The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-09-14

"Touch and CO." he mUttered. II
wish that young fellow would hurry
up with the brandy"
At that m julius re-entered
the room, carrying a glass half full
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
feebly. Tuppence 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 q
marvellous fashion. She tried to sit
up-then fell back with a groan, her
hand to her side.
Its my heart" she whispered. Il
mustn't talk"
She lay back with closed eyes.
Sir James kept his finger on her
wrist a minute longer, then withdrew
it with a nod.
Shell do now"
All three moved away, and stood to-
gether talking in low voices. One and
all were conscious of a certain feel
ing Of anticlimax. Clearly any scheme
for cross-questioning the lady was out
Of the question for the moment. For
the time being they were bafled, and
could do nothing.
Tuppence related how Mrs. Vande-
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 T%uppence, with an at
tempt at cheerfulness, "we 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 guard?"
ALBERT? And suppose she came
round again and hooked It. Albert
couldn't stop her. She seemed very
frightened Of Mr.. Brown Said even
walls had ears"
Miss Tuppence Is right" said Sir
James quietly. 1--WE must not leave
the fat-if only for Mrs. Yandemey-
er's sake"
julius stared at him.
"You think he'd get after her? Be
tween now and tomorrow morning.
How could he know, even?"
1--WE have a very formidable adver-
sary. / believe, If We exercise all due
care, that there is a very good chance
of his being delivered into our hands.
But we must neglect no pr%ecautiOn.
We have an important witness, but
she must be safeguarded. l would
suggest that Miss Tuppence should go
to bed, and that you and l, Mr.. Hers
heimmer, should share the vigil.
Tuppence "a 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
it quite froze the words on her lips.
For a moment she wondered
whether the faint and the heart attack
had been a 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 a momen 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, murmuring 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 a sudden impulse, the girl
said quickly:
81 shan't leave the fiat. I shall SIT
up all night"
A flash Of relief showed before the
lids descended once more. Apparent
ly Mrs. Vandemeyer slept. But heE
words had awakened a new uneasi'
ness In Tuppence. What had she
meant By that low murmur, Mr.
Brown" Tusoence caught herself
nervously looking Ovet her shoulder
The big wardrobe iUcHed up In a sin
lister fashion before her eyes. Plenty
of room for a man to hios in that
Half-ashamed of herself, Tup-
pence pulled 1t open and looked inside
NO one-of course She stopped dOwr
and looked under the bed. There wal
no other possible hiding place.