Sinister Secret

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20388, 31 December 1937, Page 18 (Supplement)

Sinister Secret

By ARTHUR NETTLETON

♦ (Author of “The Mystery of Moorthwaite Manor,* eto.)'

CHAPTER XVI. (Continued.) When he appeared, June noticed the package which he carried, but she gave little thought to what its contents might be. He took a torch and directed a beam of light upon the floor. A trapdoor was revealed, bearing a ring at one end. With few commands other than gestures, llernstein gave his instructions. The door was lifted, and a murmur of surprise arose as the torches shot their light downwards. Beneath the basement was another part of the house. Up through the opening came the lap-lap of water, and, as June peered down, its inky surface threw back the light from the torches. “Everybody get down there,” Hernstein commanded. “You. Grant, stay until the last. You will lower the trapdoor into position again behind you, after I have reached the bottom.” June looked round half appraisingly as she reached the foot of the ladder, in some ways it was impossible not to admire the ingenuity of Hernstein s “escape hole.” If only his genius had been turned to legitimate channels, what a world of benefit might have resulted.

She watched him descending the ladder now, with the package under his arm. Something unusually careful in his steps and actions made her scrutinise the parcel more closely. He was clutching it tightly with one hand, raising only his free arm to aid his descent, though the ladder was vertical and did not offer an easy means of reaching the floor upon which June stood. The fact indicated that the package was of considerable value—so valuable, indeed, that Hernstein would .not give it into the custody of any of his men. What then could the contents be? June puzzled her brain in a halfhearted way to solve this problem—until a trick caused by a beam from one of the torches gave her a clue that sent her thoughts tumbling in her mind. For an instant, the beam of light had projected llernstein’s shadow on the wall. His figure was thrown sideways in grotesque silhouette. The shape of the package was clearly, shown as that of a vase. Only with a strong efTort did June prevent herself from making an audible intake of breath. In a flash, she recalled the Ramaraoh Vase and its mysterious associations with her position. Was this the actual article? The more she considered the facts, the more she became convinced that her intuition was correct. Hernstein broke in upon her thoughts by obtaining a torch again and training it towards the most distant end of the subterranean apartment. The light shot across the black water, and a series of gasps and throaty cries were created as it alighted on the outline of a smart motor-launch. “The boss thinks of everything!” exclaimed one of the men in undisguised admiration. ‘That is why it will always pay you to work with me, and not asainst me,” remarked llernstein, taking advantage of the opportunity to strengthen his authority. He turned to Grant. “You will take charge," he Instructed. “The lady will sit by the tiller with me.” Two minutes later, a low hum was heard, as the almost silent electric motor in the bowels of the vessel sprang to life. Hernstein pressed a switch, and a brilliant shaft of light snot from the bows. It struck a, white patch at the centre of a pair' of doors Just ahead. He extinguished’ the light as this action set a photo-! electrio cell Into operation and the doors began to open without a sound. “Keep low everybody,” he went on, giving a further command. “Cover yourselves with the tarpaulin. Those doors will remain open for only one minute, but we don’t want to look like a pleasure boat if the river police spot us.” When the launch darted forward, fifty seconds later, only a search of the vessel would have disclosed that it carried a human cargo In addition to the two men and the girl seated near the stern. Hernstein continued his orders, but now gave them only to Gram, in undertones. No lights were being carried. and the craft moved forward among the shadows like a shadow itself. Keeping close to the bank of the 'river, it was steered by Grant among the houseboats moored Just ofT the bank. Presently, llernstein commanded that a halt be made. The launch now lay between two boats, one shielding it from the shore ami the other protecting it from the sight of anyone who might he watching from further out In the river. June was not greatly interested in these movements. To her the important thing was that she was going to meet Tony. True, Hernsteln’s promise was not. to he trusted, hut somehow she fell that he would not break it. He had some scheme in mind that necessitated such u meeting, even if he was not to be credited with any other motive. For nearly fifteen minutes the launch lay in hiding, until the purr of a police launch coming down » tie river came to June’s ears. The next movements showed again the genius of the master criminal. Grant received a sharp command, and simultaneously Hernstein switched on the lights of Ins vessel. The action was invisible to the occupants of the police craft, but, immediately it was performed, Hernsteln’s launch nosed out from Hie shelter of the screening houseboats and headed for midstream. The moment had been timed to a nicety. llernstein was working under the rule that an act committed openly is the one least likely to he challenged. He was drawing out behind the police launch, and was soon following it down the river. His plan was so successful that, apart from a few cursory glances at the outset, Ihe guardians of the river took no notice. They evidently assumed that a craft which followed so closely in their wake must he hevond suspicion. The Waterloo and Tower Rridgcs passed overhead, and lo llernstein’s satisfaction the polio.- continued their course. The only hie risk to Ins brazen scheme was that the police might turn aside, leaving his launch t,, continue downstream alone, other police patrol boats might then challenge him. But «** Greenwich was approached, he reduced Ids speed considerably, leaving the police to shoot ahead. When Granl turned Ihe launch towards the hank, the police vessel was out of sight. Squire Stairs were approached in a roundabout way. and it was without a sound or a light that the landing was made. June found herself led into a rickety and apparently disused store shed.

This in turn gave entry to a largs warehouse. A faint odour of petrol fumes came to her nostrils, and as her eyes became accustomed to the gloom she saw three dark cars In the centre of the floor space. Two minutes later, she was accompanying Hernstein through the deserted streets of London in one of the vehicles. A new- phase in her strange adventures had begun. She felt and hoped that It would lead her to Tony. CHAPTER XVII In the Safe “There’s nothing here,” exclaimed Detective-Inspector Briar. He lowered the automatic which he had held before him when stepping into the ground-floor room of Hernstein's house. Professor Darrell made a sound of annoyance and alarm. “They mustn’t slip from us now,” he answered. “We’ve trailed them closer than at any stage so far. If June has been taken away again, we may never be able to trace those fiends a second time.” ‘There is still the rest of the house,” Briar pointed out. He turned to the constables who brought up the rear. All were keenly alert for the slightest trace of the occupants of the house, hut so far the place seemed completely deserted.

“Search every room—thoroughly,” Briar went on. "Not an inch must oe overlooked. We can take it for granted that this building is not built as simply as it appears. There must be a hidden exit, or possible a hideout, incorporated somewhere. Scour it from top to bottom.”

As the men hurried to obey, he turned to the Professor again. “I’ve Instructed that the name of the tenant is to be ascertained,” he said. “That will give us some sort of a lead. If we can discover nothing alse tangible here. That woman Delilah omitted to give me the information over the ’phone, but 1 guess it won’t be hard to obtain. Once we find out who is running this show, we’ll have taken a big step forward, even if we don’t find your daughter immediately.”

He began to walk slowly round the room. Everything came in for close scrutiny. He examined the bookcase in one corner, and moved the pictures aside. To Darrell's enquiring glances he replied with the explanation that he was searching for the safe which was probably to be found. “It's pretty certain that something of the kind eixsts.” he stated. “Everything points to this house being tenanted by a man of taste and comparative wealth. Look at those pictures—genuine old masters. And that pedestal statue—probably worth a cool thousand or so. I'll stake a lot that there are other valuables about. The point is whether they have been kept in a safe—and. if they have, whether it also contains anything that will help us. Our raid has been carried out too quickly for anything but a hurried exit on the part of the gang we hoped to get.”

To two constables who had remained in the room lie gave a command. “Up with the carpet,” lie instructed. “Theu look for loose floorboards. Meanwhile, Professor, shall we try the upper storeys?”

The same disappointment awaited them when they had climbed the stairs, however. A close search of the rooms had revealed nothing of Importance to the constables who had preceded them—nothing except the discovery that a window nas open, and that then was unmistakable signs of somebody’s escape that way.

Downstairs again. Briar re-entered the room which he had first examined. The carpet had now been partly removed, disclosing some of the floorhoards hut nothing more. The constables were engaged in removing the statue so that they might take up the rest of the carpet) and they were experiencing considerable difficulty in the process. Briar and Darrell watched the efTorts with interest; then Briar went to lend a hand. Grasping the statue in both arms, he tried to ascertain its weight. He stepped backwards in amazement, as he felt the object swivel on its base. A further push, and the base had turned at. right angles, regaling a cavity beneath. Briar peered into the secret safe eagerly. “Anything there?” Professor Darrell could not help voicing the question. Briar hesitated before he answered. His hand was fishing carefully. The object which he withdrew brought a puzzled frown to his face. “This is all.” he said. “A chip of pottery.” As the Professor heard the description his Interest suddenly grew. “May 1 examine it?” he said, with a seriousness which to Briar seemed unwarranted. Briar handed over the chipping and watched while Darrell produced a pocket lens. Through this it was subjected to a minute examination. Darrell looked up, and eyed the C.I.D. man piercingly. “Do you know what this is?" lie asked. “Looks like a hit of pot that got into the safe by sonic mischance.” Briar said. “By mischance, yes. But it is more than a mere piece of pottery. The chances are that it is part of the missing Ramaraoh Vase.” Briar whistled softly. "You Egyptologists have me licked.” he remarked. “Am I to believe that you can tell this fact from that bit of a chipping?” (To be continued.)