THE LORD OF TERROR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22250, 26 October 1935, Page 7 (Supplement)

THE LORD OF TERROR

By SYDNEY HORLER Author of "Thu Secret Agent," "5.0.5.." "The Splder'a Web." etc.

(COPYRIGHT)

AN ENTHRALLING STORY, PACKED WITH THRILLS AND ADVENTURE

CHAPTER XXlV.—(Continued)

" I don't sco Cardcll, sir," he whispered. " He's tlioro all right, I expect," was the reply. And now, before their staring eyes, the scene was observed to change again. Tho airship roso into the air and gradually disappeared; but a distinct view was maintained of tho cheering and shouting crowd. The medium was speaking again. " They're off now . . . My word, they aro excited!" The picture on the screen bad now changed to a sight of the airship over tho sea. " They are over the sea. They aro over the sea now —miles and miles of water . . . But wait." A crescendo of excitement could ho heard in tho medium's voice, which had taken on a strange note of authority, as on the screen there was shown what looked like a huge rock. " They're getting near to an island," the voice proceeded, " wliero thero aro persons plotting. These men aro going to do them an injury." Again the scene changed on tho screen. A number of figures were seen talking round a tablo. Sinclair jumped up. "My goodness, Chief 1 Look who's there —Vivanti!" Fordinghame nodded gloomily. " I foresaw this," he said. " Ho'b thero with Kuhnroich and that dissipated waster Kaon!."

Forgetting the instruction that the professor had previously given, he said in a loud tone.

" Hague, where is this place? She must tell us." "Be quiet, please," warned the other. " Just watch. You'ro upsetting the medium." Putting up a hand to enforce his words, Hague turned to tho woman. " You see these people talking? What are they saying?" " There is one who is the leader. It is that one with tho high forehead and the horrible face. He is a great man but terribly evil, I think he is probably mad. Ho is showing the others a piece of machinery; what it is I can't understand. Wait . . . yes, he says . . . No, I can't understand; it is something about a mag—a magnet." " A magnet? Are you sure he says that?"

" Yes, it is a great big magnet. Wait . . it is a magnet of the air—an aeromagnet. Yes, that is what ho calls it." The scene on the screen now showed Vivanti standing at a giant switchboard. " Switches —look, Chief I" whispered Sinclair. " S-hh!" warned Fordinghame. The medium was speaking again. " That evil man has other things—machinery—electrical machines which he has made. He calls one tho Y-ray." "The V-ray?" questioned Hague. " Yes; he says it makes petrol useless." " Gosh! A brainy idea," remarked Sinclair. " Stops the airship's engines." The scene on tho screen now changed to a man working wireless. " This man does not understand why ho cannot get connection —all his messages are being cut ofF," explained tho medium.

" So that's why wo g<?t no newsl" declared Fordinghame grimly. Again tho scene changed; the screen now showed tho picture of an airship over tho sea. Tho voice of tho medium rose excitedly.

" She is getting near the island. Those down below are waiting for her. The evil man means to stop her and bring her into his power." After that there was a long pause. " Is there anything more you can tell us?" asked the professor. With tho rapidity of a film the pictures on the screen now changed rapidly. First the airship was seen approaching the earth. Then Vivanti was shown again, revolver in hand. After that a line of bodies with sheets over them caused at least ono of tho watchers —Helen Travers —to cry out. The voice of the medium rose in a wail. " It is terrible! All those men are killed —murdered, except —how many? I can't see." Her voice broke; her head drooped. But the succession of pictures on the screen continued. Vivanti was now seen standing above Moorhouse, Otashi, van Dressier, and the Duke of Easthampton. All were prisoners, bound hand and foot by ropes. " Can't you tell us anything more, Mrs. Green?" pleaded tho professor. The medium lifted her eyes. Her voice was quivering with horror. " It is terrible! Ho tortures them to make them tell him a secret. What is that secret? It is a code, I hear him say. But this man refuses —ho is very brave." A very dim picture of Moorhouse boing tortured by lashing was seen on the screen. " Oh, Heavens, help us! It is terrible! I cannot go on —it is too terrible!" Tho last word was uttered in a despairing wail, and then tho body of tho medium slumped back. " I'm afraid she has fainted," declared tho professor. " Have you any brandy? Yes," after a brief examination, " she's quite overcome. Wo shall seo no more. Put tho lights on again now, please." Sinclair switched on tho lights, sighing gustily. Fordinghamo took control. " Weston, before you type out your notes, help Miss Travers to take ilrs.

Green into the next room. Got her some tea." " Yes, sir." By this tiino, aided by a few sips of brandy, tho ex-charwoman had been able to rise from her chair and walk unsteadily across the room. When tho door had closed on tho three. " Well, what do you think of it?" asked Hague. "My dear boy, it's marvellous 1" declared Fordinghamo. " Wo might have guessed that a job of this magnitude would have appealed to Paul Vivanti, sir," put in Peter Sinclair. " Yes. So he's tied up with Kuhnreich now! You know what this may mean, of course; it may mean war between Great Britain and Bonstadt." Sinclair nodded. Yes." And then, broodingly; " I suppose poor Cardell must have been murdered with tho others." Tho door opened and Helen Travers returned. " Can I put up an idea, Sir Brian?" sho asked eagerly of Fordinghamo. " Of course, my dear." " Well, can you spare Peter for a couple of days, Sir Brian?" she asked. "Spare him, my dear? Why?" "Because," was tho confident answer, "I think of him along with my 'plane, Tho Flying Scud, to locate

this island in tho Mediterranean." She turned to Hague. "Is it possible for the place to be definitely located?" "Yes, I think so," was the answer. "It will mean, of course, that Mrs. Green must be sent into a trance again." "In that case we'll hang on for a couple of hours —you don't mind my shooting the wdfks, do you, sir?" smiling at Fordinghame. Sinclair leaned forward. Let me go, sir. Speed is everything. It's a great idea of Helen's. Don't you think so?" Fordinghamo looked grave. "If you two young devils are really keen on this, I want you to understand quit© distinctly that you go on your own responsibilty." "I'll risk it," said the American girl. Sinclair looked at her. "You can't tako on a job like this, Helen —I didn't realise just now exactly what vou meant. 1 must go on my own, of course." "My dear man," waa tho scornful reply, "don't bo a moth-ball. I'm going with you and there's an end of it." "When could you bo ready to start?" asked Fordinghame. "Tho 'plane is all ready at Hendon now. Say an hour —or just as quickly as Profesor Hague can telephone us somo more news." "I ought not to give my O.K.—but, God bless you both!" Fordinghame said quickly—and then tho door closed behind them. They wero gone. CHAPTER XXV THE CASTAWAYS The man who had recently accomplished what seemed to all who had witnessed it a startling miracle stood in a brooding atitudo as Kuhnreich and tho ex-Crown Prince ltaoul entered tho island laboratory. "My dear Vivanti," stated tho Dictator of Ronstadt, "I congratulate you. Tho monei' has been paid into tho State Bank: word has just come through." Tho ex-crown prince took it upon himself to supply a quota to the conversation.

"The finding of tho Sky King a blazing ruin twenty-nvo miles ofE Marseilles lias given tho world n pretty good wallop," ho said with a titter. "According to tho wireless, tho Press throughout Europe is full of it. 'Terrible Tragedy,' 'Shocking Airship Tragedy,' 'Blazing Airship Disaster' —that's what tho newspapers aro calling it." There was a knock at tho door. "Como in," called Vivanti. Henrik Loon entered. "We havo taken two prisoners, boss." "Prisoners ?" repeated Vivanti. "What do you mean —prisoners?" "They came out of the sea. They aro aviators. They crashed off the island and swam ashore." "Of what nationality?" barked Kuhnreich. It was noticeable that Henrik gave tho information to Vivanti and not to the speaker. "They aro both British," ho said. Vivanti smiled horribly. "British!" He looked at Kuhnreich and the ex-Crown Prince, who in turn exchanged glances. "Where aro they now?" "Getting into dry clothes, boss. They were nearly drowned." "And what, pray, aro British airmen doing here?" "They said they wero on a long-dis-tanco 'flight to tho Capo. Engino trouble mado them coino down.' Vivanti cried out fiercely: "It had been better for them if they had drowned. Aro they young men?" "Ono of them is a young woman, boss—and very pretty." (To bo continued daily)