The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-11-02
The Secret Adversary

"Quick," she whispered. "Open the
rght-hand doorT
The two girls stepped out into the
traffic. Two minutes later they were
seated In another taxi and were retrac-
Ing their steps, this time direct to
Carlton House terrace.
"There," said Tuppence, with great
satisfaction, "this ought to do them.
1 can't help thinking that I'm really
rather cleverl What's this thing
swervlng-Ohw
There was grinding noise and a
bump. Another taxi had collided with
them.
In fash Tuppence was out on the
pavement. A policeman was approach
ing. Before he arrived Tuppence had
handed the driver FIVE shililngs, and
she and Jane had merged themselves
In the crowd.
"It's only a step or two now," said
Tuppence breathlessly.
Hand-in-hand, the two girls hurried
along.
TT may be my fancy" said Tup-
pence suddenly, "but feel as though
there was some one behind u.s."
Tuppence and Jane took to their
heels. The house they sought was
some way down. Footsteps echoed be-
hind them. Their breath was coming
in choking gasps as they reached Sir
James dsor. Tuppence seized the bell
and Jane the knocker.
A man reached the foot of the steps.
For q moment he hesitated, and as he
did so the door opened. They fell into
the hall together. Sir James came for
ward from the library door. "Hullo |!
What's this2"
He stepped forward, and put his arm
round Jane as she swayed uncertain
ly. He half carried her into the IL
brary, and laid her on the leather
couch. From tantalus on the table
he poured out few drops Of brandy,
and forced her to drink them. With
sigh she sat up, her eyes still wild
and frightened.
"It's all right. Don't be afraid, my
child. You're quite safe"
Her breath came more normally, and
| the color was returning to her cheeks
Sir James looked at Tuppence quiz
zically.
"Am I right In thinking that the
| joint venture has ended In success
| and that this"-he turned to the girl
on the couch-"is Miss Jane Finn2"
Jane sat up.
"Yes," she said quietly. ''Tm Jane
Finn. have lot to tell you"
'When you are stronger"
"No-now" In a low voice Jane
began her story.
II came over on the Lusitania to
take up a post In Paris. When the
ship was torpedoed, man came up
to me. He asked me If was a patri-
otic American, and told me he was
carrying papers which were just life
or death to the Allies. He asked me
to take charge of them. l was to
watch for an advertisement In the
Times II 1t didn't appear, was to
take them to the American ambassa-
dor.
"Most Of what followed seems like
a nightmare still. see 1t In my
dreams sometimes. I'll hurry
over that part. Mr.. Danvers had told
me to watch out. He might have been
shadowed from New York, but he
didn't think so. At first had no sus-
picions, but on the boat to Holyhead
/ began to get uneasy. There was one
woman who had been very keen to
look after me, and chum up with me
| generally-a Mrs Vandemeyer. / re-
membered that she'd been quite near
me on the Lusitania when Mr.. Dan
vers gave me the packet and before
| chat she'd tried to talk to him once OF
twice. I began to get scared, but
didn't quite see what to do.
| Zone thing I'd done already as a
precaution-ripped open the oilskln
packet and substituted blank paper
and then sewn 1t up again. So II
anyone did manage to rob me Of II
1t wouldn't matter.
what to do with the real thing wor
ried me no end. Finally I opened II
out fiat-there were only two sheets
land laid It between two OF the ad
vertisement pages OF q magazine.
stuck the two pages together round
the edge with some gum or an enve
lope. carried the magazine carelessI,
stuffed into the pocket Of my ulster
AT Ho.yhead I found myself In {
carriage with Mrs. vandemeyer aftel
all. I consoled myself with the though
that there were. other people IN tn,
carriage-tfere was quite a nice-look
ing man and his wife sitting just oppo
site. SO I felt almost happy abou
II until just outside London. ha,
leaned back and closed my eyes.
guess they thought was asleep, bu
my eyes weren't quite shut, and SUD
denly saw the nice-looking man ge
something out Of his bag and hand I
to Mrs. vandemeyer. and az he di
so he wfnked. 80. .ti, tss a. f
! Il can't tell you how that wink sor
of froze me through and through. M
only thought was to get out In the col
ridor as quick as ever could. i 90
up, trying to look natural and easy
Perhaps they saw something don