"THE GREAT INTERNATIONAL SECRET."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19957, 28 May 1928, Page 14

"THE GREAT INTERNATIONAL SECRET."

SYNOPSIS. Professor Cornat one night is found dead in his laboratory and robbery is evident. His daughter Lisely ib engaged to the professor's assistant and pupil, liaix Bylandt. who is severely interrogated by the police A certain missing document is the subject of severe questioning which Karl resents. That same night two police officers are put on duty to watch the i a te professor's house. During the night karl is awakened by one of them and informed that his brother officer has been shot and he himself wounded. CHAPTER 11. A LATE CALLER. Hastily flinging on some garments, Karl ran along the corridor and entered the garden. There, a little way from his window, ho saw tho shadow of a man bending over something on the ground. As he approached he made out a second man, lying on his back. " What is tho matter ?" Karl asked. " Who do you say you are —a police officer ?" " Yes, monsieur," replied the man who was kneeling. . " My colleague and I were instructed to watch the house. He remained round the angle of the next w'ing beside the laboratory, and I on this side, so that we could see any approach to the laboratory from both sides. About half-an-hour ago my friend signalled to me by a pre-arranged signal—tho note of a njght-bird —that someone was approaching. I went toward him carefully and we watched. Soon three men appeared from tho wood and cautiously approached the laboratory window. We waited until they had actually begun to open it, when I signalled my friend; then wo went forward to arrest them. One of the men immediately fired two shots. One has entered my colleague's head and the other my shoulder." "Good heavens!" exclaimed Karl. " Is your friend dead, then ?" " I think he breathes—but he is unconscious." replied the detective. Karl bent ever the recumbent figure. Certainly he breathed, but when Karl struck a match be saw an ugly wound on his temple while one ear was bleeding profusely. " How about your shoulder," asked Karl suddenly. " Are you able to assist me with your friend ? No ? Then try to follow me." With difficulty Karl raised the unconscious officer and carried him to the house. No one was disturbed. Neither Lisely, who slept on the other side of the Chateau near the laboratory, nor Jambert had apparently heard a sound. Karl carried the detective into the dining room and laid him upon a couch, then telephoned for the doctor. The other detective telephoned for Monsieur Gomban and gave a report to the Surete. The doctor arrived quickly, and shook his head gravely after a brief inspection of the, wounded man. An operation might be necessary, he said, and the patient was gently put to bed and made as i comfortable as possible. Karl and the other detective, whose name was Pastor, briefly told the doctor what had occurred, and when Monsieur Gomban came, as he did within the hour, he demanded a more detailed account of the occurrence. "It appears to me," said Monsieur Gomban, having heard the story, "that the perpetrators of this outrage are probably poor Cornat's murderers. We must see that no one else goes near the ground where they have left their footprints. It may be that we will be able to compare them and any finger prints left on the window wjth those we secured last night." Karl and Pastor nodded without replying, and Gomban continued: " Another thing seems feasible, and that is whatever the thieves stole last night they did not get all they wanted and that they came back at great risk to complete their work. That, in my view, means two things. One is that this queer secret—whatever it may be—it still safe, while the other and more important thing is that if we keep a close watch on the place where the key to this secret is supposed to be hidden we shall probably lay by the heels the murderers of Professor Cornat." " The man who shot me wore gloves," said Pastor. "I saw the dark glove against the White paintwork of the window as he turned to fire." "Well, we will see. We will see," replied Gomban. " Now Monsieur Bylandt, you have had another disturbed night. We will remain here; better go to your room and got some sleep." Karl, over whom a great weariness was stealing, bade him good-night, and weni back to bed. ' In tho morning he saw Lisely as soon as he could and told her all that had happened in the night. Lisely was horrified. '' As soon as poor father—" she paused for a moment, unable to complete the sentence. " Yes. I know,' said Karl kindly. " As soon as all is over—" " As soon as all is over," Lisely repeated, " I think I want to get awav from this place, which was once so happy, but which has now become so terrible. Why, oh why, was it necessary for father "to spend (he best years of his life ever seeking this thing that has meant his death. T hato the great secret whatever it is. Oh ! I hate it!" " That is the wrong view to take, my dear," Karl replied gently, "though I quite understand the feeling which prompts your words. Your dear father believed the secret was worth everything and would certainly have given his life had it been necessary, as so many scientists have done and will do in the future. Tho only thing he sought was a guarantee that it might be made safe for humanity and not be added to the forces of destruction. Far ho it from mo to say anything that yould appear to censure your father—my best friend and beloved master—but I cannot help thinking that he was indiscreet in speaking so often and so openly about the possession of this secret. People recognised his eminence and his truthfulness and knew that it must be really important for him to make so much of it. The more unscrupulous ones would not stop at anything—and—well you saw what happened." " Karl ?" Tine girl looked up at him with wistful, questioning eyes, and they stopped a moment in their walk. " Yes, dear," he anrwered, placing his hands upon her shoulders. " Would you give up science for me, Karl ?" "Give up science?" Karl repeated the words slowly, and hesitated before answering. " I would give up anything for you, darling. You know that. But, my dear, surely you understand that science means to mo my livelihood ? lam not a rich man, nor have I any great desire to be, for I certainly put my profession before riches." "That's just it." said Lisely, "and it is only a question of time before you would put it before even me. Oh! I'm sick of science Science is a greedy, grasping monster. Ft has robbed me of my father and now it will " The girl, overwrought and bitterly distressed, ended her sentence in a sob and buried her head on Karl's shoulder. He comforted her with soft, reassuring words in which he told her that in all things she would always come first; but it was moro his presence than his words that was tho real comfort, and when presently they returned to the house she was in a calmer, and more resigned mood. All that, day and tho next the detectives were busily pursuing thoir investigations. The house at night was surrounded by a cordon of police, but no further attempts were made to enter. On the third day a forlorn little procession left the house following the remains of the benevolent old Professor Cornat to their last resting place. Tho night following tho funeral Monsieur Gomban came down from the Surete, accompanied by Monsieur Flommerieu. They expressed their intention of making, a further systematic search of the laboratory. In this Karl assisted them, but nothing new was discovered.

BY WILLIAM LE QUEUX.

ROMANCE OF LOVE AND MYSTERY.

(COPYRIGHT.)

Later when Monsieur Gomban and his assistants were gathered in the dining room with Karl after the abortive search, the detective asked quickly and unexpectedly : "Monsieur Bylandt, what do you know of Baron Luigi Fiorelli ?" "Of whom ?" asked Karl puzzled, and the detective repeated the name. "I do not know the name," replied Karl. "I never heard of him. Why f" "Are you sure ? You cannot say whether or not the professor had any relations with him ?" Monsieur Gomban pressed his question and his keen little eyes, focussed shrewdly upon Karl, penetrated him like gimlets. "I repeat that the name is new to me," Karl said. "May I ask why you suggest that I know it ?" "Well," said the detective, after a moment's hesitation during which he appeared to make a decision. "Well, I will tell you. I trust you, monsieur." Karl nodded, and Gomban continued: "I have discovered that finger-prints found in the laboratory belong to an English motor bandit named Frank Howe. He has many convictions including one in Paris here, for which he was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in the Maison Centrale. I have now been able to trace his present wherebouts. He is no less than the confidential chauffeur to His Excellency the Baron Luigi Fiorelli, who, you should know, is the greatest- banker in Italy, and a figure of immense influence in international finance. "Now, my friend, listen to me, and try not to be surprised. His Excellency is in Monte Carlo at this momert. I set my good friend Qarron to see him at once, as soon as I discovered the fingerprints, and Carron told him of the record of his chauffeur. The baron said he didn't believe a word of it, but in any case it didn't matter, as the chauffeur was a good man. Carron said he had a warrant to arrest Howe—l arranged that. Now what do you think ? His Excellency the baron laughed at the thing as preposterous and said that the chauffeur was in Italy at the time of the murder, is in Italy now, and that he would produce 20 witnesses beyond reproach to establish an alibi as to defeat utterly any extradition proceedings." "Good lord !" ejaculated Karl. "You suggest that the baron r" "I suggest nothing about the baton," interrupted Monsieur Gomban. "The baron is much too influential and powerful a man to-suggest things about, but I don't suggest —I state —definitely state—that his chauffeur, the Englishman, Howe, was in that laboratory on the night of the murder, and for some reason best known to himself, the baron has taken the trouble to establish an alibi for his bandit-chauf-feur. Now, are you sure, monsieur, that you have never heard of the Baron Luigi Fiorelli ?" "Positively certain that I have not," replied Karl definitely. "Well, that is where we begin, and it is a good start—a very good start," repeated the little detective with satisfaction. "I will return to Paris now." And he made his departure without further remark. Lisely had retired to bed, and the old Jambert couple were also in bed, when the telephone rang. Karl answered it. "Is that the young Austrian, Karl Bylandt?" asked a gentle voice, in soft, modulated tones. "Yes, who is that?" replied Karl. "It is the Comte de Salis," replied the voice, "and I am coming to see you now —alone." Wondering what the interview portended, Karl hung up the receiver, and returned to the dining room. Soon the subdued murmur of a powerful motorcar could be heard and Karl went to the door. Out of the limousine, which stood there, stepped the venerable Comte de Salis. "You will wait," he ordered his chauffeur, and followed Karl into the dining room. When they were seated, the aged Comte stroked his beard for a few moments in silence, his mild eyes steadfastly watching Karl. "Now tell me, my young friend," he said after a long pause, "What do you expect to accomlish alone ? There are difficulties in your way—greater that you dream of. You had better seek collaboration —I am here to offer it." Karl looked at him wonderingly. "What do you mean. Comte?" he asked. "What collaboration should I seek—about what?" "Do not let us bandy words." There was a trace of irritation in the gentle tones of the Comte de Salis. "I refer to this great secret concerning which you know more than I intend to allow you to know —alone." CHAPTER 111. THE COMTE IN TROUBLE. Karl looked in astonishment at the Comte. In the gentle voice of the aged nobleman ;md scientist there was not a questioning note. There was absolute certainty. The Comte leaned back in his chair, took once or twice a deep draw at his great cigar, a habit of his when excited, and, with his mild eyes steadfastly fixed upon Karl, awaited his reply. " Monsieur le Comte," began Karl, not without a quiver in his usually strong voice, "you accuse me of (stealing -the great secret from my benefactor, from the man—" " I do nothing of the sort," interrupted Comte de Salis. " You confirm my knowledge—if confirmation were necessary—by deliberately hedging. I accuse you of nothing, my friend. I merely state that you have the secret—or, at least,, that you know more of it than lor anyone else does. Now then, will you collaborate with me?" " I cannot imagine upon what evidence you base your strange belief," said Karl. " I have not the secret, Monsieur le Comte." For a moment or two the Comte smoked ouietly all the while watching Karl. His gentle eyes only left Karl's face for a second while he knocked the ash from his cigar. Then he spoke again. "My friend," ho said. " There are ways of achieving one's purpose—many ways. lam essentially a man of peace and good-will. I dislike coercive measures. I would remind you that my late friend and your employer was also a peaceful man. His one concern was to see that his life's work ended in increased happiness for mankind. Now, that desire seems to me to be seriously menaced. I have come to the conclusion that you are not a bad man. You have had fhe advantage of sitting at the feet of the greatest scholar of his day. Quite so, but he and I were collaborators and friends for nearly fifty years. Now it is my intention to carry out his wishes." The aged Comte leaned forward on his chair. " Listen to the voice of reason," he urged. " I know that you know something. I desire to guide you, to help you. I desire to bring your work into iine with your late master's intentions. Now then—what is your answer ? " " Monsieur le Comte," Karl replied. " I am not in a position to ask for your help. T have not the secret." "Is that your last word ? " The Comte rose. " Yes." replied Karl, relief in his tones. The interview Was beginning to tell on him. " T feel that you will ever be sorry," The old Comte de Sab's raised his eyebrows. ea*ed into the fi r e for a moment, then again to Karl. " What a nitv! What a nitv! What stuDiditv!" he added. " Mv poor vounc man. von have not tbe slightest idea of what von aro undertaking. T warn vou now that vou have added, to the forees von will have to fight, one who would fain have fousrM. bv your c'do. Now. mv younf friend. a nitrbt's rest have its mellowing effect upon your decision. Give me a better answer to-morrow. Goodnight."

(To bo continued daily.)