Chapter XXXI THE CHASE ENDS *
With its motor on full, the amphibian flashed across the cove and wheeledinto the air. Bob felt that they were on the last leg of their hunt andhe sensed a tenseness of his whole body that was unsettling. LieutenantGibbons realized how Bob felt and he leaned over and spoke to the youngfederal agent.
"Let your nerves loosen up a little and keep your head when we get on theground. If we get in a jam, use your gun only as a last resort. Rememberthat help will be along soon."
The intelligence officer took out his own automatic and examined it,making sure that the firing mechanism was working perfectly. Bob didlikewise and shifted the gun into his right-hand coat pocket. He knewthat with the gun there he could shoot through his pocket if necessary.
The village of Rubio dropped behind them and a desolate stretch of shoreunfolded before their eyes.
Lieutenant Gibbons was the first to sight the Haskins place, a ramblingold structure well out on a neck of land that projected into theAtlantic. He signalled to the pilot that this was their destination andthe naval airman banked the amphibian gracefully.
The plane dropped low, flying not more than a hundred feet above theshore. The expansive old house, which had several long wings, was badlyin need of paint, as were the outbuildings clustered to the rear. A long,low boathouse was built as a part of the run-down pier and one door wasclosed, but as the plane flashed by Bob caught a glimpse of a blackmotorboat and his heart leaped. He seized Lieutenant Gibbons' arm.
"I saw a boat in the shed!" cried Bob. "Let's get down as soon aspossible."
But already the flyer was dropping the amphibian low. They spattered downon the water and their speed dropped off as they neared the old wharf.
Bob watched the house closely for some sign of life. The windows, many ofthem broken, betrayed no movements. From all outward appearances thehouse had not been occupied in years.
The amphibian, now less than 50 yards from the beach, lost headway anddrifted.
"Looks like some bad rocks ahead," said the pilot. "I don't dare get anycloser. You'll have to swim if you want to land here unless I taxi outand down a ways. It looked better further down."
But Bob had no intention of wasting any more time.
"I'm going ashore," he told Lieutenant Gibbons. "You can stay here andsee if anything happens."
Before the intelligence officer could protest, Bob eased himself out ofthe cabin and started swimming for shore. In a few yards he was able totouch bottom, but just as he straightened up there was a sharp puff fromone of the lower windows of the old house and a bullet ricocheted alongthe water.
Bob, acting by instinct, ducked and started swimming under water. Heshould have been greatly alarmed, but instead he felt a strangeexultation for the firing of that shot had told him what he wanted toknow--he was at the end of the trail.
The young federal agent came up for air and as soon as his head appeared,three shots sounded in rapid succession, each fired from differentwindows in the house.
Two of the bullets went wide of their mark, but the third splashed waterin Bob's eyes. Before he ducked again he heard Lieutenant Gibbons firingback and then another gun joined in the battle and Bob knew that thenaval flyer had taken a hand in the party.
Swimming with a powerful stroke, Bob shot along under water. When he cameup this time he was in the shelter of the boathouse. He was able to standerect and he waved back to Lieutenant Gibbons. The firing from the househad suddenly ceased and Bob made his way alongside the squat, powerfulspeedboat.
He climbed into the craft and with several well aimed blows with the buttof his gun disabled the ignition apparatus. At least the kidnapers wouldnot escape in the boat.
From some place behind the house the sound of an automobile exhaustroared out and Bob leaped to the door of the boathouse. A car wheeledaround the far corner of the house and he saw three men inside, two infront and one in the rear. It was the first time Bob had ever fired a gunwith a human being as a target, but he fired rapidly from the automaticand it seemed to him that a whole volley of bullets issued from theweapon in his hands. Then the gun was silent and before he could get theother clip from his pocket the car had disappeared.
Bob started running for the house, pausing only once when a cry fromLieutenant Gibbons caused him to turn his head. The intelligence officerwas wading ashore and motioning for Bob to wait for him. But Bob had morepressing duties.
The front door of the house was half open and Bob charged through. Theinterior was dusty and unkempt, although there were some signs that aneffort had been made to live in two of the front rooms.
Lieutenant Gibbons pounded up the front steps and burst into the hallway.He joined Bob and together they resumed the frantic search of the house.The first floor was combed, room for room and closet by closet, and itwas not until they reached a shed at the back of the house that theyfound what they were seeking. There, laying on a roll of dirty bedding,was Merritt Hughes, bound, gagged and with a red welt along one side ofhis head.
Bob, a cry of joy at finding his uncle on his lips, bent down to untiethe gag while Lieutenant Gibbons slashed at the rope which fastened thefederal agent's wrists and ankles.
Together they helped Merritt Hughes to his feet. His tongue was badlyswollen from the gag, but he managed to say a few words.
"Did they get away?" he asked slowly.
"Yes, but I don't think they'll get far. Agents are on their way fromBaltimore and Washington," said Bob.
"How about their radio?"
"The Department of Commerce heard them come on the air and gummed uptheir broadcasts," replied Bob.
Lieutenant Gibbons, who had gone in search of water, returned with a tincup and Merritt Hughes drank it with relish, taking slow, deep draughtsof the refreshing liquid.
Then he bathed his face and hands and felt much refreshed. He lookedquizzically at Bob and the lieutenant.
"You fellows may catch pneumonia running around here in wet clothes," hewarned.
"What happened to your head?" demanded the lieutenant.
"They creased me with a bullet during the scrap back in Washington lastnight," replied the federal agent grimly. "I want you to see theirradio."
He led them to the top floor of the old house where one room had beenfitted up for broadcasting purposes. Bob knew little about radio, but hecould tell that a great deal of money had been expended here.
"Where's the aerial?" he asked.
"They used an underground antennae," replied his uncle.
Lieutenant Gibbons picked up a heavy chair which was in the room anddeliberately smashed the delicate equipment.
"I guess that's the end of this station."
"But we haven't recovered the radio document," groaned Bob.
"I rather think we have," replied the lieutenant, pointing from a windowto a cavalcade of cars which was approaching through a clearing.
Chapter XXXII "FEDERAL AGENT" *
The scene that night in the office of the chief of the bureau ofinvestigation was one that would remain stamped forever in Bob's memory.
Waldo Edgar was there. So was Bob's uncle and on the other side of theroom were Tully Ross and Condon Adams and in the background LieutenantGibbons chuckled occasionally.
It was a brief session with Waldo Edgar doing most of the talking in thatclose, clipped manner of speech of his which inspired his own agents andinstilled fear in the hearts of the men he was pursuing.
"The reports you have turned over to me tonight are highly gratifying,"he said, "and I think we can call this case completed. While most of thehonor of the final catch goes to Bob Houston, Condon Adams and Tully Rossdeserve credit for uncovering that vital clue in the fireplace of ArthurJacobs' apartment."
The federal chief shuffled through some papers on his desk.
"All of the m
en involved in the case have been apprehended, includingFritz Jacobs, who appeared to be the ringleader. Their radio station hasbeen destroyed and they were unable to make use of the information whichthey had for nearly 24 hours. You may be sure that their punishment willbe swift and sure. As for Arthur Jacobs, I am inclined to feel sorry forhim for his record in the government service up to this time had beenexcellent and I will do all that I can to help him."
Then Waldo Edgar turned to Tully Ross.
"As a result of your work on this case, I am pleased to be able to tellyou that you are now a full fledged federal agent."
The chief of the bureau of investigation then faced Bob and he smiledwarmly as he spoke.
"To you, Bob, I extend my most sincere congratulations. You were under agreat strain, yet you used your head every minute of the time and whenthe showdown came, you were in there fighting. I don't know when anythinghas pleased me more than to hand you your commission as a federal agent.You're young, but I predict that as Agent Nine you are going a long waysin the federal service."
In spite of himself, tears welled into Bob's eyes for his heart wasoverflowing with happiness.
"I'll do my best to make good," he promised. "When do I go on anothercase?"
Waldo Edgar chuckled. "You'd better rest a day or two from this one.There will be plenty for you later."
He was, indeed, a wise prophet, for in less than 24 hours Bob was to getthe call that was to send him out on the famous Jewel Mystery, aboutwhich you will learn in "Agent Nine and the Jewel Mystery."
THE END
Transcriber's Notes *
--Copyright notice provided as in the original--this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.
--Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged.
Agent Nine Solves His First Case: A Story of the Daring Exploits of the G Men Page 31