TREASURE HOUSE OF MARTIN HEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 20 September 1929, Page 22

TREASURE HOUSE OF MARTIN HEWS.

BY E. PHILLIPS.OPPEN'HEIM.

CHAPTER XXXVri.-~( Continued). "But there aro two other doors," I poiiitecl out. He nodded gravely. " \ou aro thinking of that previous occasion. Quito right. Now then, nbdut ' thoso, other two doors. • There is only one that need count. The door into my treasure house is of solid iron. It opens only from this side, and it would take half a ton of dynamite to blow it up. As for the second—" He must have touched a button somewhere, for it rolled slowly open. -Upon the threshold stood Huntley, his flat automatic 'in his hand. " Quito all right, 'thank you." his master said, with a. ood, • "I was only testing the connections." The man ste'ppe'd' hack, and the door (Closed. " Supposing," Martin Hews went on, that man nad been overpowered from outside, the first step across tho threshold by anyono who did not know, where .to set hia foot would land him sonic- , ,-where very near eternity. I think I am safe here, Major. I am not relying upon man, or man's fidelity. I have mado this a mechanical fortress operated by myself. tScience, at any rate, cannot play me false." A smile of placid, conceit parted his lips, and I rose to my feet with some alacrity. " Then, if 1 may, I will go back to t flown, sir," I proposed. " Just as you please," Martin Hews / assented. " Joseph may have a try for me, but this is one of my courageous clays. I can imagine no more complete £joy," he went on, gloating, " than to sit here and have my signals work, and for Jiim to come. I know how to deal with ihini, Major. Sit in ftiy chair whilst I gave yon a test of it." " Thank you," 1 answered hastily. " I > {would rather not."

"As you will. There aro days like jthis when I want him alone, want all •the jpy of watching .him. suffer for myself. There are other days when I am ja coward, when my nerves fail me. If •I should feel like that to-morrow or "the mext day, I shall send for you. If Joseph comes, I shall wheel my chair round Jwhilo.you fight, and if I see that Joseph as the better man, I shall shoot him 5n the back. Send mo news when you lhave any, Major. Mr. Ruben Sams, for instance. Ah, I havo not shown you this. |Look. here. When you get back, you may find Mr. Bloor not so hard to conTince."

He-stretched a copy of The Times out before him, and touched a little paragraph with his finger: " Sir. Ruben Sams, the Argentine millionaire, is arriving at Liverpool this morning on th® Orinoco from Buenos 'Aires, and will be staying at the Ritz Hotel."

" Como a little before his time, I fancy," Martin Hews remarked, with a chuckle. " That is why I think that Joseph's star is setting." CHAPTER XXXVIII. The papers that evening wore flooded fwith the news. There were several very mysterious paragraphs with reference to the reported arrival in London of tho celebrated Argentine millionaire, who had already been in the country, and engaged in extensive financial operations for about a month, but the whole interest of the general public was focussed upon last tiight's amazing raid. The leader of the Wolves—the man, who was responsible for the organisation and carrying ■ out of that audacious enterprise—was still at liberty. r lhe personality of the man had seized hold of the imagination of the populace. jWherever one went, nothing else was talked about. The limits of speculation and humour were reached in wild surmises. Every review in London that night introduced the famous Chief of the Wolves, and in practically every club and private party the humorists and sensationalists ran riot with their suggestions.

A Cabinet Minister's name was freely mentioned, a famous actor was whispered about, one of the chiefs at Scotland Yard •was hinted at, a young scion of royalty, .with an adventurous turn of mind, was openly suggested. One woman, who had been relieved of her diamonds, insisted upon it that, notwithstanding his disguise, she recognised by his voice a wellknown young man of society, who had whispered a compliment to her as he had unfastened the catch of her jewels. Fresh rumours multiplied, and to add a touch of drama to the whole thing, before nigfitfall a reward of five thousand pounds for information leading to the arrest of the leader of the gang was offered through the police by the directors of the Milan Hotel. A great police drive was taking place throughout the whole of the East End of London, not only in the hope of finding the man himself, but also in the hope of acquiring information from some more insignificant members of the gang who had not joined in the Great Raid. Iht marauders, who were lying in hospital had tho newly-printed bills placed by their bedsides. Even those who were in prison were allowed to see them. Fivo thousand pounds and a free pardon for anyone who could givo information leading to tho arrest of this mysterious potentate of crime! Surely someone would bo tempted even to their death! Towards six o'clock, Bloor came to Bee me. . " And I thought you a good fellow and a brave man," he groaned, as he toolc my hand, " but a bit of a simpleton. ]\[y God, Major, it's I who was tho simpleton. 1 deserve, to bo kicked out of the force. You gave mo the chance cf my life, and I threw it away." " You know now then that we had Joseph in our hands?" " I'm just as sure of it as that_ the real Ruben Sams only landed at Liverpool this morning. Joseph had been playing at a higher game than ordinary jewel robberies. He has taken three or four hundred thousand pounds in cash away from a little group of our financiers who won't believe even now that weren't dealing with the real man. " This must be the end of it, anyhow, I remarked. "Ho can't,, go on. after, this." ~ " Frankly, I don't think he can, Bloor agreed. "He is the most amazing person we've been up against for many, yeani. He left the Milan Hotel at six o'clock this morning. I have just como from searching his rooms. ,N°k a paper, an address, not a single thing there to help

ti%. Invitations more than you could count, letters of gratitude for his heroism last night, but not one single thing, which could link him up with any-other jiersonality. And to think," ho deplored, a note almost of passionate regret in that pleasant evert tono of his, " lie was my man last night—rthe greatest capture of my life. 1 hadn't the sense to believe, roil. Major. It seemed so damnably farfetched." It can't be helped,"-I sighed, 'no shall get him before many hours have passed.' ' "Why do you 'think so?" he" asked eagerly. " You see, I carinot afford to let even an idea of yours pass now, Major." " Because," I explained, " I don't believe that under any circumstances would he leave the country without going down to Breezley. He's got an account—nn account of bate, I suppose you'd call it—to settle with Martin Hews." " Tt's quite possible," Moor admitted. " T'll send three men down there tonight. I must be off now. I've got reports coming in every half hour. I felt I couldn't rest until I had owned up to you, major. I'm sorry—l can't say more." "' Shake hands on it," I begged, " and have a whisky and soda." . ".The first drink to-day," ho replied, vitb- his whimsical little smile, as I banded hint the tumbler. " I've been sit•ting in sackcloth and ashes."

AN INSPIRING SERIAL BY A FAMOUS AUTHOR.

. ; (COPYMGUt.)

" Then get. out of them now," I. advised him. " They're unhealthy wear. And listen, Bloor, there's something else. If Ruben Sams of last-night was Joseph —and we pretty well know ho was—what about Leopold ?" " I havo a man sitting In his rooms waiting for him to come back from the country, if ever he docs como back," Bloor confided. " Good-night, major. Better get to bed early. You had all the scrapping that's good for a man in oaß day yesterday." , . I decided that I was as well in my rooms as anywhere, and I ordered an early dinner there. Afterwards, I began to realise my weariness. My sitting room was warm and comfortable. I threw myself into an easy chair, and in three minutes I was asleep. . . . I was awakoned by' what was undoubtedly a soft tapping at the door. I glanced at my wrist watqh, and sat up. it was only nine o'clock, so I could not havo been asleep for more than twenty minutes. The tapping was repeated. I reached over to tho drawer where I kept my automatic, laid it under a newspaper by my side in the chair, and acknowledged tho summons. " Como in," I enjoined. The door was quietly opened. I looked at my caller for a moment incredulously. I had heard no ring at tho bell downstairs, and it seemed impossible that without any form of announcement, a visitor from outside could have reached me so easily. Yet, without a doubt, thorc he stood—Mr. Leopold, smiling at me dcprecatingly, as ho unwound a thick scarf from his neck, took off a pair of motor-glasses, and advanced a little farther into the room. I watched his right hand carefully, but I scarcely imagined that ho had como to see me without any malignant intent. " You will excuse this interruption, major," he begged humbly. " I hope you do not consider it an intrusion. I have just, motored up from tho country. Our clear mutual friend was very anxious that I should.see you. I am the bearer of a very important message. You permit that I rid myself of some of these things?" Ho deposited an enormous ulstor, his hat and other impedimenta upon ono of my chairs. The change in him was almost laughable. The somewhat pompous personage of the night before and previous night existed no longer. His manner'was disposed to bo cringing. "Aro you alone?" I asked him. " Absolutely alone," ho assured me. " I come in peace, major. See, I raise my hands. You can search me. I am unarmed."

I believed him, but I saw no reason to run any risks. I crossed the room, and passed my hands over his pockets and body. There was no doubt that he was telling me tho truth. Without a weapon, ho was a child in my hands. I locked tho door on the inside, in case ho was only an advancro guard of more troublesome visitors, and pointed to a chair. " Necessity," I told him, "is teaching me caution. I can't imagine what you havo to say to me that I should want to listen to, or take any interest in, but since you aro hero, sit down and get along with it." He took an easy chair, and looked meditatively at my whisky decanter. I pushed it toward him, with a glass and syphon, and he promptly helped himself. "It is unfortunate," he remarked, " that I do not seem to have established myself as persona grata with you, major." The man's insolence was amazing. I stared at him, almost doubting my senses. " If there is one person," I rejoined, " who has done moro than any other to earn my distrust and dislike, it is you. Even last night, during the great raid, you were helping your master." " Naturally," ho admitted. " I am, as you have doubtless opined, a Wolf. . Life, however, is purely a matter of self-in-terest, with you as with myself, I should imagine. You happen to be on one side, and I on the other, but we may still be honorable opponents." I came very near losing my temper then.

" If you want my opinion of you," I said, " it is that you're a damned rascal. That's the first thing I have to say. The second is this. If you want anything from me, you'll open the way to negotiations by telling me what has become of Miss Essiter."

" Ah," ho remonstrated, " that is not my affair;" I moved my chair a little closer to his. " You were tho person who planned her abduction," I reminded him. " I rather think that since you are here, and not at my invitation, it will become very necessary for you to tell me, unless you want to be choked where you sit."

He waved mo away. I will do him the credit to acknowledge that he did not look tho least afraid, although I was strongly inclined to try tho primitive methods.

"It is true," he confessed, " that I was concerned in tho abduction of Miss Essiter,. but you see, major, we both act under orders. I was acting under orders from my chief, and you from yours. I had to obey. I am here, and in your power.% You can throttle me in an hour's time just as well as now. Supposing we let the matter drop for a moment. I suggest that you permit mo to disclose the reason of my visit."

There was common sense in what the man said. He would bo as much in my power at any time as ho was at tho present moment. " , -

% " Well, get on with it," I conceded. " I. .am an •ambassador," Mr. Leopold confided. < " To tell you the truth, that is rather where I come in. lam often one of our friend's ambassadors when he has affairs on this Side of tho river. I havo approached some very influential people on his account. 1 might call myself his West-End Chief-of-the-Staff, just as Abrahams takes my place in the East End. You havo never met Abrahams, I think?" ' • ' " I have, not."

" An unpleasant fellow," Mr. Leopold declared, with a sorrowful wag of the head." "'He has his ways—his methods of persuasion. He obeys, his orders. He was a market gardener, a prize fighter afterwards. A little moro physique and ho might have attained to great honours, they , say. A slim, ! insignificant-looking fellow at first sight, but a rat, Majormoro a rat than a wolf. A man with a narrow face—personally I hate a man with a narrow face. I nev.er trust them. Yet Abrahams is useful. He does his work well. He was one of tho fortunate few who escaped last night." (To bo continued daily.)