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The Secret |
Adversary |
I | |
By
AGATHA
CHRISTIE
(Copyright Dodd. Mead & Company)
“A GIRL!"
r~ -OPSlS.—Realizing that she
has a possible chance of being
saved, as the Lusitania is sinking,
a stranger gives a young American
girl a package which he asks her
to deliver to the American ambas
sador in England. She 13 saved.
In London, former Lieut. ‘‘Tom
my” Beresford and Miss Prudence
Cowley "Tuppence” discharged
army nurse, form an organization,
"The Young Adventurers. Ltd.”
They are both broke and conse
quently ready for unorthodox meth
ods. They write out an advertise
ment. Tuppence makes a business
appointment with a man, Edward
Whittington, who offers her easy
employment, but on giving her
name as "Jane Finn,” which she
had heard on the street, Whitting
ton disappears. In answer tc an
advertisement signed “Jane Finn"
the two receive notes from "Mr.
Carter” and "Julius P. Hersheim
mer.” Carter, a high government
official, speakb of a mysterious
“Mr. Brown” as head of the* Bol
shevikl in England, and engages
the pair to And Jane Finn, whom
he is seeking for important reasons
>f state. Next day the pair visits
Hershelrr.mer, American million
aire. He is looking for his cousin,
Jane Finn, who had disappeared
after landing from the Lusitania's
boats, and employs them to search
for her. They discover a Mrs. Van
demeyer is a Lusitania survivor.
Tuppence recognizes Whittington In
a nailer on Mrs. Vandomeyer.
Tommy trails him. Whittington
leaves for France. Hershelmmer
follows him. Tommy trails Boris,
Whittington’s companion, to a
house in Soho. He overhears de
tails of a Bolshevik and labor plot
to overturn the government.
CHAPTER IV—Continued.
— 6—
After listening Intently for a min
ute or two, he put his head round the
curtain. The passage was deserted.
Tommy bent down and removed his
shoes, then, leaving them behind the
curtain, he walked gingerly out on his
stockinged feet, and kneeling down
by the elosC'C door, he laid his ear
cautiously to the crack. To his In
tense annoyance he could distinguish
little more; Just a chance word here
and there if a voice was raised, which
merely served to whet his curiosity
still farther.
He eyed the handle of the door ten
tatively. Could he turn it by degrees
so gently and imperceptibly thut those
in the room #vould notice nothing? He
decided that with great care It could
be done. Very slowly, a fraction of
an inch at a time, lie moved it round,
holding his breath in his excessive
care. A little more—a little more
still —would it never be finished? Ah!
at last it would turn no farther.
He stayed so for a minute or two,
then drew a deep breath, and pressed It
ever so slightly inward. The door did
not budge. Tommy was annoyed. If
he had to use too much force, it would
almost certainly creak. waited
until the voices rose a little, then he
tried again. Still nothing happened.
He increased the pressure. Had the
beastly thing stuck? Finally, in des
peration, he pushed with all his
might. Put the door remained firm,
and at last the truth dawned upon
him. It was locked or bolted on the
Inside.
For a moment or two Tommy’s in
dignation got the better of him.
“Well, I’m d—d!” he said. “What
a dirty trick!”
As his indignation cooled, he pre
pared to face the situation. Clearly
the first thing to be done was to re
store the handle to its original posi
tion. It he let it go suddenly, the
men inside would be almost certain
to notice it, so, with the same infinite
pains, be reversed his former tactics.
All went well, and with a sigh of re
lief the young man rose to his feet.
There was a certain bulldog tenacity
about Tommy that made him slow to
admit defeat. Checkmated for the
moment, he was far from abandoning
the conflict. He still intended to
bear what was going on in the locked
room. As one plan had failed, he
must hunt about for another.
He looked round him. A little far
ther along the passage on the left
was a second door. He slipped silently
along to it. He listened for a moment
or two. then tried the handle. It
yielded, and he slipped inside.
Tim room, which was untenanted,
was furnished as a bedroom. Like
everything else in the house, the fur
future was falling to pieces, and the
dirt was, If anything, more abundant.
But whnt interested Tommy was
the thing ho had hoped to iiiid, u com
municating door between the two
rooms, upon the left by the window.
Carefully closing the door into the
passage behind him, he stepped across
to the other and examined It closely.
The bolt was shot across it. It was
very rusty, and hud clenrly not been
used for some time. By gently wrig
gling it to and fro, Tommy managed
to draw it back without making too
much noise. Then he repeated his
former maneuvers with the handle —
this time with complete success. The
door swung open—a crack, a mere
fraction, but enough for Tommy to
hear what went on. There was a vel
vet portiere on the Inside of this door
which prevented him from seeing, but
he was able to recognize the voices
with a reasonable amount of accuracy.
The Sinn Feiner was speaking. Ills
rich Irish voice was unmistakable:
‘‘That’s all very well. But more
money Is essential. No money—no
results!”
Another voice, which Tommy rather
thought was that of Boris replied:
“Will you guarantee that there are
results?”
“In a month from now—sooner or
later as you wish —I will guarantee
you such a reign of terror in Ireland
as shall shake the British empire to
its foundations.”
There was a pause, and then came
the soft, sibilant accents of Number
Oqe:
“Good! You shall have the money.
Boris, you will see to that.”
Boris asked a question:
“Via the Irish Americans, md Mr.
Potter, as usual?”
“I guess that’ll be all right!” said a
new voice, with a transatlantic into
nation, “though I’d like to point out,
here and now, that things are getting
a mite difficult. There’s not the sym
pathy there was, and a growing dis
position to let the Irish settle their
own affairs without Interference from
America.”
Tommy felt that Boris had sh. Tagged
his shoulders as he answered: “Does
that matter, since the money only
nominally comes from the States?”
“The chief difficulty is the landing
of the ammunition,” said the Sinn
Feiner. “The money is conveyed In
easily enough—thanks to our col
league here.”
“That Is settled, then,” said the sibi
lant tones. “Now, in the matter of
the loan to an English newspaper, you
have arranged the details satisfacto
rily, Boris?”
“I think so?”
“That is good. An official denial
from Moscow will be forthcoming if
necessary.”
There was a pause, and then the
clear voice of the German broke the
silence:
“I am directed by—Mr. Brown, to
place the summaries of the reports
from the different unions before you.
That of the miners is most satisfac
tory. We must hold back the rail
ways. There may be trouble with the
A. S. E.”
For a long time there was a silence,
broken only by the rustle of papers
and an occasional word of explana
tion from the German. Then Tommy
heard the light tap-tap of fingers,
drumming on the table.
“And —the date, my friend?” said
Number One.
“The 29th.”
The Russian seemed to consider.
“That Is rather soon.”
“I know. But it was settled by the
principal Labor leaders, and we /can
not seem to interfere too much. They
must believe it to be entirely their
own show’.”
The Russian laughed softly, as
though amused.
“Yes, yes,” he said. “That Is true.
They must have no Inkling that we
are using them for our own ends.
They are honest men —and that Is
their value to us. It Is curious—but
you cannot make a revolution with
out honest men. The instinct of the
populace is infallible.” He paused,
and then repeated, as though the
phrase pleased him: “Every revolu
tion has had its honest men. They
are soon disposed of afterward.”
There was a sinister note In his
voice.
The German resumed : “Clymes must
go. He is too far-seeing. Number
Fourteen will see to that.”
There was a hoarse murmur.
“That’s all right, guv’nor.” And
then after a moment or two: “Suppose
I’m nabbed.”
"You will have the best legal talent
to defend you,” replied the German
quietly. “But in any case you will
wear gloves fitted with the finger
prints of a notorious housebreaker.
You have little to fear.”
“Oh. 1 ain’t afraid, guv’nor. All
for the good of the cause. The
streets is going to run with blood, so
the3* say.” He spoke with a grim rel
ish. “Dreams of it, sometimes, I
does. Ar. i diamonds and pearls roll
ing about in the gutter for anyone to
pick up!”
Tommy heard a chair shifted. Then
Number One spoke: “Then all is ar
ranged. We are assured of success?”
“I—think so.” But the German
spoke with less than his usual confi
dence.
HENRY COUNTY WEEKLY, McDONOLGH, GEORGIA.
Number One’s voice held suddenly
a dangerous quality:
“What has gone wrong?”
“aotidng ; hut —”
“But what?”
“The Labor leaders. Without them,
as you say, we can do nothing. If
they do not declare a general strike
on the 29th —”
“Why should they not?”
“As you’ve said, they’re honest.
And, in spite of everything we’ve done
to discredit the government in their
eyes, I’m not sure that they haven’t
| got a sneaking faith und belief In it.”
“But—”
“I know. They abuse It unceas
ingly. But, on the whole, public
opinion swings to the side of the gov
ernment. They will not go against It.“
Again the Russian’s fingers drummed
on the table.
“To the point, my friend. I was
given to understand that there was a
certnln document in existence which
assured success.”
“That is so. If that document were
placed before the leaders, the result
would be Immediate. They would
publish It broadcast throughout Eng
land, and declare for the revolution
without a moment’s hesitation. The
government would be broken finally
and completely.”
“Then what more do you want?”
* “The document itself,” said the Ger
man bluntly.
“Ah! It is not In your possession?
But you know where It is?”
“No.” /
“Does ahyone know where it Is?”
“One person—perhaps. And we are
not sure of that even.”
"Who is that person?”
“A girl.”
Tommy held his breath.
“A girl?” The Russian’s voice rose
contemptuously. “And you have not
made her speak? In Russia we have
ways of making a girl talk.”
“This case Is different,” said the
German sullenly.
“How —different?” He paused a
moment, then went o : “Where Is the
girl now?”
“The girl?”
“ Y es.”
“She Is—”
But Tommy heard no more. A
crashing blow descended on his head,
and all was darkness.
CHAPTER V
Tuppence Enters Domestic Service.
When Tommy set forth or. the trail
of the two men, it took all Tuppence's
self-command to refrain from accom
panying him. However, slie contained
herself as best she might, consoled by
the reflection that her reasoning had
been justified by events. The two
men had undoubtedly come from the
second floor flat, and that one slender
thread of the name “Rita” had set
the Young Adventurers once more
upon the track of the abductors of
Jane Finn.
The question was what to do next?
She retraced her steps to the entrance
hall of the mansions. It was now
tenanted by a small lift-boy, who was
polishing brass fittings, and whistling
the latest air with a good deal of
vigor and a reasonable amount of ac
curacy.
He glanced round at Tuppence’s
entry. There was a certain amount
of the gamin element In the girl; at
all events, she Invariably got on .zell
with small boys.
“Well, William,” she remarked
cheerfully, In the best approved hos
pltal-early-mornlng style, “getting a
good shine up?”
The boy grinned responsively.
“Albert, miss,” he corrected.
“Albert be It,” said Tuppence. She
glanced mysteriously round the hall.
The effect was purposely a broad one
in case Albert should miss it. She leaned
toward the boy and dropped her \olce:
“I want a word with you, Albert.”
Albert ceased operations on the fit
tings and opened his mouth slightly:
“Look! Do you know what this
is?” With a dramatic gesture she
flung back the left side of her coat
and exposed a small enameled badge.
It was extremely unlikely that Albert
would have any knowledge of it —
Indeed, it would have been fatal for
Tuppence’s plans, since the badge In
question was the device of a local
corps originated by the archdeacon In
the early days of the war. Its pres
ence in Tuppence’s coat was due to
the fact that she had used it for pin
ning In some flowers a day or two
before. But Tuppence had sharp
eyes, and had noted the corner of a
three-penny detective novel protrud
ing from Albert’s pocket, and the Im
mediate enlargement of his eyes told
her that her tactics were good, and
that the fish would rise to the halt.
“American detective force!” she
hissed.
Albert fell for It.
“Lord 1” he murmured ecstatically.
Tuppence nodded at him with the
air of one who has established a
thorough understanding.
“Know who I’m after?” she Inquired
genially.
Albert, still round-eyed, demanded
breathlessly: “One of the fiats?”
Tuppence nodded and Jerked a
thumb up the stairs.
“No. 20./ Calls herself Vandtmeyer
Vandemeyer! Ha! ha!”
Albert’s hand stole to his pocket.
“A crook?” he queried eagerly.
“A crook I I should say so. Ready
Rita, they call her In the States.”
‘Ready Rita,” repeated Albert de
liriously. “Oh, ain’t it Just like the
pictures! Annie always said as how
she was n had lot.”
“Who’s Annie?” Inquired Tuppence
Idly.
“ 'Ouse parlormaid. She’s leaving
today. Many’s the time Annie’s said
to me: ‘Mark my words, Albert, I
wouldn’t wonder If the police was to
come after her one of these days.’
Just like that. But she’s u stunner
to look at, ain’t she?” *
“She's some peach,” allowed Tup
pence carelessly. “Finds It useful
In her layout, you bet. Has she been
wearing any of the emeralds, by the
way?”
“Emeralds? Them’s the green
stones, nin’t they?”
Tuppence nodded.
‘That’s what we’re after her for.
Y°u know old nmn Itysdnle, the oil
king?”
“It seems sort of familiar to me.”
“The sparklers belonged to him.
Finest collection of emeralds In the
world. Worth a million dollars!”
“Lumme!” came ecstatically from
Albert. “It sounds more like the pic
tures every minute.”
Tuppence smiled, gratified at the
success of her efforts.
“We haven’t exactly proved It yet.
But we’re after her. And”—she pro
duced a long-drawn-out wink —“I guess
she won’t get away with the goods
this time.”
Albert uttered another ejaculation
indicative of delight.
“Mind you, sonny, not n word of
this,” said Tuppence suddenly. “I
guess I oughtn’t to have put you wis£,
but In the States we know a real
smart lad when we see one. What’s
this about the girl you say is leav
ing?”
“Annie? Regular turn-up. they ’ad.”
An idea was dawning In Tup
pence’s brain. She thought a minute
or two, then tnpped Albert on the
shoulder.
“See here, son, my brain’s got busy.
How would it be If you mentioned
that you’d got a young cousin, or a
friend of yours had, that might suit
the place. You get me?”
"I’m there,” said Albert instantly.
“You leave It to me, miss, and I’ll
fix the whole thing up in two ticks.”
"Some lad!’’ commented Tuppence,
with a nod of approval. “You let me
know, and if It’s O. K. I’ll be round
tomorrow at eleven o’clock.”
“Where am I to let you know to?”
“Rltz,” replied Tuppence laconically.
“Name of Cowley.”
Albert eyed her enviously,
“It must be a good Job, this tec
business.”
“It sure Is,” drawled Tuppence,
“especially when old man R.vsdale
backs the bill. But don’t fret, son.
If this goes well, you shall come In
on the ground floor.”
With which promise she took leave
of her new ally, and walked briskly
away from South Audley mansions,
well pleased with her morning’s work.
She went straight back to the Rltz
and wrote a few brief words to Mr.
Carter. Having dispatched this, and
Tommy not having yet returned—
which did not surprise her—she start
ed off on a shopping expedition. Start
ing with a cheap clothing store, and
passing through one or two second
hand establishments, she had finished
the day at a well-known hairdresser’s.
Now, in the seclusion of her bedroom,
she unwrapped that final purchase.
Five minutes later she smiled content
edly at her reflection in the glass.
With an actress’ pencil she had slight
ly altered the line of her eyebrows,
and that, taken conjunction with
the new luxuriant growth of fair hair
above, so changed her appearance that
she felt confident that even If she
came face to face with Whittington
he would not recognize her. From
hospital experience she knew only too
well that a nurse out of uniform is
frequently unrecognized by her pa
tients.
“For the first time Tuppence
felt afraid."
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Peru.
From Panama to the coast near
Lima, Peru, is a steamer trip of six
days. An airplane line will be built,
cutting the time to two days. Includ
ing stop-overs. Capt. Walter Simon
tells about it. lie's head flying man
in Peru, born In New Orleans, still an
American citizen.
Simon says Peru Is far ahead of us
in organization and plans for adapt
ing the airplane to commercial use.
Take that with a grain of salt. But it
does illustrate how the I.atin-Ameri
can countries are coming to t! e front.
A gorgeous civilization is in the mak
ing down there.
Courts of Justice.
Courts of justice were established in
Athens in 1507 B. C. and by Moses in
1491 B. C. The courts were common
in Europe. Our own Supreme court
was founded in 1759, with one chief
justice and five associates.
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Not That Kind of Soldier.
“Don’t (his old Injury hurt you when
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“ ’Course It does. If yer lookin’ for
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Looking for Business.
“I consider it unlucky to meet a
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“I’m an oculist."
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