The Big Book of Female Detectives

by The Big Book of Female Detectives (retail) (epub)

  Together they descended the stairs, and passed out to the waiting car. The Russian was shaking with rage. The hotel servants surrounded them. A cry hovered on his lips, but at the last minute his nerve failed him. The American was a man of his word.

  When they reached the car, Julius breathed a sigh of relief. The danger-zone was passed. Fear had successfully hypnotized the man by his side.

  “Get in,” he ordered. Then as he caught the other’s sidelong glance, “No, the chauffeur won’t help you any. Naval man. Was on a submarine in Russia when the Revolution broke out. A brother of his was murdered by your people. George!”

  “Yes, sir?” The chauffeur turned his head.

  “This gentleman is a Russian Bolshevik. We don’t want to shoot him, but it may be necessary. You understand?”

  “Perfectly, sir.”

  “I want to go to Gatehouse in Kent. Know the road at all?”

  “Yes, sir, it will be about an hour and a half’s run.”

  “Make it an hour. I’m in a hurry.”

  “I’ll do my best, sir.” The car shot forward through the traffic.

  Julius ensconced himself comfortably by the side of his victim. He kept his hand in the pocket of his coat, but his manner was urbane to the last degree.

  “There was a man I shot once in Arizona——” he began cheerfully.

  At the end of the hour’s run the unfortunate Kramenin was more dead than alive. In succession to the anecdote of the Arizona man, there had been a tough from ’Frisco, and an episode in the Rockies. Julius’s narrative style, if not strictly accurate, was picturesque!

  Slowing down, the chauffeur called over his shoulder that they were just coming into Gatehouse. Julius bade the Russian direct them. His plan was to drive straight up to the house. There Kramenin was to ask for the two girls. Julius explained to him that Little Willie would not be tolerant of failure. Kramenin, by this time, was as putty in the other’s hands. The terrific pace they had come had still further unmanned him. He had given himself up for dead at every corner.

  The car swept up the drive, and stopped before the porch. The chauffeur looked round for orders.

  “Turn the car first, George. Then ring the bell, and get back to your place. Keep the engine going, and be ready to scoot like hell when I give the word.”

  “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 minutes. You’ll catch it if you hurry.”

  “What the devil are you driving at?” demanded Julius. “Do you think you can fool them by leaving the car?”

  “You and I aren’t going to leave the car. Only the girls.”

  “You’re crazed, Beresford. Stark staring mad! You can’t let those girls go off alone. It’ll be the end of it if you do.”

  Tommy turned to Tuppence.

  “Get out at once, Tuppence. Take her with you, and do just as I say. No one will do you any harm. You’re safe. Take the train to London. Go straight to Sir James Peel Edgerton. Mr. Carter lives out of town, but you’ll be safe with him.”

  “Darn you!” cried Julius. “You’re mad. Jane, you stay where you are.”

  With a sudden swift movement, Tommy snatched the revolver from Julius’s hand, and levelled it at him.

  “Now will you believe I’m in earnest? Get out, both of you, and do as I say—or I’ll shoot!”

  Tuppence sprang out, dragging the unwilling Jane after her.

  “Come on, it’s all right. If Tommy’s sure—he’s sure. Be quick. We’ll miss the train.”

  They started running.

  Julius’s pent-up rage burst forth.

  “What the hell——”

  Tommy interrupted him.

  “Dry up! I want a few words with you, Mr. Julius Hersheimmer.”

  CHAPTER XXV

  Jane’s Story

  Her arm through Jane’s, dragging her along, Tuppence reached the station. Her quick ears caught the sound of the approaching train.

  “Hurry up,” she panted, “or we’ll miss it.”

  They arrived on the platform just as the train came to a standstill. Tuppence opened the door of an empty first-class compartment, and the two girls sank down breathless on the padded seats.

  A man looked in, then passed on to the next carriage. Jane started nervously. Her eyes dilated with terror. She looked questioningly at Tuppence.

  “Is he one of them, do you think?” she breathed.

  Tuppence shook her head.

  “No, no. It’s all right.” She took Jane’s hand in hers. “Tommy wouldn’t have told us to do this unless he was sure we’d be all right.”

  “But he doesn’t know them as I do!” The girl shivered. “You can’t understand. Five years! Five long years! Sometimes I thought I should go mad.”

  “Never mind. It’s all over.”

  “Is it?”

  The train was moving now, speeding through the night at a gradually increasing rate. Suddenly Jane Finn started up.

  “What was that? I thought I saw a face—looking in through the window.”

  “No, there’s nothing. See.” Tuppence went to the window, and lifting the strap let the pane down.

  “You’re sure?”

  “Quite sure.”

  The other seemed to feel some excuse was necessary:

  “I guess I’m acting like a frightened rabbit, but I can’t help it. If they caught me now they’d——” Her eyes opened wide and staring.

  “Don’t!” implored Tuppence. “Lie back, and don’t think. You can be quite sure that Tommy wouldn’t have said it was safe if it wasn’t.”

  “My cousin didn’t think so. He didn’t want us to do this.”

  “No,” said Tuppence, rather embarrassed.

  “What are you thinking of?” said Jane sharply.

  “Why?”

  “Your voice was so—queer!”

  “I was thinking of something,” confessed Tuppence. “But I don’t want to tell you—not now. I may be wrong, but I don’t think so. It’s just an idea that came into my head a long time ago. Tommy’s got it too—I’m almost sure he has. But don’t you worry—there’ll be time enough for that later. And it mayn’t be so at all! Do what I tell you—lie back and don’t think of anything.”

  “I’ll try.” The long lashes drooped over the hazel eyes.

  Tuppence, for her part, sat bolt upright—much in the attitude of a watchful terrier on guard. In spite of herself she was nervous. Her eyes flashed continually from one window to the other. She noted the exact position of the communication cord. What it was that she feared, she would have been hard put to it to say. But in her own mind she was far from feeling the confidence displayed in her words. Not that she disbelieved in Tommy, but occasionally she was shaken with doubts as to whether anyone so simple and honest as he was could ever be a match for the fiendish subtlety of the arch-criminal.

  If they once reached Sir James Peel Edgerton in safety, all would be well. But would they reach him? Would not the silent forces of Mr. Brown already be assembling against them? Even that last picture of Tommy, revolver in hand, failed to comfort her. By now he might be overpowered, borne down by sheer force of numbers….Tuppence mapped out her plan of campaign.

  As the train at length drew slowly into Charing Cross, Jane Finn sat up with a start.

  “Have we arrived? I never thought we should!”

  “Oh, I thought we’d get to London all right. If there’s going to be any fun, now is when it will begin. Quick, get out. We’ll nip into a taxi.”

  In another minute they were passing the barrier, had paid the necessary fares, and were stepping into a taxi.

  “King’s Cross,” directed Tuppence. Then she gave a jump. A man looked in at the window, just as they started. She was almost certain it was the same man who had got into the carriage next to them. She had a horrible feeling of being slowly hemmed in on every side.

  “You see,” she explained to Jane, “if they think we’re going to Sir James, this will put them off the scent. Now they’ll imagine we’re going to Mr. Carter. His country place is north of London somewhere.”

  Crossing Holborn there was a block, and the taxi was held up. This was what Tuppence had been waiting for.

  “Quick,” she whispered. “Open the right-hand door!”

  The two girls stepped out into the traffic. Two minutes later they were seated in another taxi and were retracing their steps, t
his time direct to Carlton House Terrace.

  “There,” said Tuppence, with great satisfaction, “this ought to do them. I can’t help thinking that I’m really rather clever! How that other taxi man will swear! But I took his number, and I’ll send him a postal order tomorrow, so that he won’t lose by it if he happens to be genuine. What’s this thing swerving—— Oh!”

  There was a grinding noise and a bump. Another taxi had collided with them.

  In a flash Tuppence was out on the pavement. A policeman was approaching. Before he arrived Tuppence had handed the driver five shillings, and she and Jane had merged themselves in the crowd.

  “It’s only a step or two now,” said Tuppence breathlessly. The accident had taken place in Trafalgar Square.

  “Do you think the collision was an accident, or done deliberately?”

  “I don’t know. It might have been either.”

  Hand-in-hand, the two girls hurried along.

  “It may be my fancy,” said Tuppence suddenly, “but I feel as though there was some one behind us.”

  “Hurry!” murmured the other. “Oh, hurry!”

  They were now at the corner of Carlton House Terrace, and their spirits lightened. Suddenly a large and apparently intoxicated man barred their way.

  “Good evening, ladies,” he hiccupped. “Whither away so fast?”

  “Let us pass, please,” said Tuppence imperiously.

  “Just a word with your pretty friend here.” He stretched out an unsteady hand, and clutched Jane by the shoulder. Tuppence heard other footsteps behind. She did not pause to ascertain whether they were friends or foes. Lowering her head, she repeated a manœuvre of childish days, and butted their aggressor full in the capacious middle. The success of these unsportsmanlike tactics was immediate. The man sat down abruptly on the pavement. Tuppence and Jane took to their heels. The house they sought was some way down. Other footsteps echoed behind them. Their breath was coming in choking gasps as they reached Sir James’s door. Tuppence seized the bell and Jane the knocker.