air.
And another preoccupation was weighing on Tommy’s mind.
“Do you know how long we’ve been here?” he asked one morning as they sat
facing each other at breakfast. “A week! We’re no nearer to finding Tuppence,
and NEXT SUNDAY IS THE 29TH!”
“Shucks!” said Julius thoughtfully. “I’d almost forgotten about the 29th.
I’ve been thinking of nothing but Tuppence.”
“So have I. At least, I hadn’t forgotten about the 29th, but it didn’t seem
to matter a damn in comparison to finding Tuppence. But to-day’s the 23rd, and
time’s getting short. If we’re ever going to get hold of her at all, we must do
it before the 29th–her life won’t be worth an hour’s purchase afterwards. The
hostage game will be played out by then. I’m beginning to feel that we’ve made
a big mistake in the way we’ve set about this. We’ve wasted time and we’re no
forrader.”
“I’m with you there. We’ve been a couple of mutts, who’ve bitten off a
bigger bit than they can chew. I’m going to quit fooling right away!”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll tell you. I’m going to do what we ought to have done a week ago. I’m
going right back to London to put the case in the hands of your British police.
We fancied ourselves as sleuths. Sleuths! It was a piece of damn-fool
foolishness! I’m through! I’ve had enough of it. Scotland Yard for me!”
“You’re right,” said Tommy slowly. “I wish to God we’d gone there right
away.”
“Better late than never. We’ve been like a couple of babes playing ‘Here
we go round the Mulberry Bush.’ Now I’m going right along to Scotland Yard to
ask them to take me by the hand and show me the way I should go. I guess the
professional always scores over the amateur in the end. Are you coming along
with me?”
Tommy shook his head.
“What’s the good? One of us is enough. I might as well stay here and nose
round a bit longer. Something MIGHT turn up. One never knows.”
“Sure thing. Well, so long. I’ll be back in a couple of shakes with a few
inspectors along. I shall tell them to pick out their brightest and best.”
But the course of events was not to follow the plan Julius had laid down.
Later in the day Tommy received a wire:
“Join me Manchester Midland Hotel. Important news–JULIUS.”
At 7:30 that night Tommy alighted from a slow cross-country train. Julius
was on the platform.
“Thought you’d come by this train if you weren’t out when my wire arrived.”
Tommy grasped him by the arm.
“What is it? Is Tuppence found?”
Julius shook his head.
“No. But I found this waiting in London. Just arrived.”
He handed the telegraph form to the other. Tommy’s eyes opened as he read:
“Jane Finn found. Come Manchester Midland Hotel immediately–PEEL
EDGERTON.”
Julius took the form back and folded it up.
“Queer,” he said thoughtfully. “I thought that lawyer chap had quit!”
CHAPTER XIX
JANE FINN
“MY train got in half an hour ago,” explained Julius, as he led the way out
of the station. “I reckoned you’d come by this before I left London, and wired
accordingly to Sir James. He’s booked rooms for us, and will be round to dine
at eight.”
“What made you think he’d ceased to take any interest in the case?” asked
Tommy curiously.
“What he said,” replied Julius dryly. “The old bird’s as close as an
oyster! Like all the darned lot of them, he wasn’t going to commit himself till
he was sure he could deliver the goods.”
“I wonder,” said Tommy thoughtfully.
Julius turned on him.
“You wonder what?”
“Whether that was his real reason.”
“Sure. You bet your life it was.”
Tommy shook his head unconvinced.
Sir James arrived punctually at eight o’clock, and Julius introduced Tommy.
Sir James shook hands with him warmly.
“I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Mr. Beresford. I have heard so
much about you from Miss Tuppence”–he smiled involuntarily–“that it really
seems as though I already know you quite well.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Tommy with his cheerful grin. He scanned the great