Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-12-22

/ seated In another taxi and were retrac-
ing their steps, this time direct to
/ Carlton House terrace.
There" said Tuppence, with great
satisfaction. "thls ought to do them.
/ can't help thinking that I'm really
rather cleverl What's this thing
swerving-Oh
There was a grinding noise and &
bump. Another taxi had colllded with
! them.
In a fash Tuppence was out on the
| pavement A policeman was approach
ing. Before he arrived Tuppence rad
handed the driver five shililngs, and
she and Jane had merged themselves
/ in the crowd.
ITS only step or two now" said
! Tuppence breathlessly.
Hand-in-hand, the two girls hurried
along.
cit may be my fancy" said Tup-
pence suddenly. "but I feel as though
there was some one behind US"
Tuppence and Jane took to their
heels The house they sought was
some way down. Footsteps echoed be-
hind them. Their breath was coming
in choking g0sps as they reached Sir
! James door Tuppence seized the bell
and Jane the knocker.
A man reached the foot Of the steps
For a moment he hesitated, and as he
did so the door opened They fell into
the han together. Sir James came for
ward from the library door. "Hullol
What's thls?"
He stepped forward. and put his arm
round Jane as she swayed uncertain
w. He half carried her into the IL
brary. and laid her on the leather
couch. From a tantalus on the table
he poured out a few drops of brandy,
and forced her to drink them. With
a sigh she sat up, her eyes still wild
and frightened.
TITS all right Don't be afraid, my
child. You're quite safe"
Her breath came more normally, and
the color was returning to her cheeks
Sir james looked at Tuppence quiz
ideally.
Am / right In thinking that the
! Joint venture has ended In success,
and that this"--he turned to the girl
on the couch--"is Miss Jane Finn2"
Jane sat up.
YES" she said quietly, "rm Jane
Finn have lot to tell you"
when you are stronger"
"No-nowl" In a low voice Jane
began her story.
II came over on the Lustanla to
take up a post In Paris. When the
ship was torpedoed, man came up
to me He asked ne If I was a patri-
otto American, and told me he was
carrying papers which were Just life
or death to the Allies. He asked me
TO take charge Of them, I was to
watch for IN advertisement IN the
Times. II 1t didn't appear, / was to
take them to the American ambassa-
dor.
Most Of what followed seems Ike
nightmare still. l see It in my
dreams sometimes. I'll hurry
over that part. Mr. Danvers had told
4
Swallowed from New York, but he
didn't think SO. At first l had no sus-
niclons, but on the boat to Holyhead
I began to get uneasy. There was one
woman who had been very keen to
look after me, ana ehum up with me
generally-a Mrs. vandemeyer. I re-
membered that she'd been quite near
me on the Lusitanla when Mr. Dan.
vers gave me the packet, and before
that she'd tried to talk TO him once or
twice began to get scared, but l
didn't quite see what TO do.
One thing ia done already as
precaution-ripped open the oilSkin
packet and substituted blank paper,
and then sewn 1t up again. So, If
anyone did manage to rob me OF it,
it wouldn't matter
what to do with the real thing wor-
ried me 10 end. Finally I opened It
out hat-there were only two sheets
and laid ii between two Of the ad.
vevtisement pages OF a magazine
stuck the two pages together round
the edge with some gum or an enye-
lope carried the magazine carelessly
stuffed Into the pocket OF nay ulster.
AT Ho,yhead I found myself IN a
carriage with Mrs. Vandemever after
all. ! consoled myself with the thought
that there were other people in the
carriage-there was quite a nice-look-
Ing man and his wife sitting Just oppo-
site So I felt almost happy about
II until just outside London. ! had
leaned back and closed my eyes.
guess they thought I was asleep, but
my eyes weren't quite shut. and sud
denly saw the nice-looklng man get
something out OF his bag and hand It
10 Mrs. vandemeyer. and as he did
SO he winked.
Il can't tell YOU how that wink sort
/ OF froze me through and through. My
only thought was 70 get out In the cor
ri6or as quick as ever I could, I GOT
up trying TO look natural and easy.
Perhaps they saw somethlng-I don't
srow-but suddenly Mrs Vandemeyer
said Now, and fiunE something over
my nose and mouth as tried 70
/ scream. At the same mement I felt