The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-08-17

AhliN'AN> A'''N' 80 f ''AAA AhAO
air Of one who has established a
thorough understanding.
"Know who I'm after?' she inquired
genially.
Albert, still round-eyed, demanded
b~reathlcssly lone OF the nats?'
Tuppence nodded and jerked a
thumb up the stairs.
"NO. 20. Calls herself Vandcmeyer.
Vandemeyer! Ha! ha!"
Albert's hand stole TO his pocket.
"a crOok?" he queried eagerly.
"a crook! l should say so. Ready
Rita, they call her in the States"
Ready Rita" repeated Albert de-
liriously. ''Oh, amt it just like the
pictures! Annie always said as how
she was a bad lot"
who's AnnieT inquired Tuppence
idly.
"'Ouse parlormaid. She's leaving
today. Many's the time Annie's said
TO me: Mark my words, Albert, !
wouldn't wonder If the police was to
come after her one Of these days.
Just like that. But she's a sumner
TO look at, amt she?'
shes some peach" allowed Tup-
pence carelessly. "Finds IL useful
in her layout, you bet. Has she been
wearing any Of the emeralds, by the
way?"
"Emeralds? Them's the green
stones, amt they?"
nN,nNnooa ,nIInI
That's what we're after her for.
You know old man Rysdale, the oil
king?'
1T seems sort of familiar to me-"
1.-THE sparklers belonged to him.
Finest collection of emeralds in the
world. Worth a million dollars!"
"Lumme!" came ecstatically from
Albert. ut sounds more like the pic
lures every minute"
Tuppence smiled, gratiied at the
success Of her efforts.
eve haven't exactly proved II yet.
But we're after her. And"-she pro-
duced a long-drawn-out wink-"I guess
she won't get away with the goods
this time"
Albert uttered another ejaculation
Indicative Of delight.
Mind you, sonny, not a word Of
this" said Tuppence suddenly. II
guess l Oughtn't TO have put you wise,
but In the States we know a real
smart lad when we see one. What's
this about the girl you say is leav-
ingT
annie? Regular turn-up, they 'ad."
An idea was dawning In Tup-
pence's brain. She thought q minute
or two, then tapped Albert On the
shoulder.
"See here, son, my brains got busy.
How would it be If you mentioned
that you'd got a young cousin, or a
friend of yours had. that might suit
the place. You get me?"
I'm there" said Albert instantly.
fix the whole thing up in two ticks"
"Some lad" commented Tuppence,
with a nod Of approval. "You let me
know. and If It's o. X. I'll be round
tomorrow at eleven o'clock"
where am I to let you know tor
Ritz" replied Tuppence laconically.
name of Cowley."
Albert eyed her e~nviously.
TT must be a good Job, this tee
business"
"It sure Is" drawled Tuppence.
especially when old man Rysdale
backs the bill. But don't fret, son.
II this goes we'll, you shall come in
on the ground floor"
With which promise she took leave
Of her new ally. and walked brisklY
away from South Audley mansions.
well pleased with her mornings work.
She went straight back to the Ritz
and wrote a few brief words TO Mr..
Carter. Having dispatched this, and
Tommy not having yet returned
which did not surprise her-she start
ed or on a shopping expedition. Start.
ing with a cheap clothing store, and
passing through one or two second
hand establishments, she had finished
the day ut a well-known hairdresser's.
Now, IN the seclusion of her bedroom,
she ~unwrapped that final purchase.
Five minutes later she smiled content
edIy at her reflection In the glass.
With an actress pencil she had slight
ly altered the line OF her eyebrows,
and that, taken In conjunction with
the new luxuriant growth of fair hair
above, 30 changed her appearance that
shA <Alk n~raI~~x that aunr q ~y.>
came face to face with Wilmington
he would not recognize her. From
hospital experience she knew only too
well that a nurse out Of uniform Is
frequently u%nrecognized by her pa
tients.