OCR Text |
Show The Secret Adversary . $ -- i "ONE MILLION DOLLARS" I SYN'OrSIS. Realizing that she bas a poHHible chance of being saved, as the Lu.sitanla la slnk- inK. a 8tranKt:r givfa a youn !J American Klrl a package which lie ask a her to deliver to the American nmbuHHador In England. Eng-land. She Ifl saved. In London. . j former IJit. "Tommy" IJerea-J IJerea-J lord and Mius I'rudunce Cowley "Tuppence "disc harmed army nurse, form an organization, "The YounK Adventurers, Ltd." They are both broke and conss-(luently conss-(luently ready for unorthodox methods. They write out an advertisement. ad-vertisement. Tuppence makes a business appointment with a man, Kdward Whlttinffton. who offers her easy employment, hut on fjlv-n fjlv-n her name as "Jane Finn," which she had heard on the street, AVhittlntfton disappears. In answer to an advertisement alined "Jane Finn" the two receive re-ceive notes from "Mr. Carter" and "Julius P. Hershelmmer." Carter, a hlh government official, offi-cial, speaks of a mysterious "Mr. Brown" as head of the Ilolshevlkl 1 In England, and engages the pair to find Jane Finn, whom he is ' seeking for important reasons of . state. Next day the pair visits Hershelmmer, American millionaire. million-aire. Ho is looking for his cousin, cou-sin, Jane Finn, who had disappeared disap-peared after landing from tho i.nsitanla'a boats, and employs them to search for her. Thoy discover dis-cover a Mrs. Vandemeyer la a lAialtanla survivor. Tuppence ' recognizes Whlttlngton In a caller on Mrs. Vandemeyer. Tommy trails him. Whlttlngton leaves : for France. Hershelmmer follows him. Tommy trails Boris. Whlt-tlngton's Whlt-tlngton's companion, to a house In Soho. He overhears details of a Bolshevik and labor plot to 1 overturn the government. Success Suc-cess apparently depends on flnd- 1 Ing a secret treaty made between be-tween the allies during the war. Tommy is caught listening, and ' knocked senseless. Sensing sinister sin-ister relations between Whittlng- ' ton and Mrs. Vandemeyer, Tuppence Tup-pence disguises herself and be- , comes a parlor maid. During a conversation between a visitor, I "Boris," and Mrs. Vandemeyer, In which the name of Sir James 1'eel Edgerton, famous criminal lawyer. Is mentioned, Tuppence nears talk of an "organization." Next day Edgerton visits Mrs. Vandemeyer, and on leaving advises ad-vises Tuppence to give up her position, but refuses to give a reason. On her "day off" Tuppence Tup-pence goes to seo Hershelmmer, who has discovered nothing of importance In Franoe. Tommy's continued absence worries Tup- pence. CHAPTER VII Continued. 9 The door was opened by an Irreproachable Irre-proachable butler. Tuppence felt a JUtle nervous. She had decided not to ask if Sir James was "at home," hut to adopt a more personal attitude. Will you ask Sir James if I can 'jw him for n few minutes? I have an important message for him." The butler retired, returning a mo-iriont mo-iriont or two later. "Sir James will see you. Will you step this way?" lie ushered them Into a room at the icft of the house, furnished as a library. The collection of books was m mngrrfficont one, and Tuppence no-ittoed no-ittoed that all one wall was devoted itt works on crime and criminology. There were several deep-padded leather arm-chairs, and an old-fash-tened open hearth. In the window was a big roll-top desk strewn with papers at which the master of the house was sitting. lie rose as they entered. "You have a message for me? AJj he recognized Tuppence with a He Arose as They Entered. -mile "It's you, is it? Brought a aiessage from Mrs. Vandemeyer, I Kippose?" "Sot exactly," said Tuppence. "In ilari, I'm afraid I only said that to r iraite sure of getting in. Oh, by the way. this is Mr. Hersheimmer, Sir James Peel Edgerton." Tfcased t meet you," said the jSnrerican, shooting out a hand. "Wea't you both sit down?" asked Kir Jsmes. He drew forward two chairs. "Sir James," said Tuppence, plung-aos plung-aos iojdiy, "I dare say you -will think K is most awful cheek of me coming Sen Site this. What I really want to Iwwr is what you meant by what ypu oalS to me the other day? Did you tcb td warn me against Mrs. Yande-? Yande-? Yon did. didn't you?" "My dear young lady, ps far as I , By AGATHA CHRISTIE (Copyright Dodd. Mead & Company) recollect I only mentioned that there were equally good situations to be obtained ob-tained elsewhere." "Yes, I know. But it was a hint, wasn't It?" "Well, perhaps It ws," admitted Sir James gravely. "Well, I want to know more. I want to know Just why you gave me a hint." Sir James smiled at her earnestness. earnest-ness. "Well, without prejudice, then, If I had a young sister forced to earn her living, I should not like to see her in Mrs. Vundemeyer's service. It Is no place for a young and inexperienced girl. That is all I can tell you." "I see," said Tuppence thoughtfully. "Thank you very much. But I'm not really Inexperienced, you know. I knew perfectly that she was a bad lot when I went there as a matter of fact that's why I went " She broke o(T, seeing some bewilderment on the lawyer's face, and went on : "I think perhaps I'd better tell you the whole story, Sir James. I've a sort of feeling feel-ing that you'd know in a minute if I didn't tell the truth, and so you might as well know all about It from the beginning." "Yes, telr me all about It," said Sir James. Thus encouraged, Tuppence plunged Into her tale, and the lawyer listened with close attention. "Vrery Interesting," he said, when she finished. "A great deal of what you tell me, child, is already known to me. I've had certain theories of my own about this Jane Finn. You've done extraordinarily well so far, but It's rather too bad of what do you know him as? Mr. Carter to pitchfork pitch-fork you two young things Into an affair of this kind. By tne way, where did Mr. Herslieimmer come In originally? origi-nally? You didn't make that clear." Julius answered for himself. "I'm Jane's first cousin," he explained, ex-plained, returning the lawyer's keen gaze. "Ah !" "Oh, Sir Jnmes," broke out Tuppence, Tup-pence, "what do you think has become be-come of Tommy?" "H'm." The lawyer rose, and paced slowly up and down. "When you arrived, young lady, I was Just packing up my traps. Going to Scotland Scot-land by the night train for a few days' fishing. But there are different kinds of fishing. I've a good mind to stay, and see if we can't get on the track of that young chap." "Oh !" Tuppence clasped her hands ecstatically. "All the same, as I said before, It's too bad of of Carter to set you two babies on a job like this. Now, don't get offended, Miss er " "Cowley. Prudence Cowley. But my friends call me Tuppence." "Well, Miss Tuppence, then, as I'm certainly going to be a friend. Now, about this young Tommy of yours. Frankly, things look bad for him. He's been butting in somewhere where he wasn't wanted. Not a doubt of it. But don't give up hope." "And you really will help us? There, Julius I He didn't want me to come," she added by way of explanation. explana-tion. "H'm," said the lawyer, favoring Julius with another keen glance. "And why was that?" "I reckoned it would be no good worrying you with a petty little business busi-ness like this." "I see." He paused a moment. "This petty little business, as you call It, bears directly on a very big business, busi-ness, bigger, perhaps, than either you or Miss Tuppence know. If this boy Is alive, he may have very valuable information to give us. Therefore, we must find him. There's one person quite near at hand who In all probability prob-ability knows where he is, or at all events where he Is likely to be Mrs. Vandemeyer." "Yes, but she'd never tell us." "Ah, that is where I come in. I think it quite likely that I shall be able to make Mrs. Vandemeyer tell me what I want to know." "How?" demanded Tuppence, opening open-ing her eyes very wide. "Oh, Just by asking her questions," ques-tions," replied Sir James easily. "That's the way we do It, you know." He tapped with his finger on the table, and Tuppence felt again the intense in-tense power that radiated from the man. "And if she won't tell?" asked Julius Suddenly. "I think she will. I have one or two powerful levers. Still, In that unlikely event, there is always the possibility of bribery." "Sure. And that's where I come in!" cried Julius, bringing his fist down on the table with a bang. "You can count on me. If necessary, for one million dollars. Yes, sir, one million dollars '." Sir James sat down and subjected Julius to a long scrutiny. "Mr. Hershelmmer," he said at last, "that is a very large sum. At the present rate of exchange It amounts to considerably over two hundred thousand pounds." "That's so. Maybe you think I'm talking through my hat, but I can deliver de-liver the goods all right, with enough over to spare for your fee." Sir James flushed slightly. "There Is no question of a fee. Mr. Hershelmmer. I am not private detective." "Sorry. I guess I was just a mite hasty, but I've been feeling bad about this money question. I wanted to offer a big reward for news of Jane some days ago, but your crusted institution in-stitution of Scotland Yard advised me against It. Said it was undesirable." Sir James considered for a moment. "There Is no time to be lost. The sooner we strike the better." He turned to Tuppence. "Is Mrs. Vandemeyer Van-demeyer dining out tonight, do you know?" "l'es, I think so, but she will not be out late. Otherwise, she would have taken the latchkey." "Good. I will call upon her about ten o'clock. What time are you supposed sup-posed to return?" "About nine-thirty or ten, but I could go back earlier. "You must not do that on any account. ac-count. It might arouse suspicion If you did not stay out till the usual time. Be back by nine-thirty. I will arrive at ten. Mr. Hersheimmer will wait below in a taxi perhaps." "He's got a new Rolls-Royce car," said Tuppence with vicarious pride. "Even better. If I succeed in obtaining ob-taining the address from her. we can go there at once, taking Mrs. Vandemeyer' Van-demeyer' with us if necessary. You understand?" "Yes." Tuppence rose to her feet with a skip of delight. "Oh, I feel so much better!" "Don't build on it too much, Miss Tuppence. Go easy." Julius turned to the lawyer. "Say, then. I'll call for you in the car round about nine-thirty. Is that right ?'' "Perhaps that will be the best plan. It would be unnecessary to have two cars waiting about. Now, Miss Tuppence, Tup-pence, my advice to you Is to go and have a good dinner, a really good one, mind. And don't think ahead more than you can help." He shook hands with them both, and a moment later they were outside. out-side. "Isn't he a duck?" Inquired Tuppence Tup-pence ecstatically, as she skipped down the steps. "Oh, Julius, isn't he just a duck?" "Well, I allow he seems to be the goods all right. And 1 was wrong about its being useless to go to him. Say, shall we go right away back to the Ritzr" "I must walk a bit, I think. I'll meet you at the Ritz at seven." Tuppence walked briskly along towards the Serpentine, first glancing at her watch. It was nearly six o'clock. She remembered that she had had no tea, but felt too excited to be conscious of hunger. She walked as far as Kensington gardens and then slowly retraced her steps, feeU ing infinitely better for the fresh air and exercise. It was not so easy to follow Sir James' advice, and put the possible events of the evening out of her head. As she drew nearer and nearer to Hyde park corner, the temptation temp-tation to return to South Audley mansions man-sions was almost irresistible. At any rate, she decided, it would do no harm Just to go and look at the building. Perhaps, then, she could resign herself to waiting patiently for ten o'clock. South Audley mansions looked exactly ex-actly the same as usual. What Tuppence Tup-pence had expected she hardly knew, but the sight of Its red brick stolidity slightly assuaged the growing and entirely unreasonable uneasiness that possessed her. She was just turning away when she heard a piercing whistle, and the faithful Albert came running from the building to' join her. He was purple with suppressed excitement. "I say, miss, she's a-going!" "Who's going?" demanded Tuppence Tup-pence sharply.' "The crook. Ready Rita. Mrs. Vandemeyer. She's a-packlng up, and she's just sent down word for me to get her a taxi. I thought maybe as you didn't know about It." "Albert," cried Tuppence, "you're a brick. If it hadn't been for you we'd have lost her." Albert flushed with pleasure at this tribute. "There's no time to lose," said Tuppence, Tup-pence, crossing the road. "I've got to stop her. At all costs 1 must keep her here until " She broke off "Albert, "Al-bert, there's a telephone here, isn't there T The boy shook his head. "The flats mostly have their own, miss. But there's a box just around the corner." "Go to it, then, at once .and ring up the Ritz hotel. Ask for Mr. Hersheimmer, Hers-heimmer, and when you get him tell him to get Sir James and come on at once, as Mrs. Vandemeyer is trying to hook It. If you can't get him, ring up Sir James Peel Edgerton, you'll find his number in the book, and tell him what's happening. Yoa won't forget the names, will you?" Albert repeated, them glibly. "You trust to me, miss, It'll be all right. But what about you? Aren't you afraid to trust yourself with her?" "No, no, that's all right. But go and telephone. Be quick." Drawing a long breath, Tuppence entered the mansions and ran up to the door of No. 20. How she was to detain Mrs. Vandemeyer until the two men arrived, she did not know, but somehow or other It had to be done, and she must accomplish the task i . single-handed. What had occasioned this precipitate departure? Did Mrs. Vandemeyer suspect her? Tuppence pressed the bell firmly. She might learn something from thf cook. Nothing happened, and, after waiting wait-ing some minutes. Tuppence pressed the bell again, keeping her finger on the button for some little while. At last she heard footsteps Inside, and a moment later Mrs. Vandemeyer herself her-self opened the door. She lifted her eyebrows at the sight of the girl. "You?" "I had a touch of toothache, ma'am," said Tuppence glibly. "Ss thought It better to come home and have a quiet evening." Mrs. Vandemeyer said nothing, but she drew back and let Tuppence pass into the hall. "How unfortunate for you," she said coldly. "You had better go to bed." "Oh, I shall be all right In the kitchen, ma'am. Cook can " "Cook is out," said Mrs. Vandemeyer, Vande-meyer, in a rather disagreeable tone. "I sent her out. So you see you had better go to bed." Suddenly Tuppence felt afraid. There was a ring in Mrs. Vande-meyer's Vande-meyer's voice that she did not like at all. Also, the other woman was slowly edging her up the passage. Tuppence turned at bay. "I don't want " Then, In a flash, a rim of cold steel touched her temple, and Mrs. Vande- In a Flash the Cold Steel Touched Her Temple. meyer's voice rose cold and menacing: menac-ing: "You d d little fool I Do you think I don't know? No, don't answer. If you struggle or cry out, I'll shoot you like a dog." The rim of steel pressed a little harder against the girl's temple. "Now, then, march," went on Mrs. Vandemeyer. "This way Into my room. In a minute, when I've done with you, you'll go to bed as I told you to. And you'll sleep oh, yes, my little spy, you'll sleep, all right!" There was a sort of hideous geniality genial-ity in the last words which Tuppence did not at all like. For the moment there was nothing to be done, and she walked obediently into Mrs. Vande-meyer's Vande-meyer's bedroom. The pistol never left Jier forehead. The room was in a state of wild disorder, clothes were flung about right and left, a suitcase suit-case and a hatbox, half-packed, stood In the middle of the floor. Tuppence pulled herself together with an effort. "Come, now," she said. "This is nonsense. You can't shoot me. Why everyone in the building would hear the report." "I'd risk that," said Mrs. Vandemeyer Vande-meyer cheerfully. "But, as long as you don't sing out for help, you're all right and I don't think you will. You're a clever girl. You deceived me. all right. I hadn't-a suspicion of you! So I've no doubt that you understand perfectly well that this is where I'm on top and you're underneath. Now, then sit on the bed. Put your hands above your head, and if you value your life don't move them." Tuppence obeyed passively. Her good sense told her that there was nothing else to do but accept the situation, sit-uation, and every minute of delay gained was valuable. Mrs. Vandemeyer laid down the revolver re-volver on the edge of the washstand within reach of her hand, and, still eyeing Tuppence like a lynx in case the girl should attempt to move, she took a little stoppered bottle from its place on the marble and poured some of Its contents into a glass, which she filled up with water. "What's that?" asked Tuppence sharply. "Something to make you sleep soundly. Tuppence paled a little. "Are you going to poison me?" she asked in a whisper. "Perhaps," said Mrs. Vandemeyer, smiling agreeably. "I should suggest a hundred thousand pounds." (TO BE CONTINUED.) |