The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-11-02
CHAPTER XIII
Tommy Makes a Discovery.

For a moment or two they stood
staring at each other stupidity, dazed
with shock. Somehow, inexplicably,
Mr.. Brown had forestalled them.
Tommy accepted defeat quietly. Not
so julius.
How in tarnation did he get ahead
Of us? That's what beats mel" he
ended up.
II don't see that II matters any
way" said Tommy YEARLY. "He may
have found out some months ago, and
removed the papers, then No, by
Jove, that won't wash! They'd have
been published at once"
"Sure thing they would! No, some
ones got ahead Of us today by an
hour or so. But how they did IT gets
my goat. It's no good arguing about
how 1t was done. The games up.
We've failed. There's only one thing
for M to do"
whats that?"
Get back TO London as soon as pos
sible. Mr.. Carter must be warned.
It's only a matter Of hours now be-
fore the blow falls"
Half an hour after arrival, haggard
and pale, Tommy stood before his
chief.
1--we come to report. sir. I've failed
failed badly"
Mr.. Carter eyed him sharply.
"You mean that the treaty"
sVn T.. NLA 10 ~ A. D-~-. -a-st
"Well," said Mr.. Carter after a min
ute or two, 1--WE mustn't sag at the
knees, l suppose. I'm glad to know
definitely. We must do what we can"
Through Tommy's mind flashed the
assurance: "It's hopeless, and he
knows it's hopeless"
The other looked up at him.
81 blame myself. l have been blam-
ing myself ever since l heard this
other news"
Something in his tone attracted
Tommy's attention. A new fear
gripped at his heart.
rs there-something more, sir?"
I'm afraid So said Mr.. Carter
gravely. He stretched out his hand
to a sheet on the table.
"Tuppence-Y faltered Tommy.
READ for yourself"
The typewriter words danced be-
fore his eyes. The description Of a
green toque. a coat with q handker.
chief in the pocket marked "P. l.. c."
He looked an agonized question at Mr..
Carter. The latter replied to it:
washed up on the Yorkshire coast
near Ebury. I'm afraid-it looks
very much like foul play"
my Cd" gasped Tommy. "Tup-
pence! Those devils-Ill never rest
till I've got eve with them! I'll
hunt them down! I'll
I'm taking up your time, SIR" he
said with an effort. There's no need
for you TO blame yourself. l dare say
we were q couple Of young fools to
take OF such a job. You warned us
all right. But l wish to God I'd been
the n to get 1t in the neck. Good
by, sir"
Back at the Ritz. Tommy packed
up his few belongings mechanically.
his thoughts far away. He was still
bewildered by the introduction Of
tragedy into his cheerful common
place existence. What fun they had
had together, he and Tuppencel And
now-oh, he couldn't believe tit
couldn't be true! Tuppence-dead!
Little Tuppence. brimming we with
life! 1t was a dream, a horrible
dream. Nothing more.
They brought him q note, a few
kind words Of sympathy from Peel
Edgerton. who had read the news In
the paper. (There had been a large
headline: EX-v. A. ID. FEARED
DROWNED.) The letter ended with
the offer of a post on a ranch In the
Argentine. where Sir James had O n
siderable interests.
kind old beggar." muttered Tommy,
rs he flung 1t aside.
The door opened. and Julius burst
In with his usual violence. He held an
open newspaper In his hand.
"Say. what's all this? They seem to
have got some fool Idea about Tup-
pence"
TITS true" said Tommy quietly.
"You mean they've done her in?'
Tommy nodded.
." suppose when they got the treaty
she-wasn't any good to them any
longer, and they were afraid to let her
60"
"Well. I'm darned!" said julius
Little Tuppence. She sure was the
Quickest little girl"