THE SECRET EXPLOSIVE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 227, 30 October 1909, Page 4

THE SECRET EXPLOSIVE.

"Miss Balfour, sir." - "?av I'll be down in one moment, Griffiths," replied Kenneth Graham. "Miss Balfour haa come up, sir. Kenneth, Lord Mapledona private secretary, was locking away the papers o- which he had lien working late at the War Minister's residence, and Manced up with a look of surprise on his handsome, alert, clean-shaven fare. Having to return to Berkeley c finish some work on the night of La<l\ } Glamor™aa's reception, he had arranged with Muriel that she should pick mn , nn on her way there, and had promised tlf be ready at ten o'clock to join iier in . I '''"Muriel" "he exclaimed, his surprise ! deepening into astonishment aai she entered dressed not for the reception, u in a plain walking costume, and wearing a She'stood' close | h ®/°° r v XT si''h servant went out, and then, with a si li which ended in almost, a sob, she made a neature of profound distress. I "My dearest, what is the matter. ■ turned to her with outstretched hands. To his further dismay she a Pl> raiTl at first to shrink from him. "Muriel 'mv dearest," he began agam, striving to take her' hands. But the nexmohis own were seized, a 'pa« 01 handcuffs were snapped upon bis and the barrel of a revolver wa» thrust make trouble, Graham. V i;^ e T o, Tt" was Muriel's younger • brother, a dissipated wastrel with an ' "2y"s P rm Alec." was the reply, spoken with a'"rin, as the voung fellow pushed 1 „„ the veil which had concealed his thin, • features. «T knew Muriel ™ ■ coming. so I borrowed a dress of h;rs. ' I want the secret of that new explo»i • ' T know the papers are here, and T mc.i !„ ilnvc them. Tf von don't give t iem ; I 1W I'll i.low your brains out. and takei • for mvself. , Mwavs cool and collected m face of a II rrisis. Kenneth cheeked the impulse to ". f or nmist'inee. A moment's reflpc- " tion showed him that if the papers were PI taken Muriel herself would he involved. as the servants had been fooled by the

impersonation, llid own wits must save .tic situation, if it could bo saved. "Quick, Graham, which is it to be?" demanded Alec threateningly, but weakening uuder Kenneth's steady gaze and ' stronger will. "It's got to be oue. or the 'other, and it's a matter of minutes. I'm desperate for money; and Muriel herself i will be here soon." The last sentence gave Kenneth his cue—to make delay, "How much?" hej ,usked. ' | | "Thousands more than you can pay.i Don't fool me." | I "Tiie paper* arc in that bureau ,von-| der ami uie keys are on tin- duik-Ii in my pocket. 1 can't givo you cither keys or papers while I'm hamk-uft'ed. Take these oil, and I'D gel yon what you want." "Very likely," was the sneering repry. "Turn round," he added truculently. Kenneth obeyed, and the keys were taken from his pocket. "Xow go over to the bureau, and show me the key." They crossed the room, Kenneth having pointed out the key, and the young fellow made a nervous, rapid search. "Vou are trying to fool me!" tie ericd angrily, the search proving futile. I "They are in the safe concealed behind that secret panel at the back. It !opens with secret spring*, "ml the two keys are on the secret bunch there." "Open the panel, then, and be hanged to von.' ;

"How can I like this? There s a spring on each sitle of the bureau, and I can't stretch my arms to reach them with my ihands fastened." Alec turned on him with an oalh. ■"You're only trying to waste time. Tell me how to do it/without iny more fooling." Kenneth observed -that the hand winch held the revolver was trembling nervously. "I'll tell you, of course. Jfvc no choice," he said, with an affectation of great alarm. "Take that shelf out and you'll see the springs wooden knobs —one on each side. You 11 see I can't possibly reach them." Alec shot a glance of suspicion at him, and then tried unsuccessfully to move' the shelf with one hand, while holding the pistol with the other. "You pull out your end," he said sharply. Kenneth shook his' head. "1 J can't," he said hesitatingly. "If you refuse I'll fire, by G . Will you do as I tell you?" "X—l daren't, Alee." "You'd rather lose your life, you mean?" "You can't get what you want. lon wouldn't even if you were to shoot me, was the reply in the Bame faltering tone. "11l see about that." And once again the barrel of the weapon was thrust lgainst Kenneth's forehead. But he 'auged the other's indecision. ' "For Heaven's sake, don't fire," he nurnmred, and Sank into a chair as it yvercome with fear. , "I'll give you ten seconds—no more, •ried Alec, standing over him with a »loating smile as lie cointed them ott. ' Kenneth threw up his hands and rose Jowly with a heavy sigh. "You'll rum ne, Alec," he murmured. The young fellow, completely deceived >y this apparent obedience, was falling lack a stsp when Kenneth with a sudlen rush seized the revolver in his two lands and wrested it away. A short, harp struggle followed, in whion Kenleth, by far the more powerful of the ,wo, had much the better of it, despite he handicap of the manacles. "Don't force me to brain you, you ] •ouno' idiot," lie cried'; but the other ,aid no heed, fighting desperately to recuse his right hand and hitting out iciously with his left. But he was orced baek across the room to the door nd Kenneth, seeing 110 other way, hail. aised the revolver -for a heavy Mow,, ,hen they heard Lord Mapledon s sonoius, penetrating voice. "This way, Miss Balfour." . | With a groan of terror Aloe gave in nd dropped on his knee. But the candal of the thing had still to hi., verted, if possible. I "lean save you, you fool, whispeitd, lenneth, dragging him to In? ,^ et | liese infernal things off mv wn»K There was only time for Alec, who ,'as no\t trembling in-a sweat of > eal » o find the key and unfasten 0,1( - 0 hem; and Kenneth dashed back, closoU] he bureau, and slipped on Jus overcoat. | Pull down your veil and hold \pm ongue. whatever happens, ith, hat lie put his hand in Alec s ar.ll he etter to conceal the handcull. sii.it.il n 'lii< hat and turned to the door jii.i s Lord Mapledon anil Muriel entered he room. . The latter started violently at in, with his arm linked in his com .anion's;, but Kenneth, cool and read., ,-itted. assumed an air of Pl™*'' ll " ,rise "Muriel!' he cried. liy. I w* ust coming fur you, a-: Alice said vo. ouliln't conic here. Lhis is Ml " "'J 1 , oar's younger sislor Alu«\ t 1 • (./eplained, inventing' the relatn>iishi| rir l. ird Mapledon's benefit. "Alice?" exclaimed Muriel sharply, in [i.fnant at finding iicr lover in this coin .vomisiii" situation; anil she was aliou o repudiate it when lie interposed. "We were just going, sir, uiilcvs >« yant me," lie said, as the great ma ,n w ed gravelv to Alec, who was »li.u T so violently that he -v0i.1,1 hav alien hail it not been for the stion ;rip on his ai m. . "So. Mr. Graham. J met M»» »■' our at the door and merely broug h , Pl . up," said his lordship; and wit hat the situation would have <> comedy J>ut for Muriels justihabl °riicre is some mistake" she bega nrrrilv. "T must know- • . ' "A verv happy mistake, too. Mnnol. iroke in Kenneth. "T was afraid \o rere 'ill." And he added 111 a dgilig to her: "For God's sake, tint "she disregarded the appeal, l.owew Hid an angry reply rose to .her lip»; t, was checked a« s&e stared IKedlv n "ulster's" dreg's. She started, an I,en laughed hysterically. "Alh* w- « always—always playing tneK*, uiiil, in' hesitating, faltering tones, a .he leant for an Instant against _tlie li ;cl and then turned and led the w.i mstenilily out of the room. Kenneth followed, keeping his mai leled hand concealed in Alec's' arm an Helping his stumbling steps down V ,road stairway. lie mew a "W urea til of relief as soon as they «<>i iafelv in the carriage. thev started Muriels anger r< lived. "Who is this—this person? sli '""Your brother Alee. It was touch an TO that we were not all ruined. <Bu we're safe now, tllanl; heaven." And a, other sigh of relief broke from him. A full explanation follow-ed; and few davs later Alec left Kngland t start as a "remittance man ' in Amciic. liivin" confessed everything about tho> ivho had bribed him to steal the seen of the new explosive. These men were dealt with b\ tl agents of the Government; ami M'i neth's shrewdness and discretion in ui earthing t.he plot swnrcd for him * appointment which enabled mil l<; " the day for his marriage with Mnnc - By Arthur \Y. Marehuioiit. in lcai».>n Weekly. •