The Dolores star., 1923-12-14
CHAPTER XIII
Tommy Makes a Disc,verv


for moment or two they stood
staring at each other stupidlv dozad
win shock. Somehow. inexpIicably.
Mr. Brown had forestalled them
Tommy accepted defeat quietly. Nor
so Julius.
How in tarnation did he get ahead
OF u.s. That's what beats me-" he
ended up.
Il don't see that II matters onv-
way said Tommy YEARLY. "IIe may
have found out some months ago, and
removed the papers, then No. bv
Jove, that won't wash, They'd have
been published at once"
Sure thing they would, No, some
ones got ahead of us today by an
hour or so. But how they did it gets
my goat. It's no good arguing about
how 1t was done. The games up.
We've failed. There's only one thing
for me to do
"What's that?"
Get back to London MS soon ms nos
sible Mr.. Carter must be warned
It's only matter of hours now be-
IOEe lne DlOW 1allS.
Half an hour after arrival, haggar,l
and pale, Tommy stood before his
chief.
I've come to report, sir. I've failed
failed badly"
Mr.. Carter eyed him sharply.
"iou mean that the treaty"
as in the hands of Mr.. Brown, sir"
"Well,' said Mr.. Carter after min
ute or two. 1--WE mustn't sag at the
knees. | suppose. I'm glad to know
definitely. We must do what we can"
Through Tommy's mind flashed the
assurance: It's hopeless, and he
knows it's hopeless ~
The other looked up at him.
u blame myself. | have been blam-
ing myself ever since l heard this
other news"
Something in his tone attracted
Tommy's attention. A new fear
gripped at his heart.
is there-something more, sir?"
I'm afraid So said Mr.. Carter
gravely. He stretched out his hand
to sheet on the table.
"TuDpence-?" faltered Tommy.
Read for yourself"
The typewriter words danced be-
fore his eyes. The description of
green tOque, coat with handker-
chief in the pocket marked "P. l.. c."
He looked an agonized question at Mr..
Carter. The latter replied to it:
"Washed up on the Yorkshire coast
near Ebury. I'm afraid-it looks
very much like foul play"
'My Cdr gasped Tommy. "Tup-
pence! Those devils-I'll never rest
till I've got even with them I'll
hunt them down. I'll
I'm taking up your time, sir" he
said with an effort. There's no need
for you to blame yourself. dare say
we were n couple of young fools to
take on such a job You warned us
all right. But l wish to God I'd been
the one TO get it in the neck. Good
by, SIR"
Back at the Ritz. Tommy packed
up his few belongings mechanically.
his thoughts far away. He was still
bewildered by the introduction of
tragedy into his cheerful common
place existence What fun they had
had together, he and Tuppence! And
now-oh, he couldn't believe tit
couldn't be true! Impoverished,
Little Tuppence. 5rimming over with
life. 1t was a dream, horrible
dream. Nothing more.
They brought him note, few
kind words of sympathy from Peel
Edgerton, who had read the news in
the paper. (There had been large
headline: EX-V. A. D. FEARED
DROWNED) The letter ended with
the offer of post on n ranch in the
Argentine. where Sir james had con-
siderable interests.
"Kind old beggar," muttered Tommy,
as he flung it aside.
The door opened, and julius burst
in with his usual violence. He held an
open newspaper in his hand.
SAY, what's all this? They seem to
have got some fool idea about Tup-
pence"
ITS true" said Tommy quietly.
.You mean they've done her in?'
Tommy nodded.
81 suppose when they got the treaty
she-wasn't any good to them any
longer. and they were afraid to let her
60"
"wcn. I'm darned" said julius.
Little Tuppence. She sure was the
pluckiest little girl"
But suddenly something seemed to