THE LOST WORK

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 266, 1 December 1939, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE LOST WORK

By LAWRENCE STOUT

The story so far: Dick Thorne, a 15-year-old boy at Paikapakapa School, is selected by a relieving teacher to return a book which she has read to the class to an uncle of hers, who lives in the neighbouring township. The uncle is a retired trader, whose house, an old vicarage, is a museum of trophies. The book was the story of a man who found a “ Lost World.” That man, the trader told Dick, was none other than himself, Albert Richards. Dick was greatly impressed by Captain Richards, who had led a life of adventure in strange places, and Mr. Richard’s young niece, Evie, whom he met at the same time, also interested Dick. It seemed that Mr. Richards had some interest in Dick, for he had asked him to call as soon as his holidays began. Intrigued also by hints thrown out by Evie, Dick lost no time in complying with the Captain’s request to call again. On calling at the old vicarage Dick almost collided with a car full of angry men. Inside he found the dead body of the faithful dog, Togo, and the unconscious Captain Richards. Dick rode to Dr. Mathieson, the local doctor, who returned with him to the old vicarage. The doctor said that although suffering from a blow on the head Richards would probably live. After making a statement about his discovery of the crime, Dick 'returned home hoping to hear from Miss Campbell or Evie. Dick had not long to wait before Evie arrived in a powerful car and took him to the old vicarage, where Captain Richards offered Dick a job. On the way home from this visit Dick caught a glimpse of a yellow face peeping out of the hotel window, and recognised one of the men he had seen in the car—the men who had attacked and wounded Captain Richards. In a lonely Thibetan monastery a seer predicted the return of a man, also that others were following him. On a lonely Pacific island four men held a council. They were Jim Mathieson, Fritz, a renegade viscount known as “Mr. Smith,” and a Chinaman. Wung. They discussed methods of securing a secret from Mr. Richards, and eventually decided to split into two groups, one of which would kidnap Evie; the other would follow Richards in the hope that he would lead them to the lost world. Dick and Mr. Richards sailed for Singapore on the S.S. “ Port Moresby.” After farewelling them at the wharf Evie went to the station to see her mother off. On the way back she was kidnapped by Fritz. Read on from there.

as the man was known, went to work for a friend of liis bride, named Mike Angelle, only to discover that he was working for an underworld “boss.” In seven years of eventful life in America, Smith learned to throw a knife and shoot to kill. His culture and personal charm were big assets in winning the confidence or friendship of those whose help the gang required. In one of these commissions Smith came in contact with an oil billionaire, who frequently used his gang for killings, blackmail or robbing. Smith learned that behind the imposing fronts of great offices were men who schemed and manoeuvred to control the world’s oil supplies. Some of these men kept private armies on their pay rolls as well as maintaining a vast system of spies.

One day in the winter of 1935 the oil king had sent his private limousine for Smith, with an invitation to spend the week-end at his palace at Miami. “It’s all right,” the millionaire had said in parting. “I’ll fix it with your boss. Leave Kaufman to me. From now on you’re my man —remember that, my man.” The next day Smith took a ’plane to San Francisco and booked a passage to Honolulu. Some months later found him in the Cathay Hotel, Shanghai, as the guest of Dr. Wung-Fei-Wei. A few tables away from Dr. Wung and his guest a large fat man was pretending to read a newspaper in which he had cleverly poked a small hole. Through this he could observe the eminent Chinese drug manufacturer and his guest. Why the large fat man should wish to spy on the Chinese patriot or his host might seem strange were it not that in the fat man’s pocket at the moment was a letter in code addressed to Captain Weiner von Heimrott, of the German Secret Service, which we know as the dreaded Gestapo. A few days later Dr. Wolfgang Drach, a geologist on the advisory staff of a German-owned Chinese mining company, was presented to Dr. Wung at the latter’s palatial home in Kowloon. Dr. Wung was a strange mixture of East and West. The scion of an old Chinese family, with close connections to the exiled royal family, he had been educated at Cambridge and Heidelburg, and had spent many years in America. Dr. Wung could be the perfect Chinese gentleman of the old school, and just as easily as walking through a door, could change his whole personality into a ruthless conspirator. What strange motives lay behind his Jekvll and Hyde life no one can tell." His face is a perfect mask through which only such feelings as he wants to show may be seen. It was more than a coincidence that the subject of his conversation with the German geologist was the same as that of the Englishman Smith. “You are very clever, Dr. Drach,” said the Chinaman in faultless German. “I have been thinking over what you sav, and I would like you to meet a friend of mine, an Englishman.” “Himmel!” exclaimed Drach, or, as we know him, Fritz, “how many more are there going to be mixed up in this? I thought just you and I . . .” “I understand perfectly,” said Wung, “but it is advisable to have this man. For one thing, he knows too much already. For another, he has influential connections.” “Leiber Gott!” cried Fritz. “I have the connections, also the knowledge. There is gold there as well as oil. What else, who knows. Radium, perhaps, platinum, silver, diamonds. ...” “Our friend is interested only in oil,” said Wung. “You are only interested in mining. I want sovereignty. Is that understood?” • “Ya!” said Fritz. “By Hitler I swear it!” The three men sat in conference a few days later at Hbnbui4lsleTbir&,' AV • saying. ‘Vine Lost.-World has • been a legend with my people for two thousand years. In all that time many people have sought to find it, but as the Great One (Confucius) says: “ A purse hidden where all can see is i as difficult to find as the gateway ’ to the World that is Lost.”

The man called Smith whom we saw last on the lonely Pacific island with such strange companions, sat in the lounge of the Hotel Brisbane sipping a brandy and lemonade. In a well-tailored grey suit, he looked the ideal of Saville Row tailors. His sunburnt complexion and cool manner betokened a man of the world. “Mr. Rowlands?” inquired a page boy. Smith nodded. “Radiogram for you, sir. ’ Smith took the yellow envelope from the proffered tray and, like a conjurer, left a shilling in its place. When the boy had gone he opened it and read:

“Two packages arriving 12.30.—G”

Mr. Rowlands, or Smith, as we knew him last, called for another drink and smiled to himself. Row lands to-day, Smith yesterday, perhaps Johnson to-morrow —what did it matter? Pressing against his chest in the inner pocket of his coat was a wallet bulging with £IOO notes no less than £IO,OOO worth, but that was only pin money compared to what he expected to obtain from the same source if present plans were successful. Rowlands, or Smith, was indeed —as Masters had suggested—a peer of the realm. Edward Montague Eustace Algernon Boult, eighth Viscount Scalham, had come into the title a year aftei he had left Eton. Boult, as lie was then known, had been at Oxford at the time. His uncle, the seventh Viscount, had died after an extra severe bout of drinking, leaving his heir his heavily mortgaged estate. Lord Scalham found to his dismay that lus own income, an allowance from lus uncle, had ceased, no further funds being available. Ihe young peer was in debt himself. His infatuation for an American chorus girl had led him to buy her expensive jewellery. When he learned that he was a penniless peer his impulse was to cut lus connections in England and run. If he found fortune abroad lie could return to Lincolnshire and claim his j inheritance. Having reached tins decision and put his affairs in hnkLJte iVas..i}9it Jong in putting) it into effect. A day later he ilvas absent from his classes, and it was found that lus rooms were empty. Lord bcaiham had disappeared. * Not long after that an immaculate young Englishman and his blonde American wife moved into an apartment in Greenwich Village, New York. “Mr. Smith,

OUR SERIAL FOR BOYS AND GIRL

Chapter V.—THE GANG SHOW THEIR H

“ Does he mej Lost World?” asw “ Undoubtedly,” “ 1 have given tlj thought and one If this place is I whole country it I seen often and n<| “ And only thiJ has the clue?” if Wung nodded. I “ He seems a tJ said Smith. him. I “ You have mal .“Oh, yes,” t| dismissed the I worth pursuing. I “ I have learrl Wung, “ that til man interested I Island trader, bj ters.” ■ J “ You know I Fritz. I “ I have met I Wung. “Yes, I Masters, a clevJ men, I suggestl forces with hill happens that he 1 ards.” I “ That make. 1 ! agreed Fritz. “I so, yes,” added 1 is how these I people came to J other they more or less. 1 Not long affl joined the othel tors he had B Smith by revealß his real name What Wunpß mystery to all iB the others suß being a Nazi B working for bi J Masters was p-B turer on his owl These were tl now following ■ From the radicß received SmitM the “ Port Moiß ards and one I surely drained went out of til street phone I structions to I hired. It was tl to twelve. Si| the river bank! and took up ll wharf, where tl was expected. I

At breakfas out Dick 100 l man he had se his porthole, sight. “ Hoa are there, C Richards. “Ten,” said I “ Well, the here, but the 1 isn’t one of tl “ I wouldn’l Richards, maj to ask the I mysterious the morning. I The passenl assortment. I ate, whose rl made him board, began! but gave it I tired. There! a school tel Singapore, a| who appearJ perfume. 'll were Dutchl turning to 9 unpleasantly! one on boar! to do in wJ helping Capli their belol passed so I Dick had a« the idea of I dropped ancl With the! cable for Rl Evie had din have been kl “I might! he, grimly, J “ One thing! safe as Ion! people whc! the Lost A* / The next ■ F ':oick v 3 are* her.”:':.- *; I > “ Bless yfl a waster of ■ we’re up M gang as tcfl We’ll neveH so easily.”H (tI