The Dolores star., 1923-11-30

estly, and plunged into his recital.
julius listened spell-bound. At the
end he heaved long sigh.
Bully for you. Reads like dime
novel?"
He, in his turn, assumed the role
OF narrator. Beginning with his un-
successful accommodating at Bourne
mouth, he passed on TO his return to
London, the buying of the car, the
growing anXieties OF Tuppence. the
call upon Sir James, and the sensa-
tiOnal occurrences OF the previous
night.
But who killed her?" asked
Tommy. Il don't quite understand
The doctor kldded himself she took
1t herself" replied julius dryly.
And Sir James? What did he
Think"
Being legal luminary, he is like
wise a human oyster" replied julius.
II should say he reserved judg-
ment.'" He went on to detail the
events of the morning.
Lost her memory. 2" said Tommy
with interest. by Jove. that explains
why they looked at me so queerly
when l spoke of questioning her. Bit
Of slip on my part, that! But 1t
wasn't the sort OF thing "A fellow
would be likely to guess"
There was a moments pause. and
then Tommy reverted to Mrs. Vande-
meyers death.
There's no doubt it was chloral?
Let's go round to the scene of the
crime. wish we could get hold Of
Tuppencc. The Ritz would enjoy the
spectacle of the glad reunion"
Inquiry at the office revealed the
fact that Tuppence had not yet re-
turned.
"All the same, l guess I'll have a
look round upstairs" said Julius.
"She might be in my sitting-room."
He disappeared.
Suddenly diminutive boy spoke at
TOmmy's elbow:
The young lady-she's gone away
by train, l think, sir" he murmured
shyly.
"What?" Tommy wheeled round
upon him.
The taxi. sir. heard her tell the
driver Charing Cross and to look
sharp"
Tommy stared at him, his eyes
opening wide IN surpriue. Emboldened,
the small boy proceeded. $50 /
thought, having asked for an A.B.C.
and n Bradshaw"
Tommy intprruntpd him.
when did she ash! for an Abe.
and Bradshaw
when l took her the telegram, sir"
"A telegram"
"Yes, sir
"When was that?
about half-paSt twelve. sir"
At that moment julius came back.
He held an open letter in his hand
81 say, Hersheimmer" - Tommy
turned to him-"Tuppence has gone
off sieuthing on her own"
"Nucks"
Yes, she has. She went off In a
taxi to Charing Cross in the deuce of
hurry after getting telegram" His
eye fell on the letter in julius hand.
oI SIlt ltll Il nOlt lDT you. nat
all right. Where's shr off tor
Almost unconsciously, he held out
his hand for the letter, but julius
folded it up and placed 1t in his pocket.
He seemed trifle embarrassed.
Il guess this is nothing to do with
it. It's about something else-some-
thing l asked her that she was to let
me know about. See here. I'd better
put you wise. | asked Miss Tuppence
to marry me this morning"
"Oh :" said Tommy mechanically.
He felt dazed julius words were
totally unexpected. For the moment
they benumbed his brain
"Pd like TO tell you" continued
Julius, that before suggested any
thing of the kind to Miss Tuppence.
made it clear that l didn't want to
butt in in any way between her and
you-"
Tommy reused himself.
That's all right" he said quickly.
"Tuppence and ! have been pals for
years. Nothing more" He lit n Gig
arctic with hand that shook ever so
little. That's quite all right Tup-
pence always said that she was look.
ing out for"
He stopped abruptly, his face Grim
soning. but Julius was in no way dis.
composed.
"Oh, / guess it'll be the dollars
that'll do the trick. Miss Tuppence
put me wise to that right away, There's
no humbug about her. We ought to
gee along together very we'll"
Tommy looked at him curiously for
a minute, as though he were about to
speak, then changed his mind and said
nothing. Tuppence and Julius, Well.
why not? Had she not lamented the
fact that she knew no rich men? Had
she not openly avowed her intention
of marrying for money If she ever had
the chance? Why blame her because
she had been true to her creed?
Nevertheless, Tommy did blame her
He was filed with passionate and
utterly illogical resentment. Tuppence