THE ADMIRALTY’S SECRET.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 145154, 30 November 1916, Page 8

THE ADMIRALTY’S SECRET.

A BRILLIANT LOVE STORY OP SENSATIONAL INTEREST.

A STORY OF THE GERMAN PERIL. By CARLTON DAVE. Author of “The Prime Minister,’’ “Cleodora,” “The Grand Duke,” “Straws in the Wind,” “Tho Shadow of Evil,” Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER XIV. THE DRIVING 0E A BARGAIN.

There can be no doubt that Rudolf von Austermann was exceedingly annoyed at the miscarriage of his plans. Reluctantly was he forced to admit that not alone was ho badly served, but that he himself had been unworthy of tlie trust reposed in him. In brief, he had bungled tho whole affair most lamentably, and he knew that the people on the other side of the water had no use for servants who were unequal to their duties And it had all seemed so easy. Tho girl had performed her task with skill and a determination worthy of the highest praise. It was he who had made too sure of victory, had taken too much for granted, had no considered in all its intricate windings and delicacies the curious characteristics of a woman’s nature. He "had been too sure of her: that was the real secret of tho trouble. Yet ho asked himself how could he possibly have foreseen this untoward development; how could he guess that a woman could treat a man so wickedly and yet love, him too? Never in all Ills experience of the sex had he met such a contrary case, and he flattered himself he knew something of woman and her ways. ■ ' Perhaps ho had not assumed the right attitude towards her during their last interview. Here again his overweening self-assurance had wrecked his chances. Ho had adopted an altitude so far from conciliatory that she had resented it: , had assumed an air of mastership which ho now realised was an error in tactics. Hut of a truth the girl had angered him with her obstinacy, and being something of a bully bo had proceeded to extreme measures. And now once again the prize had slipped through his lingers. It seemed as though fato had determined to thwart him at the very moment of his triumph; and ns he restlessly paced Ins study he ielt capable of any daring to achieve bis ends. He was on this mood when a servant entered with a card, tie snatched tho card from tho tray, looked at it. ami then nodded. The servant bowed and retired, ushering in a few moments later no loss a personage than Mr. Derek Nicholson. , , . Mr. Nicholson advanced with Ins soft, noiseless step and honoured the Herr Captain frith a profound how. The Herr Captain looked at him with sudden interest, then nodded curtly. Though Mr. JCicholson noticed that enrtness, and under his breath muttered “Gorman swine,” he did not permit the surface of his calm imperturbability to become ruffled. “Aivfullv Inckv to meet yon,” he said, “though had a sort of idea_ 1 should. Can you spare me a few mmUt Von Austermann first glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece, which showed fivo-and-twentv minutes past ten, and then nodded. ‘Ho also motioned for his visitor to take a chair, which that worthy did with, a slow elegance singularly exasperating. . “I can give you fivo, possibly ten minutes.” said tho captain in an un- ( era cions tone. He was a man who never wasted tho elements of politeness on certain people. , „ ~ “Ample time, my dear fellqw smiled Mr. Nicholson affably as he helped himself to a cigarette from a largo silver box which stood on the table near his elbow, “ample time to reconstruct tile universe which, .as no doubt roll are aware, consists chiefly of the great German Empire.” “Ach.” muttered the Herr Captain, “hut von seem joyous to-night ” “Quite so, inv noble barbarian, and why not? A'good cigarette, genial companionship, and the possibility of satisfactory business. What more can a man desire?” . “Ach, I believe you have tho business strain in yon.” said the German, a remark which did not meet with the other’s approval. "But there is a possibilitv of satisfactory business then? I am glad to hear that, for to be candid with you, I sec none.” “Like all your race, my dear fellow, von’re much too sensitive, too delicately susceptible to the fluctuations of chance; perhaps also a little brutal in tho conduct of nice matters. Judging from tho very serious expression of your rather severe countenance, you have received another check? Am I right?” , , ,• “What do you know?” asked tho Captain abruptly. “What should I know, my dear fcl“Thab she called at the Admiralty with those plans; that when she left again those plans were not in her possession.” “How do you know that? , “No matter. It is so?” “Maybe you’re right, maybe not. Am I, to understand that you have once more allowed her to outwit you?” The Captain nodded, not thinking it necessary to entertain this young man with a detailed account of how at the very moment of his triumph victory was snatched from his fingers. “Why are you here?” he asked shortly. , “To sec an old friend, of course.What else would bring me?” "Money,” said the Captain shortly. Nicholson smiled. “You mean the want of it.. Perhaps you’re right. What’s it worth to you?” “What’s what worth?” “Tho contents of a certain little brown bag.” . r . “Ah, then you have it” The Captain was now wide awake, his every movement betraying concentrated anxiety. “I aid not say i had it.” ■’“You know of it—you know where it is?” “I did not say that either. I merely asked you what, it was worth to you.” “Two—three hundred pounds—perhaps. I must first sec it. It may be of no value.” “Precisely; and you have no intention of buying a pig in a poke. Of course, it’s usual for you concentrate ypur energies in striving to possess that w’hich is of'no value?” “Look here, my young friend, I think we understand each other.” “We ought to.” “Bring that bag along, with its con-

tents intact, and it will bo worth five hundred pounds to you.” ‘‘So much I You overwhelm mo, my* dear fellow.” ‘‘lt’s just possible,” said von Anstermann grimly, ‘‘that it may not be | worth even one penny to yon. Vi onl(i you care to bo overwhelmed in that fashion ?” “A threat?” said the dther, his oyos working ominously. ‘‘Who’s going to believe you?” “People will believe anything that is detrimental to one’s good name. Even now it’s just possible that some few inquisitive person.; may wonder how yon go to- Monte Carlo, and play ehemin-de-fer, rather heavily too. at some of the most exclusive gambling hells in London. Of course, I don’t say anyone would really consider yon worthy of serious inquiry, but if such a. thing did happen it might be awkward, oh?” “T never boggle at problematical dangers,” said Nicholson with a curious smile. ‘‘Besides, one wins at times, you know, rather largo sums. I’m out to win a raliter large sum now.” “How much?” “Five thousand pounds ” “You English patriots know the value of money,” he said with a sneer. ''Men and women, yon arc all alike. I congratulate you on your ambition, if not on a true reading of the German character. Then you do, think wo buy pigs in pokes, eh?” “Even Germany is not always infallible, At the same time I think you will pay a good sum for what you want. I think also that it is just possible that you may bo willing to pay a good sum for the contents of a certain brown bag.” “But first I must know what arc the contents of a certain brown bag. There art) many brown bags in London. One could buy a considerable number of them for'much less than live thousand pounds. • It’s a lot of money, my friend, and ought to go a long way.” “Quite so. What do yon think of it ns a business proposition?” : “First I must know your business ’proposition” “Look hero, don’t you think we’ve had quite enough of this heating about tho bush? To come to the point, my dear von Austennann, suppose I am able lo lay my hands on certain important documents, arc you willing to purchase them?” “Mot at that price, my dear fellow; you drive too hard a bargain.” “You have already lost them once through excess of caution. What arc you prepared to give?” ‘lf thev are what I imagine they might bo' worth a thousand pounds. But I must soo them, examine them. It’s just possible that they may be of no value at all.” “Double tho Bum and they are yours.” Tho two men watched each other keenly, but with totally different thoughts. Tho German did not even make a pretence of hiding tho contempt lie felt for this miserable little traitor who owned allegiance neither to the country of his origin nor to that which granted him full rights of citizenship. But it was his business to bargain, to buv secrets, and he could not be scrupulous as to his methods, or with whom he associated. Nicholson, on tho other hand, in spite of an untoward appearance of calm, was inwardly seething with anxielv. He wanted this money badly—so badly that ho was prepared to wade through any moral obliquity to obtain it, and his impatience and vexation were such chat he felt like dashing his fist into those hard contcmnluons eyes. Only ho was not the sort of man ever likely to use physical force upon an enemy. His weapons were chicanery, double-dealing, anti the innuendo that stung like a stab m tho von Austennann nodded. “When?” , ~ Nicholson thought for a. moment. It was obvious that tho soonor ho rid himself of those tell-tale papers the better; one never know what might happen with such incriminating evidence in one’s possession. . “Why not to-night?” he said. “X’resently I must go to an official reception at tho embassy. I shall not return till late. To-morrow. “Very well, then—to-morrow. “At this time?” “At this time.” , , , , Von Austorraann did not shake hands with him at parting, an omission which, if noticed by Nicholson, did not seem unduly to distress him. He was thinking of tho two thousand pounds, and how it would enable him, to meet certain pressing contingencies. What a bit of luck that girl coming to him with the recovered papers! He glowed with satisfaction as ho stopped briskly along tho street; his head was in the clouds, his eyes among the stars. Had they not been he might have noticed a female figure slinking along on the opposite side of the road. As it was, ho swung on quite oblivious of tho fact that a pair of keen eyes were watching him, and that a keen brain was wondering what could have taken Mr. Secretary Nicholson to the house of the German Naval Attache. . As a matter of fact, it was not without great misgiving that Eunice Morion

had left th*. prcciwfls bag in charge of the secret'"'.v’. Scarcely had she quitted the of the Admiralty before realising that she had don© wrong. Yet what could she do in the circumstances. To have taken it with her would have meant incessant danger, and probably its ultimate loss. For she was convinced that with it in her possession she would not be safe from attack, and after all, she knew nothing against this man Nicholson, and ho could have no conception of the contents of the bag. In fact she rather prided herself on the cleverness of her manoeuvre. It is true his personality did not appeal to her, hut just, then she admitted that she was suspicious of everything-TOnd everybody. And yet, if she could not leave it in the safe-keeping of one of Sir Rupert Almayno’s secretaries, with whom could she leave it? And now she saw him come from von Auslormann’s house and walk away in the night. What was ho doing there; what business the First Lord’s secretary with the German Naval Attache? There was, of course, no reason why the men should not be good friends. They would almost he sure to meet each other in, society, particularly that society as represented by officialdom. This iu itself was nothing, would, have meant nothing to her in other circumstances. But there wore certain fans, incidents, happenings which could not be ignored. And she had not been impressed by the manner of Mr Nicholson. She knew nothing but dire necessity would have induced her to leave that precious bag in his keeping, and having left it she no\ci t had a moment free from the most intense misgivings. It was this nameless fear which had urged her to loiter opposite von Austermnnnhs house. A fear which materialised alarmingly when she saw Derek Nicholson make his appearance. The time, the place, and the knowledge of what was in his possession. all pointed ominously to but one explanation. Mas Nicholson a traitor in league with the enemies of Ins country? , Much that had hitherto seemed mysterious slowly began to unioln itself. All along she had guessed that in the pav of von Austermnnn was someone with an inside knowledge of what was being done and thought at the Adnuraltv. In fact, von Ansfermann bad Ircnuontly hinted ns much; without such authority he could not have known the secret of Alan Radley. Was Nicholson that authority ? At the corner of Eaton Square he hailed a passing taxi and jumped into it. ft would have boon futile for her to follow even if the opportunity had presented itself. She watched the taillight of the enh disappear round the corner in the direction of 1 ictoria, and then mechanically retraced line steps; and as she approached the German’s house she saw that the door was open and that a servant was out on the pavement whistling for a taxi. Presently one came noisily along and she saw the Herr Captain enter it. the servant, who held the door wide, closed it softly and an ay the. cab went. Of course she could not toll what had happened; if Nicholson had already disposed of tho plans, or if he had ’merely coma to bargain; but deducing bis actions from her own she hartllv thought that lie would have brought the papers without first making the bargain. One wllo dealt with Rudolf von Austermnnn did not usually do such sillv things. Therclore she felt convinced that whatever had happened Mr, Derek Nicholson had paid that preliminary visit for the smeo of driving his bargain. (To ho continued.)