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The Secret Adversary
CHAPTER X—Continued.
—l3
"Can you give us any reason why
we should not put you to death?"
.asked the German.
“Several," replied Tommy. “Look
here, you’ve been asking me a lot <>f
-questions. Let me ask you one for
a change. Why didn't you kill me off
at once before I regained conscious
ness?”
The German hesitated, and Tommy
seized ills advantage.
“Because you didn’t know how
much I knew —and where 1 obtained
my knowledge. If you kill me now, you
never will know. How did I get into
this place? Remember what dear old
Conrad said —with your own pass
word, wasn’t It? How did I get hold
of that? You don’t suppose I came
up those steps haphazard and said the
first thing that came Into my head?"
“That Is true," said the working
man suddenly, “Comrades, we have
been betrayed!”
An ugly murmur arose. Tommy
smiled at them encouragingly.
“That’s better. How can you hope
to make a success of any job if you
don’t use your brains?"
“You will tell us who has betrayed
us,” said the German. “But that shall
not save you—oh, no! You shall tell
us all that you know. Boris, here,
knows pretty ways of making people
speak 1”
“Bah !’’ said Tommy scornfully, fight
ing down a singularly unpleasant feel
ing in the pit of his stomach. "You
will neither torture me nor kill me.’
“And why not?’’ asked Boris.
"Because you’d kill the goose that
lays the golden eggs," replied Tommy
quietly.
“What do you mean?”
“What do you think I mean?” par
ried Tommy, searching desperately in
his own mind.
Suddenly Boris stopped forward,
and shook his fist in Tommy’s face.
“Speak, you swine of an English
man —speak!”
“Don’t get so excited, my good fel
low,” said Tommy calmly. “That’s the
worst of you foreigners. You can't
keep calm. Now, I ask you, do I
look as though I thought there were
the least chance of your killing me?”
He looked confidently round, and
was glad they could not hear the per
sistent beating of his heart which
gave the lie to his words.
“No,” admitted Boris at last sul
len] v, “you do not.”
“Thank God, he’s not a mind
reader,” thought Tommy. Aloud he
pursued his advantage:
“And why am I so confident? Be
cause I know something that puts me
In a position to propose a bargain.”
“A bargain?” The bearded man
took him up sharply.
“Y'es —a bargain. My life and lib
erty against— ’’ He paused.
“Against what?”
“The group pressed forward. You
could have heard a pin drop.
Slowly Tommy spoke.
“The papers that Danvers brought
over from America in the Lusitania."
The effect of his -vords tvas elec
trical. Everyone was on his feet. The
German waved them Lack. He leaned
over Tomr. y, his face purple with ex
citement.
“Hlmrnel! You have got them,
then?”
With magnificent calm Tommy shook
his head.
“You know where they are?” per
sisted the German.
Again Tommy shook his head. “Not
In the least.”
“Then —then —” angry and baffled,
the words failed him.
Tommy looked round. He saw T an
ger and bewilderment on every face,
but his calm assurance had done its
work —no one doubted but that some
thing lay behind bis words.
“I don’t know where the papers are
—but I believe I can find them. If
I produce the papers—you give me my
life and liberty in exchange. Is It a
bargain?"
“And if we refuse?” said the Ger
man quietly.
Tommy lay back on the couch.
“The 29th,” he said thoughtfully,
"is less than a fortnight ahead —’’
For a moment the German hesi
tated. Then he made a sign to Conrad.
“Take him Into the other room.”
For five minutes Tommy sat on the
bed in the dingy room next door. His
heart was beating violently. He had
risked all on this throw. How would
they decide?
At last the door opened, and the
German called Imperiously to Conrad
to return.
The German was seated once more
behind the table. He motioned to
Tommy to sit down opposite to him.
“We accept,” he said harshly, “on
terms. The papers must be delivered
to us before you go free.”
“Idiot!” said Tommy amiably.
“How do you think I can look for
them if you keep me tied by the leg
here?"
“What do you expect, then?”
“I must have liberty to go about
the business in my owm way.”
By Agatha Christie
Copyright Dodd, Mead A Company
The German laughed.
“Do you think we aro little children
to let 70U walk out of here leaving 11s
a pretty story full of promises? One
of our number will carry out your In
structions minutely. If the operations
are complicated, he w'll return to you
with a report and you can Instruct
him further.”
“You’re tying my hands," com
plained Tommy. “It’s a very delicate
affair, and the other fellow will muff
it up as likely as not. nnd then where
shall I be? I don’t believe one of you
has got an ounce of tact,”
"Those are our terms. Otherwise,
death!”
Tommy icaned back wearily.
“1 like you/ style. Curt, but at
tractive. So be it, then. But one
thing Is essential—l must see the
girl.”
“What girl?”
“Jane Finn, of course."
The other looked at him curio’sly
for some minutes, then he said slowly,
and as though choosing his words
with care:
“Do you not know 7 that she can tell
you nothing?”
Tommy’s heart beat a little faster.
Wouid he succeed in coming face to
face with the girl he w 7 as seeking?
“I shall not ask her to tell me any
thing,” he said quietly. “Not in so
many words, thnt Is."
“Then why see her?”
Tommy paused.
“To watch her face when I ask her
one question,” he replied at last.
Again there was a look In the Ger
man’s eyes that Tommy did not quite
understand.
“She will not be able to answer
your question.”
“That does not matter. I shall have
seen her face when I ask it."
The German looked at him search
ingly. “I w 7 onder whether, after all,
you know as much as w y e think?” he
said softly.
Tommy felt his ascendency less sure
than a moment before. His hold had
slipped a little. But he was puzzled.
What had he said wrong? He spoke
out on the Impulse of the momeut.
“There may be things that you know
which I do not. I have not pretended
to be aware of all the details of your
show. But equally I’vj got something
up my sleeve that you don’t know
about. And that’s where I mean to
score. Danvers was a d—d clever fel
low —” He broke oft a- If he had said
too much.
The German’s face had lightened a
little.
“Danvers,” he murmured. “I see —”
He paused a minute, then waved to
Conrad. “Take him away. Upstairs—
you know 7 .’’
“Walt a minute,” said Tommy.
“What about the girl?”
“We will see about it Only one
person can decide that.”
"Who?" asked Tommy. But he
knew the answer.
“Mr. Brown— ’’
“Shall I see him?”
“Perhaps.”
“Come.” said Conrad harshly.
Tommy rose obediently. Outside the
door his jailer motioned to him to
mount the stairs. He himself followed
v,d. on.0 n . .MlfbUOftr ,?hnye Ctyh.
rad opened a door and Tommy passed
into a small room. Conrad lit a hiss
ing gas burner and went out. Tommy
heard the sound of the key being
turned In the lock.
He set to work to examine Ills
prison. It was a smaller room than
the one downstairs, and there w 7 as
something peculiarly airless about the
atmosphere of it. Then he realized
that there wa; no window. Pie walked
round It. The walls were filthily dirty,
as everywhere else. Four pictures
l.ung crookedly the wall represent
ing scenes from “Faust.” Marguerite
with her box of jew 7 els, the church
scene, SKbel and Lis flowers, and
Faust and Mephl3topheles. The latter
brought Tommy’s mind back to Mr.
Brown again. In this sealed and
closed chamber, with Its close-fitting
heavy door, he felt cut off from the
world, and the sinister power of the
arch-criminal seemed more real. Shout
as he would, no one could ever hear
him. The place was a living tomb. .
With an effort Tommy pulled him
self together. He sank onto the bed
nnd gave himself up to reflection. His
head ached badly; also, he was hun
gry. The silence of the place was
dispiriting.
“Anyway,” said Tommy, trying to
cheer himself, “I shall see the chief—
the mysterious Mr. Brown, and with
a bit of 1 lek in bluffing I shall see
the mysterious Jane Finn also. After
that—”
After that Tommy was forced to
admit the prospect looked dreary.
The troubles of the future, how
ever, soon faded before the troubles
of the present. And of these, the most
Immediate and pressing was that of
hunger. Tommy had a healthy and
vigorous appetite. He regretfully rec-
HENRY COUNTY WEEKLY, McDONOUGH, GEORGIA.
ognized the fact thnt he would not
make a success of a hunger strike.
He prowled aimlessly about his
prison. Once or twice he discarded
dignity, and pounded on the door. But
nobody answered the summons.
Finally a bright Idea flashed across
his brain. Conrad was undoubtedly
the tennnt of the house. The others,
with the possible exception of the
bearded Germnn, merely used it as a
rendezvous. Therefore, why not wait
In ambush for Conrad behind the door,
and when he entered bring down a
chair, or one of the decrepit pictures,
smnrtly onto his head. One would,
of course, be careful not to hit too
hard. And then —and then, simply
walk out. If he met anyone on the
way down, well— Tommy brightened
at the thought of an encounter with
his fists. Such an affair was infinitely
more In his line than the verbal en
counter of tliis afternoon. Intoxicated
by his plan. Tommy gently unhooked
the picture of the Devil and Faust,
and settled himself In position. Ills
hopes were high. The plan seemed
to him simple but excellent.
Time went on, but Conrad did not
appear. Night and day were the
same in this prison room, but Tom
my’s wrist-watch, which enjoyed a
certain degree of accuracy, Informed
him that It was nine o’clock In the
evening. Tommy reflected gloomily
that if supper did not arrive soon It
would he a question of waiting for
breakfast. At ten o’clock hope de
serted him, nnd he flung himself onto
the bed to seek consolation in sleep.
In five minutes his woes were for
gotten.
The sound of the key ttiming In
the lock awoke him from his slum
bers. Not belonging to the type of
hero who is famous for awaking In
full possession of his faculties, Tommy
merely blinked at the celling nnd won
dered vaguely where he was. Then
he remembered.
The door swung open. Too late,
Tommy rememlered his scheme of
obliterating the unprepossessing Con
rad,, A moment later he was glad that
he had, for It was not Conrad who
entered, bufc a girl. She cnrrled a
tray which she set down on the table.
In the feeble light of the gas burner
Tommy blinked at her. He decided
at once that she was one of the most
beautiful girls he had ever seen.
There was a wild-rose quality about
her face. Her eyes, set wide apart,
were hazel, a golden hazel thnt again
recalled a memory of sunbeams.
A delirious thought shot through
Tommy’s mind.
“Are you Jane Finn?” he asked
breathlessly.
The girl shook her head wonder
ingly.
“My name Is Annette, monsieur.”
She spoke in a soft, broken English.
“Oh 1” said Tommy, rather taken
aback. “Francaise?” he hazarded.
“Oul, monsieur. Monsieur parle
francaise?”
“Not for any length of time,” said
Tommy. “What’s that? Breakfast?”
The girl nodded. Tommy dropped
off the bed and came and Inspected
the contents of the tray. It consisted
of a loaf, some margarine, and u Jug
of coffee.
“The living is not equal to the Rltz,”
he observed with a sigh. “But for
what we are at last about to receive
the Lord has made me truly thank
ful. Amen."’ ” "
He drew up a chair, and the girl
turned away to the door.
"Walt a sec,” cried Tommy. “There
are lots of things I want to p.sk you,
Annette. What are you doing 1l this
house?”
“I do the service, monsieur.”
“I see,” raid Tommy. “You kno*7
what I asked you just now. Have you
ever heard that name?"
“I have heard people speak of Jane
Finn, I think.”
“You don’t know where she Is?’
Annette shook her head.
“She’s not in this house, for In
stance?"
“Oh. no, monsieur. I must go now —
they will be waiting for me.”
She hurried out The key turned In
the lock.
“I wonder who they’ are," mused
Tommy, as he continued to make In
roads on the loaf. “With a bit of
luck, that girl might help me to get
out of here. She doesn’t look like one
of the gang.”
At one o’clock Annette reappeared
with another tray, but this time Con
rad accompanied her.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
A Cool Customer.
Stranger —Miss Phayre, allow me—
this is Mr. Bangs.
Miss Phayre—But I don’t know you,
sir.
Stranger —Not yet, but I have asked
Mr. Bungs to Introduce me.
Since 1904 the national death rate
from tuberculosis has decreased 50
per cent.
No man should attempt to rule oth
ers who is unable to rule himself.
ysp OD
Poultry Breeders Are
Interested in Highways
A farmer who lived six miles from
town, over a mud road, was asked why
he didn’t keep more chickens, when
the town in question offered a good
market for eggs. He replied that he
lived too fur out, und had no automo
bile.
"Six miles isn’t much more than a
half-hour’s ride with your team,” the
inquirer said.
“Half an hour in summer, nnd three
hours in winter," replied the farmer.
It may not seem as if the good roads
movement affects the poultry business,
but it has a big influence on the num
ber of chickens kept. The poultry
breeder who supplies eggs in quantity
for private trade must make prompt
deliveries. If a hotel orders a case of
eggs at certain Intervals, that case of
eggs must get there or the farmer
loses the trade. The criticism that
farmers can’t be depended on and the
packing houses can, has been one that
can’t be refuted for farmers as a class.
There are exceptions, but the farmers
themselves admit that there are times
when they are at the mercy of the
roads. Winter eggs might be had, hut
why try for them in large numbers
when there is a chance that they could
not get them to town if they were laid?
There is the question of cold in win
ter. Chilled eggs are unfit for hatch
ing; the farmer who has to sell eggs
for hatching only during the season
when he is not “three hours on the
road,” would find his trade limited.
Aside from the cold, there Is also for
hatching eggs the question of jolting
the germ to an extent tliut weakens if
not kills it.
When the farmer lived upon the
products of his own farm, the roads
(lid not seriously affect him. Today
they do. Poultry breeders are among
our most up-to-date business men. Of
course they are interested in the good
roads movement.
-Western Engineers on
Economical Highways
How to make the road home shorter
by making It better was discussed
by engineers from Kansas and adjoin
ing states in the second annual road
school held at the Kansas State Agri
cultural college recently.
The work being done In lowai to de
termine fuel consumption on roads of
different kinds and different grades,
showing how much saving In the cost
of gasoline can be effected by a change
from a steep to a level grade, was ex
plained. Approximately one-half the
gasoline is used in the resistance with
in the car and one-half in tractive ef
fort. On one road in lowa the cost of
a change from earth to a hard surface
will be paid in eight years, with the
saving of gasoline alone. On a certain
other road, the speaker explained, the
saving would not cover the cost within
any reasonable length of time.
Sixty-three types of road in Illinois
was the subject of n discussion by
an engineer from that state. Tests re
sulted in a new design of Illinois pave
ment. The cost of the experiments
amounted to $189,000. The saving In
eOttst luv t v-' i=■ i-/i' > t la- -a a vt- • ■ t n-«r ■ -M Id
design for the year 1922 was $1,000,000.
Engineers are advocating no particu
lar type of road except as local condi
tions and prospective traffic warrant,
discussions In the school brought out.
Engineers are trying, not to make all
roads the best roads possible, but to
make them the most economical roads,
all things considered, it was decided.
Work Resumed on Many
Forest Road Projects
(Prepared by the United States Department
of Agriculture.)
With the opening of the forest road
construction season now at hand, the
bureau of public roads of the United
States Department of Agriculture re
ports that there are 89 projects in
volving 717 miles of road upon which
work Is being resumed and a number
of new projects for which contracts
have been recently let.
The projects upon which work is
being resumed are distributed as fol
lows :
3tate. Projects. Mileage.
Alaska 8 24.00
Idaho 17 110.00
Montana 8 70.00
Washington 8 64.00
Oregon 22 148.00
California 4 40.00
Colorado 7 103.00
South Dakota.... 2 13.00
Wyoming 3 56.00
Arkansas t 10.00
New Hampshire 1 0.02
Virginia 1 7.00
Utah 5 30.00
Arizona 1 44.00
Jew Mexico 1 8.00
Total 89 717.00
One hundred and seventy-five proj
jcts, involving 1,487 miles of forest
•oad. have already been completed.
Says Teethina
Saved Her Baby
From the Grave
“I actually believe Teethina saved
my baby from the grave, for she was
the sickest little thing you ever saw
for six weeks,” writes Mrs. B. W.
Wamble, Route 4, Elba, Ala. “She
had the host treatment we could give
her, hut seemed to get worse instead
of better. When we stopped every
thing else and gave her Teethina she
got better right away, and now she
Is a laughing, playful little darling
and eats anything."
If Mrs. Wamble had given her little
one Teethina at the first sign of
trouble she would have been saved
many anxious hours.
Teethina Is sold by leading drug
gists or send 30c to the Moffett Lab
oratories, Columbus, Ga., and receive
a full size package and a free copy
of Moffett’s Illustrated Baby Book.—
(Advertisement.)
MEN NOT GREATEST TALKERS
Tests Have Shown That the So-Calied
Sterner Sex Are More Reticent
Than Their Sisters.
Normal women talk more hut say
less than normal men and have less
creative imagination, while persons In
the excited stage of “manic-depressive
Insanity” show greater capacity to
create mental images than either nor
mal men or women. So said Dr. Deign
Li*ndhnlm of Wuverl.v, Mass., to mem
bers of the American Psychiatric asso
ciation at Detroit the other day, basing
his statements on a comparative study
made 7 of creative Imagination in nor
mal ami Insane people.
Subjects were shown a perfectly
meaningless picture for two minutes
after it had been suggested to them
that It represented meaningful objects.
They were asked to report what they
saw. In each sex of the normal people
there was a type that said many words
but few significant ones. Twice as
many women as men belonged to this
“normal talkative” type.
Normal men showed a greater ten
dency to see things In the picture that
weren’t there than did normal women,
thus exhibiting more creative Imagina
tion, while the “manics” saw more
than did either. Melancholies passed
tip (he whole test witli the phrase "I
cannot.”
Fight Engine Resistance.
Builders of the ’bat-wing” airplane
designed the craft to overcome the re
sistance of struts, wires nnd fuselage
that in the usual type of machine con
sume almost three-quarters of the en
gine power, says the Washington Star.
The Improved design is a great double
chambered aerofoil that terminates at
right and left in the conventional aile
rons nnd that tai»ers In the rear to a
tail that has the usual elevator and
rudder. The aerofoil measures 100 feet
from tip to tip and swells In the front
to a thickness of seven feet. In that
bulge is a cabin 30 feet long, eight
feet wide and six feet In height. This
plane Is an Internally trussed canti
lever structure covered with wood
veneer so tough that the wing surfaces
can be walked upon.
of discomfort
(JResinol
is what you want for your skin trouble
—Resinol to stop the itching and burn
ing Resinol to heal the eruption.
Scratching makes it worse, besides
being embarrassing and dangerous,
but the smooth, gentle ingredients of
RESINOL OINTMENT often over
come the trouble promptly, even if it U
severe and long-established. Bathing
the affected part first with RESINOL
SOAP hastens the beneficial results.
Resinol products at all druggists.
MITCHELL EYE SALVE
heals inflamed eyes, granulated lids,
styes, etc. Sure. Safe. Speedy. 250
at all druggists.
AGENTS: We have the perfect portable
vulcanizer. Repairs tubes or casings any
where. Guaranteed. Every autoist needs it.
Write Quick for territory. Johnson Portable
Vulcanizer Co., Box 377, St. Joseph, Mo.
SWEET DREAMS
Liberal Bottles 35c SOl.n EVERYWHERE
W. N. U.. ATLANTA, NO. 32-1923.