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Show 1MK SVOKV SO lt: More th.n riV.Ooo foreign lioo Hlmh bi-c-u i'tit-ll UAHNl'iii-ii lo MrhM iiirftlt-ulv tnvddt-it Che I mlru Slates. liitrlhKf iwo Oitu-er Hruiung h.d diM-ovrred Uiclr tlim hilf a spy In Mcu-o I'lty where he h.tt KAined the CiMtUlelu-o o( Klut'ke And llrAvol, two enemy oltU-ert, but a I'll ATI I IS MV Continued Co'.oiu-l t'l.igwll was asWp at his dosk when lVniung reported at the War IVp.u tnn'iH In mid-afU'riKKm. The O - '"hu-f woke with a start M.J vigorously shook himself Into lull wakefulness. "You've certainly Justified your existence ijiim!" FlagwiU fx-claimed, fx-claimed, smiling at his assistant. "We've already ordered the prompt arrest of all Andes stockholders Innocent and guilty alike. That means the biggest spy roundup In history. We can separate sheep from goats after we've arrested the whole lot. Now is no time for half measures." meas-ures." Bennir.g said, "I'm sorry Bravot got away, sir." "He'll be a magician," Flagwill vow ed, "if ha gets through the nets we've laid for him." As Flagwill turned back to his littered lit-tered desk, his eye fell upon a penciled pen-ciled memorandum. He looked up sharply at Benning. "I've just found another little chore for you to sit in on I very secret party row over successor to the Presidency." Flagwill lowered his voice and spoke rapidly. "A partisan par-tisan intrigue to force Senator Tan- nard. Secretary of State, out of the 'line of succession. It all hinges on the fact that Tannard received an interim appointment from the President Presi-dent last fall, when Secretary Hinges died. Tannard has not yet been confirmed con-firmed by the Senate. "Now, if Congress rejects Tan-nard's Tan-nard's appointment, the Presidency falls by law to Judge Baucom, Secretary Sec-retary of the Treasury. Since Baucom Bau-com is party leader and wheel horse, it is likely that a swift party coup will bring this about, as Tan-card Tan-card may not want to make a fight for his confirmation under all the N circumstances. Oa reaching Capitol Hill a few minutes before four o'clock. Ben-r-.r.g passed the House Chamber, went downstairs, and took the tunnel-trolley across to the Senate Office Of-fice Building. The selected senators, leaders of the party in power, were just arriving ar-riving when Benning reached the Baucom conference room and was -v- admitted by a Baucom secretary-Secretary secretary-Secretary Baucom rose promptly when the door closed on the last of those he had summoned. Baucom was a large man, square-faced, straight-lipped, with friendly, level gray eyes. "Friends, I must announce that there will be a slight delay," Baucom Bau-com said abruptly. His eyes ran slowly from face to face as if to test the mettle of those present against what he had to say. "I have just sent for Secretary Tannard." Benning saw an interchange of astonished glances among those present and felt his own brows knot at Baucom's astounding announcement. announce-ment. Tannard long had been known as the particular political foe of Secretary Sec-retary Baucom. "My reason for asking Tannard here," he said in a low, determined voice, "is I consider him the man best qualified among all of us to ead the country through our present pres-ent crisis." Senator Vren, veteran Senate leader, was on his feet. In his taut face was reflected the prevalent astonishment as-tonishment at Baucom's invitation to Tannard. "Please be informed, sir, that I consulted the majority opinion before be-fore we came here. Therefore, I speak their opinion as well as my own when I inform you, sir, that it is your distinguished self we intend in-tend to name President of the United Unit-ed States, and this by the simple method of disqualifying Secretary Tannard." Baucom's face softened to a serene smile, but he slowly shook his massive gray bead. "I appreciate the honor you pay me, Vren," he interrupted. "But we face an emergency, gentlemen. In which men are going to surrender their lives to their sense of duty just as Captain Boll did. That makes it very easy for me to surrender so small a thing as my personal ambition. ambi-tion. From now on we must re- solve to smash party considerations. Our national crisis is serious enough without divisions among ourselves. I must set a personal example and confess to you frankly that I am too old and lack the vigor and, frankly, the abilities that are needed need-ed at this time." He paused a moment, his eyes fixed defiantly on Vren. then he went on in a milder voice. "If your minds, gentlemen, are free of purely partisan prejudices, you will not challenge my proposal of Tannard for President. Tannard has comparative youth and vigor. As Secretary of State, while he is oew in that position, he is the lawful law-ful successor, unless we disqualify him on mere technicality. He has brains and guts and he has both feet on tne ground. He is the man we need to lead us in this emergency, emergen-cy, and I intend to do everything within my power looking to his confirmation." INSTALLS! MNT 1 Ol KTia.N hlk WAiutliiift hAd gone unheeded. The !'rewten! w.tl killed when Washington a boutlied. (ieneral Itrtll, roniiiinnder of thv V. S. army In Texas, wai on-loed on-loed by greatly uieilor toreei led by V.in ll..srk. In nlle of Unit's del-perate del-perate reslalanee. Van llasek' lrooii pushed relentlessly forward. Hemming i; 0; ii liaueom broke olf mid his eyes searched each face again as if seeking seek-ing challenge to the words he hud spoken. Only a stunned silence met him. His eyes lifted and a friendly smile wreathed his face as the door of the conference room opened. A tall, erect man stood at the door, gravely hesitant. "Come right on In, Tannard," Baucom invited. He stepped forward for-ward to extend a toVgratulntory hand and his smile videned as he added, without formUity: "I hope your heart is in good shape to stand a hard shock. Senator. But the gentlemen gen-tlemen present wish you to serve as President of the United States. Your confirmation will be voted without serious opposition." Tannard"! alert eyes searched the room. He was a man of fifty, physically physi-cally fit, appearing much younger than his age. His face was angular, strong-featured. Tannard looked the born leader of men, man of action governed by an active, orderly mind. In his steel-blue eyes there showed no gleam of personal triumph at Baucom's announcement. His emotional emo-tional response was a tightening of the muscles of his Jaw, a drawing erect of his wide shoulders. Tannard gave his answer in a measured voice. "Very good, gentlemen, if that is your decision, I accept Forgive me . . f ..T ,i f, -M ?l-"-::.Vv. mmm 1 "1 hope your heart is good." if I have no platitudes of gratitude to offer, nor promises of performance. perform-ance. I will say only that I deeply deplore the unhappy circumstance that brings about my succession to the Presidency. If your position be confirmed by the Senate I will do my best, and I will expect the fullest full-est support from you and from every ev-ery American. If there is nothing further, gentlemen, I'll excuse myself." my-self." CHAPTER XV Van Eassek's Austrian spy was on hand at the Shoreham promptly at eight the next morning. Fincke was glum and jumpy as they ordered or-dered breakfast, and from time to time cast covert glances about the dining-room. "Why the jitters, Fircke?" Benning Ben-ning asked him. The Austrian took several nervous nerv-ous gulps of coffee and said: "Something's "Some-thing's gone wrong. Bromlitz. I want to get out of this town as quick as possible." "Heard anything from Bravot? "No word from anybody, not since the last time I saw you. I can't figure fig-ure it out, but it's there. Sometimes Some-times I think I'm being watched and G-2 has my number." Fincke pushed aside his unfinished breakfast break-fast and got up. "Come on, Bromlitz, Brom-litz, let's get out of this town!" Benning' asked, as they look a taxicab to the depot, "Did Bravot furnish you with travel authority?" "Last I heard it was all fixed up All we have to do is show up at the gangplank and say. 'Passage for Amsterdam, Stateroom twelve.' " The Austrian turned suddenly to Benning with suspicion glinting in his eyes. "Say, Bromlitz, are you asking for information, or just feeling feel-ing me out?" "Isn't it natural, Fincke," Benning Ben-ning retorted, "for me to satisfy myself my-self you've really got authority to go along? I hope you're not going to spoil everything by getting suspicious suspi-cious of me." "No, but after the deal 1 got from Boggio, you can't blame me for wondering if I'm the goat," Fincke muttered. "Sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way." Fincke's fears relaxed somewhat NEXT WEEK lo Washington, Helming met fr'tnrku who had come Uiere tu do eMilohuge work (or bit goyerunienl, but continued lo pose at a Mend, ltennlng toon unearned un-earned Uie vast spy ring that Wat op-rraung op-rraung In Hilt country lo learu liillllary teerett anil tauotage production. Now continue with the ttory, when he and limning reached New York in early afternoon. They went to Central Park and walked about deserted pnthi until time to go to the pier. Promptly at four Fincke presented himself to a hulking Norwegian first male who slood nt the gangplank of the tramp freighter, a single-funnel steamer. The Fincke formula put them on board without question. Benning noted, not-ed, as they were escorted by a cnb-ln cnb-ln boy to their stateroom, that the decks were deserted, no preparations prepara-tions to sail were In evidence. Fincke promptly slammed the door, peeled olT his cotton coat, and sprawled on a bunk. Benning threw olT his coat, lay down on his berth, and took up the late New York editions he had bought before coming aboard. Later Lat-er he meant to force the Issue of a reconnaissance of the ship in preparation prep-aration for the Navy's boarding party-Headlines screamed the defeat of Mole's Second Division, Uie capture of San Antonio. Mole's truck columns had sped his broken infantry and artillery to a new position near Austin along the Colorado River. There he was organizing or-ganizing a new defensive position, reinforced by Texas regiments. Van Hassek columns were moving on Austin for prompt attack. Van Hassek had taken over San Antonio at daybreak and established headquarters In the City Hall at the old Spanish Plaza. A subordinate. General Alvldo, had taken over the government as military governor under un-der a decree of martial law, hauled down the American flag and hoisted the saber flag over the city. Alvido claimed all of Texas under his decree. A Van Hassek truck column was moving on Galveston to occupy that city, and later. Houston. ! Air raids had extended north last 1 night Fort Worth, Dallas, and Shreveport had been heavily pound-; pound-; ed with the loss of hundreds of lives. ' Terror was sweeping other south- em cities. Li'.tle Rock, Oklahoma J City, Montgomery, Birmingham, , even Nashville and Atlanta were 1 within bombir.g range. There was . no anti-aircraft now available for these cities. Thousands were flce-; flce-; ing into Uie hills and countryside. When he had sketched through Uie ; day's news, Bennir.g sat up and ; made a cast at Fincke. i "What gets me." he complained, "is why we have to go all the way to Amsterdam when there's so much 1 going on in these parts. Fincke." Fincke snapped erect his eyes blazing suspicion, and snarled. "You know damned well we're not going to Amsterdam. Bromlitz! What's your game always feeling me out!" Bennir.g coolly drawled, "Evidently "Evident-ly you suspect I'm a spotter for Boggio or Bravot If that's in your mind, I resent it" "Sorry if I blew up again." Fincke relented. "But we're playing for big game this time, Bromlitz, and you can't blame me for being touchy after what happened before. A Norwegian deckhand brought dinner into their stateroom at six o'clock. Two empty hours followed. At eight o'clock the engines began churning, Uie Norwegian tramp eased out of her berth and headed down the harbor. Fincke brightened as the ship cast off, then was attacked by a restlessness restless-ness that set him pacing Uie litUe cabin. Dusk slowlx deepened into night Benning knew that Uie ship was spotted by Navy observers, that they would take no chance of letting her slip out of Uie harbor. He chafed under his inability to break further into the Fincke confidence or to effect ef-fect a survey of Uie ship' passengers. passen-gers. The Austrian suddenly seized his cotton coat and straw hat "All right, Bromlitz!" he exclaimed ex-claimed excitedly. "It's nine o'clock and pitch dark. Here's where we move out!" Benning followed Uie Austrian down Uie unlighted deck. There was a black huddle of figures at Uie rail where Fincke halted. Benning'f straining eyes, now adjusted to the darkness, made out that Uie figures were moving over Uie side. In a moment Fincke vanished. Benning hesitated, then groped his way down the Jacob's ladder. Al ' the bottom a gasoline launch chugged tenaciously alongside ir choppy water. As Benning, following follow-ing the others, stepped precariously aboard, Uie launch cast off. In the vague light shed by a lantern lan-tern in Uie bow of Uie launch, Benning Ben-ning slowly counted noses. There were five passengers, two boatmen. Benning saw that the man besidf whom he had found a seat was noi Fincke. An intuition warned him his eyes verified the warning s h traced out Uie man's profile. Th passenger at his elbow was Bravot Van Hassek's fugitive spymastei silently stared into the wet night Benning's hand sought Uie pockel o his cotton coat and released th safety lock of his automatic. ITO BE COTIM ED) 1 |