The Dolores star., 1923-10-26

the room. carrying glass haif tull
OF the spirit which he handed TO Sir
James. While Tuppence lifted her
head the lawyer tried TO force a little
Of the spirit between her closed lips.
| Finally the woman opened her eyes
feebIy. Iuppence held the glass to
her lips.
Drink this"
Mrs. vandemeyer complied. The
brandy brought the color back to her
white cheeks. and revived her In
marvellous fashion. She tried to sit
up-then fell back with q grOan, her
hand to her side.
Its my heart" she whispered. II
mustn't talk"
She lay back with closed eyes
Sir James kept his finger on her
wrist minute longer, then withdrew
1t with nod.
"She'll do now"
All three moved away. and stood to-
cethcr talking in low voices. one and
all were conscious Of certain feel
ing of anticllmax. Clearly any scheme
lbI NIb>S- 'AlN ihNN was 'Nh
of the question for the moment. For
the time being they were bafled. and
could do nothing.
TuppenCe related how Mrs. NRnde-
meyer had declared herself willing to
disclose the identity Of Mr. Brown.
and how she had consented to discover
and reveal to them the whereabouts of
Jane Finn.
well" said Tuppence, with an at
tempt at cheerfulness, I'VE must wait.
that's all. But l don't think We ought
to leave the fiat"
"What about leaving that bright boy
Of yours on guardT'
ALBERT? And suppose she came
round again and hooked II. Albert
couldn't stop her. She seemed very
frightened OF Mr.. Brown Said even
walls had ears"
James quietly. I'VE must not leave
the fat-if only for Mrs. Vandemey-
er's sake"
julius stared at him.
You think he'd get after herr Be
tween now and tomorrow morning.
How could he know, even?"
I'VE have a very formidable adver-
sary. l believe, II we exercise all due
care. that there is very good chance
of his being delivered into our hands.
But we must neglect no precaution.
We have an important witness. but
she must be safeguarded would
suggest that Miss Tuppencc should go
to bed, and that you and /, Mr.. Hers
heimmer, should share the vigil.
Tuppence was about to protest, but
happening to glance at the bed she saw
Mrs. Vandemeyer, her eyes half-open,
with such an expression of mingled
fear and malevolence on her face that
1t quite froze the words on her lips.
For moment she wondered
whether the faint and the heart attack
had been gigantic sham, but remem-
bering. the deadly pallor she could
hardly credit the supposition. AS she
looked the expression disappeared as
by magic, and Mrs. vandemeyer lay
inert and motionless as before. For a
moment the girl fancied she must have
dreamt IT. But she determined never
theless to be on the alert.
She hesitated moment BY the bed.
The intensity of the expression she
had surprised had impressed her pow
erfully. Mrs. Vandemeyer lifted her
lids. She seemed to be struggling to
speak. Tuppence bent over her.
'Don't-leave-" she seemed unable
to proceed, murmurlng something that
sounded like sleepy"
Tuppence bent lower still. 1t was
only a breath.
"Mr.-Brown-" The voice stopped.
But the half-closed eyes seemed
still to send an agonized message.
Moved by sudden Impulse, the girl
said quickly:
81 shan't leave the fiat. l shall sit
up all night"
A flash Of relief showed before the
lids descended once more. Apparent-
ly Mrs. Vandemeyer slept. But hes
words had awakened new uneasi.
ness In Tuppence. What had she
meant py that low murmur, "Mr.
Brown" Turpence caught herself
nervously looking over her shoulder.
The big wardrobe ioc,fed up in a sin
lister fashion before her eyes. Plenty
of room for man to hiaa In that.
Half-ashamed Of herself, Tup-
pence pulled it open and looked inside.
no one-of course She stopped down
and looked under the bed There was
no other pOSSihle hiding nInce