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and stooping, picked something up from among the leaves, and held it out to

Julius. It was a small gold brooch.

That's Tuppence's!"

Are you sure?"

Absolutely. I've often seen her wear it."

Julius drew a deep breath.

"I guess that settles it. She came as far as here, anyway. We'll make that pub our

head-quarters, and raise hell round here until we find her. Somebody MUST have

seen her."

Forthwith the campaign began. Tommy and Julius worked separately and

together, but the result was the same. Nobody answering to Tuppence's

description had been seen in the vicinity. They were baffled--but not discouraged.

Finally they altered their tactics. Tuppence had certainly not remained long in the

neighbourhood of the Moat House. That pointed to her having been overcome and

carried away in a car. They renewed inquiries. Had anyone seen a car standing

somewhere near the Moat House that day? Again they met with no success.

Julius wired to town for his own car, and they scoured the neighbourhood daily

with unflagging zeal. A grey limousine on which they had set high hopes was

traced to Harrogate, and turned out to be the property of a highly respectable

maiden lady!

Each day saw them set out on a new quest. Julius was like a hound on the leash.

He followed up the slenderest clue. Every car that had passed through the village

on the fateful day was tracked down. He forced his way into country properties

and submitted the owners of the motors to a searching cross-examination. His

apologies were as thorough as his methods, and seldom failed in disarming the

indignation of his victims; but, as day succeeded day, they were no nearer to

discovering Tuppence's whereabouts. So well had the abduction been planned

that the girl seemed literally to have vanished into thin 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!"

174

The Secret Adversary