The Dolores star., 1923-09-14

proud-spirited young American girl
might find your rules and regulations
In war time rather irksome, and get
up against it. If that's the case. and
there's such thing as graft In this
country, I'll buy her off,"
Tuppence reassured him.
That's good. Then we can work
together. What about some lunch?"
oysters had just given place to Sole
Colbert when a card was brought to
Hersheimmer.
inspector Jnpp, c. I. D. Scotland
lard again. Another man this time.
what does he expect l can tell him
that l didn't tell the first chap? l
hope they haven't lost that photo
graph. That western photographers
piace was burned down and all his
negatives destroyed-this Is the only
copy In existence. / got 1t from the
principal Of the college there"
An unformulated dread swept over
Tuppence.
"You-you don't know the name of
the man who came this morning?"
Yes. l do. No. don't. Half
second. 1t was on his card Oh,
know! Inspector Brown. Quiet, un-
assuming sort Of chap"
A veil might with profit be drawn
over the events of the next half-hour.
Suffice 1t to say that no such person
as Inspector Brown" was known to
Scotland Yard. The photograph of
| .IOnq Finn Uhfrh
the utmost value to the police in
tracing her. was lost beyond recovery
Once again 'Mr. Brown" had trI-
umphed.
The immediate result of this set
back was to effect rapprochement
between Julius Hersheimmer and the
Young Adventures. All barriers
went down with a crash, and Tommy
and Tuppence felt they had known
the young American all their lives
They abandoned the discreet reticence
Of "private inquiry agents." and re-
vealed to him the whole history of the
joint venture. whereat the young man
declared himself "tickled to DEATH"
He turned to Tuppence at the close
OF the narration.
1--WE always had kind of idea that
English girls were just a mite moss
| grown. Old-fashioned and sweet, you
know, but scared to move around
without footman or a maiden aunt.
I guess I'm bit behind the times"
The upshot Of these confidential re-
lations was that Tommy and Tuppence
took up their abode forthwith at the
Ritz, in order, as Tuppence put 1t, to
keep in touch with Jane Finn's only
living relation. "And put like that"
she added confidentlally to Tommy,
nobody could boggle at the expense !"
Nobody did. which was the great
thing.
"And now," said the young lady on
the morning after their installation,
'to work! We should map out plan
of campaign"
"Hear, hear!"
swell, let's do 1t. To begin with,
what have we to 60 upon?"
absolutely nothing" said Tommy
cheerily.
"Wrong!" Tuppence wagged an
energetic finger. I'VE have two dis
tinct clues"
"What are theyT
First clue. we know one of the
gang"
"Whittington?'
"Yes. I'd recognize him anywhere"
Hum" said Tommy doubtfully. II
don't call that much Of clue You
don't know where to look for him, and
It's about thousand to one against
your running against him by acci-
dent"
"I'm not so sure about that" re-
piled Tuppence thoughtfully. There
are places in London where simply
everyone is bound to turn up sooner
or later. Piccadilly circus, for in
stance. One of my ideas was to take
up my stand there every day."
Honestly, don't think much of
the idea. Wilmington mayn't be in
London at all"
"That's true. Anyway, I think
clue No. . is more promising"
Lets hear It,"
"It's nothing much. Only Chris
tIan name-Rita. Wilmington men,
toned 1t that day."
"Are you proposing third adver-
tIsement: Wanted, female crook, an
swering to the name of Rita?"
81 am not. I propose to reason in
n logical manner. That man, Danvers,
was shadowed on the way over, wasn't
he? And it's more likely to have been
a woman than man"
81 don't see that ut ALL"
II am absolutely certain that 1t
would be a woman. and a good-looking
one," replied Tuppence calmly. Nov,
obviously. this woman, whoever she
was, was saved"
"How do you make that out7"
"If she wasn't. how would they
have known Jane Finn had got the
papersT
Correct"
"Now, there's just a chance, admit