Haldane of the Secret Service
1
China - old in wisdom
when the world was
young -- mother of
mystery and the black
arts of necromancy be-
hind her yellow veil
of secrecy.
2
She slumbers - unchanged
through countless centuries
- the riddle of the world -
mistress of mysticism - draw-
ing the veil but once in ages
for him whose skin is white
but whose heart beats
in accord with the Dragon.
3
Few visitors gained
admittance to the
Chinese home of
Edward Ormsby --
and their welcome
was uncertain.
4
Ormsby -- formerly in
the American Consular
Service.
5
"This will help you
explain our mission,
Mr. Ormsby."
6
"We bankers here have
been hard hit and un-
less the officials wake
up and catch some of
these counterfeiters..."
7
"- you and some of our
other big investors are
going to suffer. This --
as one American to
another -- is a tip to
you to unload your holdings."
8
In Chinatown --
A place not visited
by sightseeing
parties.
9
Joe Ivors -- one of the
crafty and unscrupulous
representatives of the
all-powerful Dr. Yu.
10
"I tell you --- we have
nothing to fear now.
'Silent Saunders' the slickest
bull that ever took our
trail has been croaked."
11
"I am not saying who
did it --- but Dr. Yu
said the word, that was
enough."
12
"Hop Lee have message
from Dr. Yu! You to
meet at Wash'ton Square
house t'night. Better start
now.
13
In Washington Square,
New York - that mellowed
stronghold of aristocracy.
14
Heath Haldane, sworn servant
of the Department of Justice -
and selfsworn to avenge the mur-
der of his father 'Silent Saunders'
Haldane, but recently the victim
of an unknown band of
counterfeiters.
15
"Oh please, for God's
sake, take me away!"
16
In search of
some clue to
the owner --
17
One tiny mark that would
escape other eyes ----
bringing a flood of bitter
memories -- memories of
a father's fate, and with
them, a fierce longing
for vengeance.
18
"A young woman just
came in here. I must
see her, immediately!"
19
"She go back door ----
nobody home -- I much
oblige take bag."
20
"Now will you tell her
I want to see her?"
21
"I can't explain so you will
understand but -- oh, I do
so need a friend -- a real
friend -- I mean -- and
you looked so -- well --
so kind that I -- I --"
22
"My name is Haldane. I'll
do anything I can to help
you, but -- I must ask
a few questions first."
23
"Have you any idea
what it contains?"
24
"Why, yes!"
25
"Have you any explanation
to offer?"
26
"I don't think an
explanation is needed
when it contains only
---- a few things
every girl wears."
27
"If you will permit me --
I shall be glad to con-
vince you otherwise."
28
"Please!"
29
"The bag you left out
on the street contained
new paper money --
counterfeit."
30
"I thought I did -- at
first, but -- I was confused
--- you make me say
things I don't mean --
you don't know what a
terrible thing has happened
here."
31
"If you felt that you
could tell me everything
quite frankly I should
be in a better position
to help you."
32
"My name is Adele Ormsby.
This is the house of my
guardian Randolph Ormsby. I
was about to start to the
church with Mr. Usher, whom
I was to marry --
33
"The maid came with my
bag and I had her place
it on a chair in the
hall."
34
"-- and then Mr. Ivors and
another man called to see
my guardian Mr. Ormsby."
35
"Then, suddenly I received
a startling message from
a girl friend --"
36
"I had not wanted to marry
Usher -- I didn't really care
for him -- but my guardian
for some reason demanded
it. When this warning came,
however, I hurried to find
him."
37
"And I must have
taken the wrong bag."
38
"As I rushed out of the
house I heard a shot,
followed by a groan --"
39
"You mean that some-
one in there has
just been shot?"
40
"This is Mr. Haldane whom
I met in Paris."
41
"Burglars killed him, eh?
Oh, I see -- he was
guarding Miss Ormsby's
wedding presents."
42
"A large amount of money
and a little Chinese idol
were stolen, were they
not?"
43
"Nothing is missing --
fortunately."
44
"The police have been
notified, of course?"
45
"We had just finished
telephoning headquarters
when you entered."
46
Realizing that he is
surrounded by
desperate criminals --
pretending no further
interest in their
affairs --
47
"I've had a message
from Andrea Drayton
and I -- I refuse to
marry you."
48
"This house is full of
mysteries -- things like
that in there -- I don't
know what it means and
it frightens me."
49
"Please don't look at me
like that -- oh, can't
you believe me?"
50
"I -- I don't know
what to think."
51
Then within the hour --
again the house of
mystery at No 12
Washington Square.
52
"I'll tell you about the
image. It belongs to my
guardian. It came into his
possession in a -- er --
peculiar way in China."
53
"No -- no -- to steal
the image of the Sacred
One means death!"
54
"Get it! Get it,
I tell you!"
55
"Master!"
56
"While the fete is on
you can enter the
temple unobserved. Dr.
Yu has sent money and
you will be well paid."
57
"I found this note ----
in there where the dead
man lay."
58
"May I keep this note?
It means more to me
than I can explain now."
59
"Yes -- if you return
the image to Mr. Ivors.
Follow him when he
leaves and please --
be carefull. For some
reason, he thinks you
are trying to harm him."
60
"Why did you say 'please
be careful'? You didn't
mean exactly that, I'm sure."
61
"Yes -- I -- think I did.
And by the way -- we
are sailing on the 'Cavania'
in the morning so this
is my last chance to thank
you --"
62
"What are you doing here?
I thought I heard voices."
63
"You know that only Ivors'
friends have this kind of
money."
64
The crime of narcotic
smuggling - to be
added to those of
counterfeiting and
murder.
65
"You know what to
do with him."
66
With the shock of
cold water -- one
thought suddenly
crashed through his
brain -- the girl
had betrayed him!
67
"Man overboard!"
68
As the 'Cavania' dropped
down with the tide in
the gray hour before
dawn --
69
Aboard the tug -- a
mystery to the crew
who had rescued him.
70
"Get me to the 'Cavania's'
dock before she sails
and I'll pay you whatever
you ask."
71
"Too late, boss ---- she's
bustin' the bay wide open
now."
72
"I can explain everything
--- please let me have
some dry clothes."
73
Haldane's identity was
confirmed by wireless -
and the night before
they docked at Glasgow -
74
"I know why he's here.
He's following Mr. Ormsby
to arrest him! Mr. Ivors
told me!"
75
"I believed your
story and followed
Ivors to the ware-
house -- they tried
to kill me."
76
"That isn't true - Mr.
Ivors told me you
refused to give
him the idol."
77
"They took it from
me and threw me
into the river."
78
"I can't believe you
are in league with
them - yet you know
what I found in
the black bag."
79
"Because they caught
you spying upon them!"
80
"I have been following
a rainbow -- and even
the pot of gold now
seems to be counterfeit."
81
"You found nothing --
you tricked me - lied
to me to gain my
confidence! Why
are you following
me now? If I were
a man I'd -"
82
Lack of passports caused
delay at Glasgow and
the trail was lost.
83
The city of Hull,
England - and Haldane
following the clue of
the address he had
noted at the warehouse
in New York.
84
The Drayton home
in Hull, England -
used as a meeting
place by the
smugglers.
85
"Ormsby doesn't know that
I got this. Keep it here
--- we can get a fortune
for it."
86
"What's the girl, Andrea
doing now?"
87
"Over in Paris playing Apache
at the Cafe Diable -- and
putting our stuff into cir-
culation as usual."
88
Ah Ling in Drayton's
apartment - convincing
Haldane that he is on
the right track.
89
"Explain what you're up
to here or I'll turn you
over to the police."
90
"Six months ago
in China -"
91
"You swine ---- who
got the image?"
92
"Ormsby paid Song Gee to
steal the sacred image.
93
"Ah Ling, go find the
image of the sacred one
and fail not -- or the
spirits of thy ancestors
shall know no peace."
94
"-- and so, I come America
-- take job Ormsby home to
bring back sacred image."
95
Adele Ormsby ---
married, a year ago;
and she had been
about to marry
again!
96
Yet somewhere, an
insistant voice --
telling him over and
over that she can
explain - pleading
with him to believe.
97
"I find those papers
while hunt sacred image."
98
"Tell me where Miss
Ormsby is now. I must
see her."
99
"She go London - house
Fuh Wong --- Chinese
Prince."
100
"Very hard get in house
Fuh Wong. I go first -
you come next day.
I help you - you help
me."
101
London - with Haldane
hot on the trail.
102
Westminster Bridge --
and an appointment
with men from Scotland
Yard.
103
"I am going into Fuh Wong's
house tonight. Have the
place surrounded and if
you hear a pistol-shot,
break down the doors."
104
At a fashionable
London Club --
105
In the heart of London -
the exotic home of the
wily Fuh Wong, who
intrigued the jaded idlers
of the city with his
fantastic originality.
106
"Look here, Ormsby. We
are fools to pay Dr. Yu
half of all we get. Send
him word that none of
our money is coming
through --- that the
plates are not finished."
107
"I will sell the image
to the highest bidder
and divide with you,
if you will help me to
double-cross Dr. Yu."
108
"So he wants me to
help him double-cross
Dr. Yu?
109
"Who'll buy a dance?"
110
"Miss Ormsby is here
and asked for you,
sir."
111
"The stranger is known
to the master. Ah Ling
advises that you swing
wide the door."
112
Fuh Wong -- the
emissary of Dr. Yu -
clothed in all the
craft and sinister
cunning of the Far
East.
113
"I'm looking for someone
by the name of --"
114
"Names are not used
in the house of Fuh
Wong."
115
"Who'll bid on a dance?"
116
"Partners for the next
dance will be auctioned
at the Love Boat when
the moon is full."
117
"I'm sorry to find you
here. I believe you
were forced into coming
-- and I mean to
take you away."
118
"It's not on my account
that you've come here.
You suspect my guardian
of something and you're
spying on him."
119
"I am trying to save you
in spite of yourself --
and you won't let me."
120
"I must talk with you
alone -- away from
this mob."
121
"Not about friendship,
I hope."
122
"Yes, about friendship,
if you will, and
about --"
123
"I insist that this young
lady auction at least
one dance before leaving
the ballroom."
124
"And I refuse to
permit it -- is
that sufficient?"
125
"To displease even I,
Fuh Wong, the humble
servant of the great
Dr. Yu is -- dangerous!"
126
"Place him in the
silent room and
await my coming."
127
"Hold on! My men
surround this house -
a shot is the signal
for them to break
down the doors! You'd
better think this over!"
128
"It may be what you
Americans call bluff,
Mr. Haldane - but the
matter can be settled
later. The servant of
Dr. Yu will remember!"
129
"Is your husband still
living, Mrs. Drayton?"
130
"I don't understand --
that is my name on
that paper -- but it's a
forgery - I've never mar-
ried anyone --- never
thought of marrying
until I met Mr. Usher."
131
"How long have you
known Usher?"
132
"Perhaps a year. We
met at the house of
my roommate at the
convent."
133
"Mrs. Usher has been
like a mother to me
-- and my guardian
urged the marriage
-- in fact, made it
seem impossible for
me to escape it."
134
"I never loved Mr.
Usher -- in fact, I
never really cared
for anyone, until - -"
135
"I cut this out of the
evening paper."
136
"Why! This explains --
those men who chased
me that night in
Washington Square!
They thought I had
the other bag with
the money."
137
"Ivors and Usher belong
to this gang of counter-
feiters and Ormsby, your
guardian, is their Chief!"
138
"Miss Ormsby get letter
-- maybe go Paris --
Cafe Diable -- Ah Ling
go too."
139
"Secret entrance -- Cafe
Diable -- kiosk under
Eiffel Tower -- knock
-- man open."
140
The Cafe Diable - the
subterranean haunt of
the underworld of Paris
- one of hundreds of
distributing points used
by the counterfeiting
gang.
141
Andrea Drayton --
Adele Ormsby's
friend of convent
days - now a willing
and useful tool of
the counterfeiters.
142
"My pets are waiting
for those crisp new
hundred franc notes.
Did you bring them
from Sainte Ceil?"
143
"The rest meet at
Sainte Ceil -- to-day.
You will go back
with me."
144
"Let me see the idol
you have. Ivors is
waiting at Sainte Ceil
for it."
145
And then to Sainte Ceil -
finding little else
there but an ancient
monastery.
146
Ivors -- in the guise
of a monk! The entire
band masquerading
in the habiliment of
Godly men.
147
"Go tell Tony to
lock the doors -- no
more visitors today.
Climb out of that rig
and get to work."
148
"We're just making a
new plate. It's a
knockout!"
149
"A dame by the name
of Ormsby is waiting
in the tap room, Mr.
Ivors."
150
"She nearly took Usher
away from you, Andrea.
You'd better see her
and get rid of her
quick!"
151
"What is wrong, Andrea?
Why have you changed
-- why did you send
me that cablegram
warning me not to
marry Mr. Usher?"
152
"Because I intend to
marry him myself?"
153
"But - you are married."
154
"I borrowed the name
of one of my friends
for that venture."
155
"Yes, mine is the name
you borrowed."
156
"What does all
this mean?"
157
"It was for you, Raoul --
don't you understand --
so I'd be free when you
want me."
158
"That time shall never
come. As far as I am
concerned, I'm through
with you."
159
"A day of reckoning
will come for you too, Mr.
Ivors! I have been blind
- a fool -- until two
nights ago when I learned
what you all are from
Mr. Haldane."
160
"This is better luck
than I'd hoped for,
Haldane. I've waited
a long time for this
moment."
161
"A moment is a short
length of time, Ivors.
You'd better make the
most of it."
162
"Then you know that I'm
the son of Silent
Saunders. That ought to
be a warning to you!"
163
"Warning! Don't make me
laugh. I'm the man your
father trailed for two years
and I left him in the alley
muck behind the vilest
joint in Shanghai -- --"
164
"-- -- drilled full of holes!"
165
"If you care for me
now -- if you ever
cared for me -- go
and save Haldane
from that beast!"
166
"Adele you're a spy --
'dead men tell no tales'
and the same applies
to women."
167
"Get out before
I kill you."
168
"A woman has lodged a
charge of counterfeiting
at the office of the
prefect. It is to be
regretted, Monsieur but
I must investigate."
169
"Surely, from the good
people of the village,
you will learn of the
great work we are
doing. I shall gladly
go with you."
170
"My brothers here will
confirm my --"
171
"That man is the leader
of the most dangerous
counterfeiting gang in
the world! Put them
all under arrest!"
172
"I'm James Fenton of
the U.S. Secret Service!
Doesn't look much like
counterfeiting, does it?"
173
"Pardon me -- my business
is with Mr. Ivors."
174
"I come as an emmisary
of Dr. Yu."
175
"What do you, Fuh Wong,
know of my dealings
with Dr. Yu?"
176
"Your time is so short,
a secret is safe with
you."
177
"Fuh Wong and Dr.
Yu are one and the
same!"
178
"You tried to double-
cross Dr. Yu -- and
you know that is
death to traitors!"
179
"Wait -- for God's sake
wait -- I am innocent
-- Ormsby is the
traitor!"
180
"Ormsby!"
181
"Yes I'm Ormsby --
you traitor!"
182
"Ungrateful dog! Many
men have died at my
command for less
than this!"
183
"Deliver these plates to
the Prefect of Police. I
shall report to him in
the morning."
184
"I want to go back to
America the happiest
man in the world.
May I?"
THE END
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