The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-05-23

Monsieur Rigolot did not in
form you of IL because he didn't
know of II himself" she replied,
answering the last question first
1T came into my possession d.
rectly from the hands of Madame
Boissegur-she gave 1t to me-"
"Why?"
Mr.. Grimm was peering through
the inscrutable darkness, straight
into her face-a white daub in
the gloom, shapeless, indistinct.
II have known Madame Boisse-
CUR for half a dozen years." Miss
Thorne continued, in explanation
1--WE have been friends that long
/ met her first in Toxic, later in
Berlin, and within a few weeks,
here in Washington. You see, ]
have tra eled in the time l have
been an agent for my government.
Well, Madame Boissegur received
this letter about half-past four
o'clock this afternoon; and about
half-past five she sent for me and
placed it in my hands, together
with all the singular details fol-
owing upon the ambassador dis
appearance. So, 1t would seem
that you and | are allies for this
once, and the problem is already
solved. There merely remains
the task of finding and reeasing
the ambassador"
Mr.. Grimm sat perfectly still.
"And why" he asked slowly
"are you here now?"
For the same reason that you
are here" she replied readily, "tc
see for myself if the-the person
who twice came here at night
Ionc for the ambassadors letters
and once for his cigarettes
would, by any chance, make an
other trip. l knew you were
here, of course"
you knew was here" repeat.
ed Mr.. Grimm musingly. And
may II"
Just as you knew that 1, OF
someone. at least, had entered
this house a few minutes ago.
she interrupted. THE automobile
horn outside was a signal, wasn't
it? Hastings was in the car? Or
was it Blair or Johnson"
Mr.. Grimm did not say.
Didn't you anticipate any
personal danger when you enter.
ed?" he queried instead. Weren't
you afraid l might shoot?"
mo"
There was a long silence. Mr.
Grimm still sat with his elbows OF
his knees. staring, staring at the
vague white splotch which wa!
Miss Thorne's face and bare neck
One of her white arms hung a
her side like pallid serpent, and
her hand was at rest on the sea-
of the couch.
ut seems, Miss Thorne," hi
said at length, casually, quite
casually, that our paths of duty
are inextricably tangled. Twic,
previously we have met under
circumstances that were more
than strange, and now-this
Whatever injustice 1 may have
done you in the past by my suspi
cions has, l hope, been forgiven
and in each instance we were abb,
to work side by side toward {
conclusion. l am wondering nov
If this singular affair will take ;
similar course"
He paused. Miss Thorne start
ed to speak, but he silenced hel
with a slight gesture of hi
hand.
1T is only fair to you to sa!
that we-that is, the Secret Ser
vice-have learned many thing
about you," he resumed in h,
same casual tone. 1--WE have
through our foreign agents, trace
you step by step from Rome t,
Washington. We know that you
are. in way. representative O
a sovereign of Europe; we know
that you were on secret mission
to the Spanish court, perhaps TO
this sovereign, and remained ii
Madrid for a month; we know tina
from there you went to Paris, ais,
on a secret mission-perhaps tn,
same-and remained there foi
three weeks; we know that yoi
met diplomatic agents of thos,
governments later in London. w,
know all this; we know the man
ner of your coming to this coun
try; of your coming to Washing
ton. But We don't know why 20,
are here"
Again she started to speak, ant
again he stopped her.
1--WE don't know your name
fut that is of no consequence. w,
do know that in Spain you wer,
Sonora Cassavant, in Paris Made
moiselle d'Aubinon, in Londol
Miss Jane Kellog, and here Mis-
Isabel Thorne. We realize tina
exigencies arise In your calling
and mine, which make changes O
name desirable. necessary even
and there is no criticism of that
Now as the representative of you
government - rather govern
ment-you have a right to b,
here, although unaccredited; 20,
have right to remain here a,
long as your acts are consisten
with our laws; you have a right
to your secrets as long as they d,
not, directly or indirectly, threat
en- the welfare OF this country