The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-08-24

" "a AihDOfopbbhNs
Impossible! Already it may be too
late. They say Peel Edgerton al
smell a criminal! Perhaps even now
his suspicious are aroused. He
guesses-"
Mrs. Vandemeyer eyed him scorn-
fully.
"Reassure yourself, my dear Boris.
He aspects nothing. You seem to
forget that / am commonly accounted
a beautiful woman. | assure you
that is all that interests Peel Edger-
ton.
Besides, he Is extremely rich. ]
am not one who despises money. The
'sinews Of war; you know, Boris"
"Money-money! That is always
the danger with you, Rita. / believe
you would sell your soul for money.
l believe" He paused, then in a low,
sinister voice he said slowly: Some
times l believe you would sell-us!"
Mrs. Vandemeyer smiled and
shrugged her shoulders.
"The price, at any rate, would have
TO be enormous" she said lightly. ut
would be beyond the power Of anyone
but a millionaire to pay"
"Ah!" said the Russian. "You see,
I was right"
"My dear Boris, can you not take
a joker"
"Was 1t a joker"
"Of course. Let us not quarrel,
Boris. Touch the bell. We will have
some drinks"
Tuppence beat a hasty retreat. She
paused a moment to survey herself
In Mrs. Vandemeyer's long glass, and
be sure that nothing was amiss with
her appearance. Then she answered
the bell demurely.
The conversation that she had over
heard, although interesting In that 1t
proved beyond doubt the completely
Of both Rita and Boris, threw very
little light on the present preoccupa-
tlons. The name Of Jane Finn had
not ever been mentioned.
The following morning a few brief
words with Albert Informed her that
nothing was waiting for her at the
s~tationer's. It seemed incredible that
Tommy, II all was we'll with him,
| should not send any word to her. A
cold hand seemed to close round her
heart. Surprising . She
choked her fears down bravely. 1t
was no good worrying. But she leapt
at a chance offered her by Mrs. Van
demeyer.
"What day do you usually go out,
PrudenceT"
Fridays my usual day, ma'am."
sand today is Friday! But / sup
pose you hardly wish to go out today,
as you only came yesterday"
81 was thinking Of asking you ffsI
might, ma'am.'
ut makes no difference to me, as
/ shall not be dining at home"
Tuppence felt a sensation Of relief
once she was out Of the others pres
ence. Once again she admitted to
herself that she was afraid, horribly
afraid, Of the beautiful woman with
the cruel eyes.
In the midst Of a final desultory
polishing Of her silver, Tuppence was
disturbed by the ringing Of the front
door bell, and went to answer 1t. This
time the visitor was neither Whiting
ton nor Boris, but a man of striking
appearance.
Just q shade over average height,
he nevertheless conveyed the impress
sion Of q big man. His face. clean
shaven and exquisitely mobile, was
stamped with an expression of power
and force far beyond the ordinary.
Magnetism seemed to radiate from
him.
Tuppence was undecided for the
moment whether to put him down as
an actor or a lawyer, but her doubts
were soon solved as he gave her his
name: Sir James Peel Edgerton.
Tuppence went back to her pantry
thOughtfully. The great man had i'm
pressed her. She understood Boris
agitation. Peel Edgerton would not
be IN easy man to deceive.
In about a quarter Of an hour the
bell rang, and Tuppence repaired to
the hall to show the visitor out. He
had given her a piercing glance before.
Now, as she handed him his hat and
stick, she was conscious of his eyes
raking her through. AS she opened
the door and stood aside to let him
pass out. he stopped in the doorway.
mot been doing this long, ehY'
Tuppence raised her eyes, aston
ished. She read in his glance kindli-
ness. and something else more difficult
to fathom.
He nodded as though she had an
swered.
Nv. A. ID. and hard up, I suppose1
Good place here?"
very good, thank you. SIR"
"Ah, but there are plenty Of good
places nowadays. And a change does
no harm sometimes"
do you mean-Y" began Tuppence.
But Sir James was already on the
tOpmASf stair. He lookpd hacly with