The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-10-26
BY AGATHA CHRISTIE
tCopyrisht Dodd. Msad q Compan,

Somehow l do. l may be wrong,
Of course"
The other two asked no questions.
They had an instinct that II would be
mere waste Of breath
"But what don't understand" said
the prime minister suddenly. ''is how
that photograph came to be In Mr..
Hersheinmer's drawerY'
perhaps It 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
I don't see you again, good-by. I've
been offered 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.
''The darned foolp he murmured.
After ringing up Sir James. Tom
my's next procedure was TO make q
call at South Audley mansions. He
found Albert discharging his profes-
sional duties. and introduced himself
without more ado as 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. slr?"
That's Just the point, Albert. She's
disappeared"
"You don't mean as the crooks have
got her?"
'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 he 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 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"
"I1l 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 inn
in Gatehouse. To Albert fell the task
Of collecting information. There was
no difficulty about 1t.
Ashley Priors was the property of
DR.. Adams. The doctor no longer
practiced. had retired, the landlord be
lieved. but he took few private pa
tients-here the good fellow tapped
his forehead MISUNDERSTANDING ones
You understand The doctor was
popular figure in the village. sub
scribed freely to all the local soprts
"a very pleasant, affable gentleman"
Tommy felt doubts. Was II possible
that this genial, well-known figure
could be in reality a dangerous GRIM
inal7 Suppose II was all a gigantic
mistake? Tommy felt q cold chill at
the thought.
On the first evening Tommy. &C
companied by. Albert, explored the
grounds. They reached shrubbery
near the house quite unmolested.
The blinds Of the dining room win
dow were up. There was a large COM
pany assembled round the table. It
seemed a normal, pleasant company.
Again Tommy felt that cold chill of
uncertainty. 1t seemed impossible to
believe that these people were other
than they seemed. Had he been fooled
once more7
Tommy slept badly that night. The
next day Albert brought the first piece
Of hopeful news. There was French
young lady staying In the house. Tom
my put his doubts aside. Here was
confirmation Of his theory. But time
pressed. Today was the 27th. The
Goth was the much-talked-of Labor
Day." about which all sorts of rumors
were running riot. Newspapers were
getting agitated. Sensational hints Of
a labor coup d'etat were freely re-
ported. The government said nothing.
II knew and was prepared.
Tommy felt that, thanks to Mr.. Car
ter, he understood the position fairly
accurately. With the fatal document
In the hands Of Mr.. Brown, public
opinion would swing to the side Of the
labor extremists and revolutionists.
Failing that. the battle was an even
chance. The government with loyal
army and police force behind them
might win-but at q cost of great suf-
ferlng. But Tommy nourished another
and q preposterous dream. With Mr..
Brown unmasked and captured he be
iieved. rightly or wrongly, that the
whole organization would crumble ig-
nominiously and instanpneously. The
strange permeating influence Of the
unseen chief held II together.
"This Is a one-man show" said Tom
my to himself. The thing to do II to
get hold Of the man."
That evening he and Albert once
more penetrated the grounds Of Ashley
Priors. Tommy's ambition was some
how or other to gain admission to the
house itself. As they approached eau
tiously, Tommy gave a sudden gasp.
/ A. -~-~-A Annr xufnAnxu unrvno