The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-07-27
The Secret Adversary
After that Tommy was forced to
admit the prospecf looked drearv

After that Tommy was forced II
admit the prospect looked dreary.
The troubles OF the future. how
, ever, soon faded before the trouble.
OF the present. And Of these, the mos
Immediate and pressing was that Of
hunger. Tommy had a healthy and
vigorous appetite. He regretfully rec
ognized the fact that he would moi
make success of a hunger strike.
He provided aimlessly about his
prison. Once or twice he discarded
dignity, and pounded on the door, But
nobody answered the summons
Finally a bright idea flashed across
his brain. Conrad was undoubtedly
the tenant of the house. The others.
with the possible exception of the
bearded German. merely used 1t as a
rendezvous Therefore, why not wait
in ambush for Conrad behind the door,
and when he entered bring down
chair. or one Of the decrepit pictures,
smartly onto his head. One would,
of. course, be careful not to hit too
hard And then-and then, simply
walk out If he met anyone on the
way down. we'll Tommy frightened
at the thought of an encounter with
his fists. Such an affair was infinitely
more In his line than the verbal en-
| counter of this afternoon. Intoxicated
by his plan. Tommy gently unlocked
the picture OF the Devil and Faust.
and settled himself In position. His
hopes were high. The plan seemed
to him simple but excellent.
Time went on, but Conrad did not
appear. Night and day were the
same in this prison room. but Tom
my's wrist-watch, which enjoyed a
certain degree of accuracy, informed
him that II was nine o'clock in the
evening. Tommy reflected gloomiIy
that II supper did not arrive soon 1t
would be a question of waiting for
breakfast. At ten o'clock hope de-
serted him. and he flung himself onto
the bed to seek consolation in Sleep
In five minutes his woes were for
gotten.
The sound Of the key turning In
the lock awoke him from his slum-
bers. Not belonging to the type of
hero who Is famous for awaking in
full possession of his faculties. Tommy
merely blinked at the ceiling and won
dered vaguely where he was. Then
he remembered
The door swung open. Too late,
Tommy remembered his scheme Of |
obliteratlng the unprepossessing Con-
rad. A moment later he was glad that |
he had, for 1t was not Conrad who
entered, but a girl. She carried a
tray which she set down on the table.
In the feeble light of the gas burner
Tommy blnked at her. He decided
at once that she was one of the most
beautiful girls he had ever seen.
There was wild-rose quality about
her face. Her eyes, set wide apart,
were hazel, q golden hazel that again
recalled a memory of sunbeams.
A delrlous thought shot through
Tommy's mind
"Are you Jane FinnY' he asked
breathlessly.
The girl shook her head wonder
ingly.
my name is Annette, monsieur"
She spoke In soft, broken English
"Oh" said Tommy, rather taken
aback. "Francaise?' he hazarded.
"Oui, monsieur. Monsieur parle
mot for any length of time" said
Tommy. whats that7 Breakfast?"
The girl nodded. Tommy dropped
off the bed and came and Inspected
the contents of the tray. 1t consisted
Of loaf. some margarine, and a jug
Of coffee.
''The living is not equal to the Ritz
ne observed with a sigh. but for
what we are at last about to receive
the Lord has made me truly thank
'ul Amen"
He drew up chair, and the girl
.urned away to the door,
wait sec" cried Tommy. "There
ire lots Of things want to ask you,
Annette. What are you doing In this
louse7"
81 do the service, monsieur"
II see." said Tommy. "You know
What asked you just now. Have you
ver heard that name?"
nave htoAN PSoPic oPCah VI JdnC | 4
linn, think"
"You don't know where she isY'
Annette shook her head.
"She's not In this house, for In :
lance" =
"Oh, no, monsieur. I must go now :
hey will be waiting for me-" !
She hurried out The key turned In :,
he lock. :,
II wonder who they are" unused :,
ommy, as he continued to make In :.
pads on the loaf. with a bit of .
lex. that girl might help me to get
ut Of here She doesn't look like one
the gang"
At one o'clock Annette reappeared
18th another tray. but this time Con.
ID accompanied her.
CTO BE CONTINUED.)