THE ELUSIVE BLACK DIAMOND

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1935, Page 13

THE ELUSIVE BLACK DIAMOND

CHAPTER 11 (continued.) Dan Wayne knocked at the door, anc as they entered at a call from within, hi; . Chief smiled grimly at the sight of the J wound on the detective-inspector’s forej head. He waited for Dan Wayne tc speak. I “We’ve got the final clues, sir,” he | reported. “Here they are." He pullec from his wallet the two sheets of thick . paper which had been in the tin cylinder. I and smoothed them out on the desk before his Chief. The Assistant Commissioner bent forward eagerly. The first paper contained only three lines. But those three lines, written in the neat handwriting of Tim Martin, meant all the difference between success and failure, for they contained the code word necessary to open the safety-vault. Dan Wayne’s Chief picked up the paper and read: The code word necessary to open the vault is the word of seven letters—Peccavi. Remember that the seven keys must also be used. “Excellent!” exclaimed the Assistant Commissioner, “our friend Martin seems to have been quite a learned character with a religious leaning, This word —Peccavi—is Latin, and it means ‘I have sinned.’ What does the other paper tell us?” He picked up the second paper. It ran:— The safety-vault will be found in the converted coast-defence pillbox which I bought and which is called ‘The Retreat.’ It lies nearly on Brightnor beach near Burrschurch in Sussex. The place is known locally as “Timms Folly.” The safety-vault is below the ground level. Remember that any attempt to open it without the code word and the seven . keys, means the probable loss of everything. Two keys are enclosed with which to enter The Retreatin case anything happens to me. “Hm!" remarked the Assistant Commissioner. “He’s certainly very emphatic that something drastic will occur unless his instructions are carried out. Well, here we have all the clues in our hands. We have only to go down to Brightnor and collect the contents of that vault. Is that so, Wayne? By the way, where are those two keys to open The Retreat?” “Here they are, sir,” said Dan Wayne, “they were in the bottom of the cylinder. You realise, sir, that if we just collect the bullion, we shall never get The Black Diamond? Once that bullion is removed, he will have no further interest in this affair. He killed Tim Martin and Mount. I’ve got a possible means by which I think we can get at him and get the bullion without trouble as well, by using the contents of the safetyvault as a bait.” “Better still,” agreed the Assistant Commissioner. “We certainly ought to get him if it is possible. That would clear the case up nicely. What is your scheme?” Dan Wayne bent forward, and rapidly outlined his plan. As the Assistant Commissioner listened, he nodded his head in approval. “Very ingenious,” he said. “It certainly ought to work. I agree with the plan, and you can make your own arrangements. Whatever happens we can’t lose the bullion, and it’s big odds we catch our elusive friend as well. Very good, indeed. I’d better keep these papers, unless you want a copy?” “No thanks,” replied Dan Wayne. “I know the details by heart!” He left the room, accompanied by Fruby, and they made their way to Dan Wayne’s office. The detective-inspector filled his pipe and picked up the telephone. Within a few minutes he began to issue a string of instructions as he moved his men into line, to set a trap which he hoped would snare The Black Diamond.

His telephoning finished, he lay back in his chair, and sat puffing at his pipe, while Fruby chuckled gleefully. “That’s going to put a little salt on someone’s tail,” he said. “But what about his spotting us?” “He won’t spot us,” replied Dan Wayne. “But he will spot someone like us. He can get on and follow them about, while we set the stage for his final appearance in the dock!” His brisk 'work on the telephone soon began to have results, for, within half-an-hour, visitors began to stream into the room. The first was a little bald-headed man carrying a suit-case. As he arrived, Dan Wayne spoke into his house telephone. “Send up McCrea and Gibson to my room,” he ordered. Within a few minutes two men entered. One was a tall, powerful man of about Dan Wayne’s build and height; the other satisfied the same requirements with regard to Sergeant Fruby. “Now you two,” said Dan Wayne, “you’re going to be made up to resemble Fruby and me. When that’s done, you, Gibson, will go out and drive my car to the garage round the corner, and get it filled up with petrol. Then bring it back into the courtyard. You, McCrea, will then go with Gibson and walk out to the gates. I shall come with you. A tall man about your own height and build will be handing round the gate, I hope. As soon as I see him I

| will give you tho tip. You and Gibson will then leave me and stroll along towards him. When you get near, you will say to Gibson, ‘Right. Meet me .here at nine sharp this evening, and we’ll go straight down and examine tire vault.’ Make sure he hears you. At nine you will both appear near the gates, get my car out, and drive it down to Brightnor. After you get there—you will follow the route on this map. Take this key and don’t lose it—” He continued with further instructions, and when he had finished he repeated them until he was satisfied. Meanwhile, the little bald-headed man began to work upon the features of the tall man, until, in a remarkably short space of time he had given him an extremely close resemblance to Dan Wayne. When he was satisfied, Dan Wayne left the room, leaving the expert to continue with his work of transforming the short tubby man, Gibson, into a short tubby Fruby. By the time the work Was completed Dan Wayne returned, dressed in an Inspector's uniform. A few minutes more work by the expert, and the three were ready.

The detective-inspector led tire way from the building, and as they passed out from the gates near where Dan Wayne had left his car, he saw the man he v wanted. Quickly he muttered the information, and waving his hand in farewell, left the others to carry out his instructions.

He saw them halt near the man and guessed at their conversation. Ho saw the man saunter near and then watch the parting of the pseudo Dan Wayne and his fake assistant. Tire detectiveinspector' smiled as he saw the man walk slowly away, evidently satisfied that nothing would be attempted until they met again at nine o’clock. Returning to his office, he turned to Fruby. “Fake yourself up a lot in case the fellow should spot you, and get everything ready. We shan’t be back here for a while—Then we’ll slip out and make our way to East Croydon. We’re picking up three squad cars there. Nobody knows, except the Chief, you and I, what we shall be up to exactly, so there can’t be a leak anywhere. When we board the cars we’ll lead the way to Brightnor, and set the stage for our elusive friend—He’ll be a very black diamond before I’ve finished with him!” As soon as their- arrangements were complete, Dan Wayne left the building, followed at a discreet distance by his assistant. Once well clear of the premises, they hailed a taxi and drove to Station. A fast train took them to East Croydon, and within an hour of their leaving The Yard, three Flying Squad cars, with their loads, were racing along for Brightnor. Darkness had come by the time they arrived at The Retreat and set about surrounding the building. Then, accompanied by Fruby and two other officers, Dan Wayne made his way to the door. He inserted the key, which he had obtained from the tin cylinder, and with torch in one hand and automatic in the other, entered the dark building. Behind him came Fruby and two men, guns in their hands. Nothing occurred to disturb the silence. Save for the furniture, the house was empty.

Quickly Dan Wayne and his assistant made their way down-stairs to the basement, where the safety-vault was said to be concealed, and switched on the electric light. The glare of light shone on the surface of a squat, ugly-looking vault, with seven key-holes and an ingenious dial.

“Wonderful job,” commented Dan Wayne, as he stared at it. “The chap was a marvel. Nothing short of T.N.T. would burst it, I should say.”

He pulled a chain from his pocket, and from the key-ring attached, took the seven keys, and, assisted by Fruby, began to examine the vault door. Each key hole upon it bore a number punched on the metal, and upon a close scrutiny, Dan Wayne perceived that each key bore a corresponding* number. He fitted the keys carefully into their respective locks. Then he spun the dial with the combination word Peccavi.

In spite of his eagerness, he paused a moment before jerking at the handles of the door. Under his pull the heavy dooi’ began to open. So perfect was the system of ventilation that the air which came from the vault was as pure as that in the chamber outside.

He wedged the door back with a couple of iron bars which stood in the corner of the chamber, and, accompanied by Fruby, entered. Presently Fruby emerged, and hurried up the stairs, to return with several men. In a few moments they were busy carrying from the vault the dangerous explosives with which Tim Martin had fortified the treasure against unauthorised intruders.

They carried the explosives down to the shore, and, emptying them into the sea, buried the containers in the sands. The task completed, Dan Wayne felt more secure, and better able to cope with whatever attack might be made. He gathered his men together, and quickly under his dispositions, and, when the time arrived, he put his plan into action. Four men entered the house, while the remainder distributed themselves at points of vantage upon the sands and on the landward side of the building. With his four men Dan Wayne passed down the stairs again to tire vault, Fruby remaining above to guard. Issuing orders, and leaving the four men below, he made his way with Fruby back up to the first floor of the building and stepped over to a window which looked out over the sea. He looked at his watch and nodded his head. “Send the signal,” he said to his assistant. At his command, Fruby lifted the hand-lamp on the floor, and sent a green ray of light flashing out to sea in a pre-arranged signal. From the darkness of the waters two green flashes stabbed back an answering message. Dan Wayne breathed sigh of relief. “Good!” he exclaimed. “I wondered

whether they’d be able to do it in time. Now we’ve covered everything. The next thing to do is to wait for the tiger to enter the trap. He should be nearing the scene by now.” He looked anxiously at his watch, and then he' and Fruby walked over to the landward window and stared into the darkness along the sea road towards Burrschurch. Dan Wayne walked up and down the room while Fruby peered through the

window. Twice, in the distance, showed the lights of passing cars, and each time Fruby stiffened into attention, like a hound on the leash. Suddenly Fruby seized his superior by the arm. “Tlrere she comes!” he exclaimed: 1 know the lights of your car anywhere. Look they’ve flashed the signal!” They both stared into the darkness and saw the headlights of a car dim and flash, dim and flash.

“You’re right,’’ said Dan Wayne. "Stop here. You know what to do—” He ran down the stairs to complete his arrangements for The Black Diamond’s capture. (To be continued.)