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Show i . v-7 . Li :j v --v ' j Sgpr TREASURE theory Cq LEOfJ rr ten tiv BRENTANOS INC BY ARTHUR. D. ,'fA tS'SwK howpen smith "Tliey ihpv"ve look 'er, your lud I ship," answered Watkins faintly. "liow? Where? Is slie alive?'' Kins sprang from his chair, wring Ing his lend-. "Oh, my G d ! She is nil 1 have! What has happened? Where is she? Please tell me!" "YYau a minute," said Nikka Quietly. "He's all in. Give him food and some more to drink. That's right, Jack. There's a hottle of whisky ovei there. Pour a stiff dram into a cup of coffee, Hugh." Willi stimulants to help him, and a cold cloth on his head, Watkins regained re-gained control of himself. "It 'appened so quick I don't know rightly 'ow it was," he said. "We 'ad run t beyond the Process islands. and I saw hero was 1 i l tie shipping around, your ludship and gentlemen. And then there was a fishing boat with power bore down on us. Miss Betty and I, we didn't think anything about ir until 'e was right on us. Kven then we thought they'd only lost control con-trol of their rudder like. But when they bumped us and aimbied aboard I knew they wasn't up to no good, your ludship." (To Be Continued) Dear Bet: I've broken my arm, which explains "this abominable writing. I never could do anything with my left hand. Don't worry. I shall be fit in no time. Can you come with the bearer, or if that is not convenient, with Watkins. to the house in Sukaki Masyeri? It's important. impor-tant. Can't write any more. Hugh. P. S. The others are all- right, The bearer can't wait. "Can y ti beat that!" I gasi-u!. "Exceedingly ingenious," murmured King. "Dear me, how fortunate it was that we r 'turned when we did." "We mustn't leave anything to chance, though," said Nikka quickly, "you can't tell what other steps they may have taken to trap her. We had better go down to the dock at once.': Hugh glanced at the clock. "Yes, she'd hardly be back yet," he muttered. "One moment. I'll leave word at the . desk that she is not to go out, no matter what message she may receive, until we return." He rejoined us at the door, and we all entered a taxi which Nikka had impounded im-pounded Nobody said anything, but while we were jolting into Galata Hugh produced his automatic and made sure it contained a full clip. At the dock there was no sign of the Curlew, Cur-lew, and the late afternoon sunlight failed to reveal her stubby little hull amongst the shipping in the Golden Horn. None of the dock attendants had seen the launch or anything of Betty or Watkins since we lad waed good-by good-by to them bjfore three o'clock. We waited a while, thinking they might show up, but after six o'clock-King o'clock-King became nervous and persuaded us to return fo the hotel. There, too, there was no word of them, and we began to worry in earnest. We taxied to the dock a second time. The Curlev was nowhere to be seen. "Perhaps it would be advisable to hire a boat and search for them in the Marmora," suggested King. "Their engine may hive broken down." "We had better split our forces," Nikka objected. "Engine trouble would never bother Betty, Hugh said. "Still, I don't like It." "We are probably worrying about nothing," I said. "After all, It was a blessing In disguise that she stayed out so late. It insured against her being be-ing caught by that note in case we hadn't Intercepted it." "I'm not interested in 'If and 'had' " snapped Hugh, "I don't like this delay. Those devils of Toutou's are capable of having an extra trick in reserve." "1 vote we go back to the hotel," proposed Nikka ; "maybe I can pick up one of my gypsies. We could start them out on the trail." Nikka's suggestion did not make anybody any happier. It . indicated that he, like the rest of us, was commencing com-mencing to take the situation more seriously than he cared to admit openly. open-ly. But we climbed into the smelly taxi for the fourth time, and were jounced up to Pera. The hotel people regarded lis with some amazement when Vernon King again inquired for his daughter. No, she had not returned. re-turned. Was anything wrong? King hesitated, looked at us. It was hard to know what to say. Something might be wrong. And yet the chances were that the only thing wrong waa a cranky motor. We didn't want publicity. pub-licity. We couldn't afford to attract unnecessary attention. Our party was sufficiently conspicuous, as It was, and was taken for granted and let alone because It Included an American Ameri-can millionaire archeologist and an English milord, both of whom, by all the rules of the Orient, were naturally assumed to be harmless lunatics. "No," he answered at length, "1 think not. My daughter has a reliable servant with her. I am Blmply anxious anx-ious for her return." The hotel management were all sympathy. sym-pathy. Monsieur need not worry. Let him dine in comfort. The instant Mademoiselle Mad-emoiselle returned or word of her arrived ar-rived he should be apprised. In the meantime, why concern himself unnecessarily? un-necessarily? "They're right," said Hugh as we grouped In the lobby, canvassing our next step. "We've had a hard day, and we need food. Let's eat. By the way, Nikka, did you see your gypsies?" gyp-sies?" "No, and if anything much had gone wrong, I think a' least, there's a strong probability they would spot It sooner or later and report to mo." "Obviously, we have done all we can for the present," said Vernon King. "Hugh's suggestion is a good one. Terhaps food and a rest will sharpen our wits." We went to the Kings' sitting room, where we had breakfasted that morning, morn-ing, and sat down wearily, discouraged, discour-aged, disheartened, more than a little dismayed. But as my uncle had said, food and wine and black coffee brightened bright-ened our despondency. We were on the point of deciding that the best policy pol-icy wo -Id be to risk dividing forces, sending Hugh and Vernon King on a chartered boat to scour nearby waters, while Nikka and I attempted to Investigate In-vestigate Sekaki M.iyseri, 'hen Watkins Wat-kins entered unannounced. lie was very pale. Ilia cellar was streaked lib blood. There was an ugly hump on the side of his head, lie (intu.ued tee fo..' aft the other. "Oh. jour ludship," be murmured, and li . pped itstu a chair. At once lie strove to rep;. in his feel, bur o..i:;;)'.;c.l ft?'tin. j "I lug o'.:r pnrdxn. I'm sure yont (load 'heat I a; .-I;- my 'cad a:'.,! Hugh sci.tcd a pluss of chat-payne and i-Hn V.l it to !..! ling list g!r.s to h's 1:; s. "When? is" Hush's torque bog-gIedJV!tyJs bog-gIedJV!tyJs jiame. CHAPTER XI Continued. irdowrTyoTr hand," said Hugh '"life treasure is somewhere around T.kllji's house," answered Hilyer irnmntly. "That's certain. To get to Hou've got to get into Tokalji's .' se. What's more, you've got to be ' e t0 stay awhile in Tokalji's house. And "oo can'( d0 lt Xou Uaveu': got a Ince of doing it 1 But let's suppose .'miracle happened, and you found the chance." He dropped his cigarette, Ma leaned forward, driving his clenched fist into his palm 'o empha-ize empha-ize -very word. "Still, we've got you stopped. Ho? Hilmi's friend, Mah-vijuf Mah-vijuf Pasha. We've made arrangements ,ri'li him, whereby in the event that w -he up hope of any better deal, w Enounce you and your treasure to ),itn fie will then convey the information informa-tion to the imperial government, and In return for his public service and lor our ("stance, he and we will be presented with a stipulated percentage of the treasure, as recovered." 0e sat back on the couch, and crossed his knees. "Those are good cards, providing they are played right," Hugh admitted. "But how is the imperial government going to secure the treasure's location froifl us?" "If they don't secure the Information, Informa-tion, nevertheless you won't get the treasure. To be quite plain with you, our plan, In the event of the contingency contin-gency I have outlined, would be to give yoo an opportunity to get to the treasure treas-ure before calling in the government." "Yes, that would be the way to do It," said Hugh, nodding impersonally. "What's your proposition?" "Seventy-five per cent to us, twenty-five twenty-five per cent to you." Hugh laughed at Hilyer's offer. "I thought you wanted to talk business," busi-ness," lie jeered. Helena tossed away her cigarette. "You're playing it too fine, Montey," flhe remarked. "Will you talk on a fifty-fifty basis, Lord Chesby?" Hugh turned to her. "I don't know," he said frankly. "1 writ to think it over. I'll admit that by calling in the Turkish government, you could stall me and yourselves. Cut how can I trust you? What guarantees guar-antees can you give us?" "No guarantees we could give, you .would be binding," she answered with insolent smile. "What's more, we 'don't have to give guarantees. We "old tlio whip-hand. You've no alternative alterna-tive but to trust us. As to thinking II. over-" she flung a glance at Hil-jw. Hil-jw. who nodded "comb back tomorrow. tomor-row. We'll give you that long." Til take as long as I choose," returned re-turned Hugh, with a flash of temrjer. And understand me, I mean what 1 .say when r tell you that any compromise compro-mise between us will be based on what e consider satisfactory guarantees." UHyer yawned lazily. "Don't like It, do you? Doesn't feel wmfortnble to be spurred. Well, suit yourselves. So far as we are concerned, con-cerned, remember, we'd rather come to 'tmis with y0U. We stand t0 get more 0111 of you than from the Turkish gov-'""wnt. gov-'""wnt. But if you try to trick us e won't be beyond denouncing yon, at the cost of losing any share at "T,'at goes," added Helena de Cee-Hk's, Cee-Hk's, rearing her mhe body erect, all nrl i ? ' lanSuor sone. "You people ' hacking a losing game. The cards ""matter what you do." rid , SPe nl)0ut t,lat" sal(3 uush. bo,.,', 8 spot of red 011 each cheek tP f one si-n ot the white-hot an-t"at an-t"at seethed within him. lust you go?" asked Hilyer, his nil in0SUmcJ- "Au 'voIr- EtU-'' EtU-'' M1 you see thera out?" CHAPTER XII Our Backs to the Wall more , i R'7 "wed us out- llls sullrk , th,7rS? than ever- " seemed to :jov m ? ad a Perfect right to en- wd L p rlnre- We f0,t that we me cft (1Istlncty sccnnd begL el 7 !hom" re'"'ked Hugh, 5 AS our slu,cs- "We're If (fein0'!'1 If'" 1 Jocted. "And whore'.' w""1dn't got them nny- "i;"t (',,. "touted Hugh. MWve t S, he (,0,a-v' Thi es-fi'ivver' es-fi'ivver' v nUd WG rai,,t on wl.jw' v'e eii'd wear them out, 110111 wrons!" exclaimed "wmber V1"- "Y1" must re-'iop re-'iop T.i,lt yu are in Coustnnti- ,h,.v do f,on,t ll;,l,l,pt) here as .,c 1,1 I'.m-ope " 3cxtc!;,'Uiule is in Kurope," I ob- .lll ronnT ''"'I'tly felt like the fool lionstrated me to be. "Nikka Tavo'fed niewiTh a withering glance of contempt. "We are not talking in terms ol geography, but of human nature," he said. "This is the Orient. You ought to realize that, Jack, after what you have seen with me. And In the Orient, f and especially in Turkey, such a graft deal as Hilyer made with Mahkoui Tasha would not escite any interest, much less condemnation. It's the reg ular tiling." "You forget the allied high commls sioners," interrupted King. "No, I don't. They can go only just so far. Their position is delicate enough, without imperiling their prestige pres-tige by interfering in what, would be strictly a question of Turkish internal government. They'd know that a windfall such as this treasure would be used simply to further Fan-Islamic intrigue and bolster the coffers of the Nationalist government at Angora. But for that very reason they wouldn't interfere. 1 tell you, it would be the height of bad luck for us if the struggle strug-gle for the treasure took on a political tinge. It would be fatal. We might as well pack up, and go home.'1 "Guess you're right," assented Hugh thoughtfully. "It looks as though we were pocketed." "What puzzles me is why they didn't try something like this before," continued con-tinued Nikka. "I fancy they wanted to be very sure of their man first." "Surely, they won't have told him I" protested King. "Who? MahkoufV Oh, no. They're too wise. No, they've simply explained to him the general proposition and arranged ar-ranged tentative terms. They won't trust him any farther than they have to." "Is lt your idea that we've got to accept their offer?" asked Hugh. "It Is my idea that we've got to use our -vIU, and act quickly," said Nikka. Nik-ka. "But you can't trust them," I cried. "Helene as much as told you so. We'd get the stuff out" "If it's there," Hugh reminded me. If it's there then, and they would think nothing of Jumping us, either by force or by somj d d trick." "They might even stage a fake holdup hold-up on the part of a government agency," Nikka added cheerfully. "In plain language, their proposition proposi-tion is : heads we win, taila you lose," said Hr-h. "Yes, supposing you permit them to take the lead from your hands," agreed Nikka. "However, I am reminded of a memorable address I was once privileged priv-ileged to listen to as a soldier of the Legion. A general named Foch read us a citation, and then told us how to go on winning mora '1 have noticed,' he said, 'that lt is the soldier who attacks at-tacks who wins battles. The Initiative is the price of victory. Never permit your foe to assume the Initiative. Attack! At-tack! Always attack!'" "True," assented Hugh. "And we've been able to stall their gang so far by taking the initiative." "But if we can't?" inquired King. "Optimism is all right, but" "Optimism is all we've got," Interrupted Inter-rupted Nikka. "We have our backs to the wall. This is the time to fight, if fighting will get uti anywhere." "If it willl" echoed Hugh. "That's what we have to decide," said Nikka. "You can't work out a problem like this in the street," We walked the remainder of the distance dis-tance to the hotel at a breakneck galt. As we entered the lobby one of the clerks came from the office and accosted ac-costed Hugh. "Your messenger would not wait, milord," he said. "Mees King had not returned. Indeed, she has not yet returned." re-turned." "Aly messenger?" repeated Hugh, with a startled look at us. "Yes, milord. He said he must see her. When I told beein she had gone out he left your letter for her, weeth instructions that I present it as soon as she came in." Hugh's face creased into grim lines. "Very well. As long as she has not yet returned, I will take it back." The clerk went to the mall desk, and plucked an envelope from Betty's letter box. Hugh thanked him, and turned it over In his hand. It was addressed ad-dressed in an extraordinarily scrawling scrawl-ing hand to ".Miss. King." In the low-in- U'tt-liai.d oinn-r was written: "i'.y messi'ng;'i" "But it looks mulling like your handwriting." hand-writing." exclai::u'd King. "1 am at a loss to comprehend how persons so adroit as our opponents have demonstrated demon-strated then, selves to be could ho, e to secure sueeess by means of such a shallow trick.1' ; "We'll see." returned Hugh brusquiv ly, slitting the envelope. ' It held a single sheet of paper. On it was written iu Hie same scrawling hand: - - |