Hancock Harrie Irving - Dave Darrin and the German Submarines. Or, Making a Clean-up of the Hun Sea Monsters стр 10.

Of course you do not object to telling me what papers you succeeded in burning, Darrin bantered.

Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold smiled.

You wouldnt believe me, if I told you, so why tax your credulity? came his answer.

Perhaps you didnt have time to destroy all your records, Dave went on. Under the circumstances I know you will pardon me for searching the boat.

Thrusting aside a curtain, Dave entered a narrow passageway near the stern. Off this passageway were the doors of two sleeping cabins on either side. Dave opened the doors on one side and glanced in. Dan opened one on the other side, but the second door resisted his efforts.

This locked cabin may contain whatever might be desired to conceal, Dan hinted.

Turning quickly, Darrin saw that von Bechtold had followed. This the corporal had permitted, but he and a marine private had followed, to keep their eyes on the prisoner.

If you have the key to this locked door, Captain, it will save us the trouble of smashing the door, Dave warned. He had followed the usual custom in terming the ober-lieutenant a captain since he had an independent naval command.

I do not know where the key is, replied von Bechtold, carelessly. You may break the door down, if you wish, but you will not be repaid for your trouble.

Ill take the trouble, anyway, Darrin retorted. Mr. Dalzell, your shoulder and mine both together.

As the two young officers squared themselves for the assault on the door a black cloud appeared briefly on von Bechtolds face. But as Darrin turned, after the first assault, the deep frown was succeeded by a dark smile of mockery.

Bump! bump! At the third assault the lock of the door gave way so that Dave and Dan saved themselves from pitching into the room headfirst.

Oh, whew! gasped Danny Grin.

An odor as of peach-stone kernels assailed their nostrils. They thought little of this. It was a sight, rather than the odor, that instantly claimed their attention.

For on the berth, over the coverlid, and fully dressed in civilian attire of good material, lay a man past fifty, stout and with prominent abdomen. He was bald-headed, the fringe of hair at the sides being strongly tinged with gray.

At first glance one might have believed the stranger to be merely asleep, though he would have been a sound sleeper who could slumber on while the door was crashing in. Dave stepped close to the berth.

Dalzell followed, and after them came the submarines commander.

You will go back to the cabin and remain there, Mr. von Bechtold, Dave directed, without too plain discourtesy. Corporal, detail one of your men to remain with the prisoner, and see that he doesnt come back here unless I send for him. Also see to it that he doesnt do anything else except wait.

Scowling, von Bechtold withdrew, the marine following at his heels.

As Darrin stepped back into the cabin he saw the stranger lying as they left him.

Dead! uttered Dave, bending over the man and looking at him closely. He lay down for a nap. Look, Dan, how peaceful his expression is. He never had an intimation that it was his last sleep, though this looks like suicide, not accidental death, for the peach-stone odor is that of prussic acid. He has killed himself with a swift poison. Why? Is it that he feared to fall into enemy hands and be quizzed?

A civilian, and occupying an officers cabin, Dan murmured. He must have been of some consequence, to be a passenger on a submarine. He wasnt a man in the service, or he would have been in uniform.

Well know something about him, soon, I fancy, Darrin went on. Here is a wallet in his coat pocket, also a card case and an envelope well padded with something. Yes, glancing inside the envelope, papers. I think well soon solve the secret of this civilian passenger who has met an unplanned death.

Here, you! Stop that, or Ill shoot! sounded, angrily, the voice of von Bechtolds guard behind them.

But the German officer, regardless of threats, had dashed past the marine, and was now in the passageway.

Here, Ill

soon settle you! cried the marine, wrathfully. But he didnt, for von Bechtold let a solid fist fly, and the marine, caught unawares, was knocked to the floor.

All in a jiffy von Bechtold reached his objective, the envelope. Snatching it, he made a wild leap back to the cabin, brushing the marine private aside like a feather.

Grab him! yelled Dave Darrin, plunging after the German. Dont let him do anything to that envelope!

CHAPTER IV THE TRAIL TO STRANGE NEWS

Hearing the outcries, the other two marines in the cabin sprang toward the German officer. One of these von Bechtold tripped and sent sprawling; the other he struck in the chest, pushing him back.

Just an instant later von Bechtold went down on his back, all five of the marines doing their best to get at him in the same second. But the German had had time to knock the lid from a battery cell and to plunge the envelope into the liquid contained in the jar. Then the German was sent to the mat by his assailants.