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The Secret Adversary
By AGATHA CHRISTIE
(Cooyrlffht Dodd. Mead & Company)
MRS. VANDEMEYER
SYNOPSlS.—Realizing that she
has a possible chance of being
saved, as the Lusitania Is sink
ing, a stranger gives a young
American girl a package which
he asks her to deliver to the
American ambassador in Eng
land. She Is saved. In London,
former Lieut. "Tommy" Eeres
ford 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
methods. They write out an ad
vertisement. Tuppence makes a
business appointment witb *». man.
Edward Whittington, who offers
her easy employment, but on glv
ing her name as “Jane Finn, '
which she had heard on the
street. Whittington disappears.
In answer to an advertisement
signed '3ane Finn” the two re
ceive notes from “Mr. Carter” and
“Julius P. Hersheimmer.” Carter,
a high government official, speaks
of a mysterious “Mr. Brown as
head of the Bolshevik! in Eng
land, and engages the pair to find
Jane Finn, whom he is seeking
for important reasons of state.
Next day the pair visits Hers
heimmer, American millionaire.
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. Vandemeyer is a Lusitania
survivor. Tuppence recognizes
Whit.tington In a caller on Mrs.
Vandemeyer. Tommy trails him.
Whittington leaves for France.
Hersheimmer follows him. Tom
my trails Boris, Whittington's
companion, to a house in Soho.
He overhears details of a Bol
shevik and labor plot to overturn
the government. Success appar
ently depends on finding a secret
treaty made between the allies
during the war. Tommy is caught
listening, and knocked senseless.
Sensing sinister relations between
Whittington and Mrs. Vandemey
er, Tuppence disguises herself
and becomes a parlor maid.
CHAPTER V—Continued.
“Yes,” said Tuppence aloud, nod
ding at the pert reflection In the glass,
“you’ll do.” She then resumed her
normal appearance.
Dinner was a solitary meal. Tup
pence was rather surprised at Tom
my’s non-return. Julius, too, was ab
sent —but that, to the girl’s mind, was
mo;e easily explained. It was quite
■on the cards that Julius P. Ilersheim
rner had left for Constantinople at a
moment’s notice if he fancied that a
•clue to his cousin’s disappearance
was to be found there.
The morning brought a note from
Hr. Carter:
“Dear Miss Tuppence:
“You have made a splendid start,
and I congratulate you. I feel, though,
that I should like to point out to you
once more the risks you are running,
especially If you pursue the course
you Indicate. Those people are abso
lutely desperate and Incapable of ei
ther mercy or pity. I feel that you
probably underestimate the danger,
and therefore warn you again that I
can promise you no protection. You
have given us valuable information,
and if you choose to withdraw now no
one could blame you. At any rate,
think the matter over well before you
decide.
“If, in spite of my warnings, you
make -rp your mind to go through
with ft. you will find everything ar
ranged. You have lived for two
years with Miss Dufferln, The Parson
age, Llanelly, and Mrs. Vandemeyer
can apply to her for a reference.
“May I be permitted a word or two
of advice? I suggest that you should
represent yourself to be what you are,
a former V. A. D., who has chosen
domestic service as a profession.
There are many such at the present
time. That explains away any in
congruities of voice or manner which
otherwise might awaken suspicion.
“Whichever way you decide, good
luck to you.
“Your sincere friend,
“MR. CARTER.”
Tuppence’s spirits rose mercu
rially. Mr. Carter’s warnings passed
unheeded. The young lady had far
too much confidence in herself to pay
any heed to them.
There was still no word or message
from Tommy, but the morning post
brought a somewhat dirty postcard
with the words: “It’s O. K.” scrawled
upon It.
At ten-thirty Tuppence surveyed
with pride a slightly battered tin
trunk containing her new possessions.
It was artistically corded. She drove
to Paddington, and left the box in
the cloak room. She then repaired
with a handbag to the fastnesses of
the ladies’ waiting-room. Ten min
utes later a metamorphosed Tuppence
walked demurely out of the station
and entered a bus.
It was a few minutes past eleven
when Tuppence again entered the hall
of South Audley mansions. Albert
was on the lookout, attending to Ills
duties in a somewhat desultory fash
ion. He did not immediately recog
nize Tuppence. When he did, his ad
miration was unbounded.
“Blest If I’d have known you! That
rig-out’s top-hole."
"Glad you like it, Albert,” replied
Tuppence modestly. “By the way, am
I your cousin, or am I not?’’
“Your voice, too,” cried the delight
ed boy. “It’s ns English as anything!
'’O, I said as a friend of mine knew
a young gal. Annie wasn’t best
pleased. She’s stopped on till today—
to oblige, she said, but really It’s so
as to put you against the place. Are
you going up now, Miss? Step inside
the lift. No. 20 did you say?” And
he winked.
Tuppence quelled him with a stern
glance and stepped inside.
As she rang the bell of No. 20 she
was conscious of Albert’s eyes slowly
descending beneath the level of the
floor.
A smart young woman opened the
door.
“I’ve come about the place,” said
Tuppence.
“It’s a rotten place,” said the young
woman without hesitation. “Regular
old cat —always Interfering. Accused
me of tampering with her letters. Me!
The flap was half undone anyway.
She’s a wrong ’un, that’s what she Is.
Swell clothes, but no class. Cook
knows something about her —but she
won’t tell —scared to death of her.
And suspicious! I can tell you—”
But what more Annie could tell,
Tuppence was never destined to learn,
for at that moment a clear voice with
a peculiarly steely ring to It called:
“Annie!”
The smart young woman Jumped
ns If she had been shot. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Who are you talking to?”
“It’s a young woman about the situ
ation. ma’am.”
“Show her in then. At once.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Tuppence wns ushered Into a room
on the right of the long passage. A
woman was standing by the fireplace.
She was no longer In her first youth,
and the beauty she undeniably pos
sessed was hardened and coarsened.
In her youth she must have been daz
zling. Her pale gold hair, owing a
slight assistance to art, wns coiled
low on her neck, her eyes, of a pierc
ing electric blue, seemed to possess a
faculty of boring into the very soul
of the person she was looking at. Her
exquisite figure was enhanced by a
wonderful gown of Indigo charmeuse.
And yet, despite her swaying grace,
and the almost ethereal beauty of her
face, you felt Instinctively the pres
ence of something hard and menacing,
a kind of metallic strength that found
expression In the tones of her voice
and In that glmlet-llke quality of her
eyes.
For the first time Tuppence felt
afraid. She had not feared Whitting
ton, but this woman was different. As
If fascinated, she watched the long,
cruel line of the red, curving mouth,
and again she felt that sensation of
panic pass over her. Her usual self
confidence deserted her. Vaguely she
felt that deceiving this woman would
be very different to deceiving Whit
tington. Here, indeed, she might ex
pect no mercy.
Mrs. Vandemeyer motioned to a
chair.
“You can sit down. How did you
hear I wanted a house-parlor maid?”
“Through a friend who knows the
lift boy here. He thought the place
might suit me.”
Again that basilisk glance seemed
to pierce her through.
“You speak like an educated girl?"
Glibly enough, Tuppence ran
through hrr imaginary career on the
lines suggested by Mr. Carter. It
seemed to her, as she did so, that the
tension of Mrs. Vandemeyer’s attitude
relaxed.
“I see,” she remarked at length. “Is
there anyone I can write to for a ref
erence?”
“I lived last with a Miss Dufferin,
The Parsonage, Llanelly. I was with
her two years.”
“And then you thought you would
get more money by coming to London,
I suppose? Well, it doesn't matter to
me. I will give you whatever you
want. You can come in at once?”
“Yes, ma’am. Today, if you like.
My box is at Paddington.”
“Go and fetch it in a taxi, then.
It’s an easy place. I am out a good
deal. By the way, what’s your name?”
“Prudence Cooper, ma’am.”
“Very well, Prudence. Go away and
fetch your box.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Tuppence withdrew. The adven
ture had begun, but she felt less
elated than she had done earlier in
the morning. It crossed her mind that
if the unknown Jane Finn had fallen
into the hands of Mrs. Vandemeyer, it
was likely to have gone hard with
her.
CHAPTER VI
Enter Sir James Peel Edgerton.
Tuppence betrayed no awkwardness
In her new duties. The daughters of
the archdeacon were well grounded
In household tasks. Mrs. Vandemeyer’s
HENRY COUNTY WEEKLY, McDONOUGH, GEORGIA.
cook puzzled her, She evident’? went j
in deadly terror of her mistress. The I
girl thought It probable that the other
woman had some hold over her. For
the rest, she cooked like a chef, ns
Tuppence had an opportunity of judg
ing that evening. Mrs. Vandemeyer
was expecting a guest to dinner, and
Tuppence accordingly laid the beauti
fully polished table for two. She wns
a little exercised in her own mind as
to this visitor. It wns highly possible
that It might prove to be Whittington.
Although she felt fairly confident that
he would not recognize her, yet she
would have been better pleased hail
the guest proved to be a total
stranger.
At a few minutes past eight the
front door hell rang, and Tuppence
went to answer It with some Inward
trepidation. She was relieved to see
that the visitor wns the second of the
two men whom Tommy had taken
upon himself to follow.
He gave his name as Count Stepa
nov. Tuppence announced him, and
Mrs. Vandemeyer rose from her seat
on a low divan with n quick murmur
of pleasure. He bowed low over her
hand.
Tuppence returned to the kitchen.
“Count Stepanov, or some such,”
she remarked, and affecting a frank
and unvarnished curiosity: "Who’s
he?”
“A Russinn gentleman, I believe.”
“Come here much?"
“Once In a while. What d’you want
to know for?”
“Fancied he might be sweet on the
missus, that’s all,” explained the girl,
adding with an appearance of sulki
ness: “How you do take one up I”
“I’m not quite easy In my mind
about the souffle,” explained the other.
“You know something," thought Tup
pence.
Whilst waiting at table, Tuppence
listened closely to all that was said.
She remembered that this wns one of
the men Tommy wns shadowing when
she had last seen him. Already, al
though she would hardly admit it, she
was becoming uneasy about her part
ner. Where was be? Why had no
word of any kind come from him? She
had arranged before leaving the Ritz
to have all letters or messages sent
on at onqe by special messenger to a
small stationer’s shop near at hand,
where Albert was to call In frequently.
True, it wns only yesterday morning
that she bad parted from Tommy, and
she told herself that nny anxiety on
his behalf would he absurd. Still, It
was strange that he had sent no word
of any kind.
But, listen as she might, the con
versation presented no clu . Boris
and Mrs. Vandemeyer talked on pure
ly Indifferent subjects. Tuppence
brought in the coffee and liqueurs and
unwillingly retired.
She cleared away and washed up
with a breathless speed acquired In
hospital. Then she slipped quietly
back to the boudoir door. The cook,
more leisurely, was still busy In the
kitchen, and, If she missed the other,
would only suppose her to be turning
down the beds.
Alas! The conversation Inside was
being carried on In too low a tone to
permit hearing anything of It She
dared not reopen the door, however
gently. Mrs. Vandemeyer was sitting
almost facing It, and Tuppence re
spected her mistress’ lynx-eyed powers
of observation.
Nevertheless, she felt she would
give a good deal to overhear what
was going on. Possibly, If anything
unforeseen had happened, she might
get news of Tommy. For some mo
ments she reflected desperately, then
her face brightened. She went quick
ly along the passage to Mrs. Vande
meyer’s bedroom, which had long
French windows lending onto a bal
cony that ran the length of the flat.
Slipping quickly through the window,
Tuppence crept noiselessly along till
she reached the boudoir window. As
she had thought, It stood a ’*ttle ajar,
and the voices within were plainly
audible.
Tuppence listened attentively, but
there was no mention of anything that
could be twisted to apply to Tommy.
Mrs. Vandemeyer and the Russian
seemed to be at variance over some
matter, and Anally the latter ex
claimed bitterly:
You are going about everywhere
with Peel Edgerton. Not only Is he,
perhaps, the most celebrated king’s
counsel In England, but his special
hobby is criminology I It Is mad
ness 1”
“I know that his eloquence has
saved untold men from the gallows."
said Mrs. Vandemeyer calmly. “What
of it? I may need his assistance In
that line myself some day. If so, how
fortunate to have such a friend.”
“You are a clever woman, Rita; but
you are also a fool! Be guided by
me, and give up Peel Edgerton."
“I tliiuk not.”
“You refuse?” There was cn ugly
ring In the Russian’s voice.
“I do.”
“Then, by heaven,” snarled the
Russian, “we will see—”
But Mrs. Vandemeyer also rose to
her feet, her eyes flashing.
“Ypu forget, Boris,” she said. “I
am accountable to no one. I take my
orders only from —Mr. Brown.”
The other threw up his hands In
despair.
“You are Impossible,” he muttered.
"Impossible I Already it mn? be too
late. They say Peel SXlgerWa can
smell a criminal 1 Pcvhopa even now
his suspicions bn arousal. He
guesses—”
Sirs. Vandcmeyev eyed him scorn
fully.
"Reassure yourself, my doar Boris.
He suspects nothing. You seem to
forget that I am commonly accounted
a beautiful woman. I assure you
that is all that Interests Peel Edger
ton.
“Besides, he Is extremely rich. I
am not one who despises money. Ths
‘sinews of war,’ you know, Boris 1"
“Money—money! That is always
the danger with you, Rita. I believe
you would sell your soul for money.
I believe—” He paused, then In a low,
sinister voice he said slowly: “Some
times I believe you would sell —usl"
Mrs. Vandemeyer smiled and
shrugged her shoulders.
“The price, at nny rate, would have
to be enormous,” she said lightly. “It
would be beyond the power of anyone
but a millionaire to pay.”
“Ah!” said the Russian. "You see,
I wns right!"
"My dear Boris, can you not take
a Joke?”
“Was It a Joke?"
“Of course. Let us not quarrel,
Boris. Touch the bell. We will have
some drinks."
Tuppence bent n hasty retreat. She
paused a moment to survey herself
In Mrs. Vandemeyer’s long glnss. nnd
be sure that nothing was auilss with
her appearance. Then she answered
the bell demurely.
The conversation that sho had ovel*
heard, although Interesting In that It
proved beyond doubt the complicity
of both Rita and Boris, threw very
little light on the present preoccupa
tlons. The name of Jane Finn had
not even been mentioned.
The following morning a few brief
words with Albert Informed her thnlt
nothing wns waiting for her at the
stationer's. It seemed Incredible that
Tommy, If all wns well with him,
should not send any word to her. A
cold hand seemed to close round her
heart. . . . Supposing . . . She
choked her fears down bravely. It
was no good worrying. But she leapt
at a chance offered her by Mrs. Van
demeyer.
“What day do you usually go out,
Prudence?”
“Frlduy’s my usual day, ma’am."
“And today Is Friday! But I sup
pose you hardly wish to go out today,
as you only came yesterday."
“I wns thinking of asking you If I
might, ma’am."
“It makes no difference to me, as
I shall not bo dining at home.”
Tuppence felt a sensation of relief
once she wns out of the other’s pres
ence. Once again she admitted to
herself that she was afraid, horribly
afraid, of the beautiful woman with
the cruel eyes.
In the midst of a final desultory
polishing of her silver, Tuppence was
disturbed by the ringing of the front
door bell, and went to answer it. This
time the visitor was neither Whitting
ton nor Boris, but a man of striking
appearance.
Just a shade over average height,
he nevertheless conveyed the Impres
sion of a big man. His face, clean
shaven and exquisitely mobile, was
stamped with an expression of power
and force far beyond the ordinary.
Magnetism seemed to radiate from
him.
Tuppence was undecided for the
moment whether to put him down as
an actor or a lawyer, but her doubts
were soon solved as he gave her his
name: Sir Janies Peel Edgerton.
Tuppence went back to her pantry
thoughtfully. The great man hnd im
pressed her. She understood Boris’
agitation. Peel Edgerton would not
be an easy man to deceive.
In about a quarter of an hour the
bell rang, and Tuppence repaired to
the hall to show the visitor out. He
had given her a piercing glance before.
Now, as she handed him his hat and
stick, she was conscious of his eyes
raking her through. As sho opened
the door and stood aside to let him
pass out, he stopped in the doorway.
“Not been doing this long, eh?”
Tuppence raised her eyes, aston
ished. She read In his glance kindli
ness, and something else more difflcult
to fathom.
He nodded os though she had an
swered.
“V. A. D. and hard up, I suppose?
Good place here?”
“Very good, thank you, sir.”
“Ah, but there are plenty of good
places nowadays. And a change does
no harm sometimes.”
“Do you mean—?” began Tuppence.
But Sir James was already on the
topmost stair. He looked back with
his kindly, shrewd glance.
“Just a hint,” he said. “That’s all.”
Tuppence went back to the pantry
more thoughtful Ilian ever.
Julius goes sleuthing and has
adventures.
(TO BIS CONTINUED.)
Love makes a woman believe a lot
of things that she knows are not troa
EVERY TRACE OF
FLU DISAPPEARS
Dreadful After Effects Entirely
Overcome, States Atianta Citi
zen—Gains 18 Pounds.
“I have reaped such great benefits
from tukiug Taniac that I cun tell the
world It Is a truly wonderful medi
cine,” recently declared A. W. Whee
less. 185 I’enchtree St., Atlanta, Go.
“I suffered with nervous Indigestion
a year or more, lost nearly twenty
pounds and became badly weakened.
Then In this run-down state I was
stricken with ‘flu’ and It left me In a
very critical condition. I hud no ap
petite, could not digest properly the
little I (lid eat, and was too nervous
to sleep.
“Hearing of Taniac through some
friends, I concluded to test It for my
self. It ended my Indigestion, built
me up eighteen pounds, and ever
since It set me right I have enjoyed
excellent henltli. I gladly recommend
the treatment, not only for what It
has done for me, but also for the good
It has done a number of my friends
and relatives.”
Taniac is for sale by all good drug
gists. Take no substitute. Over 37
million bottles sold.
Taniac Vegetable Pills are nature’s
own remedy for constipation. Sold
everywhere.—Advertisement.
Religious Organization.
The teacher of u class at an In
dianapolis school had asked the pupils
to give the names of five religious or
ganizations.
A girl named the following three
among her list:
“The Ladles’ Ade. the Brother’s
hood, and the Lumen's leg.”
Investigation revealed that the or
ganization last named was tin; Lay
men’s league.
Watch Cuticura Improve Your Skin.
On rising and retiring gently smear
the face with Cuticura Ointment.
Wash off Ointment In five minutes
with Cuticura Soap and hot water. It
Is wonderful what Cuticura will do
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EVIDENTLY LOTS OF HISTORY
Subject That Took Eight Teachers to
Handle More Than Old Farmer
Could Comprehend.
John VV. Oliver, director of the his
torical commission, went back to his
rural home town once after u pro
longed absence, during which he had
been wrestling with the problem of
getting an education and laying the
foundation for his chosen future work.
One of his old-time fanner friends,
Interested and Inquisitive, with a view
to learning what the boy had been
doing for himself, said:
“Well, John, what, you been up to
senee I saw you last?”
“I’ve been going to, school. I’m
teaching now.”
“Where you been going to school?”
“Wisconsin university.”
“Uh liu! Burty big school, reckon.
How ninny scholars they got?”
“Oh, several thousand.”
(Incredulous whistle from the in
terrogator.) “Must have several
teachers?”
“Yes —about 400.”
(Whistle.) “And you’re one of ’em,
you say? What d’ye teach?”
"I teach history.”
“D’ye teach all there is?”
“Oh, no! There are about eight his
tory teachers.”
“Eight! Landsakes, I didn’t know
there was so much history!"—lndian
apolis News.
Weil Exposed, Perhaps.
Links —Your daughter seems a well
developed girl.
Jinks —Young Sapleigh doesn’t seem
to think so. He makes my parlor a
darkroom every time he calls.
' .. **•
If coffee
disagrees
j I ¥
drinks
Postum
rgher^ ll^ 01 .
