The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-08-10
The Secret Adversary

Wilmington seemed TO demonstrate
with him, but he merely laughed.
"Why not, my friend? 1t Is a name
most respectable-most common. Did
he not choose II for that reason? All,
/ should like to meet him--Mr.
Brown"
There was a steely ring in Whiting
toms voice as he replied:
"Who knows? You may have met
him already"
bah % retorted the other. THAT Is
children's talk-a fable for the police.
DO you know what l say to myself
sometimes? That he IS a fable in
vented by the Inner Ring, a bogy to
frighten us with. It might be So"
"And it might not"
"I wonder or Is Il indeed
true that he Is with us and amongst
us, unknown to all but a chosen few?
IF so, he keeps his secret well. And
the idea is a good one, yes. We never
know. We look at each Other-one
Of us Is Mr.. Brown-which? He COM
mandS-but also he serves. Among
us-in the midst Of us. And no n
knows which he is. . :"
With an effort the Russian shook
Off the vagary Of his fancy. He looked
at his watch.
Eyes" said Wilmington. "We might
as we'll GO"
He called the waitress and asked
for his bill. Tommy did likewise, and
a few moments later was following
the two men down the stairs.
Outside, Wilmington hailed a taxi,
and directed the driver to go to Wa
terloo.
Taxis were plentiful here, and be-
fore Whittington's had driven Off an
other was drawing up to the curb in
obedience to Tommy's p~eremptory de-
mand.
Follow that other taxi" directed
the young man. Don't lose It."
The elderly chauffeur showed no
interest. He merely grunted and
jerked down his flag. The drive was
%uneventful. Tommy's taxi came to
rest at the departure platform just
after W~hittington's. Tommy was be-
hind him at the booking office. He
took a flrst-class single ticket to
Bournemouth, Tommy did the same.
AS he emerged, Boris remarked,
glancing up at the clock: you are
early. You have nearly half an hour"
Boris words had aroused q new
train Of thought in Tommy's mind.
Clearly Wilmington was making the
journey alone, while the other re-
NAMED In London. Therefore he was
left with n choice as to which he
would follow. Obviously, he could no
follow both Of them unless Like
Boris, he glanced up at the clock, and
then to the announcement board Of
the trains. The Bournemouth train
left at $3.50. It vas now ten past.
Wilmington and Boris were walking
up and Down by the bookstall. He
gave one doubtful look at them, then
hurried into an adjacent telephone
box. He dared not waste time In try
ing to get hold of Tuppence. In all
probability she was still in the neigh
borhood Of South Audley mansions.
But there remained another ally. He
rang up the Ritz and asked for julius
Hersheimmer. There was a click and
a buzz. Oh, If only the young Ameri-
can was in his room! There was an
other click, and then Hello" in IN
mlstakable accents came over the wire.
THAT you, Hersheimmer? Beres-
ford speaking. I'm at Waterloo. I've
followed Wilmington and another
man here. No time to explain. Whit
tington's off to Bournemouth by the
$3.50. Can you get there by them"
"Sure. I'll hustle"
The telephone rang of. Tommy
put back the receiver with a sigh Of
relief. He felt instinctively that the
American would arrive In time.
Wilmington and Boris were still
where he had left them. If Boris re
NAMED to see his friend off, all was
well. Then Tommy fingered his pocket
thoughtfully. In spite Of the carte
blanche assured to him, he had not
yet acquired the habit of going about
with any considerable sum Of money
on him. The taking of the first-class
ticket to Bournemouth had left him
with only a few ,shilllngs in his pocket.
It was to be hoped that julius would
arrive better provided.
In the meantime, the minutes were
creeping by. %Supposing julius did not
get there in time. Tommy felt cold
waves of despair pass over him. Then
a hand fell on his shoulder.
"Here ! am, son. Your British traf-
&c beats description! Put me wise
to the crooks right away"
That's Whittlngton-there, getting
In now, that big dark man. The other
is the foreign chap he's talking to-"
SIN onto them. Which Of the
two is my bird?"
Got any money with you?"
Julius shook his head, and Tommy's
face fell.
II guess / haven't more than three
or four hundred dollars with me at