The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-09-14


but | know some one who has"
Must be a millionaire" remarked
Mrs. Vandemeyer unbellevingly.
"As a matter OF fact, he Is. He's an
American. He'll pay you that without
a murmur. You can take IT from me
that it's a perfectly genuine PROPOSE
ton"
Mrs. Vandemeyer sat up again.
I'm inclined to believe you." she
said slowly. what does he want TO
know, this friend of yours?"
Tuppence went through a
tary struggle, but 1t was julius
money, and his interests must come
first.
HE wants to know where Jane Finn
u.s." she said boldly.
Mrs. Vandemeyer showed no sur
prise. I'm not sure where she Is at
the present moment" she replied.
"But you could find outf"
"Oh, yes,' returned Mrs. Vandemey-
er carelessly. There would be no diff
1culty about that"
"Then'-Tuppence's voice shook a
little-"there's a boy, q friend of mine.
I'm afraid something's happened to
him, through your pal Boris"
whats his manner"
Tommy Beresford."
"Never heard Of him. But I'll ask
Boris. He'll tell me anything he
knows"
THANK you. There's one thing
more"
"Well?"
Tuppence leaned forward and low
cred her voice.
"WhO Is Mr.. Brown"
Her quick eyes saw the sudden
paling of the beautiful face. With an
effort Mrs. Vandemeyer pulled herself
together and tried to resume her for
mer manner But the attempt was a
mere parody.
She shrugged her shoulders.
"You can't have learnt much about
us If you don't know that nobody
knows who Mr.. Brown is. :"
"You do" said Tuppence quietly.
Again the color deserted the others
face.
what makes you think that?"
81 don't know" said the girl truth
fully. But I'm sure"
Mrs. Vandemeyer stared In front of
her for a long time.
YES" she said hoarsely, at last, 81
know. I was beautiful, you see-very
beautiful"
"You are STILL" said Tuppence with
admiration.
Mrs. Vandemeyer shook her head.
"Not beautiful enough" she said In a
soft dangerous voice. "Not-beautiful
enough And sometimes, lately, I've
been afraid. q. L. It's dangerous to
know too much !" She leaned forward
across the table. Swear that my
name shan't be brought into it-that
no one shall ever know"
81 swear it. And, once he's caught,
you'll be out Of danger"
A terrified look swept across Mrs.
Vandemeyer's face.
"Shall I? Shall 1 ever be?" She
clutched Tuppence's arm. You're sure
about the money!
"Quite sure"
"When shall l have it3 There must
be no delay"
This friend of mine will be here
presently. He may have to send cables,
or something like that. But there
won't be any delay-he's a terrific
hustler"
A ~resolute look settled on Mrs. Van
demeyer's face.
"Tll do 1t. It's q great sun of
money, and besides"-she gave a curl
Gus smile-'it Is not-wise to throw
over a woman like mel"
For. q moment or two, she remained
smiling, and lightly tapping her fin
gers on the table. Suddenly she start
ed, and her face blanched.
"What was that?"
81 heard nothing"
Mrs. Vandemeyer gazed round her
fearfully.
III there should be some one listen
Ing. l tell you I'm frightened. You
don't know himT"
think Of the hundred thousand
pounds" said Tuppence soothingly.
Mrs. vandemeyer passed her tongue
over her dried lips.
"You don't know him." she reiterated
hoarsely. "He's-ah"
With a shrek of terror she sprang
to her feet. Her outstretched hand
pointed over Tuppence's head. Then
she swayed to the ground In a dead
faint.
Tuppence looked round to see what
had startled her.
In the doorway were Sir James Peel
Edgerton and julius Hersheimmer.