ki-ep th- --- by or<!*-r ot the foreign Trades Lmon to which these workmen bcloi g. that :n case of thcr death, or trouble of any kitsd, identification would lie easy. The**' records you would like to see, I suppose?” •• V. rv much ind*'<*d, Mt Smith.”

"Then i.'t ni" y ■ x trit y>l won’t!” th- quo t is-piy. ''An etaplover’s <1 ttv ts t> h- er;;'!ww.’." " A»l to his -.1-nsF-. Air “ Exactly. .m-1 :•> h.- -n -.n-Jm’ ulrdi h t<« r- -ny int r.’. ring I • r-s--t» or per. ..... f._ r rt *■■ into J>.’sin>.«s tsb.i-h d --n t r rn th«’n Don’t think it. > i ;s-lMr S'-.f-n I bn-.t-v r r - :■■■■;- or- 8.. with tn-' you >! > ’;■< it- f- r f> . and t ell there is to it G ■! naming.” “Stop a rrn:!'*. Mr Smiih. Ixt me sigiy *A»th y ■>•;." ’ ’id Toni-n. "1 quite > j.eir I! : t t’:l f 'h-I.iO'C. is a Kiirt- r <>:' !’■ •>.- ,b ith I.ct rm show j.- 1 someth ins an-l r! • ' tteo a »itd, V.’g'tC >r- ..f t' -V I J--V y From hi- p.’•• ■ \ tli" l:t’’■ canlbtnrri box. an.! sa* ;k «m ti 1 ■ d>"*k in front of Mr <'ui’.ri : 'r.'i- ■" .■ ■ t the rrr !.J ' I l ' 1 .t.-.p. “•We!-. ■>:' i ?" ?•■■■ ti. t - trig up one <>f the |ow of h:-i>. .an ! examining it uith y, >;l; j interest. “Wh-.‘ J'y,i v..n“’ to .-'• Sir.! E -liy i:- ; . .’ ’ >i- . !. t ' V > h.tig.- 1. b. ■ f". o ..' h ! / ’ r : ■. • - a t-.irr i x..iii,r>- : ■ ;:vr of the it!-.', ni n •! .an ! uis a:;.: d.< ;•- twd he iv’iv <m “My G G. d ; it . Lis work I’’ Then th-- s-r : i b..C; ;.r !.:a chair in a f.init. Towers q'.i- ; t ' .. \ ; ! s r.f gb-s int.i {’■ ■ .in I ti .-a i.t> < ■ poeket. ran t > -.i '. . looked Pt ''>e Leyho!--. 1 it :l. 1 >'r ! n ; th- n '■ i k to th>* f.ti.it're :: ...... :• .t >n !.:.s ; ■ ■t ■ for keys, but tii-To -. er’ none, .".'vi r.t that Eioin. nt S-..:h In,.a t t> -nJ T.-Tiro. "Can't f pet yn-i syietMny ? A little p.'-k . ..i 1..-. lur. 11..’. “ If yon f.-el better?" "V.-». I'm I'-.e ’>-..i working a b> t<n har.l I'm an re v ■ :i t -r.e n . . Mr. '• :i Stars. f> it I -’-i .' .. further with •- nt. If y .-fv.' ■ n;to fin-l with •’ o v.■■ e ■< i-r t' r ennmmr. "ill yri kit; ■<•■- ,{ > re nt t: r> next shareb >l’..'s’ r-ir-. . :i:e r" “Oh. well. I’m o;r <* r , unaraiTnp " .ni-i I'oivei.. taking >:e 5 hot. “ H-t . -■ v r~ -< t'-’t their own lire'-.r. GnM »tlornint*.’• Anri w-I n-it rn I ■p'-n-'r.;-' L'ng~r<' r •.., . , . * _ , h £ „,,, n at "oik. r.tvl c‘,>.->-ie,l f ,i r>oment to J* Imi*’.’ •* k- —;G| p >-▼ . r v .t- “! U-'-r--11 - tinn” l>-.p --1 - .1 an y a tfonrlan 4 **-•’ nriec.

<»! t man lorpia. iously gave tnu t> ..-I snf.n-mauon, and wlien he r>_t aim'd after lunch ho wai admitted to Mr- Smith's private office, and told him tint ho had taken an order for two d* /.- a of the new style of candelabra, I nnd when could ho guarantee delit cry i t j ■Jh* -• candelabra w-'ie Smith s own (!••- j sign, and h>’ att n '•<! c .every detail in ; U.. i- nia:’. dr.''.'.r" h.m-o'f I II- <dJ man to ,k d-.’.n all partw.i I Lt :- • r , and r>. a iii~rat\ ready ! to 1 n t> the ■ ,i‘. li . .and stayed ; working out t': • « -t ions v. Ir.eii yir ru.iu had i> ■ > ■*. -..Uy expert v ere c-np’ivcd by the inventor ill the c-iji"' pit out ide h- o’i t; 1 hey were pa d har b >m' *al-ir : - anl were cxpceted tiut to be rd raid cl work. St. thrt f r, ‘Qiicn 11 v th** nigiit watchinim •mil s>tbi, I eld- burning in Mr. Smith's office untd a late hour. T i-tiig’it it "i" n o’clock when he p-au'd by. an' -!dl the bowed figure o! t’m elderly <1 rk was I- nt over his i papers. T»<> or three lights v.* ro c td! !• trning, an-! lie ju-t put his head in at tho door. •• G >itig to be long, Mr. I'.syl, .? “ x... ] expect I shall i:e gone b.-fore voitTo round agii’i. In about tventy rtinntos that'll bo. won’t it? Very v.cll, then. 1’1! put out the fights, Gardiner! Good-night I tlv the w.ntcbm.'in iduit tin* door the obi men Intel down his pen, and with f,v-o turn'd sideways li. toned t> the retreating foot ,u-os oa the flagstone-paved p: th outside They died away, and then th« <dd man left the desk. walked quieth- to the -lour <•! Mr. Smith’s private ofii l o. sch cted a key from a bunch. ; vnl'x-kcd tlrn ('..or, walked inside, and i -i •k.d i’ agair. alter him. Th-' room was ii perfect darkness. | le*’ l.lir Is ■ ‘ (jown, v. la ii >'idd* ti!y a j I’iflian* '■i't of ' g'lt appeared on the I v.dl. In the fd" <■’ k x !iae*l the f ' i'• k t:- !I a small round ol i* -’ like a | h*x ■■ from whence cam<- this bril- i l.nrt light. It wa-.er.il and hover.-I | f .■ - ■ -■>■ ! <■' t’.* •>’.’■*■ the large ta!** . n» the side of tb.o irora. and then set. I ihd on a p.’it'cul'i spot at the rightlu.n I .side. This vns where in an or. di nary safe* the key hole wonl.l have i.«on. But this was a oe-cili.ir patent. I n M»t ni* dap. only to »•• r- m* v.»d bv an vb-etric.i! c-mtrivan-i-, working from the iir ide of the ‘nfe, the controlling j>ow< r «•; v.4»i< h W”s hidden away in a certain part of the room known only to Henry Smith.

The litth* disc of light r. n-uino 1 stat umary th*- old clerk pointed it steadily at ’-J k one -n >:. But gradnally t!10 rutil l*-''srnni to bent under the influence of thi' blinding, wri'MU' < Metric light, the most panel fill y.'t mvt nti <1 ; t!u n ••!•» tr.etal !>••;.n t » sizzle. ’.llie white I:ttill spot r.a- cutting its way like a lnj<. thrimgl. tho flap; through the htl!o keyhole it ate ,ip-l ate ils way, the fetal falling away in m<>!t« n drop? t> the -w.'l. till at i.i-t the nirhaui >m of the safe v.i, 1 to view. A touch b.-ro ml th.-ie .it tin li-ver", .-.n I the great door: swung open. \\ :tu a little turn of hi- Li’jei.- the clerk reduced tho burning pi'er of the light, ii »v rnlv mini! it ti« an lihiuiiiiant, aud s.' ent tho shelves with it. r’:--i.. v ere bag, of ir d ! nn-1 silver. < !u<i :<'-I,.r>k«, bill- i <■"■ and on tho top : ii!i a n iiiil> i <»t !••!« r j < Hie by o:i' tl.os.i .wre sn.'.t'hcd <! >' n and looked over, and at last with the exuminati a of a riuai t> - ./ i !• t ! -' t - hound 1 ■><<’; the <>’d if- n .ii’o •” ‘i’ b.'iilh, a v.liisper almibt, oi triumph. From one of the Icdgeri be snatched a Lmnk loaf, S'Wibbb il soicethii:" on it in ; r.-ii. dropped it into lb- -:>k. turned .it his iigtit, . n! hi a i- ’■ n'nnh v. ’-s b-i-'k ill tile Oiler oi <■ , had put ->u Ins (■•v-.*. r.n ! hit, h. 1 tniiied out the lh-f. i l>.-I g i-night on l-i.i wav nr, ti. rough the gnat 'gates to i tnn:z’ t nichmnn.

H - -..al’-.c-l ..i - 'f'y ..!’.<• came t> a ot i -1 "• ■■ !•• ran partly tbni'igli ai.> • I IL' !•• i uno tiie , . i- .t. in . d (• h. ..i. 1 di h'.il a Gl. d-t -uo bag. in a i' w minutes the elderly clerk I. chiiiig'd his clothes, hod rubbed fits fa:-.' over with a towel snicarix! with ';r=e, had t.T.-.eii "ii wlii'i.i'ii and a . rt. and . topped for-ard jauntily along t!.’> r ;.d 1 > li.e Go;i. l-.-g in band, us J. ‘ Driers.

I:- '•> ai: u.g-r-1 :n 1 • the ongnv'ii rh" c?'.’!-:, livilc’. “Is it ai! right, *‘-.:-? ,r .1 the elderlv < ■■ i \ anxiously. ’ •■<,) .1 r gilt. Hay!-■<. But ::ft< r thia Mil’.btn will lie «.» placo for yon. Y<- •.’•! 1> tt' r come alni’g and L t the S.-V- : ". ii look after you.” "A• ■ n the ■■’. n S-..r- saved me r-'-n r.i'J my dtrnglit'-r from w.w.-.e. 1 it.l I would nne dry show my gratiro I", sir,’’ said tin’ old mm. "•Snahen f i , er-»'iv<''4 n letter saying that tho F ■/. n Stars r. 'piir. I riy In H. a." i that th ir in’-r--en!Fr "o ; d ; i diedir l.imsclt t i ir.". I told n.y d-nightm . :.r I she said I must do my bi st, w hatcvir it. was. 1 J.-ii’t know uliv you took my place, sir, sir v h.-.t you a .mt ■! t-> do, but L i.i si.ee it was for someth :t; gar

■Y. -.. H.-'il -:. I think it was,” r-id nlrmr-t ■■ ■: nniy. Ami now e- ,*d Lotb-r up *a London with m • until this troul>b*h; ’down over.”

Trie two men left for I.nnd>n, rri next n ; :i't v.fi.’n Henry Smith! n . it. to his n‘i to file! th-' <!■:•!:» ! ' i ..! ti -! i-v t’-.it b” I tT - n : :: ing tl.-' r.i" ! "l ho i 1 • d t ■ ■ -. t ’• st it v r<. >• i ' *’ ' ' ' ’ n i 1 1” in'!->/ -Sr.'.c • >■■■ i;i : "rife, for th 1 s rap of rife"':* - t’ I J .1 m/1I%’ S<-v-.-n Stars b i’-- "hat they .-r-nt." I t;.,.:ej,*- went *-> tile t--. -hi If. i'i-.- ro-rirter ot the fort-’pn worktnot. ' n I :: me! IV. Frcti. the re.A <! t>.« conm il ot t*’<' S -mn “« , nri reports c.irn.- ?« t<> nl! tin-j «I : --rri"'H of the Tll'iniin:.:">:i ('omp.-ii. to, ■!. i-ni'J evoryn-li'-r.- lei'l heen trrfr.t a foreicn- r as the controlling ivevor ■ • ’i .b tri'-t. * He n • 1 ' :i " c- ■ or i ririnrv'or. hot r.!>.■ -y : -v- ; it i ’ re’-iner v. i: > ■*" ."'I 1 iront rf ib-o-’s. And all of them w-e-c rni re., in tbn itlon'tifio-i: mn book v.-Jo><■:t , !■ ■ 1 b..,,;, sf U.-n from Smith’ ; raf •. ■'T'--- t ■■>'.•-s it meri'i'i' tbrn , r. . e-M T.m-er- •>’' t!: - *- J - -We've tr.-oe. i OVO-- f -epn - . mn en-on-d m tbi° Imand t * .e|f *hl* ■ < i c ,1 e" ‘ T ‘r-.. T’-e.-'-.. -1! ■’ - f-'H.e--o ip t’o-ir " ! r. .Ml the f i hero are. of emirs.', lemme...t»< ,dt’e>n. li-in'j in <b oni stvlm l ivo e e-1.1 tt-jT ivrr I'-n-Ie o- .-n- . . - .--'i .>f •'.-■■i nt a n- -le-r-'i -t r . r;H'.n-r’ H It OPC , •' >- • r .r ..-’r.- n-'t | - T- l - .e -poke impressively—‘‘ano I

that’s the msn with tho board who came s here with David Rankin, and who i e.iuldn't speak a word »f English. Let ! tr.e find that man, and I believe ! I'm at the bottom of the mystery. And I noir, dear friends, 1-t mo tell you ! bluntly and plainly of tho danger . ; think there was, and then we must -train every n.-rvo to find the man with the beard.” I

Gravely on-c more Towers produced the broken pieces of the ‘‘lllumination” lamp. “It was this that caused tho death of David Rankin. ” he said quietly. ‘‘lt was filled with what is known as chloric gas.”

Sir Richard Kamp started forward in bis chair.

•*I thought there wan only one man in the nortd who knew the tt.-o of that aa fid. ihr.t deadly, deadly ghastly thing!” he sail. ”All scientists know how it ran be made; they know th,! mis inc r-f the various qualities, but ■ one U.is ever been able to solve

I'--- qiir.nti* i< s. Several have tried, :-i:d hare lost their lives in the at-•■■-npr, and .t was rumoured that one min. and '.’no man only, has ever <-■! th-' secret ''

*‘E-.a.--t’v !’ ’ said Towers. “Tits nnmwa- Hans von Kohh'n. But you’re in: ut'.iii. Sir Richard. I was another men. Y-».i remember !’;<• matter of th-- in in-cinti! i; which was • t->!--n train England, and was sunpos'-d to i> ■ c-;pi-- l at Krupp’s factory at Es-s-'ii ? That was where von Kohlen «n« <-:nnb>ved ns chemist. 1 was there trvim- t-> find out about, tho missing (pin j-arts. and I saw him through a r-'i" mask 'I.-' vary night ho invented. nr rather discovered, t!:<- <-xnct qtnn'ihi-s of ch’-,■!<• gas. T,e kdh-rl r;x dogs in a second with one whiff of 'f. I- was lv. I .shall never f-rpt it.” “But how d'yon know it was this chloric ga« that. ItilL-d poor Rankin?” ■■Because the symptoms were exactly what I know rcsiilti-l from chloric ga-, vp S poi'c.ning unable to bo traced. Its a ii.-n k-aves tho heart sound, l>o: f.cound, but with iir-t that t <,r wi-.-ikness which to a medical man in li'-nt-'s that death might have ■■.•‘■idted from heart disease.”

• ‘'Then von mean to say.” said Pit- |{. i ,.p„,. ) l Kamp, whoso medical mind 0»;<•'•■ !y f<.'lowed the tnaitor. “that this foreign, >■ bad fdb-d the ‘illuminat'<-T Ir-mi, with chloric gas. and. drooping and hr. iking it in that way, killed Rankin bv its horrible vapours! But •f tint wer-- :o, why did it not kill v.- i ;i.: 1 hini ns .'«•!! r’’ “fI,---me, 1 wa-. too f.-ir off. nnd ho 1 --d bl- I’CTidkorehief to Ids ii--<o. I I :■-.•! I-. •• i;_ v.,-11. (' ! -b >ric g-i •; is strc.’ig. but it-i effect* are not far-•■-•ri'hiiio or Is It vfdl.- : ri-zbt •<o thro-i'-h tho no-trils and month 1'1.•• '•tiong ani-uoni:’. onlv, of ci'irse, m”--h wn-sc, and unless van are in its dTcr-f. lin-- ’.on may po —.ii.lv be :f--f.-cJed. but von are not Idlb-d bv it And tbi- man with the beard kdb-d Rankin. I'm .is eonvin-ccl of this us I ;m that T am ■la tiding hero, be-rn-’sc l:o overheard him telling r.m that lie wanted Io -peak to mo about f’lo workmen employed ill tho 111 ind’tntion Comnnnv. It was all bluff I n-' that bo didn't know a word o.’ r.:-.: - b. I l:--ot ‘ho bits of glass, and. ‘-o' is th- peculiar stnin I lio -_vi '-1.-.- rv taint. hut just dr -■•■ri’d.l ', ospofivlly if you know it W-- >1 \O>l '.-0 it.” ‘‘But.'' bro’-- in Hilary Jayne, with Hi<- ;->:irn.-di‘t’s nose for getting nt cl’C's an.’ fails, “how enn yon con-nc'-f tics man with tho beard and th-. ->-h ~f ;j Ihmhiu with tho oil dentils by finrt di-uaso?” “Mt dear hoy," answered Towers, “Ih'it’- just what I want to trv to do. i. jnnke certain of tho horrible, tho fid suspicion that’s in my mind. X ■ ua.it a minute.” G--’ng to the cupboard wl-oro ho had I the ‘even Illumination lamps in- ‘ ■’ Hod l-v Rankin and tho German, !■•• !■■• -■"'ht thorn out. and carefully i ii-..;,i o n the table in front of t’.-- <--iineii. ‘•?’.ow. put your handkerchiefs to y- *:r f.i<<*s, hold vonr breath, even th'-u-'b at s->mo d-t.-in--- there might 1-c n - danger, and wait, till vou count f..,.e-

•I" took one c.f th" globes, flung it a f.-w f...( nvav. .and ."I! the conrr-ii vat'fi*'! Lrca’lde'sly for ten sc"onds. “Non can you smell anything?” su'd T.i-pm.

•Yes ” answered on.- 1 , “a smell I'kr a .Leaved flor.er.”

“Ih.ai’s chloric gas. That's the faint H if •■‘l-.vnvs leaves b.bin I when 'I-'ldlv effeefs have worn off. Tt lasts b.r about I '■ o or three seconds, then the flfni.wnlrre is clear again. Now th" "‘ller bull's.”

Fivo more were thrown down with th" ;:mii' result, ami Towers kept tieImt.

“'ll fill, d with enough chloi m gas to k.ll a colony!” Fe said. “Th's • I > • go’ng to have s-.'" i'i’!v ex J Now. i- there anyone with nerve enough to help nm?”' No on" knew what Towers wished to d", but everyone volunteered their li-L. in an emergency. “S-r RiiL-'i-d! And you. Jayne! Y.‘>i'!l do. 1 think! Dhi your hnndkn".in that basin of vinegar tlmro '■a .1’ to inaT-e riiiito mtuin. v. ran them •■ " in ! v »ii mis - .am] mouth, hold your and nko hn’d this gbbe he-

t-.-..-. n yon ver-,- ilelieati-ly while 1 kn wk n holo in Jf with my tliarnon-1 rin't.” i>. I-- 1-.- f’o f ivo men ii 1 the a _ r .,] . .pnor.-’-,- 'i'.ovwi; T ( . p bilk- inter! >on with hie ( li.i >wr.T ring: the liftl.> nie<-,» of "inss ; n’ lej tn fl.e "rr.i-nd : nn-I aft >r (".■■"■lvo iwonT lind J Tower., -0.-e.-nIT bit bnnd-o-roliit-f, and th" ■ ta r f-.'l 1 ]ii< r b T'itnplr>. " *.nd ne.-v.” c.iid Tov.-a'-s. “i'll roTT y >■: <>f me su v.l-cn I've be;'.---nt tb‘- "l-r ••.” In rd! e' ••■! rionl .-1 -:b< *■ v-' i will i b.-f!■» twin! r.f <dnss at the bofl-.m, V.’iHi I'li k'ii'"e Tn'" r » chipped this oif . ■ t->• <!11• • I tlio pinko intently, and th--n d‘ livi-ri his opinion. ‘'hl; i-.; T l-lllnl- f-'n- n 1 it V. i lid i "• • q •. tv.-,-. 1. -mll. ;i wl 1-..1b,-.-t -,,•>1 bn’l onn-vdi r-hh.ri - ; p-. to I‘i'l ■> ■■ -11. ■ -. .. In n if.- ; !•■■ ■ with l : - '-"■•• b-i-I .-x' ■•••- .-•<nt;- r.-il.. I ■.- - n rn-. -l cl.wsI i -j t-.r.J that it won!-: bn •w, -1| f-.r to I o rend" so Hint ■• o r.rf-dn fim . jl'o lio-it would m-'-Tt HV flic "!-'ie - 1 fbi. Y.ii tv point? IMi-.—tl-,- !ho ; d-> « ...... ;, t . >-:P -■ re f 1... ,'itilo ti' it .’ ■ r'lt r*r ~I-I .■ 1 . r:f ■ 1 r • t’i<> nvd ibo man «1< . n•r ■- i. o nth !l>o b'-bt. or ni’.l.’ it. » nv r.rotroti >n T-’s mo-ltll ... - r . -1 1 !'• >.•,••..•!•.• T — 11.. 1 >f I. v-o-dd Ic*'-.'' bp .... r.-l to -,nv. ■ H . r e. . f v.- !■•. J 1.- -t.-*..-. 1 -1 1 ■■•'<' i>r.--;,... I. . '' vpno’lrs ..r‘‘finer 1., ..nd n *-.• *. epi*tPi--ro is --'-r- * .* - n -1— - ' l, V.''' I* l n rn.'bi'S. .nil •-...* .silent rf 11. r', of ‘l-.. b< -rd. Jo. fb* ..•n'm n.iHv of f 1,.. '-i’Min, ...11 . ~-1 1 ~.n ..v' r-l. T- <> S-’i • 1 .-.Ti' - t — >n r.f the brain ■T 1 . 1 "rlns orrofnllv ”T-vl ( ' " .. .nr .T ~...,„ '-V’.-o 1 n 1,.,l~ T ,.,l o'-.*-•- ■--'r.' of fl-.' do-db r*f e nro"' n."TT 1 --c n from P V - ...n.,, \ ti.T I'* r-.nr-T- o-'.w* I've t-.-n.l ft--S .1-0 ,Inv Gf-ir; the ,1,.1+T. -no-v ‘II-!-'"i-n.Tt'on' 1-1 — 1. l--.d i-'orr fm-l tn .•ion rva« neo n : .-si bv another who co'dd not ce-il- s word of Fl’-"’Tub.

Can’t you see. gentlemen and Lady Helen, that there’s some mysterious conspiracy at work to deprive us :>f our public-spirited men? Isn’t the death of the Prime Minister an example and a warning? Think of what those lamps could do! Think of them"— <ho lowered his voice to a hushed whisper)— “in Buckingham I’alace! Think of them in all our great buildings, in all our principal thoroughfares! Why. with this ingenious, this woud-rrful criminal behind them, they could kill ha’f London! Think of them! Think of it all, and let us work to f-nd tho man with the beard.!’’

“Aly God!” said Sir Richard K.inqturning white, “it’s horrible to contemplate! Think of the King in Buckingham Palace! It might happen any day! Let us find t lie man, the : i;-r--<!<>r<-r, wi th tho beard! Let us bring him to justice! Let ur. rout out this nert of villainy' Let us do th-' Li st deed wo’ve ever done yet!”

“And the chemist von Kohlen, d’you think he’s the man v. ith the hoard, that he’s directing the whole il.-i ig in person?” said one of tho others. ”1 Jo,” s.aiil Towers quietly, • for — here he is!” And ho flung himself suddenly and will'.' ail his might on Sir Richard Kamp.

There was a struggle sharp and hitter. and Towers hail the doctor secure in his iron grip. “That’s what I’ve been playing f ir! That'- one reason why I asked Sir Richard Kanin to join the Seven Stai-;. to catch him at last! IL- is von Kohb-n, a chemist, a spy, a secret service man. win has sworn to do all h'> can to bring England to ruin, who has !i ’- a repudiated by his own country bc-rrii-i-. of his iinsr-rupiilous, villain .u.v methods, nnd his way of working L-r his own financial ends. For years he ha-: h.-en leading this double life as von Kohlen and Sir Richard Kamp! For years I’ve known it and tricked hint everywhere, but never could I bring it home to him until now! Murderer. you shall swing for this! S'-ven of our best men have gone, and you still live—but not for long!”

Sir Richard Kamo moislcned his dry lip-- and then asked for his hnndker-cliii-f. Towers released one hand, the wretched man wiped his forehead with his handkerchief, then crammed it into hi-: mouth for a second, and threw it down again. “I’ve taken poison,” ho said. “If was a capsule in my handkerchief. T shall live for about five minutes, nnd then you can Jo what you like with rm*. Yes, it’s quite right. I am von Kohlen. T was tho man with the beard I killed Rankin exactly as the •president”—he smiled (grimly—-“ha« said. I feared lie would betrnv mo. Your King would have been killed next month, and your Queen a week biter. I’m not sorrv for what I have done, foi I was working for my own hand. But I am sorrv for one tiling that 1 go naw. I 1.-vi-d tho Seven Stars. I loved all rnv colleagues. Had I mot them rnonor. it might p--rliaps h.'-.vo been different ; hut I loved mom-v, it war. so easy, and I never thought they would find me out. But there, it is now finished Good-bye, -Mr. President! Good-bye. dear friends! Morituri fe saluiint.”

Thr-ro was a certain dignity about tho mar. which was impressive, as he was speaking, even in death. He rmT-d once, waved his hand, and fell—a bnggv heap - to the floor.

“Forgive me. dear friends.” said Towers. lat< r on after tho inquest on Sir Riehnrd Kamp, who, it was sep-po-01. had (•oisoned himself bv misadventure. “that I hove allowed this dec< i.-tion to go on for so long. Bui it was tho only way I eould get this man—this cunning,' wonderful man. seoun Irel ns ho was into my power. .A Gorman by extraction, his own country disowned him ; lie wns too much of a villain for them. For Germany, though we mny take exception to her. (days the gam--. They will have nothing to do with men who murder, who work for lh<-ir own ends. F.vcrv death of a well-known man. of a British patriot, sent down Con-ols and nil legitimate stock, so that ho could work tho market to his own profit. Not cm> of tho foreign workmen who have b-’en employed b-gitimat elv by th-' Illumination Company. Limit'd, os wo h_:vio found out know of h.is evil deeds. They were simply earning their living, will] > this man. disguised, was working for his own ends. Ft was not love of country, it was not patriotism, th-.t urged h'm ’o do the‘<- awful crimes. Tt was s’limlv greed of gold. Evidently Kamp began to -I'-iw t me, or and would have lulled ’us nil with his infernal lamps. As the bearded men ho kilb-d David Rankin, or ; : nv'”io bo fancied mi'.ht have susniemns. Th" other foreigners arc harm S-s-s. fensivo men. simply following their own cmrjoymcnf. knowing nothing of the poi«om d lamps, nnd not in th" •dii-hfr-st wav cognisant of tho doings of this man von Kohlen. who. if ,w--thing had been known of his villainies would, of course, save been dDi e-vm-d by arc Government. S-> we will len’e the matter ns it im thankful that nt nnv rr'e one onemv is n-im-v--ed from England nnd from tho world.” “Am! now wo are only Six Stars!” sold Lndv Helen Frande rather r< gretfullv. ’ “No. wo shall still bo seven.” said To-vo.-s. “for I propose that Mr. Henry Smith bo invited to i-fin our society. He: real nnn.e is von Kohh’n : tho man who du-d vas his brother, whose ways h" disliked. nnd whose nnscrimulom-. villainy bo know, ‘smith himself l:ml taken out - papers of naturalisation in England, and religiously kept his vows of loyalty, ne-l changed his name: ami when 1 confronted him with the evidence of chloric gas. he km w that his brother '-"s :>l ver l ;, and h" fninf--d. T’ve looked into the matter of Mr. Henry Smith, friends, and T call him good, loyal man. fair to his employe--s. kind to his frieii !«. and staunch to tho interests of ;d] who trust him. Ho know nothing of this matter, thought at first I suspected him. So I iumv the! tho vacant chair in our assembly ho fill -J Ly Mr. Henry Smith, of t’:o '.lllumination f’omnnnv. Limited.” | To be ('ontinnc-1.1