Part 52 (1/2)
”My friend Norton!” jeered the victor.
”And what do you want; some peaches?”
”A paper, my friend, a little secret of paper with invisible writing on it. We promise to give you something in exchange for it.”
”What?” asked Jim with as much nonchalance as he could a.s.sume.
”Life.”
”Search,” said Jim. ”You won't object to my smoking?” He began to roll a cigarette while they pa.s.sed over him. He struck a match; the pleasant aroma of tobacco floated about his head.
”He's got it on him somewhere. I saw him take it. He's got his nerve with him.”
The cigarette glowed. Jim smoked hurriedly.
Through every pocket they went. The contents of his wallet lay scattered at his feet; his watch dangled from the chain. The cigarette grew shorter and shorter. Suddenly one of the men stretched out a hand and whisked the cigarette from Jim's lips. He threw it to the floor and stamped out the coal.
”I thought so!” he exclaimed, holding out the sc.r.a.p of burnt paper toward Braine.
The words ”Dear Hargreave” were all that remained of the message. With a snarl of rage Braine whipped out his revolver.
”I will give you one minute to tell me what that paper contained.”
”And after that minute is up?”
”A bullet in your stomach.”
Quick as a flash Jim's hand shot out, caught the loosely held revolver, gave it a wrench, and brought it down savagely upon Braine's head.
Then he reversed it and backed toward the front entrance.
”Au revoir, till we meet again, gentlemen!”
CHAPTER XXI
Jim said nothing at first about his adventure to Jones, whom he met half an hour later.
”Was it necessary to keep that invisible letter?” he asked.
”No,” said Jones.
”Would it have given our affairs a serious turn if it had fallen into alien hands?”
”Decidedly,” answered Jones. ”It would mean flight for the Black Hundred or a long time under cover, if our friend Braine learned that Russia was now taking an active interest in the doings of the Black Hundred. And eventually all our work would have to be done over again.”
”Ah!”
”You look a bit mussed up. Anything happened?” asked the keen-eyed butler.