New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-13

CONFIDENT at last that wherever he was he was
- unmatched, Mr.. Grimm was just deciding that
further inaCtOn useless when ms Stra1n1n3 ears
caught the faint grating of metal against metal per
hans the insertion of key in the lock. His hands
grew still: his eyes closed. And after a moment a
door creaked slightly its hinges and a breath or
cool air informed Mr. Grimm instantly that the open
door wherever it was led to the outside and freedom
There was another faint creaking as the door was
closed Mr. Grimm's nerveless hands closed IN
voluntarily and his teeth were set together tightly
Who had entered Was it to be knife thrust IN he
dark? If not, then what, He expected the hare OF
match instead there a soft tread and the rustic
of skirts. woman Mr. GRIMM caution was 5~ all
but forgotten in his surprise. As the steps drew
nearer his ClenChed fingers loosened; ne waited
Two hands stretched forward in the dark, touched
him simultaneously, one on the tace, one on the
breast A singular thrill shot through him: but
there was not flicker of eye or the tWltchl1 OF
a finger. The woman-it was a woman seemed to
be bending him now, then ne heard her drop on
her knees beside him. and she pressed an hlquhllS
ear to his left side. 1t was the heart test
Thank God!' she breathed softly
1t was only by a masterful effort that Mr.. Grimm
held himself limp and inert for strange fragrance
was enveloping him,-a fragrance he knew
The hands fumbng at his breast again ana
there was the sharp crackle of paper. At hrst ne
didn't understand; then he knew that the woman
had pinned a paper to the lapel OF his coat FINALLY
she Strengthened up and took two steps away from
him after which came pause His keenly attuIed
ears caught her faint breathing then the rustic OF ner
skirts as she turned back She was leaning over nm
again her lips touched his forehead, barely AGAIN
there was quick rustlng OF skirts, the door cetked
and-silenCe, deep, oppressive, oVerWhehnS slience
Nv LADY, of Mystery! Was he dreaming, Less
than a week ago he stood beside her at the ran OF
Europe bound steamer stood beside her until Sandy
Hook wa passed and he was taken Oft by a Govern
ment vessel. And she was back IN W Washington!
There was doubt OF her identity IN his mind But
how? How? Strangely enough, at this point he
ceased wondering and fell to remembering her kiss,
light as air and the softly spoken Thank God
She did care, them She had understood, that day!
The kiss of a woman beloved is a splendid heart
III, l. .a,11N- tta
couch there in the dark, himself again lie touched
the slip of paper that Ny Lady OF Mystery had pinned
his coat to make it was not all a dream, after
which he recalled the fact that while he had heard
the door crea before she went out he had not heard
it creak as she closed it behind her Therefore the
door open. She had left 1t open! Purposelyt
That was beside the question at the moment
And why My Lady OF Mystery back IN Wash
ington? POndering that Mr.. Grimm SeXCellent teeth
clicked sharply together and he rose. He knew the
answer to that question. The secret alliance was to
be signed alliance that would array the civil
lied world in arms the Latin against the English
speaking peopes He had failed to block that, as he
thought If Ny Lady of Mystery had returned, then
Prince BenedettO d AbruZZi had returned with her.
for it was the expulsion of both that he had at
tempted. And Prince BenedettO d Abruzzl held alb
solute power to sign the secret compact Tor Italy,
France, and SPAN!
CTEALTHILY, feeling his way as he went, NJ.
~ Grimm moved toward the door leading to tree
dom guided by the fresh draft OF air. tie reached
the door-it was standing open,-and mo-
ment later stepped out into the starht night
1t was open country here with a thread OF
white road just ahead, and farther along II
fringe of ShrubberV. Mr.. Grimm reached the Il
road and far down it, plnpolnt IN the night,
a light flickered through interlacing branches
The tail lamp of an automobile, OF course. =
Mr. Grimm left the road and skirted
sparse hedge in the direction OF the light.
After a moment he heard the engine of an automo-
bile and a woman-My Lady of Mystery, barely
acknowledgement into the car As 1t started
rard he bold