SECRETS OF STATE

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 594, 5 January 1916, Page 2

SECRETS OF STATE

BY WILLIAM LE QUEUX

[Copyright.]

CHAPTER XXVIII. THE SECRET OF THE LONELY HOUSE. The box which usually covered the instrument fixed upon the table had been left off, and stood upon the floor as though someone had transmitted or received a hasty message immediately before leaving. Fetherston stood amazed, examining overjrthing with his lamp, and noticing that the wires ran along the white wainscoting of the room and out of the corner of the window, up to some exalted position, perhaps in one or other of the high poplars which lined the meadow next the garden He knew that wireless apparatus could be affixed in the dead tops of high trees, and be quite effective and at the same time not likely to attract attention. That "The Yews" was a secret establishment of the Imperial German Army upon our shores there was not the slightest shadow of doubt. There had been many suspicions of late that our enemies were actually establishing secret bases in East Anglia, but never, up to the present, had one been actually discovered. Yet here it was, with the "wireless" in actual working order, for even as Walter stood staring at the enemy's handiwork a tiny boll rang intermittently. A call was being made from some unknown station across the sea. Deacou's voice outside aroused him; therefore he dashed forth and down the stairs again, in a frantic effort to discover the door leading down to the basement and cellars. At last he found it, and holding his torch above him descended into a vaulted crypt-like cellar, which, to his surprise, he found filled with cases containing furniture, pianos, some of them being marked "Glass, with care." There were cases of all sizes and shapes —heavy iron-bound cases which almost seemed too cunil rous to contain , modern furniture. The corner of one groat square ease had apparently been burst in lowering down the cellar steps; therefore Walter went up to it anil, placing his fingers inside, felt something hard and cold. Then he shone his light in the crevice, and to his amazement saw that when he had touched was the shining barrel of a rifle! That cellar was filled to the ceiling with German rifles and ammunition, ready to be served out to young Germans who, already in England, would assemble around that lonely house on the appointed .Day and receive their arms wherewith to fight for their Kaiser! Here was absolute proof of what had long been suspected by the authorities, namely, that the Germans were actually establishing secret points of concentration for the many thousands of well-

Author of "The Invasion of England," "Fatal Fingers," &c.

trained men who, having served their time in the German Army, were here in England following various peaceful vocations. Germany already has an advance guard in England, and it is to arm and mobilise this advance" guard that such points of concentration are being established. The discovery was a startling one — one which Walter knew'would call forth commendation from his friend Trendall, that shrewd, clever man whom he held in such high esteem. He passed to another case, and yet another. Some of them he felt certain contained machine guns, while the smaller ones, so heavy that he scarcely could shift them, were evidently full of ammunition to be used against our British troops on the Hay of Invasion. It was these which had been conveyed there in those three plain furniture vans of the Trinity Furnishing Company. He heard Deacon's voice calling again; therefore, having satisfied himself as to the nature of the. contents of that neglected old house, he ascended the stone steps into the passage which led through n faded green baize door into the main hall. As he entered he heard voices in loud discussion. Sergeant Deacon and the servant Pietro had met face to face. The Italian had evidently aroused the villagers in Ashcldham, for there were sounds of manv voices of men out on the gravelled drive. "I came up here a quarter of an hour ago," the Italian cried excitedly, "and somebody fired at me. They tried to kill me! " "Hut who?" asked Deacon- in jtre : 'ended ignorance. He was uncertain ■"hat to do, Mr Fetherston being; still vithin the house, and the ladder, his only means of escape, still standing against a si<le wall. "Thieves! " cried the man, his foreign accent the more pronounced in his cx--itement. "I challenged them, and they fired at me. I am glad that you, a poliee sergeant, are here." '-'So am I," cried Walter Fetherston, suddenly throwing open the front door and standing before the knot of alarmed villagers, though it was so dark that 'hoy could not recognise who he- was. "Deacon." he added authoritatively, "arrest that foreigner." "Diavolo! Who are you?" demanded the Italian angrily. "You will know in due course," renlicd Fetherston. Then, turning to the rowd, he added: —"Gentlemen, I came here with Sergeant Deacon to search this house. He will tell you whether that statement is true or not." "Quite," declared the breezy sergeant, who already had the Italian bv the collar and coat-sleeve. "It was I who fired—to frighten him off! " At this the crowd laughed. They had no liking for foreigners, and were really secretly pleased to see that the sergeant had "taken him up." But what for? they asked themselves. Why had the police searched "The

Yews"? Mr Bailey was a quiet, inoffensive man, very free with his money i to everybody around. "Jack Beard," cried Deacon to a man in the crowd, "just go down to Asheldham and telephone to Superintendent Warden at Maldon. Ask him to send me over three men at once, will you?" "All right, Sam," was the prompt , reply; and the man went off, while the sergeant took the resentful Italian into the house to await an escort. Deacon called the assistance of two men and invited them in. Then, while they mounted guard over the prisoner, Fetherston addressed the little knot of amazed men who had been alarmed by the Italian 's statements. "Listen, gentlemen," he said. "We shall in a couple of hours' time expect the return of Mr Bailey, the tenant of this house. There is a very serious charge against him. T therefore put every one of you upon your honour to say no. word of what has occurred here to-night—not until Mr Bailey arrives. I should prefer you to remain here and wait, otherwise if a word were dropped at Southminstcr he may turn back and fly from justice.'' "What's the charge, sir?" asked one man, a bearded old labourer. "A very so.ious one," was Walter's evasive reply. Then after a pause they all agreed to wait and witness the dramatic arrest of the man who was charged with some mysterious offence. Speculation was rife as to what it could be, and almost every crime in the calendar was cited as likely. Meanwhile Fetherston, returning into 'he barely-furnished sitting room, interrogated Fietro in Italian, but only obtained sullen answers. A loaded revolver had been found upon him by Deacon, ami promptly confiscated. "I have already searched the cellars," Walter said to the prisoner, "and I know what they contain." But in response the man who had posed as servant, but who with his "master" was the custodian of the -ecret store of arms, only grinned and gave vent to muttered imprecations in Italian. Fetherston afterwards left the small assembly and made examination o f iiedrooms he had not yet inspected. In hrec of these, the locks of which he broke open, he discovered great quantities of rifle and machine-gun ammunition, while in a room at the end of a •orridor on the top floor lie 'ound a quantity of cakes of gum-otton ready for the destruction of bridges, all bear;ng the German mark. Indeed, explosives of various sorts were stored there sufficient to blow up a big city. A complete field -telegraph equipment, a quantity of field-glasses, and a miscellaneous assortment of military accoutrements he unearthed, together with a quantity of big, bright yeUow and posters hearing the German Imperial eagle at the head and addressed to the inhabiants of East Anglia, warning them that if they fired upon the German troops, or otherwise interfered with them in their progress, they would be shot without quarter and their villages and towns burned! The enemy had prepared everything ro ensure the success of the raid, even to the printing in English of the Imperial proclamations! While he had spread one of these great broad sheets over a large wooden case of arms and was reading it, he

heard a great shouting and commotion outside, and ran down to the door to ascertain its cause. As he opened it he saw that in the darkness the crowd outside had grown excited. '' 'Ere you are, sir,'' cried one man, ascending the steps. " 'Ere's two visitors. We found 'em comin' up the road, and, seein' us, they tried to get away!'' Walter held up the hurricane-lantern which he had found and lit, when its dim, uncertain light fell upon the two prisoners of the crowd. Behind stood the secret agent Summers, while before him, to Fetherston's utter ainazement, showed Enid Orlebar, pale and terrified, and the grey, sinister face of Doctor Weirmarsh. CHAPTER XXIX. CONTAINS SOME STARTLING STATEMENTS. j Enid, recognising Walter, shrank back j instantly in fear and shame, while Weir- ! marsh started at that unexpected mcet- ! ing with the man whom he knew to be his bitterest and most formidable opponent. The small crowd of excited onlookers, ignorant of the true facts, but their curiosity aroused by the unusual circumstances, had prevented the pair from turning back and making -a hurried escape. "Enid! " exclaimed Fetherston, as the girl reluctantly crossed the threshold with downcast head,- "what is the meaning of this? Why are you paying a visit to this house at such an hour?" "Ah, WaPer," she cried, her hands clenched, with a sudden outburst of emotion, "be patient and hear me. I will tell you everything—everything!" "You won't," growled the Doctor sharply. "If you do, it will be the worse for you. So .you'd best keep a still tongue, otherwise yon know the consequences. I shall tell the truth, and you won't like that!" She drew back in terror of the man who held such an extraordinary influence :over her. She had grasped Petherston's | hand convulsively, but at Weirmarsh's threat she had released her hold, and was standing in the hall, pale, rigid, and staring. "Summers," exclaimed Fetherston, (liming to his companion, "you know this gentleman, eh?" "Yes. sir, I should rather think I do," replied the man. with a grin. "Well, we shall detain him for the present, and take instructions from London.' ' "You have no power or right to detain me! " replied the grev-faeed Doctor in quick defiance. "You are not a police "No, but this is a police*officer," Fetherston rep T ied, indicating Deacon, and adding:—"Sergeant, I give that man into custody." The constabulary sergeant, more redfaced and more important than ever, advanced and laid his bis; hand upon the doctor's shoulder, telling him to consider himself under arrest. "But this is abominable—outrageous!" Weirmarsh cried, shaking him off. "I've committed no offence against your laws." "That is a matter for later consideration," calmly replied the man who had devoted so much of hjs time and money to the patriotic work of counter-espion-age—-surely the most gallant occupation a man can adopt. Without any thought of reward, he had watched and counteracted the machinations of German agents and had thwarted the ingenious plans of those plotting the downfall of our dear old England. n The scene within the sparsely-furnish-ed house, in which was stored secretly a huge quantity .of arms and ammunition to be used agaimst us, was indeed a weird one. Sombodv had found a cheap paraffin lamp and lit it in the sitting-room where they were all assembled, the front door having been closed. It was apparent that Pietro was no stranger to the Doctor and his fair companion, but both men were highly resentful that they had been so entrapped. "Doetoi Weirmarsh," exclaimed Fetherston seriously, as he stood before him, "I have just examined this house, and have ascertained what it contains." "You have told him!" cried the controller of the network of German agents spread over East Anglia, turning to Enid. "You have betrayed me! Ah! It will be worse for you—and for your family," he added harshly. "You will see! I shall now reveal the truth concerning your stepfather, and you and your family will be held up to opprobrium throughout the whole length and breadth of your land." be continued.)