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

The Signal.
"And the original question re-
mains unanswered" remarked Mr..
Campbell.
THE original question:" Mr..
Grimm.
Where Is Prince Benedetto
Id'Abruzzi, the secret envoy?"
his chief reminded him.
Il wonder!" unused the young
man.
IF the Latin compact is signed
In the United States"
The Latin compact will not be
signed in the United States" Mr..
Grimm interrupted. And then,
latter a moment. Have we re-
Iceived any further reports on Miss
Thorne? / mean reports from our
foreign agents?"
The chief shook his head.
Inevitably, by some act or
word, she will lead us to the
prince" declared Mr.. Grimm.
land the moment he Is known to
us everything becomes plain sail
ing. We know she is secret
agent expected denial, but
she was quite frank about it. And
Ie'had no intention whatever of
placing her under arrest. knew
someone was in the adjoining
room because of slight noise in
there, and / knew she knew 1t.
She raised her voice little, obvi
lously for the benefit of whoever
was there. From that point ev-
Ierything said and did was to
compel that person, whoever it
was, to show himself"
His chief nodded, understand.
|ingly. Mr.. Grimm was silent for
La little, then went on:
THE last possibility in my mind
at the moment" he confessed,
twas that the person in there was
the man who shot Senior Alvarez.
Frankly l had half an idea that
that 1t might be the prince in per-
SON." Suddenly his mood changed:
I"And now our lady of mystery
may come and go as she likes be-
cause l know, even IL dozen of
our men have ransacked Wash
ington in vain for the prince, she
will inevitably lead us to him. And
that reminds me: I sho>ld like to
borrow Blair, and Hastings, and
Johnson. Please plant them so
they may keep constant watch on
Miss Thorne. Let them report to
you, and, wherever l am, l will
reach you over the phone.
"By the way, what was in that
sealed packet that was taken from
Senior Alvarez?" Campbell in
quired curiously.
at had something to do with
some railroad franchises" re-
sponded Mr.. Grimm as he rose. 81
sealed it again and returned it T.
the senior. Evidently it was not
what Signor Petrozinni expected
to find--in fact, he admitted it
wasn't what he was looking for"
For a little while the two men |
gazed thoughtfully. each into the
eyes of the other, then Mr.. Grimm
entered his private office, where
he sat for an hour with his i'm
boots on his desk, think
ing. A Worthwhile had been
thrust forward by his government
to prevent it--subtle blue-gray
eyes-His Highness, Prince Bene-
detto d'Abruzzi--a haunting
smile and scarlet lips.
At about the moment he rose to
go out, Miss Thorne. closely veil
ed, left the Venezuelan legation
and walked rapidly down the
street to a corner, where, without
d word, she entered a waiting au-
tomobile. The wheels spun and
the car leaped forward. For
mile or more 1t wound aimlessly
In and out, occasionally bisecting
lts own path; finally Miss Thorne
leaned forward and touched the
,hauffeur on the arm.
''Nowl" she said.
IS The car Strengthened out into
i street of stately residences ant
scuttled along until the placie
bosom of the Potomac came into
REV; beside that for a few min
utes, then over the bridge to the
Virginia side,. in the dilapidated
little city OF Alexandria. The car
lid not slacken its speed, but
wound in and out through dingy
streets. past tumble-down negro
huts. for half an hour before Il
came to . standstilI in front OF an
bid brick mansion.
''This is number ninety-seven, 4"
the chauffeur announced.
Miss Thorne entered the house /
With key and was gone for te.
perhaps. She was read /
justing her veil when she came !
out and stenped into the car ST. |
lently. Again 1t moved forward, |
on to the end Of the dingy street. !
and finally into the open country. |
Three. four. five miles, perhapr.
out the old Baltimore Road. and |
again the cai' stopped. this time In