Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-03

den blackness. then he started forward again.
Miss Thorne was beside him.
" The lights he whispered tensely. Find
the switch
He heard the rustic of her skirts aS she
moved away. and stepped out into the hall.
feeling with both his hands along the wall. \
few feet away. in the direction the Ambassador
had gone. there seemed to be violent struggle
in progress -there was the scuff1ing of feet.
and quick drawn breaths muscle strained
against muscle. The lights If he could only
find the switch. Then. as his hands moved
along the wall. they came in contact with
other hand-a hand pressed firmly against the
plastering, barring his progress light blow
in the face caused him to step back quickly.
The scuf1ing sound suddenly resolved itself
into moving footsteps. and the front door
opened and closed with bang. Grimm s list
less eyes snapped. and his white teeth came to-
gether sharply as he started toward the front
door. But Fate seemed to be against him still.
He stumbled over a chair. and his own I'M
petus forward sent him sprawling; his head
struck against the wall with resounding
whack and then over the house came utter
silence. From outside he heard the clatter of
cab: finally that died away in the distance.
Miss Thorne" he inquired quietly.
I'm here" she answered in despairing
little voice. But can't ind the switch.
Are you hurt"
Then she found the switch; the lights hared
up. Grimm sitting thoughtfully on the
floor.
THAT simplifies the matter considerably"
he observed complacently as he rose. The
men who signaled to me when you entered the
Embassy will never let that cab get out of their
sight
Miss Thorne stood leaning forward a little
eagerly gazing at him with those wonderful
blue-gray eyes, and an expression of-of per-
laps it was admiration on her face.
Are YOU sure?" she demanded at last.
Il know it, was his response.
ust then Rigolot, secretary of the Embassy.
thrust an inquisitive head timidly round the
corner of the stairs. The crash of glass had
aroused him.
What happened" he asked breathlessly.
1--WE don't know just yet. replied Grimm
languidlv If the noise aroused anyone else.
please assure them that there's nothing the
matter. And you might inform Madame Bots
segur that the Ambassador will be home again
tomorrow. Good night.
I found Miss Thornes card. and he drew
Il long breath; at his Office he found another OF
her cards and he drew another long breath.
He did like corroborative details. did Grimm,
and of course this
ANYWAY. it came to pass that Miss Thorne
accompanied him to Alexandria, and they were
driven in a closed carriage out toward the
western edge of the little city. Finally the
carriage stopped at signal from Grimm and
he assisted Miss Thorne out, after which he
turned and spoke to some one remaining IN
Side,-a man
THE house is two blocks west. along that
street there" he explained. indicating an inter-
secting thoroughfare just ahead 1t Is Num-
Der Ninety-seven. Five minutes after we enter
you will drive up in front of the door and wait.
If we don't return in fifteen minutes. come in
after u.s.
DO you anticipate danger!" Miss Thorne
queried quickly.
eff had anticipated danger" replied
Grimm. Il should not have permitted YOU to
come with me-.
They entered the house with q key which
Grimm produced and a minute SO later
walked into a room where three men were sit
ting One of them was of q singularly re-
pulsive type; another rather dapper, of super