Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13
BY
ES
~ R Ellie
Drawing by Alonzo Kimball

EROM where he sat, in ~
! !. / |.
tiny alcove that
iutted out and VA
Croached upon the line OF 4>
sidewalk Mr.. Grimm looked
down on Pennsy lvania-ave
the central artery of Wash NJ
ngton, changing, al -
ways brilliant splashed at =
regular intervals with light
from high-up electric
The early theater crowd
was in the street now, well
dressed we'll fed, careless
for the moment of all things
save physical comfort and
amusement; automobiles.
carriages, cabs, cars. flowed -
past in endless stream
And vet Mr.. Grimm
naught of it. -
In the distance, at one end
of the avenue, the dome OF
the Capitol cleft the hay
shadows of night, and Il
single light sparkled at its
apex; in the other di-
rection, abruptly blocking
the wide thoroughfare
were the shirnmering win
dows of the White House
which rose specterlike at the
left of the Treasury building.
Motionless, moody, thoughtful. Mr. Grimm sat
staring, staring straight ahead COmprehendng none
of these things that lay before hma panorama.
Instead his memory conjuring up pair of subtle
blue-gray eyes, now pleading now coquettsh,
frankly defiant; two SLIM white wonderful hands;
the echo of pleasant, throaty augh-a splendid.
elusive radiant haired phantom of My Lady of Mys-
terry Truly, My Lady of Mystery! Who this
woman that for months past had been the storm
and directing mind of the vast international
intrigue that threatened the world with war? Who,
this remarkable young woman that played nations
as pawns?
Grimm had leisure to speculate. On him had de-
volved the duty of blocking her plans at least
mentarily, and he had done merciess alike of his
own feelings and of hers Hesitation, or evasion,
had never occurred to him 1t thing be
done and he did it He wondered if she had under
stood there at the last beside the rail of the steamer
deliberately to send her of his life; or had
surnised that her expulsion from the country by
his direct act wholly lacking in the exaltation
of triumph to him: that struck deeper than that,
below the seSs, official exterior into his personal
happiness And wondering, he knew that she did
understand. Inscrutable are the workings of Fate.
silent shod waiter came and placed the coffee
things at his elbow. He didn't heed. The waiter
poured demtasse, and inquiringly lifted lump of
sugar in the silver tongs. Still Mr.. Grimm didn't
heed. AT last the waiter deposited the sugar the
edge of the fragile and moved away silently
as he had come A newspaper which Mr. Grimm
had placed on the end of the table when he sat down
ratified little as breeze from the open window
caught it. then the top sheet slid off and fell to
the floor. MIR. Grimm still staring the
window.
Slowly the room behind him was thinning as the
theater bound diners went out in twos and threes.
The last of these disappeared finally. and for
Mr. Grimm there were not more than dozen per-
sons left in the place.
THUS for few minutes. and then the swinging
doors leading from the street clicked and a
entered. He glanced round if seeking table
near window, then moved along in Mr.. Grimms
direction between the rows of tables His gaze
fingered Mr.. Grimm for an instant and when
ne came opposite he stopped and picked up the
fallen newspaper sheet.
our paper! he inquired courteouSly.
Mr.. Grimm still gazing dreamily out the Vim