The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-08-31
BY AGATHA CHRISTIE
Copyright Mead q Cmpany

|
of course"
The other two asked no questions.
They had an instinct that 1t would be
mere waste of breath
But what don't understand" said
the prime minister suddenly, SIS how
that photograph came to be In Mr..
HersheImmer's drawerY'
Perhaps 1t never left it." suggested
the lawyer gently.
Two days later Julius HersheImmer
returned from Manchester. A note
from Tommy lay on his table:
Dear Hersheimmer:
Sorry / lost my temper. In case
l don't see you again. good-by. I've
been offered job In the Argentine,
and might as well take it.
yours,
TOMMY BERESFORD."
peculiar smile fingered for a mo-
ment on julius face. He threw the
letter into the waste-paper basket.
"The darned fool" he murmured.
After ringing up Sir James, Tom
my's next procedure was to make a
call at South Audley mansions. re
found Albert discharging his profess
sional duties, and introduced himself
without more ado as friend of Tup-
| pence's. Albert unbent Immediately.
Things has been very quiet here
lately" he said wistfully. 'Hope the
young lady's keeping well, sir?"
That's just the point, Albert She's
disappeared"
you don't mean as the crooks have
| got herr"
They have. BY the way, have you
by any chance an aunt, cousin, a
grandmother, or any other suitable fe-
| male relation who might be represent
ed as being likely to kick the bucket?"
A delighted grin spread slowly over
Albert's countenance.
I'm on, sir. My poor aunt what
lives in the country has been mortal
bad for long time, and she's asking
for me with her dying breath"
Tommy nodded approval.
Can you report this In the proper
quarter and meet me at Charing Cross
in an hours timer"
"I1l be there, sir. You can count
On me-"
As Tommy had judged. the faithful
Albert proved an invaluable ally. The
two took up their quarters at the inn
in Gatehouse. To Albert fell the task
Of collecting information. There was
no difficulty about 1t.
Acf1ov Driorc uoc tho nroporfv of
a DIR. Adams The doctor no longer
practiced, had retired, the landlord be-
lieved, but he took few private pa
tients-here the good fellow tapped
his forehead NOTWITHSTANDING ones
You understand !" The doctor was
a popular figure in the village. sub
scribed freely to all the local soprts
"a very pleasant. affable gentleman"
Tommy felt doubts. Was II possible
that this genial, well-known figure
could be In reality a dangerous GRIM
inal? Suppose 1t was all a gigantic
mistake? Tommy felt a cold chill al
the thought.
On the first evening Tommy, ac-
companied by Albert, explored the
grounds. They reached shrubbery
near the house quite unmolested.
The blinds of the dining room win
dow were up. There was large COM
pany assembled round the table. 1t
seemed a normal pleasant company.
Again Tommy felt that cold chill of
uncertainty. 1t seemed impossible to
believe that these people were other
than they seemed. Had he been fooled |
once more?
Tommy slept badly that night. The
next day Albert brought the first piece |
of hopeful news. There was French !
young lady staying In the house. Tom |
my put his doubts aside. Here was
confirmation of his theory. But time
pressed. Today was the 9th. The
Doth was the much-talked-of Labor
Day." about which all sorts of ruInors
getting agitated. Sensational hints of
a labor coup d'etat were freely re-
ported The government said nothing.
1t knew and was prepared.
Tommy felt that, thanks to Mr.. Car
ter, he understood the position fairly
accurately. With the fatal document
in the hands of Mr.. Brown, public
opinion would swing to the side Of the
labor extremists and revolutionists.
that, the battle was an even
chance. The government with a loyal
army and police force behind them
might win-but at cost of great suf-
fering. But Tommy nourished another
and a preposterous dream. With Mr..
Brown unmasked and captured he be-
lieved. rightly or wrongly, that the
whole organization would crumble ig-
and instantaneously. The
strange permeatlng influence Of the
unseen chief held 1t together.
This is a one-man show" said Tom
my to himself. THE thing to do Is to
yet hold of the man."
That evening he and Albert once
more penetrated the grounds of Ashley
priors. Tommy's ambition was some
low or other to gain admission to the
rouse itself AS they approached eau
iously, Tommy gave sudden gasp.
On the second floor window some