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The Secret Adversary CHAPTER Xi—Continued. —l6 “Wait a moment." lie ran back to tlie station and tackled the porter anew. “Look here, do you remember n young lady who arrived by an earlier train, the 12:50 from London? She’d probably ask you the way to the Moat Louse.” He described Tuppence as well as lie could, but the porter shook his head. Several people had arrived by the-train in question. He could not call to mind one young lady in particu lar. Tommy rejoined Julius, and ex plained. Depression was settling down on him like a leaden weight. He felt convinced that their quest was going to be unsuccessful. The enemy had over three hours’ start. Three hours was more than enough for Mr. Brown. He would not ignore tlie possibility of the telegram having been found. The way seemed endless. It was past seven o’clock when a small boy told them that “t’ Moat house” was just past the next corner. A rusty iron gate swinging dismally on its hinges! An overgrown drive thick with leaves. There was some thing about the place that struck a chill to both their hearts. A turn of the drive brought them in sight of the house. That, too, seemed empty and deserted. Was it indeed to this desolate spot that Tuppence had been decoyed? It seemed hard to believe that a human footstep had passed this way for months. Julius jerked the rusty bell handle. A jan gling peal rang discordantly, echoing through the emptiness within. No one came. They rang again and again— but there was no sign of life. Then they walked completely round the house. Everywhere silence, and shut tered windows. “Nothing doing,” said Julius. They retraced their steps slowly to the gate. “There must be a village handy,” continued the young American. “We’d better make Inquiries there. They’ll know something about the place, and whether there’s been any one there lately.” “Yes, that’s not a bad Idea." Proceeding up the road, they soon came to a little hamlet. On the out skirts of It, they met a workman swing ing his bag of tools, and Tommy stopped him with a question. ‘The Mont house? It’s empty. Been empty for years. Mrs. Sweeny’s got the key if you want to go over It —next to tne post office.” Tommy thanked him. They soon found the post office, and knocked at the door of the cottage next to it. A clean, wholesome-looking woman opened it. She readily produced the key of the Moat house. “Though I doubt If It’s the kind of place to suit you, sir. In a terrible state of repair. Ceilings leaking and nil. ’Twould need a lot of money spent on it.” “That’s all right. We’ll have a look around this evening, anyway. By the way, you’ve not had a young lady here asking for this key today?" Tlie woman shook her head. “No one’s been over the place for a -Vhvh tj rnc.-V. “Thanks very much.” • They retraced their steps to the Moat house. As the front door swung back on its hinges, protesting loudly, Julius struck a match and examined the floor carefully. Then he shook his head. “I’d swear no one’s passed this way. Look at the dust. Thick. Not a sign of a footmark." They wandered round the deserted house. Everywhere the same tale. Thick layers of dust apparently un disturbed. “We'll go over it again tomorrow,” said Tommy. “Perhaps we’ll see more In the daylight.” On the morrow they took up the search once more, and were reluctant ly forced to the conclusion that the house had not been Invaded for some considerable time. They might have left the village altogether but for a fortunate discovery of Tommy’s. As they were retracing their steps to the gate, he gave a sudden cry, and stoop ing, picked something up from among the ieaves, and held it out to Julius. It was a small gold brooch. “That s Tuppence’s I” "Are you sure?” “Absolutely. I’ve often seen her wear it.” Julius drew a deep breath. “I guess that settles it. She came as far as here, anyway. We’ll make that pub our headquarters, and raise b—u round here until we find her. Somebody must have seen her.” Forthwith the campaign began. Julius wired to town for his car, and they scoured the neighborhood daily with unflagging zeal. Julius was like a hound on the leash. He followed up the slenderest clue, but, as day suc ceeded day, they were no nearer to dis covering Tuppence’s whereabout’s. So well had the abduction been planned By Agatha Christie Coryrisbt Dodd. Mead & Company that the girl seemed literally to have vanished into thin air. Anc another preoccupation was weighing on Tommy’s mind. “Do you know how long we’ve been here?” he asked one morning as they sat facing each other at breakfast. “A week! We’re no nearer to finding Tuppence, and next Sunday is the 20th! Today’s the 23rd, and time’s get ting short. If we’re ever going to get hold of her at all, we must do it before the 29th—her life won’t be worth an hour’s purchase afterward. The host age game will be played out by then. We’ve wasted time and we’re no for rader.” “I’m with you there. We’ve been a couple of mutts, who’ve bitten off a bigger bit than they can chew. I’m going right back to London to put the case in the hands of your British police. Scotland Yard for me! I guess the professional always scores over the amateur in the end. Are you coming along with me?” Tommy shook his head. “What’s the good? One of us Is enough. I might as well stay here and nose round a bit longer. Some thing might turn up. One never knows.” “Sure thing. Well, so long. I’ll be back in a couple of shakes with a few inspectors along. I shall tell them to pick out their brightest and best.” But the course of events was not to follow the plan Julius had laid down. Later in the day Tommy received a wire: “Join me Manchester Midland hotel. Important news —Julius.” At 7:30 that night Tommy alighted from a slow cross-country train. Julius was on the platform. Tommy grasped him by the arm. “What is it? Is Tuppence found?” Julius shook his head. “No. But I found this waiting In London. Just arrived.” He handed the telegraph form to the other. Tommy’s eyes opened as he read: “Jane Finn found. Come Manchester Midland hotel immediately—Peel Edg erton.” Julius took the form back and folded It up. “Queer," he said thoughtfully. “I thought that lawyer chap had quit.” CHAPTER XII Jane Finn "My train got in half an hour ago," explained Julius, as he led the way out of the station. "I reckoned you’d come by this before I left London, and wired accordingly to Sir James. He’s booked rooms for us, and will be round to dine at eight.” Sir James arrived punctually at eight o’clock, and Julius introduced Tommy. Sir James shook hands with him warmly. Immediately the first greetings were over Julius broke out into a flood of eager questions. How had Sir James managed to track the girl? Why had he not let them know that he was still working on the case? And so on. Sir James stroked hhj chin and SUiUcii. At last Via sisiu ; • .1 “Just so, just so. Well, she’s found. And that’s the great thing, Isn’t it? Eh! Come now, that’s the great thing?” “Sure it is. But just how did you strike her trail? Miss Tuppence and I thought you’d quit for good and all. But I guess I can take it we were wrong.” . “Well, I don’t know that I should go so far as to say that. But It’s certainly fortunate for all parties that we’ve managed to find the young lady.” “But where is she?” demanded Julius, his thoughts flying off on another tack. "I thought you’d be sure to bring her along?” “That would hardly be possible," said Sir James gravely. “Why?” “Because the young lady was knocked down in a street accident, and has sustained slight injuries to the head. She was taken to the infirmary, and on recovering consciousness gave her name as Jane Finn." “She’s not seriously hurt?” “Oh, a bruise and a cut or two. Her state is probably to be attributed to the mental shock consequent on recov ering her memory.” “It’s come back?” cried Julius ex citedly. “Undoubtedly, Mr. Hersheimmer, since she was able to give her real name. I thought you had appreciated that point.” “And you just happened to be on the spot," said Tommy. “Seems quite like a fairy tale.” But Sir James was far too wary to be drawn. “Coincidences are curious things,” he said dryly. Nevertheless Tommy was now cer tain of what he had before only sus pected. Sir James' presence in HENRY COUNTY WEEKLY, McDONOUGH. GEORGIA. Manchester was not accidental. Far from abandoning the case, as Julius supposed, be had by some means of his own successfully run the missing girl to earth. The only thing that puzzled Tommy was the reason for all this secrecy. Julius was speaking. “After dinner,” he announced, “1 shall go right away and see Jane.” “That will be impossible, 1 fear," said Sir James. “It is very unlikely they would allow her to see visitors at this time of night. I should sug gest tomorrow morning about ten o’clock.” Julius flushed. There was some thing in Sir James which always stirred him to antagonism. “AH the same, 1 reckon I’ll go round there tonight and see if I can’t ginger them up to break through their silly rules.” “It will be quite useless, Mr. Her sheimmer.” The words came out like the crack of a pistol, and Tommy looked up with a start. Julius was nervous and excited. The hand with which he raised his glass to his lips shook slightly, but his eyes held Sir James' defiantly. For a moment the hostility between the two seemed likely to burst into flame, but in the end Julius lowered his eyes, defeated. “For the moment, I reckon you’re the boss.” “Thank you,” said the other. “We will say ten o’clock then?” With con summate ease of manner he turned to Tommy. “I must confess, Mr. Beres ford, that It was something of a sur prise to me to see you here this evening. The last I heard of you was that your friends were In grave anx iety on your behalf. Nothing had been heard of you for some days, and Miss Tuppence was inclined to think you had got Into difficulties.” “I had, sir!" Tommy grinned remi niscently. “I was* never in a tighter place in my life." Helped out by questions from Sir James, he gave an abbreviated account of his adventures. The lawyer looked at him with renewed interest ns he brought the tale to a close. “You got yourself out of a tight place very well,” he said gravely. “I congratulate you. You displayed a great deal of Ingenuity and carried your part through well.” Tommy blushed, his face assuming a prawn-like hue at the praise. “And since then? What have you been doing?” For a moment, Tommy stared at him. Then it dawned on him that of course the lawyer did not know. “I forgot that you didn’t know about Tuppence,” he said slowly. The lawyer laid down Ills knife and fork sharply. “Has anything happened to Miss Tuppence?” His voice was keen edged. “She’s disappeared,” said Julius. “When?” “A week ago.” “How?” Sir James’ questions fairly shot out. Between them Tommy and Julius gave the history of the last and their futile search. Sir James went at once to the root of the matter. They knew enough of you both for that. They weren’t sure of how much you had learnt in that house. Their kidnaping of Miss Tuppence is the counter-move to your escape. If necessary they could seal your lips with a threat of what might happen to her.” “That’s just what I thought, sir.” Sir James looked at him keenly. “You had worked that out, had you? Not bad —not at all bad. The curious thing is that they certainly did not know anything about you when they first held you prisoner. You are sure that you did not in any way disclose your Identity?” Tommy shook h!s head. “That’s so,” said Julius with a nod. “Therefore I reckon some one put them wise—and not earlier than Sun day afternoon.” “Yes, but who?” “That almighty omniscient Mr. Brown, of course!” There was a faint note of derision In the American’s voice which made Sir Janies look up sharply. “You don’t believe In Mr. Brown, Mr. Hersheimmer?” “No, sir, I do not,” returned the young American with emphasis. “Not as such, that is to say. I reckon It out that he’s a figurehead—Just a bogy name to frighten the children with. The real head of this business Is that Russian chap Kramenin.” “I disagree with you,” said Sir James shortly. “Mr. Brown exists.’’ He turned to Tommy. “Did you hap pen to notice where that wire was handed in?’’ “No, sir, I’m afraid I didn’t.” “H’m. Got it with you?” “It’s upstairs, sir, in my kit.” “I’d like to have a look at It some time. You’ve wasted a week. We'll deni with Miss Jnne Finn first. After ward, we'll set to work to rescue Miss Tuppence from bondage. I don’t think she's In uny Immediate danger.” The other two assented, and, after making arrangements for meeting on the morrow, the great lawyer took his leave. At ten o’clock, the two young men were at the appointed spot. Sir James bad Joined them on the doorstep. He alone appeared unexcited. He Intro duced them to the doctor. “Mr. Hersheimmer —Mr. Beresford Dr. Roylunce. How’s the patient?” “Going on well. Evidently no Idea of the flight of time. Asked this morning how many had been saved from the Lusitania. She seems to have something on her mind, though." “I think we can relieve her anxiety. May we go up?” “Certainly.” Tommy's heart beat sensibly faster ns they followed the doctor upstairs. Jnne Finn at last! The long-sought, the mysterious, the elusive June Finn! How wildly Improbable success had seemed I And here in tills house, her memory almost miraculously restored, lay the girl who held the future of England in her hands. A half groan broke from Tommy’s lips. If only Tuppence could have been at his side to share in the triumphant conclusion of their Joint venture! Then he put the thought of Tuppence resolutely aside. His confidence In Sir James was growing. There was a man who would unerringly ferret out Tuppence’s whereabouts. In the meantime Jane Finn! And suddenly u dread clutched at his heart. It seemed too easy. ~ . Suppose they should find her dead . . . stricken down by the hand of Mr. Brown? In another minute he wns laughing at these melodramatic fancies. The doctor held open the door of a room and they passed In. On the white bed, bandages round her head, lay the girl. Somehow the whole scene seemed un real. It was so exactly what one ex pected that It gave the effect of being beautifully staged. Trie girl looked from one to the other of them with large wondering eyes. Sir James spoke first. “Miss Finn,” he said, “this Is your cousin, Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer.’’ A faint flush flitted over the girl’s face, as Julius stepped forward and took her hand. “How do, Cousin Jane?” he said lightly. But Tommy caught the tremor In his voice. “Are you really Uncle Hiram’s son?" she asked wonderingly. Her voice seemed vaguely familiar to Tommy, but lie thrust the impres sion aside ns Impossible. “Sure thing.” A -hadow passed over the girl’s face. “They’ve been telling me things— dreadful things—that my memory went, and that there are years I shall never know about —years lost out of my life. It seems to me ns though It were no time since we were being hustled Into those boats. I can see It ail now.” She closed her eyes with a shudder. Julius looked across at Sir James, who nodded, “Don’t worry any. It Isn’t worth It. Now, see here, Jane, there’s something we want to know about. There was a man aboard that boat with some mighty important papers on him, and the big guns in this country have got a notion that he passed on the goods to you. Is that so?” hesitated, her glance shift ing to the other two. Julius under stood. “Mr. Beresford Is commissioned by the British government to get those papers back. Sir James Peel Edger ton Is an English member of parlia ment, and might be a big gun In the cabinet if be liked. It’s owing to him that we’ve ferreted you out at last. So you can go right ahead and tell us the whole story. Did Danvers give you the papers?” “Yes. He said they’d have a better ch - nee with me, because they would save the women and children first.” “Just as we thought,” said Sir James. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Pilot-Fish Sometimes Betrays Shark. In olden times people believed that the pilot-fish used to guide and protect ships. The fish would swim before the ship when all was well, but would dis appear, they said, if rocks or land were near, so as to warn sailors. It is a fact that the pilot-fish swims with ships and sharks, but It is not with any intent to guide or protect. When swimming with a shark the pilot-fish keeps just ahead, and If he finds food, dashes about and flops his tall on top of the water to attract the shark’s attention. Then, when the great fish comes up, he shares the meal with it. But often when sailors throw a halted hook over the side of their ship the pilot-fish betrays the shark and leads it to the baited hook. Sports and Frayers. The first “Book of Sports” was pub lished by James I in 1633, to tell of lawful pastimes on Sundays after eve ning prayers. When one has a vote he doesn’t have to protest so much with his mouth. WRIGLEYS g Every Me al l E Have a packet in your & E pocket for ever-ready 9 E Soothes the throat. 11 E For Quality, Flavor and §§ Bankrupt Sale Shaving Outfitsl Only 1,000 left. Each «et consists of One Imported silver-steel razor One soft hnrsehlde strop One opaQ’Je klrhs shavinK mug One tnreo-lnch bristle leather brush One barber's triplicate mirror and s cake of Colgate's cup soap. All for only $1 9S and postage—C. O. T>. Ten days’ trial. Satisfaction absolutely guar anteed. Se.nl a postal for yours today to 11. 11. Ml' Ill’ll Y, AI.TI HAS. FI.A. Eczema and Skin Sufferers—Enjoy Health Wash-Ola will relieve you Immediately. New discovery. Wonderful healing qualities. Trice $1.50. Satisfaction guar, or money refunded. Investigate. Mystic Products Co.. Thurtnan, la. W. N. U., ATLANTA, NO. 35-1923. HIS WORK IN COMMUNITY Minister Might Not Have Been Flat, tered at Jean’s Understanding of His Duties. Mother and Jack were walking home from the morning sermon with serious mien and in thoughtful frame of mind. Not so, Jean. Her mind was on earthly things—the flash of her bright red coat, the shadow and play of the wavy feather on her best Sun duy bonnet —but she caught Jack’s words to his mother. “Isn’t Dr. Dunkel wonderful, moth er?” he was saying. “Yes, Jack, he is,” wns her response. “Oh, Jack,” loftily Interrupted Jean, with a sidewise toss of her head and a knowing half-smile. “Why do you call him ‘Dr. Dunkel’? You know he doesn’t cure us when we are sick.” Mother came to the rescue. “There are two kinds of doctors, Jean,” she said. “One cures our bodies and makes them well. The other cares for our souls.” “Oh, he mends our shoes, doesn’t he?" and she skipped on ahead as lively as before. Probably He Didn’t. Hotel Clerk —“Twenty-five dollars, please.” Guest —“Do I get the hotel as security for the loan?” cMade only of wheat and barley scientifically -/i - v /r\ baked 20 hours £*s Supplies Vitamin-B -J fr ■ 1 and mineral elements. *' v *• / • ' « v- * •kr*- c . mi < • /’<> yY V • How can * Grape:Nuts be other than a wonderfully appetizing, healthful food ? “ There's a Reason" . j . •*-. "v* v •• i«ev