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“Starting this minute, you are a Van Dorn apprentice detective Here’s your first assignment: report to the Van Dorn field office in Paris”

“Paris?”

“On the Rue du Bac My old pal Horace Bronson ramrods it He’ll take care of you He’s a top man Used to run the San Francisco office Here Here’s money, you’ll need it” He emptied the notes from his billfold and coins from his pockets into her hands Then he yanked open another desk drawer “And here’s soe for Van Dorn’s chief investigator in A hard to get wind into his lungs

“The ent in Aeneral major named Christian Semmler’ Repeat that!”

Pauline repeated it word for word

“Second half of the e: ‘Semmler is nicknaht, powerful fra arms Like a monkey’ Repeat that!”

She did

“Now get out of here”

“But I can’t you leave you”

“A Van Dorn apprentice always obeys orders” He clasped her face between his trelared into her eyes “This is vital, Pauline You are the only one who can solve this case and save o”

He pushed her away

Biting her lips, Pauline put on h

er coat and hat and pocketed the Browning Curtis turned out the light To his immense relief, he heard her open the backHe heard the fire ladder rungs creak He listened for her footsteps in the alley, but instead heard boots pounding up the stairs

Arthur Curtis picked up Pauline’s rusted revolver and ai it wouldn’t blow up in his hand Not that that would er he could hold them off, the farther she could run

“Cablegram from Paris, Mr Bell”