Reading Help Secret Adversary Ch.XIV-XXVIII
`
` Julius replied in an awestricken voice: `
` `
` "That's it--for sure." `
` `
` They looked at each other. `
` `
` "When I was in France," said Tommy reminiscently, "whenever my `
` batman failed to call me, he always said that he had come over `
` queer. I never believed it. But whether he felt it or not, `
` there IS such a sensation. I've got it now! Badly!" `
` `
` He looked at the rock with a kind of agonized passion. `
` `
` "Damn it!" he cried. "It's impossible! Five years! Think of `
` it! Bird's-nesting boys, picnic parties, thousands of people `
` passing! It can't be there! It's a hundred to one against its `
` being there! It's against all reason!" `
` `
` Indeed, he felt it to be impossible--more, perhaps, because he `
` could not believe in his own success where so many others had `
` failed. The thing was too easy, therefore it could not be. The `
` hole would be empty. `
` `
` Julius looked at him with a widening smile. `
` `
` "I guess you're rattled now all right," he drawled with some `
` enjoyment. "Well, here goes!" He thrust his hand into the `
` crevice, and made a slight grimace. "It's a tight fit. Jane's `
` hand must be a few sizes smaller than mine. I don't feel `
` anything--no--say, what's this? Gee whiz!" And with a flourish `
` he waved aloft a small discoloured packet. "It's the goods all `
` right. Sewn up in oilskin. Hold it while I get my penknife." `
` `
` The unbelievable had happened. Tommy held the precious packet `
` tenderly between his hands. They had succeeded! `
` `
` "It's queer," he murmured idly, "you'd think the stitches would `
` have rotted. They look just as good as new." `
` `
` They cut them carefully and ripped away the oilskin. Inside was `
` a small folded sheet of paper. With trembling fingers they `
` unfolded it. The sheet was blank! They stared at each other, `
` puzzled. `
` `
` "A dummy?" hazarded Julius. "Was Danvers just a decoy?" `
` `
` Tommy shook his head. That solution did not satisfy him. `
` Suddenly his face cleared. `
` `
` "I've got it! SYMPATHETIC INK!" `
` `
` "You think so?" `
` `
` "Worth trying anyhow. Heat usually does the trick. Get some `
` sticks. We'll make a fire." `
` `
` In a few minutes the little fire of twigs and leaves was blazing `
` merrily. Tommy held the sheet of paper near the glow. The paper `
` curled a little with the heat. Nothing more. `
` `
` Suddenly Julius grasped his arm, and pointed to where characters `
` were appearing in a faint brown colour. `
` `
` "Gee whiz! You've got it! Say, that idea of yours was great. It `
` never occurred to me." `
` `
` Tommy held the paper in position some minutes longer until he `
` judged the heat had done its work. Then he withdrew it. A moment `
` later he uttered a cry. `
` `
` Across the sheet in neat brown printing ran the words: WITH THE `
` COMPLIMENTS OF MR. BROWN. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XXI `
` `
` TOMMY MAKES A DISCOVERY `
` `
` FOR a moment or two they stood staring at each other stupidly, `
` dazed with the shock. Somehow, inexplicably, Mr. Brown had `
` forestalled them. Tommy accepted defeat quietly. Not so Julius. `
` `
` "How in tarnation did he get ahead of us? That's what beats me!" `
` he ended up. `
` `
` Tommy shook his head, and said dully: `
` `
` "It accounts for the stitches being new. We might have `
` guessed...." `
` `
` "Never mind the darned stitches. How did he get ahead of us? We `
` hustled all we knew. It's downright impossible for anyone to get `
` here quicker than we did. And, anyway, how did he know? Do you `
` reckon there was a dictaphone in Jane's room? I guess there must `
` have been." `
` `
` But Tommy's common sense pointed out objections. `
` `
` "No one could have known beforehand that she was going to be in `
` that house--much less that particular room." `
` `
` "That's so," admitted Julius. "Then one of the nurses was a `
` crook and listened at the door. How's that?" `
` `
` "I don't see that it matters anyway," said Tommy wearily. "He may `
` have found out some months ago, and removed the papers, `
` then----No, by Jove, that won't wash! They'd have been published `
` at once." `
` `
` "Sure thing they would! No, some one's got ahead of us to-day by `
` an hour or so. But how they did it gets my goat." `
` `
` "I wish that chap Peel Edgerton had been with us," said Tommy `
` thoughtfully. `
` `
` "Why?" Julius stared. "The mischief was done when we came." `
` `
` "Yes----" Tommy hesitated. He could not explain his own `
` feeling--the illogical idea that the K.C.'s presence would `
` somehow have averted the catastrophe. He reverted to his former `
` point of view. "It's no good arguing about how it was done. The `
` game's up. We've failed. There's only one thing for me to do." `
` `
` "What's that?" `
` `
` "Get back to London as soon as possible. Mr. Carter must be `
` warned. It's only a matter of hours now before the blow falls. `
` But, at any rate, he ought to know the worst." `
` `
` The duty was an unpleasant one, but Tommy had no intention of `
` shirking it. He must report his failure to Mr. Carter. After `
` that his work was done. He took the midnight mail to London. `
` Julius elected to stay the night at Holyhead. `
` `
` Half an hour after arrival, haggard and pale, Tommy stood before `
` his chief. `
` `
` "I've come to report, sir. I've failed--failed badly." `
` `
` Mr. Carter eyed him sharply. `
` `
` "You mean that the treaty----" `
` `
` "Is in the hands of Mr. Brown, sir." `
` `
` "Ah!" said Mr. Carter quietly. The expression on his face did `
` not change, but Tommy caught the flicker of despair in his eyes. `
` It convinced him as nothing else had done that the outlook was `
` hopeless. `
` `
` "Well," said Mr. Carter after a minute or two, "we mustn't sag at `
` the knees, I suppose. I'm glad to know definitely. We must do `
` what we can." `
` `
` Through Tommy's mind flashed the assurance: "It's hopeless, and `
` he knows it's hopeless!" `
` `
` The other looked up at him. `
` `
` "Don't take it to heart, lad," he said kindly. "You did your `
` best. You were up against one of the biggest brains of the `
` century. And you came very near success. Remember that." `
` `
` "Thank you, sir. It's awfully decent of you." `
` `
` "I blame myself. I have been blaming myself ever since I heard `
` this other news." `
` `
` Something in his tone attracted Tommy's attention. A new fear `
` gripped at his heart. `
` `
` "Is there--something more, sir?" `
` `
` "I'm afraid so," said Mr. Carter gravely. He stretched out his `
` hand to a sheet on the table. `
` `
` "Tuppence----?" faltered Tommy. `
` `
` "Read for yourself." `
` `
` The typewritten words danced before his eyes. The description of `
` a green toque, a coat with a handkerchief in the pocket marked `
` P.L.C. He looked an agonized question at Mr. Carter. The latter `
` replied to it: `
` `
` "Washed up on the Yorkshire coast--near Ebury. I'm afraid--it `
` looks very much like foul play." `
` `
` "My God!" gasped Tommy. "TUPPENCE! Those devils--I'll never `
` rest till I've got even with them! I'll hunt them down! `
` I'll----" `
` `
` The pity on Mr. Carter's face stopped him. `
` `
` "I know what you feel like, my poor boy. But it's no good. `
` You'll waste your strength uselessly. It may sound harsh, but my `
` advice to you is: Cut your losses. Time's merciful. You'll `
` forget." `
` `
`
` Julius replied in an awestricken voice: `
` `
` "That's it--for sure." `
` `
` They looked at each other. `
` `
` "When I was in France," said Tommy reminiscently, "whenever my `
` batman failed to call me, he always said that he had come over `
` queer. I never believed it. But whether he felt it or not, `
` there IS such a sensation. I've got it now! Badly!" `
` `
` He looked at the rock with a kind of agonized passion. `
` `
` "Damn it!" he cried. "It's impossible! Five years! Think of `
` it! Bird's-nesting boys, picnic parties, thousands of people `
` passing! It can't be there! It's a hundred to one against its `
` being there! It's against all reason!" `
` `
` Indeed, he felt it to be impossible--more, perhaps, because he `
` could not believe in his own success where so many others had `
` failed. The thing was too easy, therefore it could not be. The `
` hole would be empty. `
` `
` Julius looked at him with a widening smile. `
` `
` "I guess you're rattled now all right," he drawled with some `
` enjoyment. "Well, here goes!" He thrust his hand into the `
` crevice, and made a slight grimace. "It's a tight fit. Jane's `
` hand must be a few sizes smaller than mine. I don't feel `
` anything--no--say, what's this? Gee whiz!" And with a flourish `
` he waved aloft a small discoloured packet. "It's the goods all `
` right. Sewn up in oilskin. Hold it while I get my penknife." `
` `
` The unbelievable had happened. Tommy held the precious packet `
` tenderly between his hands. They had succeeded! `
` `
` "It's queer," he murmured idly, "you'd think the stitches would `
` have rotted. They look just as good as new." `
` `
` They cut them carefully and ripped away the oilskin. Inside was `
` a small folded sheet of paper. With trembling fingers they `
` unfolded it. The sheet was blank! They stared at each other, `
` puzzled. `
` `
` "A dummy?" hazarded Julius. "Was Danvers just a decoy?" `
` `
` Tommy shook his head. That solution did not satisfy him. `
` Suddenly his face cleared. `
` `
` "I've got it! SYMPATHETIC INK!" `
` `
` "You think so?" `
` `
` "Worth trying anyhow. Heat usually does the trick. Get some `
` sticks. We'll make a fire." `
` `
` In a few minutes the little fire of twigs and leaves was blazing `
` merrily. Tommy held the sheet of paper near the glow. The paper `
` curled a little with the heat. Nothing more. `
` `
` Suddenly Julius grasped his arm, and pointed to where characters `
` were appearing in a faint brown colour. `
` `
` "Gee whiz! You've got it! Say, that idea of yours was great. It `
` never occurred to me." `
` `
` Tommy held the paper in position some minutes longer until he `
` judged the heat had done its work. Then he withdrew it. A moment `
` later he uttered a cry. `
` `
` Across the sheet in neat brown printing ran the words: WITH THE `
` COMPLIMENTS OF MR. BROWN. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XXI `
` `
` TOMMY MAKES A DISCOVERY `
` `
` FOR a moment or two they stood staring at each other stupidly, `
` dazed with the shock. Somehow, inexplicably, Mr. Brown had `
` forestalled them. Tommy accepted defeat quietly. Not so Julius. `
` `
` "How in tarnation did he get ahead of us? That's what beats me!" `
` he ended up. `
` `
` Tommy shook his head, and said dully: `
` `
` "It accounts for the stitches being new. We might have `
` guessed...." `
` `
` "Never mind the darned stitches. How did he get ahead of us? We `
` hustled all we knew. It's downright impossible for anyone to get `
` here quicker than we did. And, anyway, how did he know? Do you `
` reckon there was a dictaphone in Jane's room? I guess there must `
` have been." `
` `
` But Tommy's common sense pointed out objections. `
` `
` "No one could have known beforehand that she was going to be in `
` that house--much less that particular room." `
` `
` "That's so," admitted Julius. "Then one of the nurses was a `
` crook and listened at the door. How's that?" `
` `
` "I don't see that it matters anyway," said Tommy wearily. "He may `
` have found out some months ago, and removed the papers, `
` then----No, by Jove, that won't wash! They'd have been published `
` at once." `
` `
` "Sure thing they would! No, some one's got ahead of us to-day by `
` an hour or so. But how they did it gets my goat." `
` `
` "I wish that chap Peel Edgerton had been with us," said Tommy `
` thoughtfully. `
` `
` "Why?" Julius stared. "The mischief was done when we came." `
` `
` "Yes----" Tommy hesitated. He could not explain his own `
` feeling--the illogical idea that the K.C.'s presence would `
` somehow have averted the catastrophe. He reverted to his former `
` point of view. "It's no good arguing about how it was done. The `
` game's up. We've failed. There's only one thing for me to do." `
` `
` "What's that?" `
` `
` "Get back to London as soon as possible. Mr. Carter must be `
` warned. It's only a matter of hours now before the blow falls. `
` But, at any rate, he ought to know the worst." `
` `
` The duty was an unpleasant one, but Tommy had no intention of `
` shirking it. He must report his failure to Mr. Carter. After `
` that his work was done. He took the midnight mail to London. `
` Julius elected to stay the night at Holyhead. `
` `
` Half an hour after arrival, haggard and pale, Tommy stood before `
` his chief. `
` `
` "I've come to report, sir. I've failed--failed badly." `
` `
` Mr. Carter eyed him sharply. `
` `
` "You mean that the treaty----" `
` `
` "Is in the hands of Mr. Brown, sir." `
` `
` "Ah!" said Mr. Carter quietly. The expression on his face did `
` not change, but Tommy caught the flicker of despair in his eyes. `
` It convinced him as nothing else had done that the outlook was `
` hopeless. `
` `
` "Well," said Mr. Carter after a minute or two, "we mustn't sag at `
` the knees, I suppose. I'm glad to know definitely. We must do `
` what we can." `
` `
` Through Tommy's mind flashed the assurance: "It's hopeless, and `
` he knows it's hopeless!" `
` `
` The other looked up at him. `
` `
` "Don't take it to heart, lad," he said kindly. "You did your `
` best. You were up against one of the biggest brains of the `
` century. And you came very near success. Remember that." `
` `
` "Thank you, sir. It's awfully decent of you." `
` `
` "I blame myself. I have been blaming myself ever since I heard `
` this other news." `
` `
` Something in his tone attracted Tommy's attention. A new fear `
` gripped at his heart. `
` `
` "Is there--something more, sir?" `
` `
` "I'm afraid so," said Mr. Carter gravely. He stretched out his `
` hand to a sheet on the table. `
` `
` "Tuppence----?" faltered Tommy. `
` `
` "Read for yourself." `
` `
` The typewritten words danced before his eyes. The description of `
` a green toque, a coat with a handkerchief in the pocket marked `
` P.L.C. He looked an agonized question at Mr. Carter. The latter `
` replied to it: `
` `
` "Washed up on the Yorkshire coast--near Ebury. I'm afraid--it `
` looks very much like foul play." `
` `
` "My God!" gasped Tommy. "TUPPENCE! Those devils--I'll never `
` rest till I've got even with them! I'll hunt them down! `
` I'll----" `
` `
` The pity on Mr. Carter's face stopped him. `
` `
` "I know what you feel like, my poor boy. But it's no good. `
` You'll waste your strength uselessly. It may sound harsh, but my `
` advice to you is: Cut your losses. Time's merciful. You'll `
` forget." `
` `
`