The Dolores star., 1923-10-19
By AGATHA CHRISTIE
q SConpan
(copyriSh, podd. Mead & Company

"Sorry. l guess | was Just mite
hasty, but I've been feeling bad about
this money question. wanted TO
offer big reward for news of Jane
some days ago, but your crusted in
stltution of Scotland Yard advised me
against 1t. Said it was undesirable
Sir James considered for moment.
There is no time TO be lost. The
sooner we strike the better" He
turned to Tuppence. ''ls Mrs. VAN
demeyer dining out tonight, do you
know?''
YES. think so, but she will not
be out late. Otherwise, she would
have taken the latchkey."
Good. l Will call upon her about
ten o'clock. What time are you sup
posed TO return?"
About nine-thirty or ten, but l
could go back earlier.
You must not do that on any ac-
count. 1t might arouse suspicion If
you did not stay out TIL the usual
time. Be back by nine-thirty. l will
arrive at ten. Mr.. Hersheimmer will
wait below in a taxi perhaps"
Hes got new Rolls-Royce car"
said Tuppence with yicarlOus pride.
Even better. If | succeed in OBJ
tanning the address from her, we can
go there at once, taking Mrs. Van
demeyer' with us If necessary. You
underestimate"
Yes" Tuppence rose to her feet
with skip of delight. "Oh, l feel
so much betterw
Don't build on 1t too much. Miss
Tuppence. Go easy"
Julius turned to the lawyer.
Say, then. I'll call for you In the
car round about nlne.thlrty. Is that
rightT'
perhaps that will be the best plan.
1t would be unnecessary to have two
cars waiting about. Now, Miss Tup-
pence, my advice to you Is to go and
have good dinner, really good one,
mind. And don't think ahead more
than you can help"
He shook hands with them both,
and moment later they were out
side.
isn't he a duck" inquired Tup-
pence ecstatically. as she skipped
down the steps. "Oh, Julius, isn't he
just duck?"
"Well, l allow he seems to be the
goods all right. And l was wrong
about Its being useless to go to him.
Say, shall we go right away back to
the Ritzf'
81 must walk a bit, ] think. I'll
meet you at the Ritz at seven"
Tuppence walked brlskly along
towards the Serpentine, first glancing
at her watch. 1t was nearly six
o'clock. She remembered that she
had had no tea, but felt too excited
to be conscious of hunger. She walked
as far as Kensington gardens and
then slowly retraced her steps, feel
ing infinitely better for the fresh air
and exercise. 1t was not so easy to
follow Sir James advice, and put the
possible events of the evening out of
her head. AS she drew nearer and
nearer to Hyde park corner, the temp
tatlon to return to South Audley man
sions was almost irresistible.
At any rate, she decided, 1t would
do no harm just TO go and look at the
building. Perhaps, then, she could
resign herself to waiting patiently for
ten o'clock.
South Audley mansions looked ey-
actly the same as usual. What Tup-
pence had expected she hardly knew,
but the sight of its red brick stolidity
slightly assuaged the growing and
entirely unreasonable uneasiness that
possessed her. She was just turning
away when she heard a piercing
whistle, and the faithful Albert came
running from the building to Join
her. He was purple with suppressed
excitement.
81 say. miss. she's a-goingI"
who's going?" demanded Tup-
pence sharply.
Vandemeyer. She's a-packing up, and
she's just sent down word for me to
get her taxi. I thought maybe as
you didn't know about It."
albert" cried Tuppence. you're n
brick. If it hadn't been for you we'd
have lost her."
Albert flushed with pleasure at this
tribute.
There's no time to lose" said Tup-
pence, crossing the road I've got to
stop her. At all costs must keep
her here until" She broke off. "Al
bert, there's telephone here, isn't
thereY
The boy shook his head.
1.-THE flats mostly have their own,
miss. But there's box just around
the corner"
go to it, then. at once and ring
up the Ritz hotel. Ask for Mr.. Hers.
heimmer, and when you get him tell
him to get Sir James and come on at
once. as Mrs. vandemeyer is trying
to hook It, II you can't get him, ring
up Sir James Peel Edgerton, you'll
find his number In the book, and tell
him what's happening. Yoa won't
I e. H.