The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-05-17


gray eyes which brought Mr..
Grimm to his feet. His hands
gripped each other cruelty; his
tone was calm as always.
why did you take the reyo.-
ver?" he asked.
Miss Thornes head dropped
forward a little, and she was ST.
lent.
There are only two possibili-
ties, of course" he went on.
First, that you, in spite of your
denial, did the shooting"
II did mott" The words fairly
burst from her tightly closed lips.
"Or that you knew the revolt
yer, and took 1t to save the person,
man or woman, who fired the shot.
1 will assume, for the moment,
that this is correct. Where is the
revolver"
From the adjoining room there
came slight noise, faint breath
of sound; or 1t might have been
an echo of silence. Their eyes
were fixed each upon the others
unwaveringly, with not a flicker
to indicate that either had heard.
After a moment Miss Thorne re-
turned to her chair and sat down.
Its rather a singular situation,
isn't it, Mr.. Grimm" she inquired
lirro1avaptIv GGVou NJ Cri,,,r, =. 2
the Secret Service of the United
States; l, Isabel Thorne, a secret
agent Of Italy, together here, one
accusing the other of a crime, and
perhaps with good reason"
where is the revolver"
Mr.. Grimm insisted.
IF you were anyone else but
you! I could not afford to be
frank with you and"
IF you had been anyone else
but you I shou1dhave placed you
under arrest when / entered the
room"
She smiled, and inclined her
head.
81 understand" she said pleasr
antly. For the reason that you
are Mr.. Grimm of the Secret Ser
vice l shall tell you the truth.
did take the revolver because +, ]
knew who had fired the shot. Per
lieve me when 1 tell you that that
person did not act with my knowl-
edge or consent. You do believe
that? You do?" She was plead
ing, eager to convince him. a.
After a while Mr.. Grimm nod
ded.
"The revolver is beyond your
reach and shall remain So" she
resumed. According to your
laws l suppose l am an accom-
lplice. That is my misfortune. IL
will in no way alter my determi-
nation to keep silent. If 1 am ar
rested I can't help it." She stud
led his face with hopeful eyes.
Am l to be arrested?"
Where is the paper that was
taken from Senior Alvarez immedi-
Iately after he was shot?" Mr..
Grimm queried.
81 don't know" she replied
frankly.
"As / understand 1t, then, the
motive for the shooting was to OBJ
tain possession of that paper? For
your government?
THE individual who shot Senior
Alvarez did obtain the papers, yes.
And now, please, am 1 to be ar
|rested?"
And just what was the pur-
pose, may / inquire, of the mes
sage you telegraphed with your
fan in the ball-room?"
You read that?" exclaimed
Miss Thorne in mock astonish-
|ment. "You read that?"
''And the man who read that
message? Perhaps he shot the
senor?"
Perhaps" she tainted.
For a long time Mr.. Grimla
stood staring at her, staring, She,
too, rose, and faced him quietly.
cam to be arrested?" she ask
ed again.
"Why do you make me do it?"
he demanded.
"That is my affair.""
Mr.. Grimm laid a hand upon her
arm. a hand that had never known
nervousness. A moment longer he
stared, and then:
Madam, you are my prisoner
for the attempted murder of
Senior A1varezl"
The rings on the draperies be-
hind him clicked sharply, and the
draperies parted. Mr.. Grimm
stood motionless, with his hand on
Miss Thorne's arm.
"You were inquiring moment
ago for revolver" came in al
mans voice. Here it isl"
Mr.. Grimm found himself in-|
speeding the weapon from the bard
rel end. After a moment his /
glance shifted to the blazing, eyes,
of the man who held TIA young
man, rather slight, with clean-cut,l
features, and of theI
pronounced Italian type. i
"My God!"s The words camel
from Miss Thorne's lips almost in |
q scream. Don't"
81 did make some inquiries
about revolver, yes," Mr.. Grimm
interrupted quietly. Els this theI
one?"
He raised his hand quite casu-l
ally. and his fingers closed likeI
steel around the weapon. Behind