The Marten Mystery

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1934, Page 15

The Marten Mystery

(By

John Ironside)

Author of “The Call Box Mystery,” “The Red Symbol,” etc.

CHAPTER 17 (Continued). ‘‘But what about then!? I don’t see the connection —” “You don’t? Now look here, Mr. Marten, those diaries, last year’s and this year’s, cover the whole time that Watson was mate aboard the Delia. Now suppose there was something wrong going on, that he either knew or suspected, but couldn’t put a stop to, and meant to report to Sir Joseph as soon as he got back? Suppose Sir Joseph had promoted him to the Delia for that very purpose?” “I never thought of that. It’s —all rather bewildering!” “Of course you didn’t. How could you? And it’s bound to be bewildering at present. I’ve told you it’s a big thing!” “What about the man in the car? Watson’s murderer, if your theory’s correct.” “They haven’t been seen in Bristol since. The police are on the look-out for them, and I want you to furnish me, soon as possible, with a full list of the Delia’s crew, as they were paid off last week. There were several that the description might stand for, but I haven’t tried to trace ’em myself. Whoever he is, he’s only one of the puppets. It’s their master I want, and more for tne sake of the living than the dead, too!’ He stopped abruptly as a soft knock was heard on the door. John rose and opened it, found Tattam outside carrying a small tray with . tea-things, and motioned him to enter. , “Beg pardon, Mr. John. But if you re going to be much longer I thought you d both like some tea.” “Thanks. Set it down. Did I hear Garrett come in?” “Yes, sir. He’d got lost in the fog, as you thought.” “Has he gone to bed?” “Oh, yes, sir. Shall yofi want me again?” He glanced from one to the other. Freeman shook his head, and John answered: “No. You’d better go to bed, as J suggested.” “Well, I will, sir, thank you. Good night. Mr. John. Good night, Mr. Freeman.” “Poor old chap.. .He . looks, utterly done up,” Freeman remarked. “A good sort is Tattam! . . , You a tea-drinker, Mr. Marten?” “Confirmed. An old South African habit.” “Ah, nothing like it for keeping you awake and your head clear. Sugar, please, three lumps. . . Well now, to resume, I’ll try to piece the thing together, so far as it goes. Like building up one of my patience stunts. But to put you wise I shall have to hark back a bit, and touch on some things you may think irrelevant, though they’re not.. “First of all, about our King of Diamonds. I’ve only seen him close to, and then only for a minute or so, but I’ve heard about him for years, and yesterday and to-day went through some big dossiers in which he figures.” “Police dossiers?” “Not precisely. Up to the present the Secret Services, all over the. world, have been more interested in him than the C.1.D., for he’s much too clever to involve himself in anything criminal. That’s for his puppets. Now, do you remember what you told me when you came to me last week about that South African friend of yours who was rash enough to declare, in company, that he knew for certain that Rodin was at the back of some big political trouble, and that he pulled the wires half the world oyer?" * “Of course I do.” “Of course. And that man was accidentally killed next day. He spoke the truth, to his own undoing,, and I jolly well wish he was here now to’ put us wise as to what he really did know. “However, to get on with it. ror a good many years, ever since the war, and even before it, there has been what the politicians call ‘world-wide unrest, with a succession of revolutions and disturbances, in Europe, Asia, and most frequent if not apparently most impoftant in Mexico and Central and South America. And it’s these last we have to bear in mind to-night. Very few peo-; pie over here know or care about all these upheavals on the other side of the world except those who win or lose by them, but every one of them has had a more or less serious effect on the International Exchanges and world finance generally. Thousands of millions have changed hands, lost by the many, gained by a few. You get me. , “Yes, I think- so. I always was an awful duffer over what is called high finance, though I’ve had to hear a lot about it lately! And I understand what you mean. Go on,” said John.

“I won’t attempt details, they’d take too long, and probably only confuse you. But I’ve just been through the secret official reports of every one of these South and Central American ‘crises’ and revolutions, nearly every one marked by violent fighting, bloodshed, murder, turmoil, and always a big turnover of power—and wealth. “Now when one studies these affairs, one after another, there’s a most curious family likeness, about ’em all, although, in each country, they appeared to arise quite spontaneously and independently. The result is that one is almost forced to the conclusion that behind most of them, anyhow, there was a master-mind, planning, plotting, pulling the strings relentlessly. ' And I’m not by any means alone in believing that mastermind was —our King of Diamonds himself!” “Rodin!” 1 “Nothing definite has ever been traced to him, but his whereabouts were easy enough to trace and record. And mark this, in all the biggest and most daring of these revolutions he was resident in the country, sometimes for two years or more before the trouble broke out—suddenly at the last—living there just as he’s now living here, with his big personal staff, in his fortified house, spending his wealth lavishly, holding aloof from all society, except a chosen few, his dupes, tools, puppets, that he finds in all classes —in all classes! Even in the British peerage, Mr. Marten!”

“You think Lord Martendale is one of his present tools?” “I do. He hasn’t the brains to be anything more than a tool, though he thinks he has!” “I can’t believe he had any hand m the murders!” Join protested sternly. “Nor I, not directly, nor consciously. I’ve never suggested that he had. But he’s one of the tools, nevertheless. . . To get back to Rodin. After every one of his mysterious sojournings, that coincided with or were followed by such sensational happenings, he came out a much richer man. In fact, his wealth is said to be stupendous. -About two years ago he cleared out of the Southern Hemisphere and came to England, to settle down much as he’d done in half a dozen other countries during the war. And it’s incredible that being what he is, he’s abandoned his operations. Much more feasible that he’s merely shifted the scene of them, and his own headquarters.” “He can’t be such a fool as to be planning to bring about a revolution here!” John exclaimed. “He’s not. I don’t know for certain, but I’ve a pretty strong notion that he’s operating chiefly in China, but with ramifications extending, through Russia, to Central Europe ...” “Controlled from London? Why its not possible.” “Quite possible. And far safer and more comfortable for him personally. He has his agents everywhere, or at least wherever he wants -’em. And he has some special object in being here, too. That brings us near home, Mr. Marten. Now has he, by any chance, tackled you about your Marten Line, and the proposed amalgamation with the new International, supposed to have been launched by Lord Martendale?” “Yes, to-night. He said he was quite disinterested, and had no stake in either.” , *‘He would say so! But for all that nes the power behind the International and mqans to control the Marten Line too, by hook or by crook.” “He’ll never do that, if I can prevent

it!” “You’re opposed to the merger? As your brother Sir Joseph was?” “Absolutely.” . “Did you tell him so to-night ? “I did. Decisively.” Freeman looked at him gravely. “Then, Mr. John Marten, you may thank your lucky stars you’re sitting here safe and sound for the moment! “But why, man? Why should he want to control our ships?” “Because he needs ships, and because the reputation of the M al "ten Line stands so high in every port of the world that it is, or has been, like Caesar’s good lady, above suspicion. And unless I m very much mistaken —and I don t think I am—he’s been controlling some of your ships, the Delia, for instance, for some considerable time.” “The Delia!” “Yes, she’s been out for a long time, hasn’t she? Trading chiefly between China and North and South America, sometimes through the Panama Cana . Now, what freights has she been carrying?” (To be continued).