The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-11-09

or course.
The other two asked no questions.
They had an instinct that 1t would be
! mere waste of breath.
But what I don't understand" said
the prime minister suddenly. us how
that photograph came to be In Mr..
Hersheimmer's drawerT'
perhaps IL never left It," suggested
the lawyer gently.
Two days later Julius Hershelmmer
returned from Manchester. A note
from Tommy lay on his table:
Dear Hersheimmer:
Sorry ! lost my temper. In case
! don't see you again, good-by. I've
been offered a job in the Argentine,
and might as well take 1t.
Yours,
TOMMY BERESFORD."
A peculiar smile fingered for a mo-
ment on julius face. He threw the
letter into the waste-paper basket.
1.-The darned fool !" he murmured.
After ringing up Sir James. Tom
my's next procedure was to make a
call at South Audley mansions. He
found Albert discharging his profess
sional duties, and introduced himself
without more ado as a friend Of Tup-
pence's. Albert unbent Immediately.
Things has been very quiet here
lately" he said wistfully. Hope the
young lady's keeping well, sir?"
That's just the point, Albert. She's
disappeared"
"You don't mean as the crooks have
got herr?
"They have. BY the way, have you
by any chance an aunt, a cousin, a
grandmother, or any other suitable fe-
male relation who might be represent
ed as being likely to kick the bucket?'
A delighted grin spread slowly over
Albert's ~countenance.
I'm on, sir. My poor aunt what
lives In the country has been mortal
bad for a long time, and she's asking
for me with her dying breath"
Tommy nodded approval.
"Can you report this in the proper
quarter and meet me at Charing Cross
in an hours timer"
"Ill be there, sir. You can count
on me-"
AS Tommy had judged, the faithful
Albert proved an invaluable ally. The
two took up their quarters at the inr
In Gatehouse. To Albert fell the task
Of collecting information. There was
no difficulty about It.
Ashley Priors was the property Of
a DR.. Adams. The doctor no longer
practiced, had retired, the landlord be
lieved, but he took a few private pa
tients-here the good fellow tapped
his forehead MISUNDERSTANDING mes
You understand !" The doctor wa
a popular figure in the village, sub
scribed freely to all the local soprtI
"a very pleasant, affable gentleman.
Tommy felt doubts. Was 1t possibl
that this genial, well-known figur,
could be in reality a dangerous Grim
lnal? Suppose 1t was all a giganti
mistake? Tommy felt q cold chill q
the thought.
On the first evening Tommy, nc
companied by Albert. explored tn
grounds. They reached a shrubber
near the house quite unmolested.
The blinds Of the dining room wiz
dow were up. There was a large con
pany assembled round the table.
seemed a normal, pleasant compan,
Again Tommy felt that cold chill Q
uncertainty. It seemed impossible {
believe that these people were othe
than they seemed. Had he been foole
once more?
Tommy slept badly that night. Tn
next day Albert brought the first piec
of hopeful news. There was a Frenc
young lady staying In the house. Ton
my put his doubts aside. Here wa
confirmation Of his theory. But tim
pressed. Today was the 9th. TIL
Goth was the much-talked-of "Labo
Day" about which all sorts Of rumor
were running riot. Newspapers wer
getting agitated. Sensational hints @
a labor coup d'etat were freely RI
ported. The government said nothing
It knew and was prepared.
Tommy felt that, thanks to Mr.. Cal
ter, he understood the position fairl
accurately. With the fatal documet
In the hands of Mr.. Brown. publ
opinion would swing TO the side Of tn
labor extremists and revolutiOnisfi
Failing, that. the battle was an eve
chance. The government with u loys
army and police force behind ther
Nigh. w!H-but nj q cost OF great su
fering. But Tommy nourished aDothC
and a preposterous dream. With NJ
Brown unmasked and captured he b.
lieved. rightly or wrongly, that tn
whole organization would crunble I;
ANONYMOUSLY and instantaneously. I'll
strange permeating influence Of III
Unseen chief held II together.
"This Is a one<nan show" said Ton
my Ia himself. 1.-THE thing to do Is I
get hold Of the man"
That evening he and Albert ono
more penetrated the grounds Of Astle
Priors. Tommy's ambition was som
how or other to gain admission to tn