The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-08-10
was likel, to have gone hard with
CHAPTER VI

Enter Sir James Peel Edgerton.
Tuppence betrayed no awkwardness
In her new duties. The daughters of
the archdeacon were well grounded
In household tasks. Mrs. -Yandemeyer's
cook puzzled her. She evidently went
In deadly terror Of her mistress. The
girl thought 1t probable that the other
woman had some hold over her. For
the rest, she cooked like a chef. as
Tuppence had an opportunity of Judg-
Ing that evening. Mrs. Vandemeyer
was expecting a guest to dinner, and
Tuppence accordingly laid the beauti-
fully polished table for two. She was
little exercised In her own mind as
to this visitor. 1t was highly possible
that 1t might prove to be Wilmington.
Although she felt fairly confident that
he would not recognize her. yet she
would have been better pleased had
the guest proved to be total
stranger.
At few minutes past eight the
front door bell rang and Tuppence
went to answer 1t with some inward
trepidation. She was relieved to see
that the visitor was the second Of the
two men whom Tommy had taken
upon himself to follow.
He gave his name as Count Stepa-
nov. Tuppence announced him, and
Mrs. Vandemeyer rose from her seat
on low dlvan with a quick murmur
Of pleasure. He bowed low over her
hand.
Tuppence returned to the kitchen.
"Count Stepanov. or some such.'
she remarked, and affecting a frank
and unvarnished curiosity: "Who's
he?"
"a Russian gentleman. believe"
"Come here much?"
"Once in while. What d'you want
to know for?"
"Fancied he might be sweet on the
missus, that's ALL" explained the girl,
adding with an appearance Of sulki-
ness: "How you do take one upT
I'm not quite easy In my mind
about the souffie," explained the other.
"You know something" thought Tup-
pence.
Whilst waiting at table. Tuppence
listened closely to all that was said
She remembered that this was one OF
the men Tommy was shadowing when
she had last seen him. Already, al
though she would hardly admit 1t. she
was becoming uneasy about her part
ner. Where was her Why had nj
word of any kind come from him1 Sht
had arranged before leaving the Rit;
on at once by special messenger to ,
small stationer's shop near at hand
where Albert was to call In frequently
True, 1t was only yesterday mornin,
that she had parted from Tommy. ant
she told herself that any anxiety OF
his behalf would be absurd. Still, 4
was strange that he had sent no wore
Of any kind.
But, listen as she might. the con
versatlon presented no clue. Boris
and Mrs. vandemeyer talked on pure
ly Indifferent subjects. Tuppencs
brought in the coffee and liqueurs ant
unwillingly retired.
She cleared away and washed ur
with breathless speed acquired ir
hospital. Then she slipped quietly
back to the boudoir door. The cook
more leisurely, was still busy In the
kitchen, and, II she missed the other
would only suppose her to be turning
down the beds.
Alasi The conversation inside was
being carried on In too low tone te
permit hearing anything Of It. She
dared not reopen the door, however
gently. Mrs. Vandemeyer was sitting
almost facing It. and Tuppence re
spected her mistress lynx-eyed poweri
Of observation.
Nevertheless, she felt she woult
give a good deal to overhear wha,
was going on. Possibly, II anything
unforeseen had happened, she might
get news Of Tommy. For some mo
ments she reflected. desperately. ther
her face frightened. She went quick
ly along the passage to Mrs. vande
meyers bedroom, which had lonJ
French windows leading onto a bal
cony that ran the length of the fiat
Slipping quickly through the window
Tuppence crept noiselessly along til
she reached the boudoir window. Al
she had thought II stood little ajar
and the voices within were plainl,
audible.
Tuppence listened attentively, bu
there was no mention Of anything tha
could be twisted to apply to Tommy
Mrs. vandemeyer and the Russian
seemed to be at variance over some
matter, and finally the latter ex
claimed bitterly:
You are going about everywher,
with Peel Edgerton. Not only Is he
perhaps, the most celebrated kng'i
counsel in England. but his specia
hobby IL criminologyi It IL mad
nessi'
II know that his eloquence hal
l ,