| OCR Text |
Show The Secret Adversary i $ "BLACKMAIL, EH?" SYNOPSIS Realizing that she has a poHMlblti chunce of being aaved, rh the I.UHlluina Is srtiKlnK. a MtranKer Ktves a yuunK Amrlcan girl a packatfe whiuh h aska her to deliver to the American ainhas-nador ainhas-nador In Enk'latid. Hlie Is iaveii. In London, former Lieut. "Tommy" "Tom-my" LiereHford mid Miss Prudence Cowley 'Tuppence" discharKed army nurse, form an organization. "The Young Adventurers, Ltd." They are both broke and consequently conse-quently ready for unorthodox methods. They write out an advertisement. ad-vertisement. CHAPTER I Continued. 2 Mr. Wlilttlngton spoke again : "If you will cnll upon me tomorrow morning at eleven o'clock, I will lay the details of my proposition before you." "At eleven o'clock?" sulci Tuppence doubtfully. "At eleven o'clock." Tuppence made up her mind. "Very well. I'll be there." "Thank you. Good evening." lie raised his hut with a flourish, and wa'lked awny. Tuppence remulned for some minutes gazing after lilm. Then she gave a curious movement of her shoulders, rather as a terrier shakes himself. "The adventures have begun," she murmured to herself. "What does he want me to do, I wonder? There's something about you, Mr. Whltting-ton, Whltting-ton, that I don't like at all. But, on the other hand, I'm not the least bit afraid of you. And as I've said before, be-fore, and shall doubtless say again, little Tuppence can look after herself, her-self, thank you 1" And with a short, sharp nod of her head she walked briskly onward. As a result of further meditations, however, how-ever, she turned aside from the direct route and entered a post office. Tuppence Tup-pence wrote rapidly: "Don't put in advertisement. Will explain tomorrow." tomor-row." She addressed It to Tommy at his club, from which In one short month he would have to resign, unless un-less a kindly fortune permitted him to renew his subscription. It wanted some five minutes to 'eleven when Tuppence reached the block of buildings In which the offices of-fices of the Esthonia Glassware company com-pany were situated. To arrive before the time would look dvereager. So Tuppence decided to walk to the end of the street and back again. She did so. On the stroke of eleven she plunged Into the recesses of the building. build-ing. The Esthonia Glassware company com-pany was on the top floor. Tuppence knocked. In response to a voice from within, she turned the handle and walked Into a small rather dirty outer dice. A middle-aged clerk got down from a high stool at a desk near the window win-dow and came toward her inquiringly. "I have an appointment with Mr. Whittington," said Tuppence. "Will you come this way, please?" He crossed to a. partition door with "Private" on It, knocked, then opened the door and stood aside to let her pass in. Mr. Whittington was seated behind a large desk covered with papers. Tuppence felt her previous Judgment confirmed. There was something wrong about Mr. Whittington. The combination of his sleek prosperity and his shifty eye was not attractive. He looked up and nodded. "So you're turned up, all right? .'That's good. Sit down, will you?" Tuppence sat meekly with downcast lyes whilst Mr. Whittington sorted "If You Will Call Upon Me Tomorrow Morning, at Eleven o'clock, I Will Lay (he Details of My Proposition Before You." and rustled amongst his papers. Finally he pushed them away, and leaned over the desk. "Now, my dear young lady, let us come ro business." His large face Broadened Into a sn.fle. "You want work? Well, I have work to offer you. What should you say now to J500 down, and all expenses paid?" Mr. Whittingtt-.u leaned back in his chair, and thrust his thumbs into the armholps of his waistcoat. Tuppence eyed him warily. "And the nature of the work?" she demanded. VTTTTTTT By Agatha Christie1 Copyright Dodd, Mead A Company "Nominal purely nominal. A pleasure pleas-ure trip, that Is all." "Where to?" Mr. Whittington smiled again. "Paris." "Oh!" said Tuppence thoughtfully. To herself she said: "Of course, If father heard that he would have a lit! Hut somehow I don't see Mr. Whittington Whit-tington In the role of the gay deceiver." de-ceiver." "Yes," continued Whittington. "What could be more delightful? To put the clock back a few years a very few, I am sure and re-enter one of those charming penslonnats de jeunes fllles with which Paris abounds " Tuppence Interrupted him. "A penslonnat?" "Exactly. Madame Colombler's In the Avenue de Neuilly." Tuppence knew the name well. Nothing could have been more select. She had had several American friends there. She was more than ever puzzled. "You want me to go to Madame Colombler's? Co-lombler's? For how long?" "That depends. Possibly three months." "And that is all? There are no other conditions?" "None whatever. By the way, you are English, are you not?" "Yes." "Yet you speak with a slight American Ameri-can accent?" "My great pal in hospital was a little American girl. I dare say I picked It up from her. I can soon get out of It again." "On the contrary, It might be simpler sim-pler for you to pass as an American. Details about your past life In England Eng-land might be more difficult to sustain. Yes, I think that would be decidedly better. Then" "One moment, Mr. Whittington ! You seem to be taking my consent for granted." Whittington looked surprised. "Surely you are not thinking of refusing? re-fusing? I can assure you that Madame Ma-dame Colombler's is a most high-class and orthodox establishment. And the terms are most liberal." "Exactly," said Tuppence. "That's just it. The terms are almost too liberal, Mr. Whittington. I cannot see any way in which I can be worth that amount of money to you." "Nor said Whittington softly. "Well, I will tell you. I could doubtless doubt-less obtain someone else for very much less. What I am willing to pay for Is a young lady with sufficient Intelligence In-telligence and presence of mind to sustain her part well, and also one who will have sufficient discretion not to ask too many questions." Tuppence smiled a little. She felt that Whittington had scored. "There's another thing. So far there has been no mention of Mr. Beres-ford. Beres-ford. Where does he come in?" "Mr. Beresford?" ' "My partner," said Tuppence with dignity. "You saw us together yesterday." yester-day." "Ah, yes. But I'm afraid we shan't require his services." "Then It's off!" Tuppence rose. "It's both or neither. Sorry but that's how it is. Good morning, Mr. Whittington." Whit-tington." "Wait a minute. Let us see if something some-thing can't be managed. Sit down again, Miss " He paused interrogatively. interroga-tively. Tuppence's conscience gave her a passing twinge as she remembered the archdeacon. She seized hurriedly on the first name that came into her head. "Jane Finn," she said hastily; and then paused open-mouthed at the effect of those two simple words. All the geniality had. faded out of Whlttington's face. It was purple with rage, and the veins stood out on his forehead. And behind it all there lurked a sort of incredulous dismay. He leaned forward and hissed savagely: sav-agely: "So that's your little game, Is It?" Tuppence, though utterly taken aback, nevertheless kept her head. She had not the faintest comprehension comprehen-sion of his meaning, but she was naturally natu-rally quick-witted, and felt it Imperative Impera-tive to "keep her end up," as she phrased it. Whittington went on : "Been playing with me, have you, all the time, like a cat and mouse? Knew all the time what I wanted you for, but kept up the comedy. Is that it, eh?" He was cooling down. The red color was ebbing out of his face. He eyed here keenly. "Who's been blabbing? Rita?" Tuppence shook her head. She was doubtful as to how long she could sustain this Illusion, but she realized the Importance of not dragging an unknown Rita Into It. "No," she replied with perfect truth. "Rita knows nothing about me." "How much do you know?" he shot out. "Very little Indeed," answered Tuppence, Tup-pence, and was pleased to note that Whlttington's uneasiness was augmented aug-mented instead of allayed. "Anyway," he snarled, "you knew enough to come In here and plump out that name." "It might be my own name," Tuppence Tup-pence pointed out "It's likely, Isn't It, that there would be two girls with a name like that? Quit fooling! How much do you know? And bow much do you want?" i The last five words took Tuppence's T fancy mightily, especially after a meager breakfast and a supper of buns the night before. She sat up and smiled with the air of one who has the situation thoroughly well In hand. "My dear Mr. Whittington," she said, "let us by all means lay our cards upon the table. And pray do not be so angry. You heard me say yesterday that I proposed to live by my wits. It seems to me that I have now proved I have some wits to live by! I admit I have" knowledge of a certain name, but perhaps my knowledge knowl-edge ends there." "As I said once before," said Whittington Whit-tington angrily, "quit fooling, and come to the point. You can't play the Innocent with me. You know a great deal more than you're willing to admit." Tuppence paused a moment to admire ad-mire her own Ingenuity, and then said softly : "I shouldn't like to contradict yon, Mr. Whittington." "So we come to the usual question how much?" Tuppence was in a dilemma. So far she had fooled Whittington with complete success, but to mention a. Whittington Snatched It and Read It, palpably impossible sum might awaken his suspicions. An Idea flashed across her brain. "Suppose we say a little something down, and a fuller discussion of the matter later?" Whittington gave her an ugly glance. "Blackmail, eh?" Tuppence smiled sweetly. "Oh, no ! Shall we say payment of services in advance?" Whittington grunted. "You're about the limit, that's what you are," he growled, with a sort of unwilling admiration. "You took me In all right. Thought you were quite meek little kid with Just enough brains for my purpose. All the same, someone's been talking. You say it Isn't Rita. Was it ? Oh. come in." The clerk followed his discreet knock Into the room, and laid a paper at his master's elbow. "Telephone message just come for you, sir." Whittington snatched It up and read It. A frown gathered on his brow. "That'll do, Brown. You can go." The clerk withdrew. Whittington turned to Tuppence. "Come tomorrow at the same time. I'm busy now. Here's fifty to go on with." He rapidly sorted out some notes, and pushed them across the table to Tuppence. The girl counted the notes, secured them in her handbag, and rose. "Good morning, Mr. Whittington," she said politely. "At least, au re- 1 voir, I should say." "Exactly. Au revoir, my clever and charming young lady." Tuppence sped lightly down the stairs. A wild elation possessed her. "Let's give Tommy a surprise I" murmured Tuppence, and hailed a taxi. The cab drew up outside the tube station. Tommy was just within the entrance. His eyes opened to their fullest extent as he hurried forward to assist Tuppence to alight. She smiled at him affectionately, and remarked re-marked In a slightly affected voice: "Pay the thing, will you, old bean? I've got nothing smaller than a five-pound five-pound note!" CHAPTER II A Setback. The moment was not quite so triumphant tri-umphant as it ought to have been. To begin with, the resources of Tommy's pockets were somewhat limited. In j the end the fare was managed. "Well," said Mr. Beresford. at j length able to relieve his feelings, "what the dickens did you want to take a taxi for?" "I was afraid I might be late and keep you waiting," said Tuppence gently. "And really and truly, I haven't got anything smaller than a five-pound note. Now let's go to lunch. How about the Savoy?" Tommy grinned. "How about the Rltz?" "On second thoughts, I prefer the Piccadilly. It's nearer. We ihan't have to take another taxi. Come along " I "Is this a new brand of humorT Or is your brain unhinged?" Inquired Tommy'. "Tuppence, otd girl, what has really come over you?" "Oh, unbelieving one!" Tuppence wrenched open her bag. "Look here, and here, and here!" Tommy groaned. "I must have been drinking un. awares! Am I dreaming, Tuppence, or do I really behold a large quantity of five-pound notes being waved about in a dangerous fashion?" "Even so, O King ! Now, will you come and have lunch?" "I'll come anywhere. But what have you been doing? Holding up bank?" "All In good time." "And now tell me," said Tommy, unable to restrain his pent-up curiosity curios-ity any longer, as they sat in state In the Piccadilly. Miss Cowley told him. "And the curious part of It Is," she ended, "that I really did Invent the name of Jane Finn ! I didn't want to give my own because of poor father in case I should get mixed up in any thing shady." "Perhaps that's so," said Tommy slowly. "But you didn't Invent it." "What?" "No. I told it to you. Don't yon remember, I said yesterday I'd overheard over-heard two people talking about a female fe-male called Jane Finn? That's what brought the name into your mind so pat." "So you did. I remember now. How extraordinary " Tuppence tailed off Into silence. Suddenly she aroused herself. "What were they like, the two men you passed?" "One was a big fat sort of chap. Clean shaven, I think and dark." "That's him," cried Tuppence, in an ungrammatlcal squeal. "That's Whittington Whit-tington ! What was the other man like?" "I can't remember. I didn't notice him particularly. It was really the outlandish name that caught my attention." at-tention." . "And people say that coincidences don't happen!" Tuppence tackled her luncheon happily. But Tommy had become serious. "Look here, Tuppence, old girl, what is this going to lead to?" "More money," replied his companion. com-panion. "I know that. You've only got one idea In your head. What I mean Is, what about the next step? How are you going to keep the game up? After all, you know, you can't bluff him forever. for-ever. You're sure to slip up sooner or later. And, anyway, I'm not at all sure that it isn't actionable blackmail, black-mail, you know." "Nonsense. Blackmail is saying you'll tell unless you are given money. Now, there's nothing I could tell, because be-cause I don't really know anything. I've got a plan. Obviously what we've got to do Is to find out more about it all." Tommy applauded. . "Don't jeer. We can only find out through Whittington. We must discover dis-cover where he lives, what he does sleuth him, in fact! Now I can't do It, because he knows me, but he only saw you for a minute or two In Lyons'. He's not likely to recognize you. My plan Is this," Tuppence went on calmly: "I'll go alone tomorrow. I'll put him off again like I did today. It doesn't matter if I don't get any more money at once. Fifty pounds ought to last us a few days. You'll hang about outside. When I come out I shan't speak to you in case he's watching. But I'll take up my stand somewhere near, and when he comes out of the building I'll drop a handkerchief hand-kerchief or something, and off you go I" "Off I go where?" "Follow him, of course, silly 1 What do you think of the idea?" "Sort of thing one reads about in books. People will wonder what I'm up to. Anyway, it will be rather a lark." They met by arrangement the following fol-lowing morning and proceeded cityward. city-ward. Tommy remained on the opposite oppo-site side of the road while Tuppence plunged Into the building. Tommy strolled slowly down to the end of the street, hen back again. Just as he came abreast of the buildings, build-ings, Tuppence darted across the road. "Tommy ! The place Is shut. I can't make anyone hear." "That's odd." "Isn't It? Come up with me, and let's try again." Tommy followed her. As they passed the third floor landing a young clerk came out of an office. He hesitated hesi-tated a moment, then addressed himself him-self to Tuppence. "Were you wanting the Esthonia Glassware?" "Yes, please." "It's closed down. Since yesterday afternoon. Company being wound up, they say. Not that I've ever heard of it myself. But anyway the office Is to let." "Just go on with what you're doing now. Find Jane Finn." (TO BE CONTINUED.) |
