Reading Help Secret Adversary Ch.XIV-XXVIII
`
` "Sure thing. What else could it be?" `
` `
` "You are still young, Mr. Hersheimmer. At my age you will `
` probably have learnt one lesson. 'Never underestimate your `
` adversary.' " `
` `
` The gravity of his tone impressed Tommy, but had little effect `
` upon Julius. `
` `
` "You think Mr. Brown might come along and take a hand? If he `
` does, I'm ready for him." He slapped his pocket. "I carry a gun. `
` Little Willie here travels round with me everywhere." He `
` produced a murderous-looking automatic, and tapped it `
` affectionately before returning it to its home. "But he won't be `
` needed this trip. There's nobody to put Mr. Brown wise." `
` `
` The lawyer shrugged his shoulders. `
` `
` "There was nobody to put Mr. Brown wise to the fact that Mrs. `
` Vandemeyer meant to betray him. Nevertheless, MRS. VANDEMEYER `
` DIED WITHOUT SPEAKING." `
` `
` Julius was silenced for once, and Sir James added on a lighter `
` note: `
` `
` "I only want to put you on your guard. Good-bye, and good luck. `
` Take no unnecessary risks once the papers are in your hands. If `
` there is any reason to believe that you have been shadowed, `
` destroy them at once. Good luck to you. The game is in your `
` hands now." He shook hands with them both. `
` `
` Ten minutes later the two young men were seated in a first-class `
` carriage en route for Chester. `
` `
` For a long time neither of them spoke. When at length Julius `
` broke the silence, it was with a totally unexpected remark. `
` `
` "Say," he observed thoughtfully, "did you ever make a darned fool `
` of yourself over a girl's face?" `
` `
` Tommy, after a moment's astonishment, searched his mind. `
` `
` "Can't say I have," he replied at last. "Not that I can `
` recollect, anyhow. Why?" `
` `
` "Because for the last two months I've been making a sentimental `
` idiot of myself over Jane! First moment I clapped eyes on her `
` photograph my heart did all the usual stunts you read about in `
` novels. I guess I'm ashamed to admit it, but I came over here `
` determined to find her and fix it all up, and take her back as `
` Mrs. Julius P. Hersheimmer!" `
` `
` "Oh!" said Tommy, amazed. `
` `
` Julius uncrossed his legs brusquely and continued: `
` `
` "Just shows what an almighty fool a man can make of himself! One `
` look at the girl in the flesh, and I was cured!" `
` `
` Feeling more tongue-tied than ever, Tommy ejaculated "Oh!" again. `
` `
` "No disparagement to Jane, mind you," continued the other. "She's `
` a real nice girl, and some fellow will fall in love with her `
` right away." `
` `
` "I thought her a very good-looking girl," said Tommy, finding his `
` tongue. `
` `
` "Sure she is. But she's not like her photo one bit. At least I `
` suppose she is in a way--must be--because I recognized her right `
` off. If I'd seen her in a crowd I'd have said 'There's a girl `
` whose face I know' right away without any hesitation. But there `
` was something about that photo"--Julius shook his head, and `
` heaved a sigh--"I guess romance is a mighty queer thing!" `
` `
` "It must be," said Tommy coldly, "if you can come over here in `
` love with one girl, and propose to another within a fortnight." `
` `
` Julius had the grace to look discomposed. `
` `
` "Well, you see, I'd got a sort of tired feeling that I'd never `
` find Jane--and that it was all plumb foolishness anyway. And `
` then--oh, well, the French, for instance, are much more sensible `
` in the way they look at things. They keep romance and marriage `
` apart----" `
` `
` Tommy flushed. `
` `
` "Well, I'm damned! If that's----" `
` `
` Julius hastened to interrupt. `
` `
` "Say now, don't be hasty. I don't mean what you mean. I take it `
` Americans have a higher opinion of morality than you have even. `
` What I meant was that the French set about marriage in a `
` businesslike way--find two people who are suited to one another, `
` look after the money affairs, and see the whole thing `
` practically, and in a businesslike spirit." `
` `
` "If you ask me," said Tommy, "we're all too damned businesslike `
` nowadays. We're always saying, 'Will it pay?' The men are bad `
` enough, and the girls are worse!" `
` `
` "Cool down, son. Don't get so heated." `
` `
` "I feel heated," said Tommy. `
` `
` Julius looked at him and judged it wise to say no more. `
` `
` However, Tommy had plenty of time to cool down before they `
` reached Holyhead, and the cheerful grin had returned to his `
` countenance as they alighted at their destination. `
` `
` After consultation, and with the aid of a road map, they were `
` fairly well agreed as to direction, so were able to hire a taxi `
` without more ado and drive out on the road leading to Treaddur `
` Bay. They instructed the man to go slowly, and watched narrowly `
` so as not to miss the path. They came to it not long after `
` leaving the town, and Tommy stopped the car promptly, asked in a `
` casual tone whether the path led down to the sea, and hearing it `
` did paid off the man in handsome style. `
` `
` A moment later the taxi was slowly chugging back to Holyhead. `
` Tommy and Julius watched it out of sight, and then turned to the `
` narrow path. `
` `
` "It's the right one, I suppose?" asked Tommy doubtfully. "There `
` must be simply heaps along here." `
` `
` "Sure it is. Look at the gorse. Remember what Jane said?" `
` `
` Tommy looked at the swelling hedges of golden blossom which `
` bordered the path on either side, and was convinced. `
` `
` They went down in single file, Julius leading. Twice Tommy `
` turned his head uneasily. Julius looked back. `
` `
` "What is it?" `
` `
` "I don't know. I've got the wind up somehow. Keep fancying `
` there's some one following us." `
` `
` "Can't be," said Julius positively. "We'd see him." `
` `
` Tommy had to admit that this was true. Nevertheless, his sense `
` of uneasiness deepened. In spite of himself he believed in the `
` omniscience of the enemy. `
` `
` "I rather wish that fellow would come along," said Julius. He `
` patted his pocket. "Little William here is just aching for `
` exercise!" `
` `
` "Do you always carry it--him--with you?" inquired Tommy with `
` burning curiosity. `
` `
` "Most always. I guess you never know what might turn up." `
` `
` Tommy kept a respectful silence. He was impressed by little `
` William. It seemed to remove the menace of Mr. Brown farther `
` away. `
` `
` The path was now running along the side of the cliff, parallel to `
` the sea. Suddenly Julius came to such an abrupt halt that Tommy `
` cannoned into him. `
` `
` "What's up?" he inquired. `
` `
` "Look there. If that doesn't beat the band!" `
` `
` Tommy looked. Standing out half obstructing the path was a huge `
` boulder which certainly bore a fanciful resemblance to a `
` "begging" terrier. `
` `
` "Well," said Tommy, refusing to share Julius's emotion, "it's `
` what we expected to see, isn't it?" `
` `
` Julius looked at him sadly and shook his head. `
` `
` "British phlegm! Sure we expected it--but it kind of rattles me, `
` all the same, to see it sitting there just where we expected to `
` find it!" `
` `
` Tommy, whose calm was, perhaps, more assumed than natural, moved `
` his feet impatiently. `
` `
` "Push on. What about the hole?" `
` `
` They scanned the cliff-side narrowly. Tommy heard himself saying `
` idiotically: `
` `
` "The gorse won't be there after all these years." `
` `
` And Julius replied solemnly: `
` `
` "I guess you're right." `
` `
` Tommy suddenly pointed with a shaking hand. `
` `
` "What about that crevice there?" `
` `
`
` "Sure thing. What else could it be?" `
` `
` "You are still young, Mr. Hersheimmer. At my age you will `
` probably have learnt one lesson. 'Never underestimate your `
` adversary.' " `
` `
` The gravity of his tone impressed Tommy, but had little effect `
` upon Julius. `
` `
` "You think Mr. Brown might come along and take a hand? If he `
` does, I'm ready for him." He slapped his pocket. "I carry a gun. `
` Little Willie here travels round with me everywhere." He `
` produced a murderous-looking automatic, and tapped it `
` affectionately before returning it to its home. "But he won't be `
` needed this trip. There's nobody to put Mr. Brown wise." `
` `
` The lawyer shrugged his shoulders. `
` `
` "There was nobody to put Mr. Brown wise to the fact that Mrs. `
` Vandemeyer meant to betray him. Nevertheless, MRS. VANDEMEYER `
` DIED WITHOUT SPEAKING." `
` `
` Julius was silenced for once, and Sir James added on a lighter `
` note: `
` `
` "I only want to put you on your guard. Good-bye, and good luck. `
` Take no unnecessary risks once the papers are in your hands. If `
` there is any reason to believe that you have been shadowed, `
` destroy them at once. Good luck to you. The game is in your `
` hands now." He shook hands with them both. `
` `
` Ten minutes later the two young men were seated in a first-class `
` carriage en route for Chester. `
` `
` For a long time neither of them spoke. When at length Julius `
` broke the silence, it was with a totally unexpected remark. `
` `
` "Say," he observed thoughtfully, "did you ever make a darned fool `
` of yourself over a girl's face?" `
` `
` Tommy, after a moment's astonishment, searched his mind. `
` `
` "Can't say I have," he replied at last. "Not that I can `
` recollect, anyhow. Why?" `
` `
` "Because for the last two months I've been making a sentimental `
` idiot of myself over Jane! First moment I clapped eyes on her `
` photograph my heart did all the usual stunts you read about in `
` novels. I guess I'm ashamed to admit it, but I came over here `
` determined to find her and fix it all up, and take her back as `
` Mrs. Julius P. Hersheimmer!" `
` `
` "Oh!" said Tommy, amazed. `
` `
` Julius uncrossed his legs brusquely and continued: `
` `
` "Just shows what an almighty fool a man can make of himself! One `
` look at the girl in the flesh, and I was cured!" `
` `
` Feeling more tongue-tied than ever, Tommy ejaculated "Oh!" again. `
` `
` "No disparagement to Jane, mind you," continued the other. "She's `
` a real nice girl, and some fellow will fall in love with her `
` right away." `
` `
` "I thought her a very good-looking girl," said Tommy, finding his `
` tongue. `
` `
` "Sure she is. But she's not like her photo one bit. At least I `
` suppose she is in a way--must be--because I recognized her right `
` off. If I'd seen her in a crowd I'd have said 'There's a girl `
` whose face I know' right away without any hesitation. But there `
` was something about that photo"--Julius shook his head, and `
` heaved a sigh--"I guess romance is a mighty queer thing!" `
` `
` "It must be," said Tommy coldly, "if you can come over here in `
` love with one girl, and propose to another within a fortnight." `
` `
` Julius had the grace to look discomposed. `
` `
` "Well, you see, I'd got a sort of tired feeling that I'd never `
` find Jane--and that it was all plumb foolishness anyway. And `
` then--oh, well, the French, for instance, are much more sensible `
` in the way they look at things. They keep romance and marriage `
` apart----" `
` `
` Tommy flushed. `
` `
` "Well, I'm damned! If that's----" `
` `
` Julius hastened to interrupt. `
` `
` "Say now, don't be hasty. I don't mean what you mean. I take it `
` Americans have a higher opinion of morality than you have even. `
` What I meant was that the French set about marriage in a `
` businesslike way--find two people who are suited to one another, `
` look after the money affairs, and see the whole thing `
` practically, and in a businesslike spirit." `
` `
` "If you ask me," said Tommy, "we're all too damned businesslike `
` nowadays. We're always saying, 'Will it pay?' The men are bad `
` enough, and the girls are worse!" `
` `
` "Cool down, son. Don't get so heated." `
` `
` "I feel heated," said Tommy. `
` `
` Julius looked at him and judged it wise to say no more. `
` `
` However, Tommy had plenty of time to cool down before they `
` reached Holyhead, and the cheerful grin had returned to his `
` countenance as they alighted at their destination. `
` `
` After consultation, and with the aid of a road map, they were `
` fairly well agreed as to direction, so were able to hire a taxi `
` without more ado and drive out on the road leading to Treaddur `
` Bay. They instructed the man to go slowly, and watched narrowly `
` so as not to miss the path. They came to it not long after `
` leaving the town, and Tommy stopped the car promptly, asked in a `
` casual tone whether the path led down to the sea, and hearing it `
` did paid off the man in handsome style. `
` `
` A moment later the taxi was slowly chugging back to Holyhead. `
` Tommy and Julius watched it out of sight, and then turned to the `
` narrow path. `
` `
` "It's the right one, I suppose?" asked Tommy doubtfully. "There `
` must be simply heaps along here." `
` `
` "Sure it is. Look at the gorse. Remember what Jane said?" `
` `
` Tommy looked at the swelling hedges of golden blossom which `
` bordered the path on either side, and was convinced. `
` `
` They went down in single file, Julius leading. Twice Tommy `
` turned his head uneasily. Julius looked back. `
` `
` "What is it?" `
` `
` "I don't know. I've got the wind up somehow. Keep fancying `
` there's some one following us." `
` `
` "Can't be," said Julius positively. "We'd see him." `
` `
` Tommy had to admit that this was true. Nevertheless, his sense `
` of uneasiness deepened. In spite of himself he believed in the `
` omniscience of the enemy. `
` `
` "I rather wish that fellow would come along," said Julius. He `
` patted his pocket. "Little William here is just aching for `
` exercise!" `
` `
` "Do you always carry it--him--with you?" inquired Tommy with `
` burning curiosity. `
` `
` "Most always. I guess you never know what might turn up." `
` `
` Tommy kept a respectful silence. He was impressed by little `
` William. It seemed to remove the menace of Mr. Brown farther `
` away. `
` `
` The path was now running along the side of the cliff, parallel to `
` the sea. Suddenly Julius came to such an abrupt halt that Tommy `
` cannoned into him. `
` `
` "What's up?" he inquired. `
` `
` "Look there. If that doesn't beat the band!" `
` `
` Tommy looked. Standing out half obstructing the path was a huge `
` boulder which certainly bore a fanciful resemblance to a `
` "begging" terrier. `
` `
` "Well," said Tommy, refusing to share Julius's emotion, "it's `
` what we expected to see, isn't it?" `
` `
` Julius looked at him sadly and shook his head. `
` `
` "British phlegm! Sure we expected it--but it kind of rattles me, `
` all the same, to see it sitting there just where we expected to `
` find it!" `
` `
` Tommy, whose calm was, perhaps, more assumed than natural, moved `
` his feet impatiently. `
` `
` "Push on. What about the hole?" `
` `
` They scanned the cliff-side narrowly. Tommy heard himself saying `
` idiotically: `
` `
` "The gorse won't be there after all these years." `
` `
` And Julius replied solemnly: `
` `
` "I guess you're right." `
` `
` Tommy suddenly pointed with a shaking hand. `
` `
` "What about that crevice there?" `
` `
`