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There was nobody to put Mr. Brown wise to the fact that Mrs. Vandemeyer

meant to betray him. Nevertheless, MRS. VANDEMEYER DIED WITHOUT

SPEAKING."

Julius was silenced for once, and Sir James added on a lighter note:

"I only want to put you on your guard. Good-bye, and good luck. Take no

unnecessary risks once the papers are in your hands. If there is any reason to

believe that you have been shadowed, destroy them at once. Good luck to you.

The game is in your hands now." He shook hands with them both.

Ten minutes later the two young men were seated in a first-class carriage en

route for Chester.

For a long time neither of them spoke. When at length Julius broke the silence, it

was with a totally unexpected remark.

"Say," he observed thoughtfully, "did you ever make a darned fool of yourself over

a girl's face?"

Tommy, after a moment's astonishment, searched his mind.

"Can't say I have," he replied at last. "Not that I can recollect, anyhow. Why?"

"Because for the last two months I've been making a sentimental idiot of myself

over Jane! First moment I clapped eyes on her photograph my heart did all the

usual stunts you read about in novels. I guess I'm ashamed to admit it, but I

came over here determined to find her and fix it all up, and take her back as Mrs.

Julius P. Hersheimmer!"

Oh!" said Tommy, amazed.

Julius uncrossed his legs brusquely and continued:

Just shows what an almighty fool a man can make of himself! One look at the

girl in the flesh, and I was cured!"

Feeling more tongue-tied than ever, Tommy ejaculated "Oh!" again.

"No disparagement to Jane, mind you," continued the other. "She's a real nice

girl, and some fellow will fall in love with her right away."

189

The Secret Adversary