The Dolores star., 1923-12-28

traffic. Two minutes later they were
seated In another taxi and were retrac-
ing their steps, this time direct 10
Carlton House terrace.
There" said Tuppence, with great
satisfaction. this ought to do them.
l can't help thinking that I'm really
swerving-Oh -
There was grinding noise and
bump. Another taxi had collided with
them.
In a flash Tuppence was out on the
pavement. A policeman was approach
ing. Before he arrived TuppenCe had
handed the driver five shililnCs, and
she and Jane had merged themselves
in the crowd.
IT'S only a step or two now, said
Tuppence hreathlessly.
Hand-in-hand, the two girls hurried
along
1T may be my fancy" said Tup-
pence suddenly. but I feel as though
there was some one behind us"
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 door. Tuppence seized the bell
and Jane the knocker.
A man reached the foot of the steps.
For 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 this?"
He stepped forward, and put his arm
round Jane as she swayed uncertain
ly. He half carried her into the H.
brary, and laid her on the leather
couch. From tantalus on the table
he poured out a few drops Of brandy,
and forced her to drink them. With
sigh she sat up. her eyes still wild
and frightened.
ITS 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 Finn"
Jane sat up.
Yes she said quietly, I'm Jane
Finn. I have a lot to tell you"
when you are stronger"
'No-now!" In low voice Jane
began her story.
Il came over on the Lusitana to
take up post In Paris. When the
ship was torpedoed, man came up
to me. He asked me If | was 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. If 1t didn't appear, I was to
take them to the American ambassa-
dor.
Most of what follow ed seems like
nightmare still. I see it 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 I had no sus-
picions, but on the boat to Holyhead
I 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. I re-
membered that She'd been quite near
me on the Lusitania when Mr.. Dan
vers gave me the packet, and before
that she'd tried to talk to him once or
twice. I began to get scared. but
didn't quite see what to do.
"One thing I'd done already as
precaution-rirped open the oilskin
packet and substituted blank paper.
and then sewn it up again. So, If
anyone did manage to rob me of it.
it wouldn't matter.
"What to do with the real thing wor-
ried me no end. Finally l opened II
out flat-there We're only two sheets
and laid 1t between two of the ad-
vertisement pages Of magazine.
stuck the two pages together round
the edge with some gum off an enve-
lope. | carried the magazine carelessly
stuffed into the pocket of my ulster.
AT Holyhead | found myself in a
carriage with Mrs. Vandemeyer after
all. consoled myself with the thought
that there were other people in the
carriage-there was quite a nice-look-
ing man and his wife sitting just oppo-
site. So l felt almost happy about
II until just outside London. / had
leaned back and closed my eyes
guess they thought was asleep, but
my eyes weren't quite shut. and sud.
denly I saw the nice-looking man get
something out Of his bag and hand 1t
to Mrs. Vandemeyer, and as he did
so he winked.
II can't tell you how that wink sort
Of froze me through and through. NV
only thought was to get out in the cor
ridor as quick as ever I could I got
up, trying to look natural and easy.
Perhaps they saw something don't
know-but suddenly Mrs Vandemeyer
said Now and flung something over