“Hodges hasn’t any daughter,” replied Chief Ward.  “We found the young woman, but we let her go.  She is an idle, vain young woman.  Hodges told her the same old story—­a joke he was playing, and persuaded the young woman to go along and pretend to be his daughter.  In payment he bought her the fine clothes she was wearing when you saw her.  And now, here’s some one you may like to see here!”

For a moment or two not a word was uttered as the submarine people found themselves gazing between bars at—­Fred Radwin.

Radwin did not look depressed, but, on the contrary, jaunty and defiant.

“He’s the one I’m best pleased of all to have,” chuckled Chief Ward.  “The four ruffians who attacked you boys, and held two of you in that deserted house before Benson led our party to the place, have confessed that they were acting for Radwin.  And Hodges has confessed, too, that Radwin employed him, and that, between them, they put the doctored axle in the auto.”

While Chief Ward was speaking Fred Radwin turned pale.

“You didn’t know all this until just this moment, did you, Radwin?” smiled the chief.

“Oh, you needn’t think you can down me too easily,” snarled the prisoner.  “I have money to fight with.”

“I know,” nodded Ward.  “You have a little over twenty thousand dollars, Radwin.  I also know where the money is.  An attorney acting for the chauffeur that was hurt so badly in the automobile smash-up has already started in to attach that money in a suit for damages by the chauffeur.”

* * * * * * * * * *

It is time to turn from too disagreeable a picture.  The four roughs first hired by Fred Radwin were sent to the penitentiary for a year each.

Hodges, in consideration of furnishing useful state’s evidence, was sentenced to the penitentiary for two years and a half for his share in the automobile plot.

Radwin, for conspiracy in setting on the roughs, was sentenced to three years in the penitentiary; for his part in the automobile affair five years more were added.  It will be a long time, yet, ere Radwin will breathe the air as a free man.

John C. Rhinds vanished completely.  True, one returned traveler reported having seen Rhinds at Nice, performing paltry services for American tourists in return for paltry “tips.”

Mrs. Rhinds and her daughter, having decided to make the best of matters, are now living quietly and happily in a western town.  They believe John C. to be dead.

The mystery of that torpedo has never been officially cleared.  In naval circles, however, there is no doubt whatever felt as to the guilt of Rhinds and Radwin; but it is also felt that both have been suitably punished for their dastardly conduct.  The three Rhinds torpedo boats were seized, under court orders, and sold to satisfy the claims of creditors of the Rhinds Company.

The chauffeur recovered twenty thousand dollars damages through the attachment of Radwin’s funds and the subsequent civil suit.  Besides which, after a few months, the chauffeur had practically recovered from his painful injuries.