THE INVESTMENTS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20056, 20 September 1920, Page 5

THE INVESTMENTS

By JOSEPH Hocms.

CHAPTER XlV.—Continued. This would explain why the dogs returned, Roth J.ion anil Wolf knctff thuvarci and would obey him implicitly-. tor some reasons of his own, or acting on his father's instructions; Bruvard did 1101" wish to be seen, and had taken 'this moans of escaping. But evidently he had come to Cornwall, he had deposited the dispatch box in this secret hiding-place, and then had left. This and a thousand other things, flashed through his mind as he stood there holding the dispatch box in his hand. But ho could think out nothing dearly. His mind was bewildered by all that bad taken place, especially by the discovery of. the dispatch box on which so much depended, and which according to Dick Trecarrel the German agents were moving heaven and earth to get. A great fear .possessed him again, tie remembered his fancies that watchful eyes were upon him, and if the house were under espionage this dispatch box must be a source of iuiinite danger to him. It was now midnight, and ho was alone amongst the foundations of his old home. He would get hack to the library, examine its contents, and then, if it contained what ho hoped, he would at onco put himself in communication with the local police and the authorities in London. Ho turned to ascend the steps, when he was suddenly nearly blinded by a flash of light, and a second later the place was filled with several men. Ho saw the faces of Mr Churchill and flic man who purported to come from France, M. .lules Rcnaud, as well as that of Mr Seth T. Arnold and another which was strange to him. He. did not lose his head, but turned coolly upon them “Mr Churchill, M. Rcnaud!” he said, “what is the moaning of this?” “ I guess it’s unlucky for you that veil know who we arc, Sir Frank,” replied Churchill quietly. 'Hie American clutched his arm as lie spoke while the soi-disaut Frenchman tried to seize the box. “ Why, Mr Churchill? And may I ask why you are here, in the foundations of my house at midnight?” He scarcely knew why he asked the que-tion, but at the time there Reemed notlrug else for him to say, “Yes. I guess you may ask that. Sir Frank, and as you will bo taken good care of I see no reason why you mav not be told.” By this time Frank had gained command over himself; he was .able to understand the hearings of the situation, Of course all the suspicions which had hem aroused bv the first anonymous letter wore based on fact. These people were Gorman spies. s Tliev had come in search of the box which j lie still gripped firmly. They had by some means traced it there, and the rest naturally followed. “I sec,” .and Frank could not help ipcaking 'bitterly, ‘‘you are German spies, thieves.” “ There is no harm in admitting that wo are Germans.” renlied Mr Horace Churchill. “Not hut'what I'm a pond American citizen all the same, and have considerable influence on the other side of the water. As for being thieves, I guess the original thief was some relation to you. .Still we have taken good care that he’ll never steal again.” “ Then yon murdered my father?” . “No, I had no personal hand in that, slut that's by the way. I guess we’ll relievo yon of that box, Sir Frank. It happens to he German property, and it’s of considerable importance.” All this time Frank was thinking furiously. He still held the handle o'? the box, and he was wondering what steps he should take. That he was in the direst danger lie very well knew. He was one against four,' and he had far from recovered from his illness. He might bo a match for any one of them, he might oven escape if there aero only two, hut there were four, each of whom was like a. savage hound, ready to pounce upon him. “ I am sure that Sir Frank will be reasonable,” and another voice spoke now. “ Ah, you do not recognise me: and yet I called on von Lately as Mr Elijah Morse. So. Yes, I am a German. Mv name, which is not unknown in the Fatherland, is Gunz, Herr Gnnz. Eh? You have heard of it. Goot. You know all about the contents of the box you hold in your hands, so_ no explanation is needed. As my friend has told you, we traced it here. But,” and the German laughed merrily, “we were in a difficulty We knew it was in the foundation of Restormel House, but where?—that was the problem. Bv a pleasant rust we got you away to-day—and hoped to keep you away all night, but—yon were very _ stubborn. You see I am quite frank. I learnt more than I think you knew about your own property, Mr Englishman. Eh? You did not know that there was a deep hole, in your shrubbery which led to a tunnel by which we have come here. No? Ah, but 1 was still in a difficulty. Even though 1 got to the house 1 did not know the hiding place of the thing I so much wanted. But you wore very kind, Sir Frank. By the light of vour lamp wo found our wav here. But wo should not have thought it would he here. No. In some secret chamber above, yes, hut not in this onen snaeo Ah, but yon have saved mo from long, weary perhaps difficult searching, and I thank you. Let mo relieve yoi. Sir Jrank and ho moved the soi-disant J ret.chman aside as he put forth hm .’.and Through all this loop; harangue, the German’s voice was smooth and caressing, and Trank, excited as he was. detected mocking laughter in every word. “ There is another thing,” he. went I on. “For it is just as well for a complete understanding to take place; this is Captain Von Buhl who in the first place brought the box from Germany to our Embassy in London, while our good friend Churchill has another name —Rosenbaum. A good German name, eh? As for Mr Seth T. Arnold, he is also a good German—Herr Essler. Now, Sir, Frank. I take that box and you come with us?” .“ Where?” asked Prank. He was still calculating his chances. “I think I had hotter not tell you. But wo will bo very gentle with you. Wo Germans are very kind, very humane, in spite of what your newspapers say, although of course you will have to submit to a few formalities. In the first place you must be blindfolded, and then ” Tho Gorman put bis band in his pocket as ho spoke, and Frank felt himself at liberty. If ho could suddenly dash up the steps, and let the trap door fall before they could roach him, ho could escape. They would be confused amidst all tho passages, and ho could arouse tli;o household before they could again get to him. It was a mad venture, but he mode it. Giving a sudden leap ho rushed towards the trap door; but he never reached it. Ho felt a great pain in his head, while a thousand sparks flashed before his eyes. Then everything became dark. (To be continued.)