The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-06-02
lfng..' inquired MIR. Grimm.

has Fly. still in the mysterious
half whisper. 81 knew that Il
{eould only be someone from your
bureau. and I hoped that 1t was
you. I saw how you forced him
to call us up here, and that was
Lall you needed. 1t was simple. of
fcourse. to trace the telephone
feallp Both of her hands closed
fovef one Of his desperately. Now.
leo, qplease. The Latin compact is
mt nm end; you merely invite
death here. Now, gol"
Her eyes were searching the
listless face with entreaty in
them; the slender fingers were
Ifiereely gripping one of Mr..
[Grimm's nerveless hands. For an
instant some strange, softening
| light flickered in the young mans
Ieyes, then 1t passed.
II have no choice, Miss
Thorne." he said gravely at last.
II am honor bound by my gov
Iernment to do one of two things.
If fail in the first of those
1.-THE greater-it can only be be-
cause"
He stopped; hope famed up in
her eyes and she leaned forward
eagerly studying the impassive
face.
Because" she repeated.
"It can only be because / am
killed." he added quietly. Sud
denly his whole manner changed.
81 should like to see the-the in
lventor?"
But don't you see-don't you
see you win be killed if" she
began tensely.
May / see the inventor,
lplease?" Mr.. Grimm interrupted.
For a little time she stood,
white and rigid, staring at him.
Then her lids fluttered down
YEARLY, as IL to veil some crush
ing agony within her. and she
stepped aside. Mr.. Grimm en-
tered and the dor closed noiseless-
ly behind him. After a moment
her hand rested lightly on his arm,
and he was led into a room to his
left. This door, too, she closed,
Immediately turning to face him.
I'VE may talk here a few min
utes without Interruption" she
said in a low tone. Her voice
was quite calm now. 'If you
Twill be-"
/ PLEASE understand, Miss
lThorne," he interrupted merciless-
ly. that must see the inventor,
whoever he is. What assurance
have. l that this is not some ruse
Ito permit him to escape?"
"You have my word of honor"
1she said quite simply.
4 "Please go on" He sat down.
"You will see him too soon,
Hear" she continued slowly. I'll
Nyou had not come to him he
Iwould have gone to YOU" She
Hswayed a little and pressed one
Inland to her eyes. 81 would to
L Cod it were In my power to pre-
Event that meeting!" she exclaimed
desperately. Then, with an eff
fort; There are some things
,Iwant to explain to you. 1t ma.
be that you will be willing to &c
then of your own free will. If
Ilay bare to you every step have
taken since I have been in Wash
'lington; IL I make clear to yot
every obscure point in this hide
ous intrigue; If I confess to yot
THAT the Latin compact has beer
Given up for all time, won't thai
be enough? Won't you go them
y Mr.. Grimm's teeth closed with 9
Isnap.
u 81 don't want that-from you,
he declared.
Z but IL I should tell 1t all te
your" she pleaded.
'1 won't listen, Miss Thorne
You once paid me the compliment
of saying that / was one man yor
, knew in whom you had never beer
disappointed" The listless eye.
lwere blazing into her own now
81 have never been disappointed
, lin you. I will not permit you te
Idisappoint me now. The secrets
lof your government are mine If
lean get them--but won't allow
eIyou to tell them to me-"
u my government" Miss Thorns
? repeated, and her lips curled sad
Il have no government.
! have been cast off by that gov
| iernment, stripped of my rank, ant
| branded as a traitor!"
"Traitor!" Mr.. Grimm's lip.
! Horned the word silently.
ri ''I failed, don't you seer" she
i rushed on. 'Ignominy is the re
lward of failure. Prince d'Abruzz
Invent on to New York that night