The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-10-26

supposed, he had by some means OF
his own successfully run the missing
girl TO earth. The only thing that
puzzled Tommy was the reason for all
this secrecy.
julius was speaking.
after dinner" he announced, ~
shall go right away and see Jane"
THAT will be impossible. l fear"
said Sir James. ut is very unlikely
they would allow her to see visitors
at this time OF night. / should sug-
gest tomorrow morning about ten
o'clock"
julius flushed. There was some
thing in Sir James which always
stirred him to a%ntagonlsm.
"All the same, | reckon I'll go
round there tonight and see If l can't
ginger them up to break through their
silly rules"
"It will be quite useless, Mr.. Her
sheimmer."
The words came out like the crack
Of a pistol, and Tommy looked up
with a start. julius was nervous and
CANlNCu. IL manu- Win VIM uC
raised his glass to his lips shook
slightly, but his eyes held Sir James
defiantly. For a moment. the hostility
between the two seemed likely to
burst into flame, but In the end Julius
lowered his eyes, defeated.
"For the moment, I reckon you're
the boss"
THANK you" said the other. "We
will say ten o'clock Them" With con-
| summate ease of manner he turned to
Tommy. II must confess, Mr.. Beres-
ford, that II was something Of a sur
prise to me to see you here this
evening. The last | heard Of you was
that your friends were In grave anx-
iety on your behalf. Nothing had been
heard Of you for some days, and Miss
Tuppence was inclined to think you
had got into difficulties"
II Had, sir" Tommy grinned reml-
niscently. II was never In a tighter
place in my life"
Helped out by questions from Sir
James, he gave an abbreviated account
Of his adventures. The lawyer looked
at him with renewed interest as he
brought the tale to a close.
you got yourself out Of a INT
place very WE'LL" he said gravelJ I
congratulate you. You displayt a
great deal Of ingenuity and can d
your part through WELL"
Tommy blushed, his face assuming
a prawnlike hue at the praise.
"And since then? What have you
been doingT"
For a moment, Tommy stared at
him. Then II dawned on him that Of
course the lawyer did not know.
II forgot that you didn't know about
Tuppence," he said slowly.
The lawyer laid down his knife and
fork sharply.
HAS anything happened to Miss
Tuppence?" His voice was keen
edged.
"She's disappeared" said julius.
"When?"
"a week ago."
"How?"
Sir James questions fairly shot out.
Between them Tommy and julius gave
the history Of the last week and their
futile search.
Sir James went at once to the root
Of the matter.
"A wire signed with your name?
They knew enough Of you both for
that. They weren't sure Of how much
you had learnt in that house. Their
KIDNAPPING of Miss Tuppence Is the
counter-mOve TO your escape. II
necessary they could seal your lips
with a threat Of what might happen
to her"
That's Just what l thought, SIR"
Sir James looked Mt him keenly.
"You had worked that out, had you?
Not bad-not at all bad. The curious
thing is that they certainly did not
know anything about you when they
first held you prisoner. You are sure
that you did not in any way disclose
your identltyY'
Tommy shook his head.
That's So" said julius with a nod.
therefore l reckon some one put
them wise-and not earlier than Sun.
day afternoon"
Eyes, but who?"
"That almighty omniscient Mr.,
Brown. of courser'
There was a faint nete Of derisien
In the Americans voice which made
Sir James look up sharply.
"You don't believe In Mr.. Brown. Mr.
Hersheimmer?"
mo, sir. l do not" returned the
young American with emphasis. "Not
as such, that Is to say. | reckon II
out that he's q figurehead-just a bogy
name to brighten the children with,
The real head Of this business Is that
Russian chap Kramenin."
II disagree with you." said Sill
James shortly. mfr. Brown exists
He turned to Tommy. did you hap.
pen to notice where that wire was
handed in?"
"No, sir. I'm afraid ! didn't"