The Dolores star., 1923-10-12

ITS Tommy" said Tuppence.
What can have happened to him?"
Buck up; 1 guess he's all right
really. Why shouldn't lie be? See
here, it was foreign-looking guy he
went off after. Maybe they've gone
abroad-to Poland. or something like
that?'
Tuppence shook her head. 'Tve
seen that man, Boris something, since.
He dined with Mrs. vandemeyer last
night"
Mrs. Who?"
81 forgot. OF course you don't
know all that"
Tin listening" said Julius. aud
gave vent to his favorite expression
Put me wise"
Tuppence thereupon related the
events of the last two days. julius
astonishment and admiration were
unbounded.
Bully for you! Fancy you me-
NAL. 1t just tickles me to death -
Then he added seriously: But say.
now, I don't like it, Miss Tuppence,
! sure don't. These crooks we're up
against would as soon croak girl as
man any day"
"Oh, bother met" said Tuppence
impatiently. Lets think ABOUT what
can have happened to Tommy. I've
written to Mr.. Carter abc,lt It," she
added, and told him the kist of her
letter.
Julius nodded gravely.
Il guess that's good as far as II
goes. But it's for us to get busy and
do something. I guess we'd better
get on the track of Boris. You say
to come againi''
He might. I really don't know"
81 see. Well, guess I'd better
buy car, slap-up one. dress as a
chauffeur and hang about outside.
Then if Boris comes, you could make
some kind of signal, and I'd trail
him. How's that?"
Splendid, but he mightn't come
for weeks.
well have to chance that Pm
glad you like the plan" He rose.
Where are you gOing:"
"To buy the car, of course" replied
Julius, surprised. I'll be round in i,
in half an hour"
Tuppence got up
'You're awfully good. julius. But
I cant help feeling that It's rather
forlorn hope. I'm really pinning my
faith to Mr.. Carter. By the way, I
forgot to tell you of queer thing
that happened this morning"
,hn
with Sir James Peel Edgerton Julius
was interested.
"What did the guy mean, co you
thinkY' he asked.
"I don't quite know" said Tup-
pence meditatively. But think
that in an ambiguous, legal, without
prejudicesh lawyers way, he was
trying to warn me-"
"Why should he? See here, we
don't want any lawyers mixed up in
this. That guy couldn't help us any"
well, l believe he could" reiter-
ated Tuppence obstinately.
Don't you think it. So long. I'll
be back in half an hour"
Thirty-ive minutes had elapsed
when julius returned. He took Tup-
pence by the arm, and walked her
to the window.
"There she Is.
"Oh!" said Tuppence With note
of reverence in her voice, as She
gazed down at the enormous car.
Friday and Saturday passed un.
eventually. Tuppence had received a
brief answer to her appeal from Mr..
Carter. In it he pointed out that the
Young Adventures had undertaken
the work at their own risk, and had
been fully warned of the dangers.
If anything had happened to Tommy
he regretted it deeply, but he could
do nothing.
This was cold comfort 1t seemed
to the girl that, for the first time. she
realized the sinister character of the
mission they had undertaken so light
heartedly. 1t had begun like a page
of romance. Now, shOrn of its glamor,
it seemed to be turning to grim real
ity. Tommy-that was all that mat
tered. Many times in the day Tup-
pence blinked the tears out OF her
eyes resolutely. Little fool" she
Nouiu HI'oStioIliLe HeTSellr upu l
snivel. OF course you're fond of him
You've known him all your ljfe But
there's no need to be sentimental
about it."
In the meantime, nothing more was
seen of Boris. He did not come to
the fiat, and julius and the car wait
ed in vain. Tuppence gave herself
over to new meditations. Whilst ad-
mitting the truth of julius objec-
tion, she had nevertheless not entire
ly relinquished the idea of appealing
to Sir james Peel EdgertOn. Indeed,
she had gone so far as to look up
his address in the Red Book. Had
he meant to warn her that day? If
so, why? Tuppence decided, with her
usual shake Of the shoulders, it was
worth trying, and try it she would.
Sunday was her afternoon out. She
would meet JulfuS nersuoda him to