Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-07-18
CHAPTER IL

"Think of it! How perfectly dread
full" the Count repeated. Il heard
the explosion myself, and saw the
smoke, although 1 happened to have
been walking in the opposite direction
The conclusion quite pressed in my
ear-drums." His voice dropped and
after looking at the door to be sure
there were no servants, leaned for
ward. "It looks very much like an
other act of sabotage, an inside job
We would probably find the fello"
who did it charred beyond recognition
in the ruins. By Jove! We must adj
NIT they have courage these Nazi fan
atics, as you call them. En- what!
Wendy had taken an immediate dis
like to the Count when she was IN
troduced. Something in his too per-
feet manners, in his sauve way OF
speaking, displeased her. His ner-
vous, well-cared for hands, were al
ways darling about as if in search
of something, and several times she
observed him reaching towards his
eve as if to remove monocle when
was not there. She did not blame
the servants for distrusting this man,
and thought back on what Moran had
told her. Of course, the duelllng
scars on his face might be accounted
for by the fact that many OF the
Dutch nobility had studied in German
universities, especially Heidelberg,
but whatever the man might be she
did not like him.
When her father had retired for the
night Wendy slipped into his room
and sat on the edge of the bee.
"If it is about young Hutchinson"
he said, without waiting for her 70
begin, "please, not now. Your father
is tired and greatly shaken. We have
been having a deal of trouble here
lately with fifth columnists, and we
cannot put our fingers on single one.
But we were sure that the Baxter
works was safe. Every possible pre-
caution had been taken to protect it,
as it was one of the most important
in England. There are some devil
ishly clever people about, and they
are dangerous. That is why London
has sent de Beers down. He has done
great service in Holland for our In
telIgence Service. He has told me
ali about it. Most interesting fellow.
Now he is working on counter-espion-
age in England"
"For a tired man you talk great
deal, father. Now, just one ques-
ton, and it's not about David. What
proof have you that this de Beers is
all he says he isl"
Papers, my dear. He came with
official papers from John Candy, For
eign Office seals and ALL"
""How do you know the papers
weren't forged?"
The father smiled and patted his
laughter on the shoulder. My dar-
ing, Wendy, will you children always
consider your parents as beings COM
pletely devoid of human intelligence?
Ia the first place l know Canby's sig
nature. But, admitting to myself,
that that might be false l got him on
The phone the day de Beers arrived,
and he confirmed the whole matter.
Now, run along to bed. Goodnight"
, Goodnight, father"
The girl felt that she could not
sleep and decided to go for short
walk. Her fathers account OF de
Beers certainly sounded fool-proot
but she was not satisfied. There was
about him that didn't add
I'D. For the life of her she could not
put her finger on just what this some
thing was. When, however, as she
was walking along the golf links,
thinking only of David, she saw the
Count draw open his curtain twice IN
quick succession, letting out shafts
of brilliant light, she knew that she
was right, and that by some unknown
means her father had been fooled.
X X
Hutch and Rusty got to their feet
as the two French officers, closing
the door carefully behind them, ad-
vanced slowly and menacingly to-
wards them, crouching slightly as if
prepared to spring.
"Wait minute!" Hutch said, glad
of his fluent command of the French
language. A fight now would be
most disastrous and, besides, he
thought he had guessed the secrete
of these men, understood why they
were beside themselves with anger.
IF his guess were right they could
H. HI. c+oruoboct a11ias for thew I'M