Reading Help Secret Adversary Ch.XIV-XXVIII
`
` "Very good, sir." `
` `
` The front door was opened by the butler. Kramenin felt the `
` muzzle of the revolver pressed against his ribs. `
` `
` "Now," hissed Julius. "And be careful." `
` `
` The Russian beckoned. His lips were white, and his voice was not `
` very steady: `
` `
` "It is I--Kramenin! Bring down the girl at once! There is no `
` time to lose!" `
` `
` Whittington had come down the steps. He uttered an exclamation `
` of astonishment at seeing the other. `
` `
` "You! What's up? Surely you know the plan----" `
` `
` Kramenin interrupted him, using the words that have created many `
` unnecessary panics: `
` `
` "We have been betrayed! Plans must be abandoned. We must save `
` our own skins. The girl! And at once! It's our only chance." `
` `
` Whittington hesitated, but for hardly a moment. `
` `
` "You have orders--from HIM?" `
` `
` "Naturally! Should I be here otherwise? Hurry! There is no `
` time to be lost. The other little fool had better come too." `
` `
` Whittington turned and ran back into the house. The agonizing `
` minutes went by. Then--two figures hastily huddled in cloaks `
` appeared on the steps and were hustled into the car. The smaller `
` of the two was inclined to resist and Whittington shoved her in `
` unceremoniously. Julius leaned forward, and in doing so the `
` light from the open door lit up his face. Another man on the `
` steps behind Whittington gave a startled exclamation. Concealment `
` was at an end. `
` `
` "Get a move on, George," shouted Julius. `
` `
` The chauffeur slipped in his clutch, and with a bound the car `
` started. `
` `
` The man on the steps uttered an oath. His hand went to his `
` pocket. There was a flash and a report. The bullet just missed `
` the taller girl by an inch. `
` `
` "Get down, Jane," cried Julius. "Flat on the bottom of the car." `
` He thrust her sharply forward, then standing up, he took careful `
` aim and fired. `
` `
` "Have you hit him?" cried Tuppence eagerly. `
` `
` "Sure," replied Julius. "He isn't killed, though. Skunks like `
` that take a lot of killing. Are you all right, Tuppence?" `
` `
` "Of course I am. Where's Tommy? And who's this?" She indicated `
` the shivering Kramenin. `
` `
` "Tommy's making tracks for the Argentine. I guess he thought `
` you'd turned up your toes. Steady through the gate, George! `
` That's right. It'll take 'em at least five minutes to get busy `
` after us. They'll use the telephone, I guess, so look out for `
` snares ahead--and don't take the direct route. Who's this, did `
` you say, Tuppence? Let me present Monsieur Kramenin. I `
` persuaded him to come on the trip for his health." `
` `
` The Russian remained mute, still livid with terror. `
` `
` "But what made them let us go?" demanded Tuppence suspiciously. `
` `
` "I reckon Monsieur Kramenin here asked them so prettily they just `
` couldn't refuse!" `
` `
` This was too much for the Russian. He burst out vehemently: `
` `
` "Curse you--curse you! They know now that I betrayed them. My `
` life won't be safe for an hour in this country." `
` `
` "That's so," assented Julius. "I'd advise you to make tracks for `
` Russia right away." `
` `
` "Let me go, then," cried the other. "I have done what you asked. `
` Why do you still keep me with you?" `
` `
` "Not for the pleasure of your company. I guess you can get right `
` off now if you want to. I thought you'd rather I tooled you back `
` to London." `
` `
` "You may never reach London," snarled the other. "Let me go here `
` and now." `
` `
` "Sure thing. Pull up, George. The gentleman's not making the `
` return trip. If I ever come to Russia, Monsieur Kramenin, I shall `
` expect a rousing welcome, and----" `
` `
` But before Julius had finished his speech, and before the car had `
` finally halted, the Russian had swung himself out and disappeared `
` into the night. `
` `
` "Just a mite impatient to leave us," commented Julius, as the car `
` gathered way again. "And no idea of saying good-bye politely to `
` the ladies. Say, Jane, you can get up on the seat now." `
` `
` For the first time the girl spoke. `
` `
` "How did you 'persuade' him?" she asked. `
` `
` Julius tapped his revolver. `
` `
` "Little Willie here takes the credit!" `
` `
` "Splendid!" cried the girl. The colour surged into her face, her `
` eyes looked admiringly at Julius. `
` `
` "Annette and I didn't know what was going to happen to us," said `
` Tuppence. "Old Whittington hurried us off. We thought it was `
` lambs to the slaughter." `
` `
` "Annette," said Julius. "Is that what you call her?" `
` `
` His mind seemed to be trying to adjust itself to a new idea. `
` `
` "It's her name," said Tuppence, opening her eyes very wide. `
` `
` "Shucks!" retorted Julius. "She may think it's her name, because `
` her memory's gone, poor kid. But it's the one real and original `
` Jane Finn we've got here." `
` `
` "What?" cried Tuppence. `
` `
` But she was interrupted. With an angry spurt, a bullet embedded `
` itself in the upholstery of the car just behind her head. `
` `
` "Down with you," cried Julius. "It's an ambush. These guys have `
` got busy pretty quickly. Push her a bit, George." `
` `
` The car fairly leapt forward. Three more shots rang out, but `
` went happily wide. Julius, upright, leant over the back of the `
` car. `
` `
` "Nothing to shoot at," he announced gloomily. "But I guess `
` there'll be another little picnic soon. Ah!" `
` `
` He raised his hand to his cheek. `
` `
` "You are hurt?" said Annette quickly. `
` `
` "Only a scratch." `
` `
` The girl sprang to her feet. `
` `
` "Let me out! Let me out, I say! Stop the car. It is me they're `
` after. I'm the one they want. You shall not lose your lives `
` because of me. Let me go." She was fumbling with the fastenings `
` of the door. `
` `
` Julius took her by both arms, and looked at her. She had spoken `
` with no trace of foreign accent. `
` `
` "Sit down, kid," he said gently. "I guess there's nothing wrong `
` with your memory. Been fooling them all the time, eh?" `
` `
` The girl looked at him, nodded, and then suddenly burst into `
` tears. Julius patted her on the shoulder. `
` `
` "There, there--just you sit tight. We're not going to let you `
` quit." `
` `
` Through her sobs the girl said indistinctly: `
` `
` "You're from home. I can tell by your voice. It makes me `
` home-sick." `
` `
` "Sure I'm from home. I'm your cousin--Julius Hersheimmer. I `
` came over to Europe on purpose to find you--and a pretty dance `
` you've led me." `
` `
` The car slackened speed. George spoke over his shoulder: `
` `
` "Cross-roads here, sir. I'm not sure of the way." `
` `
` The car slowed down till it hardly moved. As it did so a figure `
` climbed suddenly over the back, and plunged head first into the `
` midst of them. `
` `
` "Sorry," said Tommy, extricating himself. `
` `
` A mass of confused exclamations greeted him. He replied to them `
` severally: `
` `
` "Was in the bushes by the drive. Hung on behind. Couldn't let `
` you know before at the pace you were going. It was all I could `
` do to hang on. Now then, you girls, get out!" `
` `
` "Get out?" `
` `
` "Yes. There's a station just up that road. Train due in three `
`
` "Very good, sir." `
` `
` The front door was opened by the butler. Kramenin felt the `
` muzzle of the revolver pressed against his ribs. `
` `
` "Now," hissed Julius. "And be careful." `
` `
` The Russian beckoned. His lips were white, and his voice was not `
` very steady: `
` `
` "It is I--Kramenin! Bring down the girl at once! There is no `
` time to lose!" `
` `
` Whittington had come down the steps. He uttered an exclamation `
` of astonishment at seeing the other. `
` `
` "You! What's up? Surely you know the plan----" `
` `
` Kramenin interrupted him, using the words that have created many `
` unnecessary panics: `
` `
` "We have been betrayed! Plans must be abandoned. We must save `
` our own skins. The girl! And at once! It's our only chance." `
` `
` Whittington hesitated, but for hardly a moment. `
` `
` "You have orders--from HIM?" `
` `
` "Naturally! Should I be here otherwise? Hurry! There is no `
` time to be lost. The other little fool had better come too." `
` `
` Whittington turned and ran back into the house. The agonizing `
` minutes went by. Then--two figures hastily huddled in cloaks `
` appeared on the steps and were hustled into the car. The smaller `
` of the two was inclined to resist and Whittington shoved her in `
` unceremoniously. Julius leaned forward, and in doing so the `
` light from the open door lit up his face. Another man on the `
` steps behind Whittington gave a startled exclamation. Concealment `
` was at an end. `
` `
` "Get a move on, George," shouted Julius. `
` `
` The chauffeur slipped in his clutch, and with a bound the car `
` started. `
` `
` The man on the steps uttered an oath. His hand went to his `
` pocket. There was a flash and a report. The bullet just missed `
` the taller girl by an inch. `
` `
` "Get down, Jane," cried Julius. "Flat on the bottom of the car." `
` He thrust her sharply forward, then standing up, he took careful `
` aim and fired. `
` `
` "Have you hit him?" cried Tuppence eagerly. `
` `
` "Sure," replied Julius. "He isn't killed, though. Skunks like `
` that take a lot of killing. Are you all right, Tuppence?" `
` `
` "Of course I am. Where's Tommy? And who's this?" She indicated `
` the shivering Kramenin. `
` `
` "Tommy's making tracks for the Argentine. I guess he thought `
` you'd turned up your toes. Steady through the gate, George! `
` That's right. It'll take 'em at least five minutes to get busy `
` after us. They'll use the telephone, I guess, so look out for `
` snares ahead--and don't take the direct route. Who's this, did `
` you say, Tuppence? Let me present Monsieur Kramenin. I `
` persuaded him to come on the trip for his health." `
` `
` The Russian remained mute, still livid with terror. `
` `
` "But what made them let us go?" demanded Tuppence suspiciously. `
` `
` "I reckon Monsieur Kramenin here asked them so prettily they just `
` couldn't refuse!" `
` `
` This was too much for the Russian. He burst out vehemently: `
` `
` "Curse you--curse you! They know now that I betrayed them. My `
` life won't be safe for an hour in this country." `
` `
` "That's so," assented Julius. "I'd advise you to make tracks for `
` Russia right away." `
` `
` "Let me go, then," cried the other. "I have done what you asked. `
` Why do you still keep me with you?" `
` `
` "Not for the pleasure of your company. I guess you can get right `
` off now if you want to. I thought you'd rather I tooled you back `
` to London." `
` `
` "You may never reach London," snarled the other. "Let me go here `
` and now." `
` `
` "Sure thing. Pull up, George. The gentleman's not making the `
` return trip. If I ever come to Russia, Monsieur Kramenin, I shall `
` expect a rousing welcome, and----" `
` `
` But before Julius had finished his speech, and before the car had `
` finally halted, the Russian had swung himself out and disappeared `
` into the night. `
` `
` "Just a mite impatient to leave us," commented Julius, as the car `
` gathered way again. "And no idea of saying good-bye politely to `
` the ladies. Say, Jane, you can get up on the seat now." `
` `
` For the first time the girl spoke. `
` `
` "How did you 'persuade' him?" she asked. `
` `
` Julius tapped his revolver. `
` `
` "Little Willie here takes the credit!" `
` `
` "Splendid!" cried the girl. The colour surged into her face, her `
` eyes looked admiringly at Julius. `
` `
` "Annette and I didn't know what was going to happen to us," said `
` Tuppence. "Old Whittington hurried us off. We thought it was `
` lambs to the slaughter." `
` `
` "Annette," said Julius. "Is that what you call her?" `
` `
` His mind seemed to be trying to adjust itself to a new idea. `
` `
` "It's her name," said Tuppence, opening her eyes very wide. `
` `
` "Shucks!" retorted Julius. "She may think it's her name, because `
` her memory's gone, poor kid. But it's the one real and original `
` Jane Finn we've got here." `
` `
` "What?" cried Tuppence. `
` `
` But she was interrupted. With an angry spurt, a bullet embedded `
` itself in the upholstery of the car just behind her head. `
` `
` "Down with you," cried Julius. "It's an ambush. These guys have `
` got busy pretty quickly. Push her a bit, George." `
` `
` The car fairly leapt forward. Three more shots rang out, but `
` went happily wide. Julius, upright, leant over the back of the `
` car. `
` `
` "Nothing to shoot at," he announced gloomily. "But I guess `
` there'll be another little picnic soon. Ah!" `
` `
` He raised his hand to his cheek. `
` `
` "You are hurt?" said Annette quickly. `
` `
` "Only a scratch." `
` `
` The girl sprang to her feet. `
` `
` "Let me out! Let me out, I say! Stop the car. It is me they're `
` after. I'm the one they want. You shall not lose your lives `
` because of me. Let me go." She was fumbling with the fastenings `
` of the door. `
` `
` Julius took her by both arms, and looked at her. She had spoken `
` with no trace of foreign accent. `
` `
` "Sit down, kid," he said gently. "I guess there's nothing wrong `
` with your memory. Been fooling them all the time, eh?" `
` `
` The girl looked at him, nodded, and then suddenly burst into `
` tears. Julius patted her on the shoulder. `
` `
` "There, there--just you sit tight. We're not going to let you `
` quit." `
` `
` Through her sobs the girl said indistinctly: `
` `
` "You're from home. I can tell by your voice. It makes me `
` home-sick." `
` `
` "Sure I'm from home. I'm your cousin--Julius Hersheimmer. I `
` came over to Europe on purpose to find you--and a pretty dance `
` you've led me." `
` `
` The car slackened speed. George spoke over his shoulder: `
` `
` "Cross-roads here, sir. I'm not sure of the way." `
` `
` The car slowed down till it hardly moved. As it did so a figure `
` climbed suddenly over the back, and plunged head first into the `
` midst of them. `
` `
` "Sorry," said Tommy, extricating himself. `
` `
` A mass of confused exclamations greeted him. He replied to them `
` severally: `
` `
` "Was in the bushes by the drive. Hung on behind. Couldn't let `
` you know before at the pace you were going. It was all I could `
` do to hang on. Now then, you girls, get out!" `
` `
` "Get out?" `
` `
` "Yes. There's a station just up that road. Train due in three `
`