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

anything, he fnterposed. II mean
merely that you haven't convinced
me. There's nothing inconsistent
in the fact that you are what you
say you are, and that in spite of
that, you came tonight for"
Q was Interrupted by a laugh. a
throaty. silvery note that he re-
membered well. His idle hands
closed spasmodically, only to be
Instantly relaxed.
Supposed, Mr.. Grimm, should
tell you that Immediately after
Madame Boissegur placed the mat
ter in my hands this afternoon ]
went straight to your office to
show this letter to you and to ask
your assistance?" she inquired.
Suppose that 1 left my card for
you with a clerk there on being
informed that you were out-re-
member l knew you were on the
case from Madame -Boissegur-
would that indicate anything ex-
cept that l wanted to put the mat
ter squarely before you, and work
with your"
1--WE will suppose that much, +"
Mr.. Grimm agreed.
THAT is a statement of fact"
Miss Thorne added. MY card,
which you will find at your office
will show that. And when l left
your office l went to the hotel
where you live, with the same
purpose. You were not there, and
l left a card for you. And that
is statement of fact. 1t was not
difficult, owing to the extraordi-
nary circumstances, to imagine
that you would be here tonight
just as you are-and 1 came here.
My purpose, still, was to inform
you of what l knew, and work
with you. Does that convince
your"
"And how did you enter the en-
bassy?" Mr.. Grimm persisted.
mot with latch-key, as you
did," she replied. Madame Bois-
lsegur, at my suggestion, left the
French window in the hall there
unfastened, and l came in that
way-the way, l may add, that
Monsieur fAmbassadeur went out
when he disappeared"
Very WE'LL" commented Mr..
Grimm, and finally: II think, per-
haps, l owe you an apology, Miss
Thorne-another one. The circum-
stances now, as they were at our
previous meetings, are so unusual
that's it necessary to go on?"
There was a certain growing def
ference in his tone. 81 wonder il
you account for Monsieur Boisse-
gur's disappearance as 1 do?" he
inquired.
Il dare say" and Miss Thorne
leaned toward him with sudden
eagerness in her manner and
voice. your theory Isl" she
questioned.
"If we believe the servants we
know that Monsieur Boissegur did
not go out either by the front
door to rear" Mr.. Grimm ex-
planned. THAT being true, the
French window by which you en-
tered seem sto have been the
way"
Yes, yes" Miss Thorne inter-
polated. And the circumstances
attending the disappearance? How
do you account for the fact that
he went, evidently Of his own
will?"
Precisely as you must account
for it If you have studied the stu.
alton here as l have" responded
Mr.. Grimm. For instance, sit.
ting at his desk there" and he
turned to indicate it-"he could
readily see out the windows over.
looking the street. There is only
narrow strip of lawn between the
house and the sidewalk. Now, II
someone on the sidewalk, or
lor-"
"In a carriage" Mr.. Grimm SUP.
lplemented, had attracted his at.
|tention-someone he knew-it IL
not at all unlikely that he rose
for no apparent reason, as he did
do, passed along the hall"
| And through the French win.
dow, across the lawn to the car.
Iriage of his own free will?"
I'm other words, on some pre-.
text or other, he was lured in
then made prisoner, and"
! He paused suddenly and his
hand met Miss Thorne's warningly
The silence of the night was bro
ken by the violent clatter of foot.
steps, apparently approaching the
embassy. The noise was unmis.
takable-someone was running.
j "The window" Miss Thorne
Whispered.
She rose quickly and started e.
cross the room, to look out; Mr.
Grimm sat motionless, listening
An instant later and there came q
tremendous crash of glass-the
French window in the hallway by
the sound-then rapid footsteps
still running, along the hall. Mr..
Grimm moved toward the door
unruffled, perfectly self-possessed :
there was only narrowing of his
iieyes at the abruptness and clatter
of 1t all. And then the electric
lights in the hall flashed up.
! Before Mr.. Grimm stood a man,
framed by the doorway, staring
Iunseeingly into the darkened
room: His face was haggard and