Reading Help Secret Adversary Ch.XIV-XXVIII
"Certainly." `
` `
` Tommy's heart beat sensibly faster as they followed the doctor `
` upstairs. Jane Finn at last! The long-sought, the mysterious, `
` the elusive Jane Finn! How wildly improbable success had seemed! `
` And here in this house, her memory almost miraculously restored, `
` lay the girl who held the future of England in her hands. A half `
` groan broke from Tommy's lips. If only Tuppence could have been `
` at his side to share in the triumphant conclusion of their joint `
` venture! Then he put the thought of Tuppence resolutely aside. `
` His confidence in Sir James was growing. There was a man who `
` would unerringly ferret out Tuppence's whereabouts. In the `
` meantime Jane Finn! And suddenly a dread clutched at his heart. `
` It seemed too easy.... Suppose they should find her dead ... `
` stricken down by the hand of Mr. Brown? `
` `
` In another minute he was laughing at these melodramatic fancies. `
` The doctor held open the door of a room and they passed in. On `
` the white bed, bandages round her head, lay the girl. Somehow the `
` whole scene seemed unreal. It was so exactly what one expected `
` that it gave the effect of being beautifully staged. `
` `
` The girl looked from one to the other of them with large `
` wondering eyes. Sir James spoke first. `
` `
` "Miss Finn," he said, "this is your cousin, Mr. Julius P. `
` Hersheimmer." `
` `
` A faint flush flitted over the girl's face, as Julius stepped `
` forward and took her hand. `
` `
` "How do, Cousin Jane?" he said lightly. `
` `
` But Tommy caught the tremor in his voice. `
` `
` "Are you really Uncle Hiram's son?" she asked wonderingly. `
` `
` Her voice, with the slight warmth of the Western accent, had an `
` almost thrilling quality. It seemed vaguely familiar to Tommy, `
` but he thrust the impression aside as impossible. `
` `
` "Sure thing." `
` `
` "We used to read about Uncle Hiram in the papers," continued the `
` girl, in her low soft tones. "But I never thought I'd meet you `
` one day. Mother figured it out that Uncle Hiram would never get `
` over being mad with her." `
` `
` "The old man was like that," admitted Julius. "But I guess the `
` new generation's sort of different. Got no use for the family `
` feud business. First thing I thought about, soon as the war was `
` over, was to come along and hunt you up." `
` `
` A shadow passed over the girl's face. `
` `
` "They've been telling me things--dreadful things--that my memory `
` went, and that there are years I shall never know about--years `
` lost out of my life." `
` `
` "You didn't realize that yourself?" `
` `
` The girl's eyes opened wide. `
` `
` "Why, no. It seems to me as though it were no time since we were `
` being hustled into those boats. I can see it all now." She `
` closed her eyes with a shudder. `
` `
` Julius looked across at Sir James, who nodded. `
` `
` "Don't worry any. It isn't worth it. Now, see here, Jane, `
` there's something we want to know about. There was a man aboard `
` that boat with some mighty important papers on him, and the big `
` guns in this country have got a notion that he passed on the `
` goods to you. Is that so?" `
` `
` The girl hesitated, her glance shifting to the other two. Julius `
` understood. `
` `
` "Mr. Beresford is commissioned by the British Government to get `
` those papers back. Sir James Peel Edgerton is an English Member `
` of Parliament, and might be a big gun in the Cabinet if he liked. `
` It's owing to him that we've ferreted you out at last. So you can `
` go right ahead and tell us the whole story. Did Danvers give you `
` the papers?" `
` `
` "Yes. He said they'd have a better chance with me, because they `
` would save the women and children first." `
` `
` "Just as we thought," said Sir James. `
` `
` "He said they were very important--that they might make all the `
` difference to the Allies. But, if it's all so long ago, and the `
` war's over, what does it matter now?" `
` `
` "I guess history repeats itself, Jane. First there was a great `
` hue and cry over those papers, then it all died down, and now the `
` whole caboodle's started all over again--for rather different `
` reasons. Then you can hand them over to us right away?" `
` `
` "But I can't." `
` `
` "What?" `
` `
` "I haven't got them." `
` `
` "You--haven't--got them?" Julius punctuated the words with `
` little pauses. `
` `
` "No--I hid them." `
` `
` "You hid them?" `
` `
` "Yes. I got uneasy. People seemed to be watching me. It scared `
` me--badly." She put her hand to her head. "It's almost the last `
` thing I remember before waking up in the hospital...." `
` `
` "Go on," said Sir James, in his quiet penetrating tones. "What do `
` you remember?" `
` `
` She turned to him obediently. `
` `
` "It was at Holyhead. I came that way--I don't remember why...." `
` `
` "That doesn't matter. Go on." `
` `
` "In the confusion on the quay I slipped away. Nobody saw me. I `
` took a car. Told the man to drive me out of the town. I watched `
` when we got on the open road. No other car was following us. I `
` saw a path at the side of the road. I told the man to wait." `
` `
` She paused, then went on. "The path led to the cliff, and down `
` to the sea between big yellow gorse bushes--they were like golden `
` flames. I looked round. There wasn't a soul in sight. But just `
` level with my head there was a hole in the rock. It was quite `
` small--I could only just get my hand in, but it went a long way `
` back. I took the oilskin packet from round my neck and shoved it `
` right in as far as I could. Then I tore off a bit of gorse--My! `
` but it did prick--and plugged the hole with it so that you'd `
` never guess there was a crevice of any kind there. Then I marked `
` the place carefully in my own mind, so that I'd find it again. `
` There was a queer boulder in the path just there--for all the `
` world like a dog sitting up begging. Then I went back to the `
` road. The car was waiting, and I drove back. I just caught the `
` train. I was a bit ashamed of myself for fancying things maybe, `
` but, by and by, I saw the man opposite me wink at a woman who was `
` sitting next to me, and I felt scared again, and was glad the `
` papers were safe. I went out in the corridor to get a little air. `
` I thought I'd slip into another carriage. But the woman called `
` me back, said I'd dropped something, and when I stooped to look, `
` something seemed to hit me--here." She placed her hand to the `
` back of her head. "I don't remember anything more until I woke up `
` in the hospital." `
` `
` There was a pause. `
` `
` "Thank you, Miss Finn." It was Sir James who spoke. "I hope we `
` have not tired you?" `
` `
` "Oh, that's all right. My head aches a little, but otherwise I `
` feel fine." `
` `
` Julius stepped forward and took her hand again. `
` `
` "So long, Cousin Jane. I'm going to get busy after those papers, `
` but I'll be back in two shakes of a dog's tail, and I'll tote you `
` up to London and give you the time of your young life before we `
` go back to the States! I mean it--so hurry up and get well." `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XX `
` `
` TOO LATE `
` `
` IN the street they held an informal council of war. Sir James had `
` drawn a watch from his pocket. "The boat train to Holyhead stops `
` at Chester at 12.14. If you start at once I think you can catch `
` the connection." `
` `
` Tommy looked up, puzzled. `
` `
` "Is there any need to hurry, sir? To-day is only the 24th." `
` `
` "I guess it's always well to get up early in the morning," said `
` Julius, before the lawyer had time to reply. "We'll make tracks `
` for the depot right away." `
` `
` A little frown had settled on Sir James's brow. `
` `
` "I wish I could come with you. I am due to speak at a meeting at `
` two o'clock. It is unfortunate." `
` `
` The reluctance in his tone was very evident. It was clear, on `
` the other hand, that Julius was easily disposed to put up with `
` the loss of the other's company. `
` `
` "I guess there's nothing complicated about this deal," he `
` remarked. "Just a game of hide-and-seek, that's all." `
` `
` "I hope so," said Sir James. `
` `
`
` `
` Tommy's heart beat sensibly faster as they followed the doctor `
` upstairs. Jane Finn at last! The long-sought, the mysterious, `
` the elusive Jane Finn! How wildly improbable success had seemed! `
` And here in this house, her memory almost miraculously restored, `
` lay the girl who held the future of England in her hands. A half `
` groan broke from Tommy's lips. If only Tuppence could have been `
` at his side to share in the triumphant conclusion of their joint `
` venture! Then he put the thought of Tuppence resolutely aside. `
` His confidence in Sir James was growing. There was a man who `
` would unerringly ferret out Tuppence's whereabouts. In the `
` meantime Jane Finn! And suddenly a dread clutched at his heart. `
` It seemed too easy.... Suppose they should find her dead ... `
` stricken down by the hand of Mr. Brown? `
` `
` In another minute he was laughing at these melodramatic fancies. `
` The doctor held open the door of a room and they passed in. On `
` the white bed, bandages round her head, lay the girl. Somehow the `
` whole scene seemed unreal. It was so exactly what one expected `
` that it gave the effect of being beautifully staged. `
` `
` The girl looked from one to the other of them with large `
` wondering eyes. Sir James spoke first. `
` `
` "Miss Finn," he said, "this is your cousin, Mr. Julius P. `
` Hersheimmer." `
` `
` A faint flush flitted over the girl's face, as Julius stepped `
` forward and took her hand. `
` `
` "How do, Cousin Jane?" he said lightly. `
` `
` But Tommy caught the tremor in his voice. `
` `
` "Are you really Uncle Hiram's son?" she asked wonderingly. `
` `
` Her voice, with the slight warmth of the Western accent, had an `
` almost thrilling quality. It seemed vaguely familiar to Tommy, `
` but he thrust the impression aside as impossible. `
` `
` "Sure thing." `
` `
` "We used to read about Uncle Hiram in the papers," continued the `
` girl, in her low soft tones. "But I never thought I'd meet you `
` one day. Mother figured it out that Uncle Hiram would never get `
` over being mad with her." `
` `
` "The old man was like that," admitted Julius. "But I guess the `
` new generation's sort of different. Got no use for the family `
` feud business. First thing I thought about, soon as the war was `
` over, was to come along and hunt you up." `
` `
` A shadow passed over the girl's face. `
` `
` "They've been telling me things--dreadful things--that my memory `
` went, and that there are years I shall never know about--years `
` lost out of my life." `
` `
` "You didn't realize that yourself?" `
` `
` The girl's eyes opened wide. `
` `
` "Why, no. It seems to me as though it were no time since we were `
` being hustled into those boats. I can see it all now." She `
` closed her eyes with a shudder. `
` `
` Julius looked across at Sir James, who nodded. `
` `
` "Don't worry any. It isn't worth it. Now, see here, Jane, `
` there's something we want to know about. There was a man aboard `
` that boat with some mighty important papers on him, and the big `
` guns in this country have got a notion that he passed on the `
` goods to you. Is that so?" `
` `
` The girl hesitated, her glance shifting to the other two. Julius `
` understood. `
` `
` "Mr. Beresford is commissioned by the British Government to get `
` those papers back. Sir James Peel Edgerton is an English Member `
` of Parliament, and might be a big gun in the Cabinet if he liked. `
` It's owing to him that we've ferreted you out at last. So you can `
` go right ahead and tell us the whole story. Did Danvers give you `
` the papers?" `
` `
` "Yes. He said they'd have a better chance with me, because they `
` would save the women and children first." `
` `
` "Just as we thought," said Sir James. `
` `
` "He said they were very important--that they might make all the `
` difference to the Allies. But, if it's all so long ago, and the `
` war's over, what does it matter now?" `
` `
` "I guess history repeats itself, Jane. First there was a great `
` hue and cry over those papers, then it all died down, and now the `
` whole caboodle's started all over again--for rather different `
` reasons. Then you can hand them over to us right away?" `
` `
` "But I can't." `
` `
` "What?" `
` `
` "I haven't got them." `
` `
` "You--haven't--got them?" Julius punctuated the words with `
` little pauses. `
` `
` "No--I hid them." `
` `
` "You hid them?" `
` `
` "Yes. I got uneasy. People seemed to be watching me. It scared `
` me--badly." She put her hand to her head. "It's almost the last `
` thing I remember before waking up in the hospital...." `
` `
` "Go on," said Sir James, in his quiet penetrating tones. "What do `
` you remember?" `
` `
` She turned to him obediently. `
` `
` "It was at Holyhead. I came that way--I don't remember why...." `
` `
` "That doesn't matter. Go on." `
` `
` "In the confusion on the quay I slipped away. Nobody saw me. I `
` took a car. Told the man to drive me out of the town. I watched `
` when we got on the open road. No other car was following us. I `
` saw a path at the side of the road. I told the man to wait." `
` `
` She paused, then went on. "The path led to the cliff, and down `
` to the sea between big yellow gorse bushes--they were like golden `
` flames. I looked round. There wasn't a soul in sight. But just `
` level with my head there was a hole in the rock. It was quite `
` small--I could only just get my hand in, but it went a long way `
` back. I took the oilskin packet from round my neck and shoved it `
` right in as far as I could. Then I tore off a bit of gorse--My! `
` but it did prick--and plugged the hole with it so that you'd `
` never guess there was a crevice of any kind there. Then I marked `
` the place carefully in my own mind, so that I'd find it again. `
` There was a queer boulder in the path just there--for all the `
` world like a dog sitting up begging. Then I went back to the `
` road. The car was waiting, and I drove back. I just caught the `
` train. I was a bit ashamed of myself for fancying things maybe, `
` but, by and by, I saw the man opposite me wink at a woman who was `
` sitting next to me, and I felt scared again, and was glad the `
` papers were safe. I went out in the corridor to get a little air. `
` I thought I'd slip into another carriage. But the woman called `
` me back, said I'd dropped something, and when I stooped to look, `
` something seemed to hit me--here." She placed her hand to the `
` back of her head. "I don't remember anything more until I woke up `
` in the hospital." `
` `
` There was a pause. `
` `
` "Thank you, Miss Finn." It was Sir James who spoke. "I hope we `
` have not tired you?" `
` `
` "Oh, that's all right. My head aches a little, but otherwise I `
` feel fine." `
` `
` Julius stepped forward and took her hand again. `
` `
` "So long, Cousin Jane. I'm going to get busy after those papers, `
` but I'll be back in two shakes of a dog's tail, and I'll tote you `
` up to London and give you the time of your young life before we `
` go back to the States! I mean it--so hurry up and get well." `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XX `
` `
` TOO LATE `
` `
` IN the street they held an informal council of war. Sir James had `
` drawn a watch from his pocket. "The boat train to Holyhead stops `
` at Chester at 12.14. If you start at once I think you can catch `
` the connection." `
` `
` Tommy looked up, puzzled. `
` `
` "Is there any need to hurry, sir? To-day is only the 24th." `
` `
` "I guess it's always well to get up early in the morning," said `
` Julius, before the lawyer had time to reply. "We'll make tracks `
` for the depot right away." `
` `
` A little frown had settled on Sir James's brow. `
` `
` "I wish I could come with you. I am due to speak at a meeting at `
` two o'clock. It is unfortunate." `
` `
` The reluctance in his tone was very evident. It was clear, on `
` the other hand, that Julius was easily disposed to put up with `
` the loss of the other's company. `
` `
` "I guess there's nothing complicated about this deal," he `
` remarked. "Just a game of hide-and-seek, that's all." `
` `
` "I hope so," said Sir James. `
` `
`