Reading Help Secret Adversary Ch.XIV-XXVIII
paper to Tommy. "It was wrapped round a letterweight." `
` `
` On the paper were scrawled three words: "To-morrow--same time." `
` `
` "Good egg!" cried Tommy. "We're getting going." `
` `
` "I wrote a message on a piece of paper, wrapped it round a stone, `
` and chucked it through the window," continued Albert `
` breathlessly. `
` `
` Tommy groaned. `
` `
` "Your zeal will be the undoing of us, Albert. What did you say?" `
` `
` "Said we was a-staying at the inn. If she could get away, to `
` come there and croak like a frog." `
` `
` "She'll know that's you," said Tommy with a sigh of relief. "Your `
` imagination runs away with you, you know, Albert. Why, you `
` wouldn't recognize a frog croaking if you heard it." `
` `
` Albert looked rather crest-fallen. `
` `
` "Cheer up," said Tommy. "No harm done. That butler's an old `
` friend of mine--I bet he knew who I was, though he didn't let on. `
` It's not their game to show suspicion. That's why we've found it `
` fairly plain sailing. They don't want to discourage me `
` altogether. On the other hand, they don't want to make it too `
` easy. I'm a pawn in their game, Albert, that's what I am. You `
` see, if the spider lets the fly walk out too easily, the fly `
` might suspect it was a put-up job. Hence the usefulness of that `
` promising youth, Mr. T. Beresford, who's blundered in just at the `
` right moment for them. But later, Mr. T. Beresford had better `
` look out!" `
` `
` Tommy retired for the night in a state of some elation. He had `
` elaborated a careful plan for the following evening. He felt sure `
` that the inhabitants of Astley Priors would not interfere with `
` him up to a certain point. It was after that that Tommy proposed `
` to give them a surprise. `
` `
` About twelve o'clock, however, his calm was rudely shaken. He was `
` told that some one was demanding him in the bar. The applicant `
` proved to be a rude-looking carter well coated with mud. `
` `
` "Well, my good fellow, what is it?" asked Tommy. `
` `
` "Might this be for you, sir?" The carter held out a very dirty `
` folded note, on the outside of which was written: "Take this to `
` the gentleman at the inn near Astley Priors. He will give you `
` ten shillings." `
` `
` The handwriting was Tuppence's. Tommy appreciated her `
` quick-wittedness in realizing that he might be staying at the inn `
` under an assumed name. He snatched at it. `
` `
` "That's all right." `
` `
` The man withheld it. `
` `
` "What about my ten shillings?" `
` `
` Tommy hastily produced a ten-shilling note, and the man `
` relinquished his find. Tommy unfastened it. `
` `
` "DEAR TOMMY, `
` `
` "I knew it was you last night. Don't go this evening. They'll be `
` lying in wait for you. They're taking us away this morning. I `
` heard something about Wales--Holyhead, I think. I'll drop this on `
` the road if I get a chance. Annette told me how you'd escaped. `
` Buck up. `
` "Yours, `
` "TWOPENCE." `
` `
` `
` Tommy raised a shout for Albert before he had even finished `
` perusing this characteristic epistle. `
` `
` "Pack my bag! We're off!" `
` `
` "Yes, sir." The boots of Albert could be heard racing upstairs. `
` Holyhead? Did that mean that, after all----Tommy was puzzled. He `
` read on slowly. `
` `
` The boots of Albert continued to be active on the floor above. `
` `
` Suddenly a second shout came from below. `
` `
` "Albert! I'm a damned fool! Unpack that bag!" `
` `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` Tommy smoothed out the note thoughtfully. `
` `
` "Yes, a damned fool," he said softly. "But so's some one else! `
` And at last I know who it is!" `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XXIV `
` `
` JULIUS TAKES A HAND `
` `
` IN his suite at Claridge's, Kramenin reclined on a couch and `
` dictated to his secretary in sibilant Russian. `
` `
` Presently the telephone at the secretary's elbow purred, and he `
` took up the receiver, spoke for a minute or two, then turned to `
` his employer. `
` `
` "Some one below is asking for you." `
` `
` "Who is it?" `
` `
` "He gives the name of Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer." `
` `
` "Hersheimmer," repeated Kramenin thoughtfully. "I have heard `
` that name before." `
` `
` "His father was one of the steel kings of America," explained the `
` secretary, whose business it was to know everything. "This young `
` man must be a millionaire several times over." `
` `
` The other's eyes narrowed appreciatively. `
` `
` "You had better go down and see him, Ivan. Find out what he `
` wants." `
` `
` The secretary obeyed, closing the door noiselessly behind him. In `
` a few minutes he returned. `
` `
` "He declines to state his business--says it is entirely private `
` and personal, and that he must see you." `
` `
` "A millionaire several times over," murmured Kramenin. "Bring `
` him up, my dear Ivan." `
` `
` The secretary left the room once more, and returned escorting `
` Julius. `
` `
` "Monsieur Kramenin?" said the latter abruptly. `
` `
` The Russian, studying him attentively with his pale venomous `
` eyes, bowed. `
` `
` "Pleased to meet you," said the American. "I've got some very `
` important business I'd like to talk over with you, if I can see `
` you alone." He looked pointedly at the other. `
` `
` "My secretary, Monsieur Grieber, from whom I have no secrets." `
` `
` "That may be so--but I have," said Julius dryly. "So I'd be `
` obliged if you'd tell him to scoot." `
` `
` "Ivan," said the Russian softly, "perhaps you would not mind `
` retiring into the next room----" `
` `
` "The next room won't do," interrupted Julius. "I know these `
` ducal suites--and I want this one plumb empty except for you and `
` me. Send him round to a store to buy a penn'orth of peanuts." `
` `
` Though not particularly enjoying the American's free and easy `
` manner of speech, Kramenin was devoured by curiosity. "Will your `
` business take long to state?" `
` `
` "Might be an all night job if you caught on." `
` `
` "Very good, Ivan. I shall not require you again this evening. Go `
` to the theatre--take a night off." `
` `
` "Thank you, your excellency." `
` `
` The secretary bowed and departed. `
` `
` Julius stood at the door watching his retreat. Finally, with a `
` satisfied sigh, he closed it, and came back to his position in `
` the centre of the room. `
` `
` "Now, Mr. Hersheimmer, perhaps you will be so kind as to come to `
` the point?" `
` `
` "I guess that won't take a minute," drawled Julius. Then, with `
` an abrupt change of manner: "Hands up--or I shoot!" `
` `
` For a moment Kramenin stared blindly into the big automatic, `
` then, with almost comical haste, he flung up his hands above his `
` head. In that instant Julius had taken his measure. The man he `
` had to deal with was an abject physical coward--the rest would be `
` easy. `
` `
` "This is an outrage," cried the Russian in a high hysterical `
` voice. "An outrage! Do you mean to kill me?" `
` `
` "Not if you keep your voice down. Don't go edging sideways `
` towards that bell. That's better." `
` `
` "What do you want? Do nothing rashly. Remember my life is of `
` the utmost value to my country. I may have been maligned----" `
` `
` "I reckon," said Julius, "that the man who let daylight into you `
`
` `
` On the paper were scrawled three words: "To-morrow--same time." `
` `
` "Good egg!" cried Tommy. "We're getting going." `
` `
` "I wrote a message on a piece of paper, wrapped it round a stone, `
` and chucked it through the window," continued Albert `
` breathlessly. `
` `
` Tommy groaned. `
` `
` "Your zeal will be the undoing of us, Albert. What did you say?" `
` `
` "Said we was a-staying at the inn. If she could get away, to `
` come there and croak like a frog." `
` `
` "She'll know that's you," said Tommy with a sigh of relief. "Your `
` imagination runs away with you, you know, Albert. Why, you `
` wouldn't recognize a frog croaking if you heard it." `
` `
` Albert looked rather crest-fallen. `
` `
` "Cheer up," said Tommy. "No harm done. That butler's an old `
` friend of mine--I bet he knew who I was, though he didn't let on. `
` It's not their game to show suspicion. That's why we've found it `
` fairly plain sailing. They don't want to discourage me `
` altogether. On the other hand, they don't want to make it too `
` easy. I'm a pawn in their game, Albert, that's what I am. You `
` see, if the spider lets the fly walk out too easily, the fly `
` might suspect it was a put-up job. Hence the usefulness of that `
` promising youth, Mr. T. Beresford, who's blundered in just at the `
` right moment for them. But later, Mr. T. Beresford had better `
` look out!" `
` `
` Tommy retired for the night in a state of some elation. He had `
` elaborated a careful plan for the following evening. He felt sure `
` that the inhabitants of Astley Priors would not interfere with `
` him up to a certain point. It was after that that Tommy proposed `
` to give them a surprise. `
` `
` About twelve o'clock, however, his calm was rudely shaken. He was `
` told that some one was demanding him in the bar. The applicant `
` proved to be a rude-looking carter well coated with mud. `
` `
` "Well, my good fellow, what is it?" asked Tommy. `
` `
` "Might this be for you, sir?" The carter held out a very dirty `
` folded note, on the outside of which was written: "Take this to `
` the gentleman at the inn near Astley Priors. He will give you `
` ten shillings." `
` `
` The handwriting was Tuppence's. Tommy appreciated her `
` quick-wittedness in realizing that he might be staying at the inn `
` under an assumed name. He snatched at it. `
` `
` "That's all right." `
` `
` The man withheld it. `
` `
` "What about my ten shillings?" `
` `
` Tommy hastily produced a ten-shilling note, and the man `
` relinquished his find. Tommy unfastened it. `
` `
` "DEAR TOMMY, `
` `
` "I knew it was you last night. Don't go this evening. They'll be `
` lying in wait for you. They're taking us away this morning. I `
` heard something about Wales--Holyhead, I think. I'll drop this on `
` the road if I get a chance. Annette told me how you'd escaped. `
` Buck up. `
` "Yours, `
` "TWOPENCE." `
` `
` `
` Tommy raised a shout for Albert before he had even finished `
` perusing this characteristic epistle. `
` `
` "Pack my bag! We're off!" `
` `
` "Yes, sir." The boots of Albert could be heard racing upstairs. `
` Holyhead? Did that mean that, after all----Tommy was puzzled. He `
` read on slowly. `
` `
` The boots of Albert continued to be active on the floor above. `
` `
` Suddenly a second shout came from below. `
` `
` "Albert! I'm a damned fool! Unpack that bag!" `
` `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` Tommy smoothed out the note thoughtfully. `
` `
` "Yes, a damned fool," he said softly. "But so's some one else! `
` And at last I know who it is!" `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XXIV `
` `
` JULIUS TAKES A HAND `
` `
` IN his suite at Claridge's, Kramenin reclined on a couch and `
` dictated to his secretary in sibilant Russian. `
` `
` Presently the telephone at the secretary's elbow purred, and he `
` took up the receiver, spoke for a minute or two, then turned to `
` his employer. `
` `
` "Some one below is asking for you." `
` `
` "Who is it?" `
` `
` "He gives the name of Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer." `
` `
` "Hersheimmer," repeated Kramenin thoughtfully. "I have heard `
` that name before." `
` `
` "His father was one of the steel kings of America," explained the `
` secretary, whose business it was to know everything. "This young `
` man must be a millionaire several times over." `
` `
` The other's eyes narrowed appreciatively. `
` `
` "You had better go down and see him, Ivan. Find out what he `
` wants." `
` `
` The secretary obeyed, closing the door noiselessly behind him. In `
` a few minutes he returned. `
` `
` "He declines to state his business--says it is entirely private `
` and personal, and that he must see you." `
` `
` "A millionaire several times over," murmured Kramenin. "Bring `
` him up, my dear Ivan." `
` `
` The secretary left the room once more, and returned escorting `
` Julius. `
` `
` "Monsieur Kramenin?" said the latter abruptly. `
` `
` The Russian, studying him attentively with his pale venomous `
` eyes, bowed. `
` `
` "Pleased to meet you," said the American. "I've got some very `
` important business I'd like to talk over with you, if I can see `
` you alone." He looked pointedly at the other. `
` `
` "My secretary, Monsieur Grieber, from whom I have no secrets." `
` `
` "That may be so--but I have," said Julius dryly. "So I'd be `
` obliged if you'd tell him to scoot." `
` `
` "Ivan," said the Russian softly, "perhaps you would not mind `
` retiring into the next room----" `
` `
` "The next room won't do," interrupted Julius. "I know these `
` ducal suites--and I want this one plumb empty except for you and `
` me. Send him round to a store to buy a penn'orth of peanuts." `
` `
` Though not particularly enjoying the American's free and easy `
` manner of speech, Kramenin was devoured by curiosity. "Will your `
` business take long to state?" `
` `
` "Might be an all night job if you caught on." `
` `
` "Very good, Ivan. I shall not require you again this evening. Go `
` to the theatre--take a night off." `
` `
` "Thank you, your excellency." `
` `
` The secretary bowed and departed. `
` `
` Julius stood at the door watching his retreat. Finally, with a `
` satisfied sigh, he closed it, and came back to his position in `
` the centre of the room. `
` `
` "Now, Mr. Hersheimmer, perhaps you will be so kind as to come to `
` the point?" `
` `
` "I guess that won't take a minute," drawled Julius. Then, with `
` an abrupt change of manner: "Hands up--or I shoot!" `
` `
` For a moment Kramenin stared blindly into the big automatic, `
` then, with almost comical haste, he flung up his hands above his `
` head. In that instant Julius had taken his measure. The man he `
` had to deal with was an abject physical coward--the rest would be `
` easy. `
` `
` "This is an outrage," cried the Russian in a high hysterical `
` voice. "An outrage! Do you mean to kill me?" `
` `
` "Not if you keep your voice down. Don't go edging sideways `
` towards that bell. That's better." `
` `
` "What do you want? Do nothing rashly. Remember my life is of `
` the utmost value to my country. I may have been maligned----" `
` `
` "I reckon," said Julius, "that the man who let daylight into you `
`