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Show Secret Adversary BBiKi bu AsathaChristie that rnsfnnr Julfus IiniT taken his measure. The ninn he had to deal with whs an abject physical coward the rest would be easy. "This Is nn outrage," cried the Russian in a high hysterical voice. "An outrage! Do you mean to kill i mej" ' "Whnt do you want? Money?" : "No. I want Jane Finn." 'Mane Finn? I never heard of her!" "You're a darned liar. You know perfectly well .who I menu-" "Oh. .yes, I would, son !" Kranienin musl have recognized something In the voice that carried conviction, for he said sullenly: "W ell? Granted I do know' who you mean what of It?" "You will tell me now right here where she Is to he found." "I daren't. You ask an impossibility." impossi-bility." "Afraid, eh? Of whom? Mr. Brown? Ah, that tickles you up! There is such a person, then. I doubted It. And the mere mention of him scares you stiff!" "I have seen blin," said the Russian Rus-sian slowly. "He Is a man to fear." "He'll never know," said Julius. "He knows everything and bis vengeance is swift." "Then you won't do as I ask you?" . ' "You ask an Impossibility." "Sure that's a pity for you," said Julius cheerfully. "But the world In general will benefit." He raised the revolver. "Do not shoot. I will do all you wish." Julius lowered the revolver. "Where is the girl?" "At Gatehouse, In Kent. Astley Priors, the place Is called." "What about the other girl, the one you decoyed away over a week I ago?" "She's there, too," said the Russian Rus-sian sullenly. "That's good," said Julius. "Isn't It all panning out beautifully? Aud a lovely night for the run ."'' "What run?" demanded Kranienin. Kranie-nin. with a stare. "Down to Gatehouse, pure. I hope you're fond of motoring?" "What do you mean? I refuse to go." "Now don't get mad. You must see I'm not such a kid as to leave T-Vs here. You'd ring up out friends on that telephone 'first thing! Ah!" lie observed the fall on the other's face. "You see. you'd got it all lixed. Nn. sir. you're coming along with me. This your i bedroom next door here? Wall; j right In. Little Willie and 1 will i come behind. Put cn a thick coat i that's right. Fur lined ! And you i a Socialist! Now we're ready. We! walk downstairs and -out through j the hall to where my car's wait- i ing. And don't you forget I've got I you covered every Inch of the way. I can shoot just as well through my coat pocket." Together they descended the ' stairs and passed out to the waiting wait-ing car. The Russian was shaking 1 with rage. The hotel servants sur- rounded them. A cry hovered on , his Hps, but at the last minute his The man on the steps uttered nn oath. Ills hand went Into his pocket. There wns a flash nnd n report. The bullet just missed the taller girl by an Inch. "Get down. Jane," cried Julius. 'Flat on the bottom of the cnr. Are VOU all rlL'llt TnT'linnr-oV ... .r,.-.rr i ,im ti acre s rom-my? rom-my? What made them let us go?" i demanded Tuppence. "1 reckon Monsieur Krnmenlu 1 here asked them so prettily they Just couldn't refuse!" This was too much for the Itus- "Curse you curse you ! They know now that I betrayed them. My life won't he safe for an hour In this country." j "That's so," assented Julius. "I'd advise you to make tracks for Russia Rus-sia right away." "Let me go, then," cried the other. "I have done whnt you asked." "Sure thing. Pull up, George. The gentlemnn's not making the return re-turn trip. If I ever come to Russia, Monsieur Kranienin. 1 shall expect a rousing welcome, and " But before Julius had finished his speech, and before the cnr hail finally halted, the Russian had swung himself out and disappeared Into the night. "Annette and I didn't know what wns going to happen to us," snld Tuppence. "Old Whittington hurried hur-ried us off. We thought it was Iambs to the slaughter." "Annette," said Julius. "Is that whnt you call her?" His mind seemed to be trying to Adjust Itself to a new idea. "It's her name," said Tuppence, Jpenlng her eyes very wide. "Shucks!" retorted Julius. "She 'lay think It's her name, because her memory's gone, poor kid. But it's the one real nnd originc.1 Jane Finn we've got here." "What ?" cried Tuppence But she was Interrupted. With nn angry spurt, a bullet embedded Itself in the upholstery of the car Just behind her head. "Down with you," cried Julius. "It's an nmbush. Push her a bit, George." The cnr fairly leapt forward. Three more shuts rang out, but went happily wide. Julius raised his hand to his cheek. "You are hurt?" sa'd Arretfe quickly. - "( nly a scratch." The girl sprang to her feet. "Let me out! Let me out, I sny! Stop he cnr. It is me they nre after. I'm the one they want. Y'ou shall not lose your lives because of me. Let me go." She was fumbling fum-bling with the fastenings of the door Julius took her by hoth arms, and looked at her. She had spoken with no trace of foreign accent. "Sit down, kid," he said gently. "I guess there's nothing wrong with your memory. Been fooling them all the time, eh?" The girl looked at him, nodded, ind then suddenly burst Into tears, lullus patted her on the shoulder. "There, there just you sit tight. We're not going to let you quit." That's Just the point, Albert. She's disappeared." "You don't mean as the crooks have got her?" "They have. By the way, have you by any chance an aunt, a cousin, a grandmother, or any other suitable female relation who might be represented as being likely to - kick the bucket?' A delighted grin spread slowly over Albert's countenance. "I'm on, sir. My poor aunt what lives In the country has been mortal mor-tal bad for a long time, and she's asking for me with her dying breath." Tommy nodded approval. "Can you report this Is the proper prop-er quarter nnd meet me at Clinrtng Cross in an hour's time?" "I'll be there, sir. Y'ou can (xmnt on rue." As Tommy had judged, the faithful faith-ful Albert proved an Invaluable j ally. The two took up their qunr- ters at the Inn In Gatehouse. To Albert fell the task of collecting Information. There was no. difficulty diffi-culty about It. AsOey Priors was the property of a Dr. Adams. The doctor no longer practiced, bad retired, the landlord believed, but he took a few private patients here the good fellow tapped his forehead knowingly know-ingly "balmy ones ! You understand!" under-stand!" The doctor was a popular figure In the village, subscribed freely to all the local sports "a very pleasant, affable gentleman." Tommy felt doubts. Was It possible pos-sible that this genial, well-known figure could be in reality a dangerous danger-ous criminal? Suppose it was all a gigantic mistake? Tommy felt a cold chill at the thought. On the first evening Tommy, accompanied ac-companied by Albert, explored the grounds. They reached a shrubbery shrub-bery near the house quite unmolested. unmo-lested. The blinds of the dining room window were up. There was a large company assembled round th table. It seemed a normal, pleas- neafjy ouf ortTie gafe. TT was beau- tifully done soberly nnd wltn per- feet decorum. Anyone would have sworn that the butler was a real butler, the footmnn a real footman foot-man only, ns It happened, the butler but-ler was Wlilttlngton I Tommy retired to the Inn and waited for Albert's return. At last that worthy made his appearance. "Well?" cried Tommy eagerly. "It's all right. While they was a-runnln' of you out the w'lndow opened, and something was chucked out." He handed a scrap of paper to Tommy. "It was wrapped round a letter-weight." On the paper was scrawled three words: "Tomorrow same time." "Good egg!" cried Tommy. "We're getting going!" Tommy retired for the night In a state of some elation. He had elaborated elab-orated n careful plan for the following fol-lowing evening. About twelve o'clock, however, his calm wns rudely shaken. He wns told that some one was demanding him Id the bar. The applicant proved to be a rude-looking carter well coated coat-ed with mud. "Well, my good fellow, whnt Is it?" asked Tommy. "Might this be for you, sir?" The I carter held out a very dirty folded I note, on the outside of which was written: "Take this to the gentleman gentle-man at the Inn near Astley Priors. He will give you ten shillings." The handwriting was Tuppence's. Tommy appreciated her quiefc-wit-tedness In realizing that he might be staying at the inn under an assumed as-sumed name. He unfastened It. "Dear Tommy: "I knew it was you last night. Don't go this evening. They'll be lying In wait for you. They're taking tak-ing us away this morning. I beard something about VfalesHolyhead, I think. I'll drop this on the road if I get a chance. Annette told me how you'd escaped. Buck op. "Yours, "TWOPENCE." nerve failed him. The American was a man of his word. When they reached the car .Tul-lus .Tul-lus breathed a sigh of relief. The danger-zone was passed. Fear had successfully hypnotized the man bv his side. "G-t in," he ordered. "George!" The chnuffeur turned his head. "I went to go to Gatehouse In Kent. Know the road at all?" "Yes, sir; it will be about an hour and a half's run." "Make It In nn hour. I'm In a hurry." I "I'll do my best, sir." The car shot forward through the traffic. Julius ensconced himself comfortably comfort-ably by the side of his victim. He kept his hand In the pocket of his coat, but his manner was urbane to the last degree. Slowing down, the chauffeur called over bis shoulder that they were just coming Into Gatehouse. Julius bade the Russian direct them. His plan was to drive straight up to the house. There Kramenin was to ask for the two girls. Julius explained to him that Little Willie would not be tolerant of failure. Kranienin, by this time, was as putty In the other's hands. The car swept up the drive, and stopped before the porch. The chauffeur looked round for orders. "Turn the car first, George. Then ring the bell, and get back to your place. Keep the engine going, and be ready to scoot like h 1 when I give the word." "Very good, sir." The front door was opened by the butler. Kramenin felt the muzzle of the revolver against his ribs. "Now," hissed Julius. "And be careful." The Russian beckoned. His Hps were white, and his voice was not very steady. "It is I Kramenin ! Bring down the girl at once! There is no time to lose !" Whittington had come down the steps. He uttered an exclamation of astonishment at seeing the other.-"We other.-"We have been betrayed! Plans must be abandoned. We must save our own skins. The girl I And at once! It's our only chance." Whittington hesitated, but for hnnlly a moment. "You have orders from him?" "Naturally ! Should I be here otherwise? Hurry! There is no time to be lost. The other little fool hnd better come too." Whittington turned and rnn back into the house. The agonizing minutes min-utes went by. Then two figures hastily huddled in cloaks, appeared nri the steps and" were hustled Into the car. The smaller of the two was inclined to resist and Whittington Whitting-ton shoved her In unceremoniously. Julius lenned forward, and In doing so the light from the open door lit up his face. Another man on the steps behind Whittington gave a startled exclamation. Concealment was at an end. "Get a move on, George," shouted shout-ed Julius. The chauffeur slipped In his clutch, and with a bound the car stnxted. I Through her sobs the girl said In-I In-I distinctly : "You're from home. I can tell ! by your voice. It makes me home-! home-! sick." "Sure I'm from home. I'm your cousin Julius Hershelmmer. r came over to Europe on purpose to find you and a pretty dance you've led me." The car slackened speed. Gorge spoke over his shoulder: "Cross-roads here, sir. Tm not sure of the way." The car slowed down till It hardly hard-ly moved. As It did so a figure climbed suddenly over the back, nnd plunged head first Into the midst of them. "Sorry," said Tommy, ertiicntlng himself. "Was in the bushes by the drive. Hung on behind. Couldn't let you know before at the pace yon were going. It was all I could do to hang on. Now then, you girls, get out! There's a station just up that road. Train due in three minutes. min-utes. You'll catch It If you hurry." "What the devil are you driving at?" demanded Julius. "Do you think you can fool them by leaving the cnr?" "You and I aren't going to leave the car. Only the girls." Tommy turned to Tuppence. "Get out at once, Tuppence. Take her with you, and do just as I say. Take the train to London. Go straight to Sir James Peel Edger-ton. Edger-ton. Mr. Carter lives out of town, but you'll be safe with him." "Darn you !" cried Julius. "You're mad. Jane, you stay where you are." With a sudden swift movement, Tommy snatched the revolver trom Julius' hand, nnd leveled it at him. "Now will you believe I'm In earnest? ear-nest? Get out, both of you, and do as I say or I'll shoot!" Tuppence sprang out, dragging the unwilling Jane after her. "Come on, it's all right. If Tommy's Tom-my's sure he's sure. Be quick. We'll miss the train." They started running. Julius' pent-up rage burst forth. "Whnt the h 1 " Tommy interrupted him. "Dry up! I want a few words with you, Mr. Julius Hershelmmer." CHAPTER XVI Jane's Story. TJEIt arm through Jane's, drng-x drng-x glng her along. Tuppence reached the station. They arrived on the platform just as the train came to a standstill. Tuppence opened the door of an empty first-class first-class compartment, and the two girls sank down breathless on the padded seats. If they reached Sir James Peel Edgerton In safety, all would be well. But would they reach him? Would not the silent forces of Mr. Brown already be assembling against them? Tuppence mapped out her plan of campaign. As the train at length drew slowly slow-ly Into Charing Cross, Jane Finn sat up with a start. "Have we arrived? I never thpiighljte Bhanrdl,, (Continued V . ant company. Again Tommy felt that cold chill of uncertainty. It seemed Impossible Impos-sible to believe that these people . ' were other than they seemed. Had . , he been fooled once more? Tommj slept badly that night me -next Day ATbefT brought tne first jleco of hopeful news. There was a French young lady staying In the house. Tommy put his doubts aside. Here was confirmation of his theory. But time pressed. Today To-day was the 27th. The 20th was the much-talked-of "Labor Day." about which all sorts of rumors were running riot. Newspapers were getting agitated. Sensational hints oX a labor coup d'etat were prepared. pre-pared. Tommy felt that, thanks to Mr. Carter, he understood the position . fairly accurately. With the fatal document In the hands of Mr. Brown, public opinion would swing to the side of the labor extremists and revolutionists. Falling that, the battle was an even chance. The government with a loyal army and police force behind them might win but at a cost of great suffering. suffer-ing. But Tommy nourished another and a preposterous dream. With Mr. Brown unmasked and captured he believed, rightly or wrongly, that the whole organization would crumble ignomlniously and instantaneously. instan-taneously. The strange permeating permeat-ing Influence of the unseen chief Jield It together. "This is a one-man show," said ToriiE'y fo himself. "The thing to - do la to get hold of the man." 1 4Q?Jt.ve.!,Ln? ie nn(' Albert once more" penetrated the grounds of Astley Priors. Tommy's ambition . was somehow or other to gain nd- ralsslon to the house itself. As they approached cautiously, Tommy gave a sudden gasp. '. Onthe second floor window someone some-one standing between the window and te light In the room threw a silhouette on the blind. It was one Tommy1 would have recognized anywhere any-where Tuppence was In that house! y He clutched Albert by the shoul- " der. "Stay here! When I begin to Sing, watch thnt window." He retreated hastily to a position on the main drive, and began in a deop roar, coupled with an unsteady un-steady gait, the following ditty: I am a Soldier, A Jolly British Soldier: Tou can Bee that I'm a soldier by my feet . . , It had been a favorite on the gramophone In Tuppence's hospital days. He did not doubt but that she would recosrnlze It nnd draw her own conclusions. Presently an unimpeachable butler, but-ler, accompanied by an equally un. Impeachable footman. Issued from the front d oor. The butler remon-etrnted remon-etrnted with him. Tommy continued con-tinued to sing, addressing the butler but-ler affectionately as "dear old whiskers." whis-kers." The footman took him hv one arm, the butler bv the other. Thev ran hlm down. the drive, nnd iiuiu miaeu a snouc ror AlDert. "Pack my bag 1 We're off 1" "Tea, sir." The boots of Albert could be heard racing upstairs. Holyhead? Did that mean that, after all Tommy was puzzled. The boots of Albert continued to be active on the floor above. Suddenly a second shout came from below. "Albert ! I'm a d d fool 1 Unpack Un-pack that bog!" "Yes, sir." Tommy smoothed the note thoughtfully. "Yes. a d d fool," he said softly. soft-ly. "But so's some one else I And ' at last I know who it Is!" CHAPTER XV Julius Takes a Hand. TN HIS suite at Clarklge's, Kra-x Kra-x menln reclined on a couch and dictated to his secretary In sitiiant Russian. Presently the telephone at the secretary's elbow purred, and he took up the receiver, spoke for a minute or two, then turned to his employer. "Some one below Is asking for you." "Who Is It?" "He gives the name of Mr. Julius P. Hersbeimnier." "Hersbeimaier," repeated Kramenin Krame-nin thoughtfully. "I have heard that name before.' "His father was one of the steel kings of America," explained the . secretary, whose business It was to know everything. "This young man hfust be a millionaire several times over." "A millionaire several times over," murmured Kramenin. "Bring him up, my dear Ivan." The secretary left the room and 'returned escorting Julius. The Russian, studying him attentively atten-tively with his pale venomous eyes., bowed. "Pleased to meet you," said the American. "I've got some verv Important business I'd like to tali; over with you, If I can see you alone." He looked pointedly at ths other. "My secretary. Monsieur Grleber,. from whom I have no secrets." ! "That may be so but I have," said Julius dryly. "Send him round to a store to buy a penn'orth J of peanuts." "Very- good. Ivan, I shall not , require you again this evening. Go to the theater take a night off." The secretary bowed and departed. depart-ed. Julius stood at the door watching his retreat. Finally, with a salis-fled salis-fled sigh, he closed it, and came back to his position In the center of the room. I "Now, Mr. Ilersheimmer, perhaps you will be so kind as to come to the point?" "I guess that won't take a minute," min-ute," drawled Julius. Then, with an abrupt change of manner: "Hands up or I shoot!" Ftr & moment Kramenin stared blindly Into the big automatic, then, with almost comical haste, he flung up his. hands. above .bis head. In |